reMarkable Paper Pure with Marker review

A third generation display with more contrast, and the same refusal to run an app.

The verdict: Paper Pure is the current generation of reMarkable's single purpose notebook: a whiter, higher contrast display in a device that still has no app store and no notifications, for fifty dollars less than the model it replaces. Buy it if you want the distraction free notebook and are choosing between the two. Skip it if you have not yet tried simply putting your phone in another room, because that costs nothing and answers the same question.

Best Distraction Free Notebook

reMarkable reMarkable Paper Pure with Marker

~$399

A third generation 10.3 inch black and white paper tablet with a whiter, higher contrast display, dozens of note taking templates and document mark up, supplied with the Marker.

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Specifications

Spec	Detail
Display	Third generation 10.3 inch, whiter with more contrast than previous generations
Function	Note taking, document mark up and sketching
Templates	Dozens of note taking templates
Included	Paper Pure and the Marker
Philosophy	Handwriting benefits combined with digital storage

Specifications above come from reMarkable's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

Contrast is the specification that matters most on an e-paper device, because low contrast is what makes a screen tiring to read in ordinary room light.
It is fifty dollars cheaper than the model it replaces while being newer, which is an unusual and welcome direction.
Templates for planning, ruled pages and grids remove the friction of setting up a page, which for anyone who abandons planners at the setup stage is the difference between using it and not.
The core proposition is unchanged: nothing on the device can interrupt you, and that cannot be undone by a settings change in a weak moment.

Where it falls short

It is still four hundred dollars for a notebook, and no feature list changes that comparison.
Black and white only, and it needs ambient light like paper does.
Cloud sync and handwriting conversion sit behind reMarkable's subscription, which is a recurring cost to price in.
Single purpose means single purpose. It will not open a spreadsheet, run a browser or play a video, which is the point and is also a real limitation.

What owners report

Published owner reports describe the display improvement as immediately visible against the older generation, and the writing feel continues to draw the praise the range is known for.

The criticisms are the constants for this product category: price, the subscription for cloud features, and the honest observation that the discipline came from the device rather than from the user. People who bought it knowing that report satisfaction; people who expected it to change their habits by itself do not.

Who it suits

Anyone choosing between reMarkable models, since this is the current one.
People who plan and think in handwriting and want it searchable.
Readers who annotate documents heavily.

Who should skip it

Anyone hoping to consolidate devices, since this adds one.
Occasional note takers, for whom paper is cheaper.
People who need colour or a backlight.

Alternatives worth considering

The Previous Generation

reMarkable reMarkable 2 with Marker Plus

~$449

Fifty dollars more for the older display, supplied with the Marker Plus, which has an eraser on the end. Worth it only if you specifically want that stylus or find the bundle discounted.

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Try This First

Mindsight Timed Lock Box for phones and screens

~$40

A tenth of the price for the same underlying idea: remove the distraction physically rather than resisting it. If it works, you have saved three hundred and sixty dollars; if it does not, you have learned something useful.

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For Planning Instead

pmxboard 4 Column Magnetic Kanban Board, scrum board kit with 64 magnetic cards

~$147

If what you actually want is to see your work laid out rather than to write by hand, a wall mounted board does that permanently and visibly, which a device in a drawer does not.

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Common questions

Paper Pure or reMarkable 2?

Paper Pure is newer, cheaper and has a better display. The reMarkable 2 ships with the Marker Plus, which includes an eraser. Unless the eraser or a discount tips it, the newer model is the straightforward choice.

Do handwritten notes actually help?

There is a body of research suggesting handwriting engages processing differently from typing, particularly for summarising and recall. The practical benefit for any individual varies. What is not in question is that unsearchable notebooks get lost, which is the problem a device like this solves.

Is the subscription required?

Not for writing on the device. Cloud sync, handwriting to text conversion and integrations require reMarkable's subscription, and the free tier limits how long files stay in the cloud. Decide whether syncing matters before you buy, because it changes the total cost.

Will it stop me getting distracted?

It cannot distract you, which is different. Nothing prevents you from picking up your phone instead. Single purpose devices remove one source of interruption rather than solving distraction, and if focus is a persistent problem that is worth discussing with your doctor or clinician rather than solving by purchase.

Is it good for reading PDFs?

It is one of the better uses. A 10.3 inch e-paper display with pen mark up suits academic papers and long documents far better than a phone, and better than a laptop for anything you want to annotate. Colour figures will be greyscale, which matters in some fields.

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This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.