This section establishes what the reMarkable Paper Pro is, the hardware that defines it, and where it sits relative to the reMarkable 2 and the iPad. It also states plainly what the device deliberately will not do, so later setup and workflow chapters build on accurate expectations.
The Canvas Color Display
The Paper Pro is reMarkable's first color e-paper tablet. Launched in late 2024, it uses an 11.8-inch Canvas Color display built on E Ink Gallery 3 technology, running at 2160 x 1620 resolution (229 PPI) in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Color is produced by millions of ink particles that combine to render a broad, saturated range with no loss of resolution when writing or reading in color. The interface exposes nine distinct writing colors plus blending.
Two firsts distinguish this panel from every prior reMarkable. It is the first color e-paper device in the lineup, and it is the first with an adjustable reading light (frontlight), enabling use in dim rooms or complete darkness. The writing surface is a textured, paper-like layer with palm rejection and pen-to-ink latency under 1 mm.
Hardware and Stylus
Internally the device pairs a 1.8 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 with 2 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64 GB of storage. A 5,030 mAh battery delivers up to two weeks of regular use. Connectivity is dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) and USB-C for charging and data; there is no cellular option. At 274.1 x 196.6 x 5.1 mm and roughly 525 g, reMarkable markets it as the world's thinnest ePaper tablet.
The Paper Pro ships with an active, battery-powered Marker featuring a carbon-filled high-friction tip, plus six replacement tips. The Marker Plus adds a built-in eraser on its top end. These Markers are custom-built for the Canvas Color display and are not compatible with the reMarkable 2. Pricing is $579 with the standard Marker and $629 with the Marker Plus.
Figure 1.1: Paper Pro hardware components and stylus
Positioning vs. reMarkable 2 and iPad
Against the reMarkable 2, the Paper Pro is larger (11.8" vs. 10.3"), color instead of monochrome, adds a frontlight, and is about 40% more responsive — at the cost of weight (525 g vs. ~403 g). Against the iPad, the trade is philosophical: the iPad is a general-purpose computer with apps, media, and multitasking, while the Paper Pro is a focused writing-and-reading instrument. The reviewer heuristic is direct: if you write more than you consume, the reMarkable wins; if you consume more than you write, the iPad wins.
| Spec | Paper Pro | reMarkable 2 | iPad (Air, M-series) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 11.8" Canvas Color (Gallery 3) | 10.3" monochrome E Ink | LCD/OLED, full color |
| Resolution / PPI | 2160 x 1620 / 229 | 1872 x 1404 / 226 | High-res backlit |
| Frontlight | Yes | No | Backlit |
| Battery life | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 2 weeks | ~10 hours |
| Weight | ~525 g | ~403 g | ~460 g |
| Apps / browser / video | No | No | Yes |
| Price (with pen) | $579 / $629 | Lower | Higher |
Figure 1.2: Positioning quadrant (write-first vs. consume-first, distraction-free vs. general-purpose)
What It Deliberately Cannot Do
The Paper Pro's constraints are design decisions, not gaps. There is no web browser, no general app store beyond reMarkable's curated set, no video or streaming, no games, and no general-purpose multitasking. Color is exclusive to the Paper Pro within the current lineup; the cheaper Paper Pure and the older reMarkable 2 remain monochrome. The payoff for these omissions is a distraction-free environment with cloud backup — a device built for focus rather than for everything.