reMarkable has carved out a unique niche in the world of digital tablets: devices that aim not to do everything, but to recreate the feeling of paper or notebook writing, free from distractions. Their newest offering, the reMarkable Paper Pro Move, takes this philosophy and compresses it into a much more compact, highly portable form. But in creating a “smaller reMarkable”, are there compromises? And for whom does this “e-paper companion” make the most sense? This article explores the technical and experiential trade-offs, compares with competitors, and guides you in making an informed purchase if you are considering the reMarkable Paper Pro Move.
What Is the reMarkable Paper Pro Move?
At its core, the reMarkable Paper Pro Move is a 7.3-inch color e-paper tablet, part of reMarkable’s “Paper Pro” family. It preserves most of the features users praised in the larger Paper Pro released in 2024, but in a size that’s more “pocketable” or at least bag-friendly.
Some of its headline specs:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | 7.3-inch Canvas Color Display, built on E Ink Gallery 3 technology; approximately 954 × 1696 pixels; ~264 ppi (pixels per inch) for sharp text and graphics |
| Processor & RAM | Dual-core ARM Cortex-A55 at ~1.7 GHz, 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 64 GB internal storage |
| Battery | 2,334 mAh battery, claimed to last up to two weeks under moderate usage; fast charging so 0–90% in under ~45 minutes |
| Weight & Size | ~232-235 grams, ~6.5 mm thick. Dimensions around 195.6 × 107.8 mm |
| Of Note | Comes with reMarkable’s Marker stylus, or optional Marker Plus (added eraser tip and matte surface). Supports PDF, ePub, folders/tags, handwriting-to-text conversion, cloud sync, and more |
The device is meant as “paper structure in digital format” — minimal distractions, no entertainment apps, no bells and whistles like video streaming or heavy multimedia. The idea is pure writing, sketching, reading, annotating, and note-taking with a high fidelity to paper.
Click here to view the product on its official website
Technology and What Makes It Special
Display: Canvas Color + Gallery 3
- The reMarkable Paper Pro Move uses E Ink Gallery 3 technology, which allows more vivid and accurate colors than many previous eInk color panels, especially when combined with reMarkable’s own “Canvas Color display stack.”
- Unlike many color e-readers where color significantly reduces resolution or contrast, reMarkable has attempted to maintain pixel density and sharpness. Because of the physics of E Ink, rendering color tends to lag slightly—the stroke appears in black/greyscale, then the display updates to add color.
- There is a front-light for use in dim environments; not extremely bright compared to tablets or even some high-end e-readers, but sufficient for low ambient light.
Stylus and Writing Experience
- Comes with the standard Marker stylus. The Marker Plus is optional, with an eraser built into the rear end and a more matte tip surface for increased friction (giving more paper-like feedback).
- The screen’s surface is textured glass designed to simulate the resistance of pen or pencil on paper. reMarkable reportedly went through many prototypes of surface finishes to get the right “pushback” and to make sure the nib-to-ink-layer distance is optically and mechanically acceptable.
- High pressure sensitivity, tilt support and low latency make note-taking fluid. For typical note-taking and sketching the stylus response is excellent; but for very heavy artwork or intricate, large drawings you might notice lag.
System Architecture & OS
- Uses reMarkable OS (custom Linux-based), which is optimized for low latency writing, low power usage, and high durability.
- Memory (2 GB) and storage (64 GB) are generous for note-taking, managing large PDFs, or storing sketches and color notes. But the chip is a dual-core CPU, not a quad-core. Embedding high resolution, color ePaper with smooth UI transitions is constrained by physical refresh speeds.
Compared to Competitors
When considering the reMarkable Paper Pro Move, it helps to see how it stacks up against its peers:
| Device | Display Size & Type | Stylus / Pen Features | Weight & Portability | Notable Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reMarkable Paper Pro Move | 7.3″ Canvas Color E Ink, ~264 ppi | Marker / Marker Plus; textured glass; paper-like feel | ~232–235 g; very portable (jacket-pocket friendly) | Best writing feeling; color support; distraction-free; good battery life | Higher price; slower color rendering; limited front-light; limited for reading full-feature eBooks or using third-party app store |
| reMarkable Paper Pro (11.8″) | Larger color E Ink, more screen real estate | Same pen tech, full features | Heavier (~520 g); less portable | Great for full-page work, larger notes, sketching over full spread | Bulky, pricier, less suitable for mobility |
| Kindle Scribe / Kobo Color Note / Others | Usually ~10-10.3″; some use Kaleido or similar color filters | Stylus support (varies), reading focus | Varies, generally lighter than full tablets | Better for reading books; varied ecosystems; often with brighter lights and richer reading tools | Pen lag; less paper-like writing; fewer writing tools; weaker handwriting conversion |
If your work involves mostly reading and annotating books, long documents, or working with large diagrams, you might still prefer a larger device. But if your priorities are portability, note-taking, ease of carrying, the Move is enticing.
Buying Considerations & Use-Case Fit
- Primary Use: Writing vs Reading vs Mixed
- If you primarily write—or sketch, brainstorm, annotate—the Move excels in delivering a tactile, distraction-free environment.
- If you are heavy into reading (especially full-feature eBooks, novels, or magazines), a device optimized for reading might serve you better.
- Portability / Size Constraints
- For fieldworkers, academics, journalists, designers who move between venues, the Move opens possibilities. Slipping into a jacket or backpack, taking quick notes in lectures or meetings, sketching in transit—all become more practical.
- But the smaller screen means you may trade off visibility. PDF pages, complex diagrams, musical scores, or full-spread content might feel cramped. It may require more zooming/panning, which can reduce efficiency.
- Battery Life vs Brightness Trade-Off
- The claim is up to two weeks for moderate use. But note: front-light brightness, frequent color use, many page refreshes, or heavy annotation will reduce that.
- Charging speed matters if you’re using often; Move supports fast filling of battery but still slower than charging speeds of many LCD/LED tablets.
- Software Features vs Ecosystem
- reMarkable’s OS is minimalist, purposeful. No app store, minimal distractions. That is a feature, not a bug, depending on your preference.
- Features like handwriting-to-text, searchable handwriting, cloud sync, template support, etc., are useful. Some are included; others may depend on reMarkable’s subscription service.
- Cost/Value Trade-off
- With a base price of around US$449 with the regular Marker, and about US$499 with the upgraded Marker Plus, the Move is not cheap.
- You are paying a premium for design refinement, writing feel, focused UX, and portability. If you are more interested in cost-efficient tablets or in using general-purpose tablets with stylus, those may have better performance for multipurpose use but weaker paper-like feel.
- Durability, Build, and Accessories
- The Move has an anodized aluminium casing, textured glass, and recycled materials built into housing and packaging.
- Accessories are fewer than the full-size Paper Pro: no keyboard folio, only a Book Folio cover, choice between Markers. If typing or transforming into a laptop-like workflow is essential, a full-size tablet or larger reMarkable might be better.
Weaknesses & Potential Limitations
- Color Rendering & Refresh Lag: Because of how E Ink color displays work, when switching to color or when applying highlights or certain tools, you might see a perceptible delay.
- Front Light Brightness: While it includes a front-light, it is not as powerful or as adjustable as LED screens.
- Limited App Ecosystem: No third-party apps, only what reMarkable provides. If you want one tablet for everything—reading, web, email, video—the Move is not intended to replace those.
- Price vs Cost per Use: If your usage is light (occasional notes, few sketches), the high per-dollar per feature may seem steep compared to tablets that do more.
- Subscription Features: Some features may require a subscription after the trial period.
Who Should Buy the reMarkable Paper Pro Move?
- Writers / Journalers who prefer the tactile feel of pen on paper but want digital backups, searchability, portability.
- Academics & Grad Students who frequently attend seminars, fieldwork, conferences, want to take notes on PDFs, annotate, sketch diagrams, but want something lighter than full-size tablets.
- Professionals / Executives who value minimal distractions and want a digital notebook for meeting notes, idea capture, sketches, etc.
- Artists / Designers (light users) who do casual sketches and might appreciate the stylus feedback and portability.
Less ideal for:
- People who read large technical papers, journals, or want to view spreadsheet or slide-deck style content continuously (screen size may feel limiting).
- Heavy multimedia users, or those wanting browser / apps / video / entertainment features.
- Users on tight budgets.
Final Verdict: Is reMarkable Paper Pro Move Worth It?
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is not for everyone. But for those who value the writing-experience, the feel of paper, portability, minimal distractions, and solid colour note/annotation capacity, it qualifies as one of the best devices available.
If you can accept the trade-offs (smaller screen, less brightness, slower color refresh, premium price), the Move delivers a refined e-paper experience. It doesn’t try to be an iPad, or an all-rounder tablet—it doubles down on doing one thing well (or a few things in its domain) and shipping with polish.
For many users—especially professionals, creatives, students—the Move may hit the sweet spot: better writing feel than generic tablets, more usable in mobile contexts than full-size e-paper slates, and enough technical features (storage, stylus, search, file support) to make it a productivity tool rather than a novelty.
Buying Checklist
Before pulling the trigger, here’s a checklist to ensure it aligns with your needs:
- Try writing on it, if possible. The tactile feedback (nib, screen texture) is subjective and central to your satisfaction.
- Check your workflow formats: if you work heavily with PDFs, do you need to zoom, annotate, view full spreads?
- Consider how often you’ll use colour vs greyscale: heavy colour use may reduce battery life and expose display lag.
- Light environments: verify front-light brightness suffices for your usage (night, dim room).
- Accessory budget: Marker Plus vs standard Marker; folio covers; whether you need or want a keyboard; etc.
- Long-term support & software updates: ensure subscription costs and feature unlocks fit your cost constraints.
- Compare alternatives: is a general tablet (iPad, Android) suitable? Could a color e-reader + separate pen tool work? The Move is premium—make sure the advantages it offers are ones you’ll use often.
Conclusion
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move marks a significant step in e-paper tablet evolution. It keeps the signature reMarkable experience—paper-like writing, minimal distractions, high-quality build—and makes it far more mobile. For users demanding portability without abandoning serious note-taking or colour annotations, the Move offers one of the best compromises currently possible.
While its compromises—screen size, brightness limits, cost—are real, they are acceptable for people whose priority is writing and note capture over multimedia or full-feature computing. As with all cutting-edge tools, the value you get depends heavily on how much you use it and whether those core features align with your habits.
If you enjoyed this article, don’t miss our previous posts packed with tech insights and reviews—check them out on our website!
