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[Refurb] Remarkable 2 E-Ink Tablet $549 ($481 with Referral), with Optional $9.99/Mo Connect Plan (100 Day Trial) @ Remarkable

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The Remarkable 2 is an e-ink device and is probably the best e-ink device for handwriting. There are other devices running Android etc that act more like a tablet and have more features, but the Remarkable has a big following (reddit etc) because of it's simplicity - it's designed for handwriting, notes etc without distractions and it's handwriting support is the best. It uses it's own operating system Codex (based on Linux) so shouldn't significantly slow down like android tablets.

$68 discount using the referral link - ie. $481 for the refurbished device & $531 for the new device (after discount)

Important to note:
1. They offer a 100 day satisfaction guarantee - use it, and return it, if you don't love it.
2. Cases and markers are sold separately during the order process. They are expensive. There are much cheaper aftermarket ones available.
3. Some features (Google Drive and Dropbox etc) need the Connect plan which is $9.99 / month.
4. The Connect plan is free for the first 100 days.

Two recent updates:
1. They now offer refurbished devices
2. The Connect plan was recently reduced from AUD $12.99 to $9.99 per month.

reMarkable 2 at a glance:

  • Convert your handwritten notes into text
  • All your notes, organized and accessible on all devices
  • Take handwritten notes, read, and review documents
  • Take notes directly on PDFs
  • Paper-like writing and reading
  • Integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox
  • 2 weeks of battery life
  • Connect Plan is free for first 100 days, then AU$9.99/month.
  • 36-month extended warranty

Specs:
OS: Codex
CPU: 1.2 GHz dual core ARM processor
Storage: 8GB
Memory: 1GB
Display: 10.3-inch, 1,872 x 1,404 digital paper
Marker: 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity
File support: PDF and ePUB
Wireless: 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi
Battery: 3,000 mAh
Battery life (rated): Up to 2 weeks
Size: 9.7 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
Weight: 14.1 ounces (0.88 pounds)

Mod note: prices in title should not include referral discount. Guidelines

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closed Comments

  • +4

    It looks nice, but at that kind of premium price…. The monthly fee kind of ruins it for me, paying to use google drive or Dropbox which you quite possibly already pay for….

  • Looking into buying Boox Nova Air which is smaller (there is also Boox Note with 10") but seems to be playing on the same field.
    IMHO Android OS is a killer here - all ReadItLater apps, all reading apps and formats, all available note taking apps.
    Any thoughts?

    • Kobo Libra? Or was it the sage that had note taking…
      Whichever one has note taking :)

    • +1

      Have boox note 2. Awesome device

      • Ditto, older but battery still lasts ageeees

  • +13

    that sounds absolutely insane to pay a subscription fee just for the privilege to use the Dropbox and Drive apps

    • +2

      Glad it’s not just me.

      • -5

        In Remarkable's defence, they are regularly bringing out software updates and feature improvements. I've only had the device for less than 6 months, and have had been very impressed with the regular updates. I guess this kind of fee pays for the ongoing updates.

        • +8

          There is absolutely NO defence for charging a subscription fee to use a cloud storage provider when many people may already be paying for one to begin with. And if people aren't paying for it, that's even worse, because they're then stuck paying for a simple connection between Remarkable and the provider.

          An API call is not going to cost them $10 per person per month regardless of their update frequency. That's just daylight robbery - there's nothing else to call it.

          • +1

            @KangaDrew: Agreed. Especially because there’s no alternatives.
            As the maker of the hardware there’s a reasonable expectation for them to provide this as a support, without it the value proposition on the whole is kind of weak.

            • -1

              @[Deactivated]: The connect plans advertised benefits are: All your notes in one place, Unlimited cloud storage, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive integration, Handwriting conversion, Screen Share, Send by email, 36-month extended warranty

              But the biggest benefits that I see are the unadvertised ones: They don't continually upgrade the devices and drop support for old models & they provide regular (monthly?) software updates with improvements.

              • +5

                @onceupon8: So kinda like how all my other devices also get regular updates, except those are free? And like how they can all connect to the cloud, use Google Drive, Dropbox, and Onedrive, and screen share, and send by email, and come with ACL warranty…except all of that is also free?

                And you reckon this is "the biggest benefit"?

    • You get access to their proprietary cloud as well, the google and one drive are just nice to have.
      Although my comment is biased, since I was grandfathered into the connect service.

  • It appears that my son's device, purchased in June 2021 doesn't have this "connect plan" nonsense.

    Thanks OP for posting though, so I can claim price protection.

    • Yes I think they started the fee less than a year ago and grandfathered users who bought before that. It seemed to have caused a lot of upset (reddit etc). I pay the fee and am OK with it as (1) they reduced the price of the device when they brought it in & (2) they are regularly updating the software with improved features.

      I used to make notes in paper notebooks for meetings and then could never find them later when I wanted to refer to something that was discussed. $120 a year for this is well worth it for me.

      • +2

        I'm glad you're happy with the service you're getting.👍

        OTOH, Subs like that just leave a bad taste in the mouth, in my eyes. I mean, I suppose intellectually, I can understand the rationale, but it doesn't build goodwill in me. In fact, it actively encourages me to look for alternatives. Of course, that's just me.

        • +2

          Yes often I don't like subs either and prefer to pay a larger upfront cost. But, my view has changed over time after paying for some really expensive SAAS services and realising they are much better supported than cheaper alternatives. I have realised the only way for companies to offer products that are supported and/or continually improved is to either be always be bringing out newer models that are better and getting people to upgrade, or to be getting an ongoing revenue stream. Otherwise the products become unsupported too quickly and die. I would rather pay an ongoing sub if it means the device continues to be supported.

  • I remember back in the day when I thought colour e-ink screens would take over the laptop world. Imagine being able to work outside, etc.

    Didn't happen. Why?

    • I think it may have something to do with refresh rates still being too low? I too was looking forward to something like that. Not to mention, the great battery life.

    • Key players like Sony dropped out due to loss makers (Amazon) dominating the revenue streams.

    • Colour e ink have painfully slow refresh rates. The black and white ones are sort of ok more but you can’t watch video etc on it. It’s a completely different purpose screen.

  • +1

    Why not just get an iPad? Can use one note to write and has all the features for similar price?

    • You're right. Although the iPad Air/Pro with Apple Pencil 2 would give you a better writing experience. Twice the price of the remarkable, but you get all the capabilities of an amazing tablet with M1 chip, multiple cameras that shoot 4K HDR video, near-studio quality mics, 4-speaker audio, etc.

    • Also, the native Notes app is great for writing/drawing, with great handwriting recognition and drawing features. The $15 Goodnotes app is also very good. I especially like its ability to easily create daily/weekly/monthly planners/diaries that you can write on with the pencil, and still have handwriting recognition that allows you to search all your notes/planners/diaries for text. The Notability app is no longer any good because it's subscription-based.

    • +1

      I have both. An iPad is like a computer. The remarkable is just for making notes. The remarkable provides a much better note taking experience than the iPad (but it can’t do anything else). It is better as it feels more like a real paper and pencil, it doesn’t have the bright light screen and the screen doesn’t timeout after 30 seconds like the iPad.

      • You can get a screen protector for the iPad that makes it feel like pencil on paper.

  • So whats the budget alternative here? Happy to get something on Ali, but $500+ for the device and a subscription on top is laughable.

  • Read plenty of reviews, ended up getting a Supernote for the Reddit community, permanent tip on the optional pen & zero ongoing fees to use basic functions of the product. All I hear from users of Remarkable is that support is all but non-existent.

    Still haven't received my Supernote due to Shanghai lockdowns but they've made up for the delay by giving everyone a leather carry pouch and responding to every single email in around a day.

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