ReMarkable, renowned for its premium digital paper tablets, has taken a bold step away from the standard notebook size with its latest release. The Paper Pro Move condenses the technology that made last year's Paper Pro a standout—including its color E Ink display, textured writing surface, and backlight—into a compact 7.3-inch frame. Priced at $449 with the Marker stylus, it's engineered for portability without sacrificing core functionality, positioning itself as a digital pocket notebook for engineers, designers, and executives alike.

Engineering the Pocket Notebook Experience

Measuring just 7.7 x 4.2 x 0.25 inches and weighing 0.52 pounds, the Move fits comfortably in one hand or a jacket pocket. Its design mirrors the Paper Pro's premium aesthetics, featuring options for recycled polymer weave or genuine leather cases. The signature Marker stylus attaches magnetically, replicating the tactile feedback of pen-on-paper through ReMarkable's textured glass surface—a critical feature for users transitioning from physical notebooks.

Under the hood, the Move runs a 1.7GHz dual-core Cortex-A55 processor with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM, slightly less powerful than the Paper Pro's quad-core chip. This manifests in occasional lag when handling complex documents or pinch-zooming large files. The 2,334mAh battery, however, delivers impressive longevity—roughly two weeks per charge with rapid recharging (three days of runtime in 10 minutes).

Software Ecosystem: Strengths and Friction Points

ReMarkable's cloud sync remains a standout feature, allowing seamless transitions between the Move and other ReMarkable devices. Notes and sketches update in real-time across platforms. Integrations with Google Drive, Slack, and handwriting-to-text conversion enable the tablet to slot into technical workflows—annotating specs in Drive or sharing meeting notes directly to Slack channels.

Yet, the smaller display introduces challenges:
- Content scaling issues when viewing files created on larger devices
- Pixelation in resized handwritten notes
- Limited canvas space for complex diagrams or flowcharts

The newly optimized "Methods" (templates) for the Move's dimensions help mitigate this, offering tailored planners, grids, and agenda formats. An upcoming feature—handwritten note search—promises significant utility for developers tracking meeting action items or design revisions.

The Distraction-Free Premium

ReMarkable’s core philosophy—zero notifications, no web browsing, no apps—remains intact. For technical professionals combating constant digital interruptions, this enforced focus is transformative. As Kyle Kucharski notes in ZDNET's review: "Shifting your focus to a device that physically can't surf the web... allows you to lock in your focus to a single task."

Competitive Landscape and Value Proposition

The Move enters a market dominated by larger E Ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe (ideal for reading) and Boox devices (Android-powered versatility). At $449+, it’s undeniably premium. The optional Connect subscription ($29/year) adds cloud storage, handwriting conversion, and template access—valuable for power users but contentious for those resisting subscription models.

Verdict: A Niche Perfected

For developers sketching architecture diagrams during commutes, engineers logging field observations, or product managers capturing sprint notes, the Move’s portability justifies its price. It excels as a dedicated capture device rather than a primary workspace. While the display size imposes constraints on complex visual work, ReMarkable’s refined hardware and ecosystem integrations create a uniquely frictionless experience for raw idea generation. As E Ink evolves, this pocket-sized canvas demonstrates how constrained interfaces can paradoxically expand creative freedom.

Source: ZDNET