reMarkable 2 10.3" RM115 2025, 2GB, 8GB, Black

The reMarkable 2 is a digital notebook with a paper-like e-ink display that's fantastic for focused writing and reading, with battery life that lasts weeks. It's expensive at $599 USD and can't run apps or play video, so it's not a tablet replacement. Buy it if you want to replace paper notebooks, skip it if you want a general-purpose device.

Let's be clear about what this thing is and isn't. The reMarkable 2 has a 10.3-inch e-ink display at 60Hz, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of storage. Those specs would be laughable on a normal tablet, and our database agrees. RAM sits in the 5th percentile, storage is dead last at the 0th percentile, and the CPU lands in the 35th percentile. If you try to compare this to an iPad, it loses on paper before you even turn it on.

But that's the wrong comparison. The reMarkable 2 isn't trying to run apps or render video. It's trying to feel like writing on paper, and for that specific job, it's excellent. The writing latency is low enough that the pen feels immediate, and the textured surface gives just enough resistance to feel natural. Reading battery life is where this thing shines, landing in the 99th percentile. The 3000mAh battery lasts weeks, not hours, because the e-ink screen barely sips power. Eye comfort is also top-tier at the 97th percentile, which makes sense for long reading and writing sessions. Just don't expect it to do anything else. Entertainment scores a 2.6 out of 100, which is honestly generous for a device that can't play video at all.

Stacked against the Apple iPad Pro M5, the reMarkable 2 looks almost absurd. The iPad has a faster processor, a better screen, more storage, and can do literally thousands of things the reMarkable can't. But the iPad is also a distraction machine. The reMarkable 2 wins on reading battery life and eye comfort, and for pure note-taking focus, it's the better tool. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is another competitor that offers full Windows in a tablet form factor, but again, it's a computer first and a notebook second. The reMarkable 2 is a notebook first and nothing else second.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus and Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 are both solid Android tablets that cost less and do more. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro is probably the best value of the bunch if you want a general-purpose tablet. But none of them feel like paper. That's the trade-off. If you want a device that disappears into the background while you write, the reMarkable 2 is the only one in this group that does that. If you want a device that can also watch Netflix, check email, and run apps, literally any of the competitors is a better choice.

At $599 USD or $849-850 CAD, the reMarkable 2 is a tough sell on paper. You can get an iPad with a real screen, real apps, and real storage for less money. But that's not really the point. The reMarkable 2 is for people who specifically want to replace paper notebooks and don't want a general-purpose tablet. The value question comes down to how much you hate distractions. If you've tried taking notes on an iPad and ended up scrolling Twitter instead, the reMarkable 2's limitations are features, not bugs. Still, the affordability percentile sits at 23rd, which means most competing devices give you more hardware for your dollar. You're paying a premium for focus, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on your workflow.

The reMarkable 2 is a digital notebook that refuses to be a tablet. It's a 10.3-inch e-ink device running Linux with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, priced around $599 USD or $849-850 CAD. If you're searching for a distraction-free writing tablet that feels like paper, this is the category leader, but it's also one of the most polarizing gadgets we've tracked. People either love the focus it gives them or return it within a week.

What makes it different is what it doesn't do. No app store, no web browser, no notifications, no video. Just notes, PDFs, ebooks, and sketches. The Marker Plus stylus and the leather Book Folio are sold as part of this bundle, and they're genuinely nice accessories. But the core question most shoppers ask is simple: is the reMarkable 2 worth it when a regular tablet costs less and does more? We'll get into that.

For reading and writing, the reMarkable 2 is in a league of its own. For everything else, it's basically a very expensive piece of paper. And that's either the point or the problem, depending on what you need.

Skip the reMarkable 2 if you want a device that can do more than one thing. If you need to watch videos, browse the web, run apps, or play games, get an iPad or an Android tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 instead. It's also a bad fit if you work in dark environments, since there's no backlight. And if you're on a budget, the $599 USD price tag is hard to justify when the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro offers far more hardware for less money. This is a niche device for a specific kind of user, and if you're not that user, you'll be disappointed.

Should you buy the reMarkable 2? If you're a writer, student, or professional who takes a lot of handwritten notes and gets distracted by notifications, yes. This is the best distraction-free writing tablet on the market, and the paper-like feel is something no LCD or OLED screen can replicate. The weeks-long battery life and eye-friendly e-ink display make it a joy for long writing sessions.

But if you want a tablet that can do tablet things, skip it. The reMarkable 2 can't browse the web, can't play video, can't run apps, and has less storage than a cheap USB stick. At $599 USD, you're paying a lot for a single-purpose device. The 3.3 out of 5 customer rating suggests some buyers expected more versatility and were disappointed. Know what you're getting into before you buy.