Our top paper-like devices, rated and reviewed

If you’re in need of a distraction-free note-taking experience then the Remarkable 2 is a worthy upgrade from pen and paper. 

Although its 10.3-inch display is sharp and boasts an 1872 x 1404 resolution, it’s worth highlighting that there isn’t a backlight which means you won’t be able to use the device if there isn’t a light source nearby. 

With this in mind, night owls may be better served with a backlight fitted device, like the Remarkable Paper Pro.

Thanks to its clear user interface, the Remarkable 2 is undeniably intuitive to use as you can find all the options you need right on the homepage, including the useful Quick Sheets page for in-the-moment note-taking. 

We found the overall writing experience to be one of the best we’ve tried, as there was no noticeable delay in seeing your writing appear on screen, plus the paper-like display helped to recreate the feeling of writing in a traditional notebook. 

Although some of the pen styles do offer colour, this can only be seen in the Remarkable app as the Remarkable 2’s display is monochrome. For general note-taking this shouldn’t be too much of an issue, however if you plan on creating digital art then you may be better suited to a tablet, such as the iPad Pro M4 or Galaxy Tab S9. 

To get the most out of the Remarkable 2, you will need to invest in a separately sold pen and keyboard case. We found the best accessories were the Marker Plus and Type Folio keyboard case which would set you back a total £587/$627/€677 RRP (including the Remarkable 2 device itself.) 

On top of that, there’s the optional Connect subscription for £2.99/$2.99/€2.99 a month, which gives you unlimited cloud storage and access to the Remarkable app. The monthly commitment alongside the device and accessories means this certainly isn’t the most budget-friendly offering. 

If you’re looking for the most natural and distraction-free e-writing experience then we would seriously recommend the Remarkable 2. However if you’re on a tighter budget, plan on using the device for creating art or you work best in the dark, then you should consider other options.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: Remarkable 2 Review