reMarkable 2 vs Paper Pure: Should You Upgrade?

Quick overview: the biggest differences

At first glance, the reMarkable 2 and Paper Pure almost look like the same device.

Same screen size. Same minimalist design language. Same distraction-free philosophy. Even existing PDF planners and templates work perfectly on both devices.

But once you start comparing the details, the differences become much more interesting.

The Paper Pure introduces a newer display technology with a whiter screen and improved contrast, faster responsiveness while writing, a larger battery, and a more repair-friendly design. At the same time, some familiar things disappeared too. The old passive Marker system is gone, existing pens no longer work, and the new stylus now needs charging.

Here’s the quick overview:

• New Carta 1300 display with improved contrast

• Whiter screen appearance

• Faster writing experience with 21 ms latency

• Active Marker that now requires charging

• Existing RM2 pens are no longer compatible

• Larger battery with up to 3 weeks of use

• More repair-friendly hardware design

• Slightly lighter body

• Same 10.3-inch display size

• Same 4:3 aspect ratio

• Same resolution and PDF compatibility

So while the Paper Pure may look very familiar on the outside, it is actually a much bigger update than many people initially expected.

The screen: familiar, but noticeably improved

One of the smartest things reMarkable did with the Paper Pure was not changing the screen format.

The new device keeps the exact same 10.3-inch size, 4:3 aspect ratio, and 1872 × 1404 resolution as the reMarkable 2. That means the overall writing space feels instantly familiar, and existing PDF planners, notebooks, and templates continue to work perfectly without needing redesigns.

But even though the specifications look almost identical on paper, the actual experience appears noticeably improved.

The Paper Pure uses a newer E Ink Carta 1300 display, which gives the screen a whiter appearance and stronger contrast compared to the RM2. Early reviews also mention that the device feels much snappier overall, with faster page turns, quicker navigation, and lower writing latency.

So while this is not a dramatic redesign of the screen itself, it does seem to be a meaningful refinement of the writing experience many people already loved about the reMarkable 2.

The writing experience changed more than expected

This is probably where the biggest differences between the reMarkable 2 and Paper Pure start to appear.

The reMarkable 2 used passive Wacom EMR technology for its Marker, which meant the pen never needed charging. You could simply pick it up and start writing immediately, something many long-time reMarkable users absolutely loved.

The Paper Pure changes that completely. The new Marker now uses active pen technology, contains its own battery, and charges magnetically on the side of the tablet. Existing RM2 pens and most third-party styluses are no longer compatible.

For some users, that will immediately feel like a downside. Having to charge a pen simply adds another thing to think about.

But there is a reason reMarkable made the switch. The Paper Pure now feels noticeably faster and more responsive while writing, with just 21 ms latency. Early reviews consistently mention that writing feels more immediate and fluid than on the RM2, almost as if the digital ink appears directly underneath the pen tip.

So the trade-off is pretty clear:

• the RM2 offers simplicity and a passive pen system

• the Paper Pure offers a more advanced and responsive writing experience

Which one you prefer will probably depend on what you value most.

The biggest downside of the Paper Pure

For all the improvements the Paper Pure brings, there is one thing many people immediately noticed after launch: it still does not include a front light.

That means you still need external lighting when using the device in darker rooms or at night, just like with the reMarkable 2.

For some users, that will not matter at all. Many reMarkable fans actually prefer the more paper-like experience and appreciate the fact that the screen does not glow like a traditional tablet.

But others may find this disappointing, especially now that competitors like the Kindle Scribe and many BOOX devices include adjustable front lighting as standard.

The Paper Pure also remains very focused and intentionally limited in some areas:

• no color display

• no Android apps

• no web browser

• no expandable ecosystem

• no third-party stylus support

And honestly, that is both the biggest weakness and the biggest strength of reMarkable devices in general.

They are designed to do less, so you can focus more.

Should existing reMarkable 2 users upgrade?

It may sound cliché, but it’s true: whether the Paper Pure is worth upgrading to really depends on how you currently use your reMarkable 2.

If you already love your RM2 and mainly use it for planners, notebooks, journaling, note-taking, or annotating PDFs, there is no urgent reason to upgrade immediately. The core experience remains very similar, and your existing workflows and templates continue to work perfectly.

But there are definitely situations where the Paper Pure starts to make a lot of sense.

You may want to upgrade if:

• your RM2 is starting to feel slower

• you want a whiter screen with better contrast

• you care about faster writing responsiveness

• you want newer hardware with better repairability

• you plan to keep your device for many more years

At the same time, keeping your RM2 may actually be the smarter choice if:

• you love the passive Marker that never needs charging

• you already own multiple EMR pens

• you are perfectly happy with the current writing experience

• you mainly use PDFs and templates already

For many existing RM2 users, the Paper Pure probably feels more like a refinement than a revolutionary upgrade. And depending on your priorities, that may either make it very tempting or very skippable.

Good news for template compatibility

One of the best surprises about the Paper Pure is how compatible it is with existing reMarkable 2 templates.

Because both devices use the same screen size, aspect ratio, and resolution, existing PDF planners, notebooks, journals, and hyperlinked templates work seamlessly on both devices. There is no need to redesign layouts or reposition tabs.

That makes switching between the RM2 and Paper Pure much easier than many people expected.

Ready to personalize your Paper Pure or reMarkable 2? You can explore my growing collection of Paper Pure compatible planners, notebooks, journals, productivity templates, and more here on einktemplate.com.

Final thoughts

The Paper Pure does not reinvent the reMarkable experience. Instead, it refines it.

The screen is better, the writing feels faster, the battery is larger, and the hardware feels more future-focused. At the same time, the overall philosophy remains exactly the same: a calm, distraction-free device designed for thinking, writing, and staying focused.

If you are buying your first reMarkable today, the Paper Pure will probably be the most logical choice for many people.

But if you already own and enjoy the reMarkable 2, this feels much more like an evolution than a must-have upgrade.