The best thing I bought this year: the Remarkable Paper Pro
About a year ago, we said you probably don’t need the Remarkable Paper Pro. The e-ink device is equal parts outrageous and luxurious; it’s not ideal for consuming books, and the screen can sometimes feel painfully slow. Then there’s the starting price, which is, quite frankly, ludicrous at $629 (up from $579 thanks to US-induced tariffs). Add in the $229 Type Folio, and holy hell.
Based on that description, most sane people would stay far, far away, and maybe spend their money on, I don’t know, Apple’s latest MacBook Air. We’ve seen Apple’s laptop drop down to as low as $738, making it the more affordable option against the combined price of the Remarkable Paper Pro and Type Folio keyboard case.
And yet, I not only bought the Paper Pro, but it’s the device I find myself reaching for most often when I want to GTD, like write this blog. Not because it’s the best tablet — it’s not — but because it’s a stubbornly single-purpose device. That’s a good thing!
While using it, I’m insulated from a world that’s constantly demanding my attention. There is no Slack app. I can’t doomscroll. There are exactly zero notifications. And instead of hitting me with AI and algorithms, it just sits there, quietly, inviting actual human thought and curation.
That’s the trick. The Paper Pro allows me to focus on what I’m doing, which feels like a small miracle. It creates a narrow lane, and that’s where I stay — no distracting detours or YouTube rabbit holes. In combination with the Type Folio, the experience is an absolute delight. Yes, the accessory is damn pricey at $229, but it’s worth every penny. It attaches to the tablet easily; it’s thin and light; and it doubles as protection.
I’m not that well-versed in keyboards — I use Apple’s Magic Keyboard as my daily driver — but the Type Folio is good. It’s not the most spacious keyboard around, but it’s very comfortable. The keys have a satisfying clickiness and feature a nice soft-touch finish. Some of the keys are backlit, too, allowing me to type well into the night. I still find it a little tricky to fold and unfold, but it’s stable enough to use on my lap when I need to.
Meanwhile, writing directly on the 11.8-inch Canvas Color display with the upgraded Marker Plus stylus (which adds another $129 purchased separately, or another $50 when bought with the Paper Pro) offers a great paper-like feel thanks to the tablet’s textured glass. I can scribble on a blank page or PDF, and there are some built-in productivity templates available, allowing me to use the Paper Pro as a daily planner. Every note I write and type is synced across Remarkable’s mobile and desktop apps, though it requires a $2.99 per month subscription.
Admittedly, I don’t use the Paper Pro to its fullest potential. I don’t often take advantage of the color display and the pen generally stays magnetically attached to the side of the tablet, though I’m trying to write with it more. There are other tablets that are cheaper and offer more capabilities. For me, though, the distraction-free approach and Type Folio are worth the price of admission. If you’re looking for a way to take a break from apps and notifications — beyond bricking your phone — the Paper Pro and Type Folio is an excellent setup.
Photography by Brandon Russell / The Verge