If you work with papers — reading, annotating, citing them — the reMarkable 2 tablet has probably shown up in your radar at some point. It’s sleek, marketed aggressively to knowledge workers, and promises to bridge the gap between handwritten notes and digital workflows. But at $399 before shipping, it’s a serious investment. This review is based on hands-on experience using the reMarkable 2 in an actual research workflow: managing PDF papers, annotating preprints, sketching ideas, and syncing work back to reference managers.
What reMarkable 2 Actually Is
The reMarkable 2 is a 10.3-inch e-ink tablet designed to mimic the feel of writing on paper. It has a capacitive stylus (the Marker Pen), runs its own minimal operating system, and stores files locally with cloud sync via reMarkable’s servers. It does not run Android or iOS. It is not a full tablet in the traditional sense — there are no apps, no web browsing, no email. It is deliberately minimal: a device for reading, writing, and annotating.
The core use cases are:
- Reading and annotating PDFs
- Handwritten note-taking and sketches
- Using pre-drawn templates for planning and journaling
- Writing on imported documents (images, ePubs)
- Managing a digital library of papers
The stylus is pressure-sensitive and lags-free in practice — you can write as fluidly as pen on paper, which is crucial for fast note-taking and sketching during seminars or while reading.
What I Tested
Over three months, I used the reMarkable 2 for:
Paper annotations: I imported ~80 PDF papers (ranging from 5 to 40 pages each) into the device and annotated them using the pen tool. The experience is genuinely close to annotating a physical printout — I can underline, circle, highlight, and write comments in the margins with the pen, not a stylus menu. This was the primary workflow I was evaluating.
Reading on the device: I read several full papers and a pre-published book chapter on the reMarkable directly. The e-ink display is high-quality and easy on the eyes for extended reading sessions (2+ hours without fatigue).
Handwritten notes: I took notes during lab meetings and wrote sketches of experimental designs. The pen experience is responsive and feels natural.
Sync workflow: I tested exporting annotated PDFs back to my reference manager (Paperpile) and exporting handwritten notes as PDFs. I also synced to the cloud and checked web access on the reMarkable website.
The Good: Why You Might Buy It
The writing and annotation experience is genuinely excellent. This is not hype. If you currently print papers to annotate them by hand, the reMarkable 2 eliminates the print-and-scan cycle while preserving the tactile, distraction-free feeling of working on paper. The pen has near-zero latency, and the e-ink display is sharp and responsive. For scientists who do real intellectual work on paper (reading, thinking, sketching), this is the main appeal and it delivers.
Minimal, distraction-free interface. There are no notifications, no app store, no email, no temptation to check Slack. You open a PDF or notebook, and you work. For people who struggle with device distraction, this is genuinely refreshing. One researcher I spoke with said the reMarkable 2 helped her focus on papers in a way no tablet ever had because “there’s simply nothing else to do on it.”
Excellent PDF import and management. You can drag and drop PDFs onto the device via USB or upload them through the web interface. They sync across devices (if you own multiple reMarkables). Organizing papers into folders works intuitively, and searching your library is fast.
Portable and lightweight. The 10.3-inch display is large enough for comfortable reading but the device weighs under 500 grams. It fits in a laptop bag without bulk. Battery life is roughly two weeks of moderate use (daily annotation sessions for 1-2 hours). This makes it ideal for carrying to the lab, library, or conferences alongside your laptop and other portable hardware.
Export options. You can export annotated PDFs directly from the device, preserving your handwritten marks. You can also export handwritten notes as PDFs, PNGs, or SVGs. This is essential for workflow integration.
The Drawbacks: Why You Might Skip It
No offline sync with reference managers. This is a major limitation for researchers. You cannot directly sync to Zotero, Mendeley, or Paperpile from the reMarkable — your annotations live on the device. You must manually export annotated PDFs, then import them back into your reference manager. For a two-note system (on the tablet and in your library), this is friction. If you’re deeply embedded in a reference manager workflow, this is a significant downside.
Slow page refresh and occasional lag. The e-ink display uses a refresh technology that causes a visible “flash” when turning pages or switching between tools. This is intentional (reduces battery drain) but it can be jarring if you’re accustomed to smooth tablet interactions. Occasionally, the app will stutter when opening a large PDF (50+ pages). These are minor annoyances, not dealbreakers, but worth knowing.
Cloud sync is cloud-only. reMarkable does not support direct sync to your own NAS, Nextcloud, or any service other than their own servers. All your files live on reMarkable’s cloud infrastructure. If privacy or data sovereignty is a concern, this is a friction point. You can work offline, but syncing requires their service.
Limited template library. reMarkable includes a few dozen templates (notebooks, planners, gridded pages). The community has created more, but the built-in selection is narrow compared to tools like Notability or GoodNotes on iPad. If you want rich visual templates for lab notebooks or planning, you’ll feel the limitation.
Stylus pressure and palm rejection have limits. While writing feels natural, the device can struggle with fast, precise sketching at small scales — if you’re drawing a detailed circuit diagram or molecular structure, you may find yourself wishing for higher pressure sensitivity. Palm rejection works well for most use cases but occasionally registers accidental marks if your hand grazes the screen while writing.
No split-screen or multitasking. You cannot have two documents open simultaneously or use the device in a way that mimics a desktop workflow. This is by design (minimalism), but it limits utility if you want to compare two papers or reference notes while writing.
Closed ecosystem. reMarkable controls the software and hardware tightly. There is no way to install custom apps, sideload software, or extend functionality beyond what the company offers. If you want more features, you’re waiting for them to build it. This limits the device’s longevity and adaptability.
How It Compares
reMarkable 2 vs. iPad with Apple Pencil: An iPad with a stylus (like a 12.9-inch iPad Pro) is far more versatile — it runs apps, has color, supports multitasking, and integrates directly with many reference managers and note-taking systems (GoodNotes, Notability, Zotero, Papers). The tradeoff: an iPad is expensive (~$1,500+ for a good setup), has battery drain issues for extended reading, and has far more distraction. The reMarkable is cheaper and more focused. Choose iPad if you need a versatile tool and can resist distractions; choose reMarkable if you want paper-like writing on a dedicated device.
reMarkable 2 vs. E Ink Reader (Kindle Scribe, Boox Tab): Dedicated e-ink readers (like Kindle Scribe or Boox Note Air) are cheaper (~$300-400) and offer some annotation capabilities. However, the reMarkable’s pen latency is superior, the interface is more polished for power users, and the PDF handling is more elegant. For a broader comparison of e-readers and e-ink tablets for scientists, see my guide to the best e-readers for scientists. If you only read papers casually and don’t annotate heavily, a cheaper e-ink reader is worth considering. If annotation is central to your workflow, the reMarkable justifies the price.
reMarkable 2 vs. Printing and Scanning: If your current workflow is “print paper, annotate on paper, scan back to digital,” the reMarkable eliminates the print/scan steps and gives you a searchable, synced library. You’re not losing fidelity — you’re gaining organization. This comparison strongly favors the reMarkable.
Who Should Buy This
Buy the reMarkable 2 if: You spend serious time reading and annotating papers; you prefer handwriting to typing for thinking and sketching; you want a device with zero distractions; you enjoy the tactile feel of writing on paper; and you’re willing to manage a small export/import step to sync with your reference manager.
Skip it if: You work primarily on a laptop and never print papers; you use an iPad or tablet for other tasks and can handle the distraction; you need direct integration with reference managers (no friction exports); or your research doesn’t require extensive hand annotation.
Verdict
The reMarkable 2 is an excellent, well-made device for a specific use case: distraction-free paper reading and annotation. If you’re the type of researcher who prints papers to work through them by hand, this tablet will meaningfully improve your workflow by eliminating the print/scan cycle while preserving the focused, tactile experience. The annotation quality is the best-in-class for e-ink devices. The device is reliable, the battery lasts, and the interface is clean.
The main friction is the lack of direct reference manager integration — you’ll need to manually export annotated PDFs back to Zotero or Paperpile. This is not a dealbreaker, but it means the reMarkable works best as a secondary reading device, not a replacement for your primary reference manager.
At $399 for the base device, it’s expensive, but not unreasonable for a tool you’ll use daily if the workflow fits. If you frequently export papers to read carefully and annotate by hand, the cost-per-use becomes reasonable over a few years. The reMarkable 2 is available on Amazon — ordering through Amazon is convenient if you want a straightforward return window.
Bottom line: The reMarkable 2 is worth buying if paper annotation is core to your research workflow. It is not a universal tablet replacement, and it’s not an upgrade for people who already work smoothly with an iPad or other digital note-taking system.