ReMarkable Paper Pro

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Hardware, Display & Pen

  • New Paper Pro uses E Ink Gallery 3 color. People note better “true color” vs Kaleido, but slow color refresh and limited saturation; good for diagrams, less so for fast color content.
  • Resolution (229 ppi) criticized as low for price and use case; some speculate higher‑DPI panels are too costly or locked up elsewhere.
  • Pen tech appears to change from EMR to a powered stylus; older pens aren’t compatible, disappointing those invested in Wacom EMR ecosystems.
  • Many like the hardware feel: thin, light, good build; a subset call the screen too dark/low contrast indoors, especially without frontlight.

Writing Experience & Use Cases

  • Very strong praise for handwriting feel and low‑latency inking; many say it’s the closest digital equivalent to paper, great for journaling, planning, CAD sketches, math notes, annotating technical PDFs, and “thinking on paper.”
  • Others report imprecise pen alignment (up to ~1–2 mm offset), especially near edges, making precise writing/drawing frustrating.
  • Infinite scrolling pages and accidental zoom/scroll gestures are widely disliked; some downgraded firmware specifically to avoid this.

OCR, Search & Note Management

  • Consensus that handwriting OCR is weak:
    • Must be triggered manually, often per page.
    • Runs in the cloud and is not used for full‑text indexing or global search.
  • Search is limited (often per notebook, not across them). Many resort to careful foldering, tags, filenames, or abandon the device for paper.
  • Several say this turns it into an “anti‑discovery” device: fine for transient thinking, poor for later retrieval.

Reading PDFs & EPUBs

  • Mixed but generally positive for static technical PDFs and academic papers; auto‑cropping margins helps on sub‑A4 screen.
  • Several say it’s too small and slow for serious PDF research workflows; some prefer 13.3" devices (Sony/Fujitsu Quaderno, Boox, etc.).
  • EPUB support is called poor: slow layout, lost annotations on font changes, and no comic archives; documentation itself downplays ebook focus.

Software, Sync & Subscription

  • Core complaint: hardware is excellent but first‑party software is “barebones,” “slow to improve,” and priorities feel off (keyboard features over pen‑centric features like links, better tools, note search).
  • Sync:
    • Cloud “Connect” subscription required for automatic/unlimited sync; there is free limited sync and USB/SSH transfer.
    • Many dislike paywalled sync and lack of open, well‑supported APIs. Some frustration that third‑party cloud integrations (Drive/Dropbox) are manual and crippled.
  • Users want:
    • Background OCR and full‑text search.
    • Cross‑page and cross‑notebook links (zettelkasten‑style).
    • Better PDF annotation space and navigation.
    • Template management without hacks.

Openness, Hacking & Community

  • Device runs Linux and officially exposes root via SSH; users install custom software (Toltec, KOReader, Syncthing, etc.), run scripts, even alternate UIs.
  • However, multiple comments describe the company as increasingly adversarial:
    • Moving cloud APIs and internal formats, breaking tools (rmapi, rmapy).
    • Firmware updates wiping customizations; need scripts to re‑apply after each update.
  • Some wish reMarkable would fully embrace an open‑source ecosystem; others note hacking is now “friction, not locks.”

Comparisons to Alternatives

  • iPad (+ Pencil + paperlike film): far more capable, faster, great apps; but glossy, distracting, worse battery, and writing feel is less “paper‑like.” Some lock iPads into kiosk mode to mimic single‑purpose use.
  • Boox (Android e‑ink): praised for versatility, fast page flipping, WebDAV/FTP sync, KOReader, etc., but criticized for Android, tracking/privacy, GPL non‑compliance, and weaker “distraction‑free” story.
  • Supernote: frequently recommended as a superior note‑taking experience (links, better management, replaceable battery). Some say they moved from reMarkable to Supernote and “never looked back.”
  • Kobo, Kindle Scribe, Quaderno, Daylight: each gets niche praise (backlight, size, contrast, speed, openness) but none are clear universal winners.

Price, Regions & Support

  • Many balk at price, especially once pen, folio, and possibly keyboard are added; Canadian, Japanese, and EU buyers note significant markups vs US pricing, partly attributed to VAT and possibly shipping/FX.
  • Some businesses would adopt it widely if there were robust on‑device encryption and enterprise‑grade DLP‑friendly workflows.
  • Multiple reports of bad support experiences:
    • Difficult returns, warranty disputes, refurbished replacements offered where new is expected.
    • Pens with fragile nib holders; company seen as dismissive despite this being a common breakage.

E‑Ink vs LCD & “Distraction‑Free” Value

  • Many value e‑ink for eye comfort and outdoor readability; others say contrast is inferior to paper and modern LCDs except in bright sun.
  • A recurring theme: single‑purpose, app‑limited design as a genuine productivity aid for people prone to distraction; some find this transformative, others see it as over‑priced minimalism that paper or a properly configured tablet can match.

Overall Sentiment

  • Enthusiasts: love the writing feel, simplicity, and use it daily for focused note‑taking and PDF markup; many are excited enough to order the Paper Pro despite issues.
  • Skeptics and former fans: feel the company has prioritized subscriptions and marketing over core software quality; several regret buying, have devices “sleeping in a drawer,” or are switching to competitors.
  • Broad agreement: hardware is strong and distinctive; software, search/OCR, openness, and pricing remain the main pain points.