reMarkable released its new budget-friendly writing tablet, the reMarkable Paper Pure, last month, but ironically, the model it replaced, the reMarkable 2, is currently sitting pretty as the best-selling writing tablet on Amazon.
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Specifically, Amazon is offering the reMarkable 2 for a record-low £339.99 (was £429) as part of its annual Prime Day sale. For reference, the Paper Pure retails for £359 on reMarkable’s website, and is not yet available on Amazon.
Interestingly, reMarkable discontinued the reMarkable 2 following the launch of the Paper Pure in May, so the former tablet can no longer be bought from reMarkable directly. Does that mean eagle-eyed shoppers are flocking to buy the reMarkable 2 because it’s their last chance to do so, or because it genuinely represents better value than the newer Paper Pure? The answer is complicated.
Let’s start with the key differences between the two tablets, as explained to me by Jon Dalvang, VP, Head of Paper Tablet Product Management at reMarkable, in a recent interview. “We always put a lot of effort into making our displays feel as close to paper as possible, and we’ve taken that one step further with the Paper Pure,” Dalvang said. “It’s got 20% better contrast than the reMarkable 2, while navigation, opening and closing documents, and swiping pages is also up to twice as fast.”
Beyond its display, the Paper Pure is a full 43g lighter than the reMarkable 2, it’s got more internal storage (32GB), and its battery lasts 33% longer too.
“It’s not a direct replacement of the reMarkable 2,” Dalvang clarified, “but it’s an intentional take on trying to reach an entry point for a broader mass market.”
The Paper Pure comes with a Marker as standard, but for an additional £40, you can get the Marker Plus (which has a built-in eraser) and a Sleeve Folio.
So to recap: the Paper Pure is faster, lighter, and longer-lasting than the reMarkable 2, and it comes with four times as much internal storage. On paper (if you’ll pardon the pun), it’s the superior device, and it’s only £20 more expensive at the time of writing.
There is, however, a clear difference in the way writing feels on both devices. As my colleague, Steve Clark, explains in his reMarkable Paper Pure review: “Using the reMarkable 2 feels very soft, like using a thick pencil or felt tip on the first page of a new Moleskine notebook. The Paper Pro Move [reMarkable’s top-end portable model] feels firmer but smoother, as if writing with a biro on the last few pages of a well-worn legal pad. And since the Paper Pure uses the same active stylus and textured glass cover lens display as the Pro and Pro Move, it falls into the latter camp.”
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Steve adds: “Personally, I loved the tactile feedback of the reMarkable 2 — for what it’s worth, I still prefer the softer writing of the older device compared to the firmer but smoother one found on the Paper Pro and Paper Pure series.” And that might be the reason why so many buyers are flocking to the cheaper-than-ever reMarkable 2, rather than paying a few extra pounds for the newer Paper Pure.
To be clear: the writing experience on the Paper Pure is not bad by any stretch. In fact, the opposite is true (“after 10 minutes with the Paper Pure, I found myself enjoying this new writing style,” Steve notes in his review). Throw in its superior physical characteristics, and I’d say the Paper Pure is the better option for most people.
But it’s clear that the reMarkable 2 still offers compelling value six years after its launch. It’s a little heavier and a little slower to navigate, but these shortcomings aren’t deal-breakers when the core writing experience remains so great — especially for £339.99.
“The Paper Pure is the reMarkable 3 — or perhaps the reMarkable 2.5 — in all but name,” Steve notes in his review. “The Paper Pure is faster, with a better processor and double the memory. However, it’s otherwise largely the same experience.”
For more details on the differences between the reMarkable 2 and Paper Pure, check out reMarkable’s own tablet comparison page.
