The cost (and price) of focus

The Remarkable 2 is not like any other tablet you normally use. Unlike the iPad or Android tablets, this one doesn’t have an app store, you can’t play games or watch videos, and there’s no browser. Its sole purpose is to help you write on a digital notebook without digital distractions, and it’s great at delivering on that promise. I love writing on it. But should you pay attention to a single-function device that costs more than $400/40,000 Indian Rupees?

A remarkable construction

The Remarkable 2 is light and fits firmly in the hand. It has a frosted glass finish on the back, which isn’t slippery thanks to the four rubber grips on the rear corners. With a thickness of 4.7 mm and a weight of 403.5 grams, the tablet is thin and light enough not to feel uncomfortable on the wrist. It doesn’t do anything fancy, and there are no extra sensors, which is why it remains so thin.

I like the sheet-like feel, like I’m writing in a thin notebook. The feeling of “writing on paper” is due to the display and the Marker 2 (the stylus of Remarkable 2). The e-ink display is faster than usual as I found it better than Kindle and Boox tablets in terms of responsiveness. I haven’t had such a smooth writing experience on an e-ink tablet.

However, it is still plagued by e-ink display characteristics such as slower scroll speeds, which feels frustrating when displayed on a smartphone or laptop. But you get used to it. Moreover, there is no backlight, which annoys me when I want to use it at night. Adding a backlight and ambient light sensor would improve the user experience. The latter would also cause the screen to turn off when I close the cover, which currently doesn’t happen.

But I don’t think I’d trade it in for the slim design, because I think it’s important that my digital calendar is thin enough to fit next to my laptop in my travel backpack without feeling bulky.

The Marker 2 has a textured finish that helps with grip during long writing sessions. A regular pen can get sweaty and slippery in summer, but not the Marker 2 (tested in Delhi heat of 50 degrees Celsius).

It is attached to the side of the device and does not need to be charged, so you always have a pen with your digital agenda. The palm rejection is also top notch. I haven’t had a single instance in the last three months where I faced any wrong input detection.

The Marker 2 is pressure-sensitive, so you use it for shading in your drawings. The software allows you to use it as a pencil, marker, highlighter, ballpoint pen, calligraphy pen and more. You can also use the back of the Marker 2 as an eraser.

I loved writing on it

Using the Remarkable 2 is unlike any other device because it does one thing specifically: write, and does it brilliantly, without any distractions. I can take notes on my iPad when focus mode is on, but I have a habit of frequently checking emails and communication apps, which doesn’t help when brainstorming ideas. Removing these distractions has improved my focus on thinking and writing. I don’t feel the need to switch to another app (because there isn’t one), the writing experience is similar to paper and the software is well adapted for writing.

It’s better than carrying a journal because I can choose my notebook format from different templates (checklists, lined pages, grid, etc.), pen type, write on web pages transferred from my Mac, and more. I no longer have to carry my bulky diary with me when I travel. The notable 2 is enough. Plus, it lasts for weeks on a single charge, so I always have a screen to write on.

The user interface is quite easy to learn. You press the power button in the top left corner and enter the PIN (if you’ve set one), and you’re greeted with a home screen consisting of your documents, quick sheets, and folders. You can customize the sorting and display (grid or list) as you see fit. At the top are icons that let you create Notebook, Folders and Quick Sheets with one tap.

On the left you get a menu with several options, and the toolbar persists when you open a sheet/notebook, allowing you to change the shape and size of your brush, select layers, select text, convert writing to text and more. The gestures are also easy to understand: swipe up to continue the sheet, swipe left to add another page, and the like. The company also offers integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft add-ins, allowing you to access documents stored on these services.

This feature is available without Connect, Remarkable’s $2.99/299 Indian Rupees monthly subscription. You can use the tablet without Connect, but if you subscribe to it you get access to unlimited cloud storage (which you’ll need if you use the tablet every day), note-taking on mobile and desktop with the app, a protection plan, and access to some exclusive offers. I think it’s expensive and would like Remarkable to introduce a cheaper tier that only offers unlimited cloud storage for syncing.

The Noteworthy 2 is a digital notebook, but with physical notebook limitations

I enjoyed my experience with the Remarkable 2. But a gadget shouldn’t have the limitations of its non-technical counterpart. The Remarkable 2 has some limitations of a notebook.

For example, I’m bad at remembering file names and have a running list of a few things: a diary and quick sheets for one-liner sentences that I randomly think of throughout the day for headlines. I would like the Remarkable 2 to have a universal search function, where when I type a word, the sheets pop up highlighting the words – just like Kindle does with its books or like Apple Photos. Otherwise, it’s like flipping through pages of a physical notebook while searching for something. You’ll need organizational skills to get the most out of your Remarkable 2.

I would also like better home screen customization. For example, let me choose exactly what I want to see after I enter my PIN, and add widget support. I might want a quick list widget or a to-do list widget at the bottom so I can access information at a glance instead of having to search for it.

The Remarkable 2 is not a good e-reader. You can transfer files through the app or website, but the experience isn’t ideal. You can also add a Chrome plugin to your laptop and get web pages on your tablet with one click. However, it has its limitations.

First, it doesn’t import images, which is both good and bad. It’s good because you don’t see any ads and bad because the formatting is wonky. Additionally, more often than not, images are important to the storytelling in certain articles. Secondly, like a diary, it does not support opening backlinks as there is no browser option. As a result, I can’t tap a link within the article to read an individual article, which is a nuisance.

Notable 2 Tablet Review: Verdict

I’ve noticed that I’ve become more productive with the Remarkable 2. From taking notes in airports and cafes to brainstorming ideas for pitches, it’s helped my brain work more efficiently without distractions. However, it is too expensive for a single-task device.

You need to decide if $450 / 44,000 Indian Rupees is a comfortable price tag for a distraction-free writing experience. If that price is worth the focus price to you, I see no reason not to buy it. It really depends on how much you value maintaining focus while writing. That said, the Remarkable 2 offers the best note-taking experience I’ve ever had on an e-ink display.