# The reMarkable Paper Pro: An In-Depth Examination of the Latest E Ink Tablet
The reMarkable Paper Pro represents the newest version of the reMarkable tablet lineup, crafted for individuals who emphasize writing, note-taking, and sketching in a digital format that closely resembles the sensation of paper. With a starting price of $579, the Paper Pro seeks to offer a high-end writing experience, but how does it compare to rivals such as Amazon’s Kindle Scribe or the ever-popular iPad?
## A Writing-Centric Approach
A defining feature of the reMarkable series has consistently been its emphasis on writing and note-taking rather than functioning as a versatile tablet. The reMarkable Paper Pro upholds this legacy, boasting a larger 11.8-inch display (increased from 10.3 inches in the reMarkable 2) along with numerous enhancements designed to elevate the writing experience.
### Writing Experience: Closer to Paper
The reMarkable Paper Pro presents a writing experience that closely mimics the feel of paper, thanks to several significant updates. The distance between the screen and pen tip has been minimized, and writing latency has been nearly halved—from 21 milliseconds (ms) to 12 ms. This translates into a more fluid and responsive writing experience, one that feels more authentic compared to most other digital tablets, including the Kindle Scribe and Apple’s iPad with the Apple Pencil.
The new Marker accessory functions as an active pen, akin to the Apple Pencil, and charges wirelessly by snapping magnetically to the tablet’s side. While this upgrade enhances the overall writing experience, it does come with a drawback: the new Marker is not compatible with the wider range of electromagnetic resonance (EMR) pens, meaning it cannot be used on devices like the Kindle Scribe and vice versa.
### Color E Ink and Front Light: A Mixed Blessing
The reMarkable Paper Pro introduces support for color E Ink, utilizing E Ink Gallery technology that provides richer color representation compared to the more prevalent Kaleido technology found in other colored e-readers. However, this improvement comes at the cost of refresh speed. While the colors are more vivid, they fail to replicate the true-to-life hues you’d expect from conventional paper or an iPad. The colors may appear dulled, particularly when displaying images or illustrations, making it less suitable for activities like reading comics or textbooks with intricate visuals.
The inclusion of a front light is a welcome enhancement, but it comes with its own limitations. Maximum brightness falls short of what you would experience on the Kindle Scribe, and there are no options to adjust color temperature. Though the front light is better than having none (as was the case in earlier reMarkable models), it still seems lagging compared to other devices in its price category.
## Software and Functionality: Areas for Growth
The software on the reMarkable Paper Pro is thoughtfully crafted but remains streamlined, honing in on writing, sketching, and document annotation. It supports EPUB and PDF formats, making it a reasonable option for reading and annotating documents. Nonetheless, it lacks the comprehensive e-reader functionalities present in devices like the Kindle Scribe, which aims more toward book reading.
### Cloud Integration: An Advancement
One of the noteworthy features of the reMarkable Paper Pro is its compatibility with popular cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. This feature enables users to effortlessly access documents from the cloud, annotate them, and export them back to the cloud for sharing. Notably, this feature is available without necessitating a subscription to reMarkable’s $2.99/month Connect cloud sync service, making it more approachable for users who depend on third-party cloud solutions.
### Typing and Word Processing: Limited Capabilities
The reMarkable Paper Pro includes a Type Folio keyboard accessory that is well-made and pleasant to use. However, the device’s word processing features are quite limited. Users can type notes within their reMarkable notebooks, but these can only be exported as PDF files, not as editable text. Moreover, although you can view Word and PowerPoint files on the device, editing them is not possible, and there’s no support for Google Docs or other third-party writing applications.
This constraint is especially disheartening considering the high caliber of the keyboard accessory. For those desiring more than just basic note-taking, the reMarkable Paper Pro may seem overly limiting, particularly when placed alongside the flexibility offered by an iPad or even Android-based E Ink tablets like those from Boox.
## Performance: The Balancing Act of E Ink
As with any E Ink device, the reMarkable Paper Pro comes with certain performance compromises. While the writing experience is smooth and responsive, the overall device performance can lag when compared to traditional tablets. Users may notice delays while navigating menus or waiting for actions to register.
