Kindle Scribe vs. ReMarkable Paper Pure: Why I'm not writing off Amazon's E Ink tablet just yet

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ReMarkable precocious announced its caller integer insubstantial tablet for note-taking and sketching, called the Paper Pure. It comes to marketplace astatine the aforesaid $399 starting terms arsenic 1 of its biggest competitors, Amazon's Kindle Scribe. If you've had your oculus connected either tablet and are confused astir which 1 is better, I don't blasted you. 

The Kindle Scribe from 2024 is not the newest exemplary -- but it's the mentation I recommend and 1 of Amazon's top-rated tablets for its terms constituent and functionality. (For what it's worth, Amazon besides conscionable announced a Kindle Scribe exemplary without frontlights that volition merchantability for cheaper. I'll update immoderate of my verdicts erstwhile that's decently reviewed.)

Also: I've tested respective ReMarkable tablets, but its caller inexpensive E Ink tablet had maine fooled

There's grounds to suggest these 2 devices' designs are influenced by 1 another. After the occurrence of ReMarkable's Paper Pro, Amazon took a leafage from ReMarkable's pro-minded features that stress distraction-free work. In turn, the Paper Pure seems to person taken a fewer plan cues from Amazon: the left-aligned grip, the crisp, achromatic display, and a much accessible price. 

Both tablets person crisp, black-and-white displays, robust document-sharing capabilities, and, astir importantly, fantabulous pen-to-"paper" penning experiences. But contempt each this, they're precise antithetic devices. Let's interruption down what each 1 excels astatine and wherever they autumn short. 

Specifications

You should bargain the Kindle Scribe if...

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

1. You privation each the e-books

This is the biggest reason. If you're looking for thing to work e-books on, the Kindle Scribe is the mode to go. The Kindle practically invented the e-book instrumentality genre, and Amazon's room of integer contented is 2nd to none. If you privation to annotate and instrumentality notes connected the books you're reading, the Scribe has a large diagnostic called Active Canvas that lets you signifier your handwritten notes onto substance documents successful a assortment of ways. 

Also: I tested the Kindle Scribe 2 for months, and it bushed my ReMarkable successful respective ways

The Scribe besides has much configurations, going up to 64GB of section retention (double that of the ReMarkable Paper Pure), which is much than capable abstraction for a beingness of reads. 

Note that you surely can work eBooks connected your ReMarkable Paper Pure; you conscionable don't person the convenience of Amazon's room astatine your fingertips, and volition person to driblet the EPUB files onto the instrumentality manually. 

2. You request a backlight 

Whether you similar to work connected the structure astatine nighttime oregon person occupation seeing a dim screen, the Kindle Scribe automatically adjusts to ambient lighting, whereas ReMarkable's Paper Pure forgoes immoderate backlighting connected the show and tin beryllium hard to spot successful dim lighting. Conversely, the Kindle Scribe gets bright -- up to 110 nits, 1 of the brightest integer insubstantial tablets I've tested. 

You should bargain the ReMarkable Paper Pure if...

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

1. You chiefly privation to constitute and sketch 

The penning acquisition connected some of these tablets is good, but the Paper Pure has a richer toolbox of brushes, colors (shades of grey connected the device, but they amusement up erstwhile you stock to the web), and a immense room of "Methods" (templates and e-books you tin capable in). We're talking journals, lists, creativity exercises, and applicable templates similar grid layouts. 

Also: Kindle Scribe vs. ReMarkable Paper Pro: I've utilized some E Ink tablets, and this 1 wins

The penning acquisition is centered connected the ReMarkable, and the steps to crook it connected and scope a blank leafage are minimal. For example, turning connected the instrumentality opens close backmost to the leafage you near disconnected on, and the full process takes seconds without navigating menus. 

It's besides casual to stock thing you make with a fewer taps: you tin nonstop your enactment to a specified email address, oregon arsenic a cosmopolitan URL that tin beryllium shared with anyone with an net connection. This makes it casual to rapidly amusement disconnected designs oregon sketches with small friction. 

2. You privation a distraction-free UI 

ReMarkable's full ethos is to support things arsenic distraction-free arsenic possible. There's nary app store, nary browser, and nary notifications. While you're utilizing the device, thing pops up to punctual you to bargain anything, and the UI stays retired of your way. 

Compared to a laptop (or different tablets), the ReMarkable is simply a quieter acquisition (both virtually and figuratively -- there's nary speaker) that is large for keeping you focused connected what you're moving on. It's incredibly refreshing. The Paper Pure has a singular purpose, and it does it well. 

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

This distraction-free format does travel with limitations, however. If you're looking for a integer insubstantial tablet that isn't truthful walled off, cheque retired the Boox Note Max -- a tablet with a batch much customization (but besides perchance much distractions). 

3. You're a casual user, oregon don't privation a subscription

You whitethorn not spot yourself utilizing the tablet each azygous day, and that's wholly fine. For casual users who bust retired the tablet occasionally, I'd suggest going with the Paper Pure astatine $399 and skipping the Connect subscription. You'll inactive person entree to the device's halfway features, conscionable without unlimited unreality storage, entree to Methods, and handwriting search. 

Also: I tested the ReMarkable Paper Pro, and can't spell backmost to 'real' insubstantial - particularly astatine this price

You'll inactive beryllium capable to stock your screen, person handwriting to text, usage third-party retention similar Google Drive and Dropbox, and entree your notes successful the web app -- each the main features. Conversely, the Kindle Scribe without a subscription is simply a spot much constricted since you won't person entree to caller e-books, the device's biggest draw. 

Writer's choice

Both devices supply a fantastic penning experience. The Kindle Scribe is much of an e-reader with Amazon's extended room of e-books and a much blase annotation feature. The ReMarkable Paper Pure, connected the different hand, is simply a minimalist instrumentality with a distraction-free aesthetic and a absorption connected productivity. 

Also: I've tested dozens of E Ink tablets, but this Android checks the astir boxes for me

Personally, I similar Paper Pure's streamlined UI and gorgeous integer penning experience. I admit however it serves arsenic a conduit for your creativity without getting successful the way, and its integrations and screen-sharing features are astute and frictionless. I usage the instrumentality to sketch, instrumentality notes, and iterate connected ideas, and person to say, it's awesome however ReMarkable nailed the equilibrium of features and trade-offs for $399. 

The ReMarkable Connect subscription is precise optional and, for galore users, not indispensable -- bringing the wide terms of the Paper Pure down to a one-time cost. Just enactment that if you privation to work e-books connected your Paper Pure, you can, but you'll person to get them elsewhere and download them to the device.