The reMarkable Paper Pure smart notebook leaked online. It lasts up to three weeks, but comes with several compromises

People who want to write by hand but also have their notes digitally at hand have grown fond of smart notebooks from the Norwegian brand reMarkable in recent years. However, the flagship models Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move are priced more towards professionals than students or casual users. The manufacturer itself is clearly well aware of this, and is therefore preparing to launch a significantly more affordable model, the Paper Pure. But before it could be officially introduced, one of the retailers revealed it.

What exactly is a reMarkable-type smart notebook?

reMarkable notebooks are neither e-readers nor full-fledged tablets. Their purpose is to replace a paper notebook, but with the advantage that your notes will never get lost and you can access them anytime via a mobile or desktop application. The black and white e-ink display behaves similarly to paper. It doesn’t strain the eyes, is readable even in sunlight, and thanks to minimal power consumption, it can operate for weeks on a single charge. However, you won’t find Instagram, emails, or notifications that distract attention elsewhere.

A smart notebook is thus an interesting tool for students, journalists, creatives, or people who value focus and want to maintain a digital archive of handwritten notes. Most competitors in this category (such as Amazon Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa 2E) moreover target book readers more, treating writing as an add-on. reMarkable has the opposite philosophy: writing is the main discipline.

What we know about Paper Pure

The leak originates from the website of retailer Auckland Dutyfree, which listed the new product before its planned launch. The server Good E-Reader subsequently published images and a significant portion of the technical details, which were later supplemented by websites like Notebookcheck.

The Paper Pure will feature a 10.3″ third-generation e-ink display, which is expected to be whiter and more contrasty compared to the reMarkable 2. Pen latency should be around 21 milliseconds, which is a very respectable value in this category. The body weighs only 360 grams, and inside is a battery with a capacity of 3,820 mAh, which should last up to three weeks of normal use. Charging will be handled by a USB-C port.

Connectivity will be provided by Wi-Fi 2.4 and 5 GHz and Bluetooth, allowing for the connection of a wireless keyboard. Under the hood, according to leaks from the FCC database, lies an ARM Cortex A55 chipset, which is a noticeable upgrade compared to the older reMarkable 2 model. Furthermore, it appears to be one of the first notebooks with a replaceable battery, a consequence of the new European directive on electronics repairability.

Compromises for a lower price

For reMarkable to achieve its target price, it had to make several concessions. The most noticeable is the absence of display backlighting, meaning you won’t be able to write a single line in a darkened room or at night in bed. The body is largely plastic, instead of the metal materials found in more expensive models.

Furthermore, the pogo pins have disappeared from the sides, so the new device will not be compatible with magnetic keyboards for reMarkable 2. Moreover, writing will exclusively work with the official reMarkable Pen. Instead of Wacom technology, the manufacturer opted for its own USI variant, thereby cutting off third-party styluses and pens from Lamy or Marker Plus. Existing reMarkable 2 owners will also find their cases and covers unusable, as the dimensions differ slightly.

Price and availability

According to leaks, the price will range between 350 and 450 dollars, which translates to approximately 7,200 to 9,300 CZK, with the upper limit corresponding to the variant with a stylus included in the package.

Would you buy the reMarkable Paper Pure smart notebook?

Sources: Good E-Reader, Notebookcheck, Joshua Lowcock