There are dozens of tablet manufacturers, which makes it hard to stand out with hundreds of slates on the market at any time. The ability to use your tablet as a notepad is a huge bonus to many users, which leads people to consider the reMarkable 2 vs. iPad Pro. While both are large tablets with digital pens, they are geared toward completely different audiences.
reMarkable 2 vs. iPad Pro: Side-by-Side Comparison
| reMarkable 2 | iPad Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020 | 2022 |
| Display | 10.3-inch | 11 or 12.9 inches |
| Resolution | 1,872 x 1,404 | 2,732 x 2,048 or 2,388 x 1,668 |
| Processor | 1.2Ghz dual-core ARM | Apple M2 |
| RAM | 1GB | 8GB, 16GB |
| Storage | 8GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery Life | 2 weeks | 10 hours |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
| MSRP | $299 | $799 or $1,099 |
reMarkable 2 vs. iPad Pro: What’s the Difference?
To some, comparing the reMarkable 2 against the iPad Pro is like comparing apples and oranges. While both are tablets, the operating system and hardware are on opposite ends of the technical spectrum. The differences are vast in several areas, but it all starts with the design.
Design
When you pick up an iPad Pro, you know you’re holding a premium tablet. The design screams Apple, even if the 6th generation iPad Pro has the same overall design as the previous three generations. That’s not a bad thing if you appreciate an attractive slate, and the build quality is top-tier.
The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro weighs 1.5 pounds and is a little over 11 inches tall and 8.4 inches wide. While it’s big, it’s slim at only 6.4mm or a quarter inch. At 9.7 inches tall and 7 inches wide, the 11-inch model is more manageable and a bit thinner at 5.9mm. It’s close to a half-pound lighter, but still not as svelte as the reMarkable 2 tablet.
- 6th Gen
- Includes Apple's latest M2 chip
- 512 GB
- Features Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- Supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2 (not included)
reMarkable bills its slate as the “thinnest” tablet on the planet, and it’s hard to argue that point when you see it in person. It’s 4.7mm thick and weighs 4.3 grams so it’s less than a pound although wider than the 11-inch iPad Pro 6th gen. This tablet also has a premium design; it’s just made for a different purpose.
The reMarkable 2 is lighter and thinner than the iPad Pro lineup, but with a smaller display. Both tablets are attractive with a modern style, although there’s a reason the reMarkable was able to keep their tablet slim: the specifications.
Specifications
As the name implies, the iPad Pro is a powerful tablet and the “Pro” version of the regular iPad. It’s designed for power users and can run circles around most slates on the market when it comes to performance.
Powering the iPad Pro is the Apple M2 chip. It’s an 8-core processor with plenty of pop and a 10-core GPU. It’s 18% faster than the M1 chip and has a GPU that’s 35% more powerful. That chip gets a boost from 8GB or 16GB of RAM depending on the model.
The 1TB and 2TB iPad Pro tablets come with 16GB of storage, while 8GB is standard on the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variants. By comparison, the reMarkable 2 has 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM under the hood. The processor is a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM chip, which is a significant step down from Apple’s M2 powerhouse.
The iPad Pro is more powerful than the reMarkable 2 across the board. You’ll get more storage space, a faster processor, and 8-16 times the amount of RAM. While Apple wins with horsepower, you don’t need top-tier specs to read an ebook or take notes on the reMarkable 2.
Display
The technology used in displays gets better every few years, even if most tablets still have a max resolution of 2K. Both Apple and reMarkable take pride in their premium panels, but for completely different reasons.
The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a better display than the smaller version, but not by much. Both have a pixel density of 264 PPI, but the larger version has a resolution of 2,732 x 2,048 compared to 2,388 x 1,668 on the 11-inch Pro. ProMotion technology is present on both tablets which have a P3 wide color gamut and a True Tone display.
SDR brightness is 600 nits on the tablet, but the 12.9-inch iPad Pro can hit 1,600 peak nits with HDR content. Needless to say, you won’t be disappointed with either of these displays which have vibrant colors, depth, and a high resolution. That’s not the case with the reMarkable 2 display.
The original reMarkable and the new model have the same size display at 10.3 inches with a resolution of 1,872 x 1,404. The company used the second-generation CANVAS display in the new model, which is more responsive than the original. Latency has improved to 21ms and it has higher contrast than the previous version.
The biggest change is the screen itself which has glass compared to a composite panel on the reMarkable 1. Writing on the new tablet is closer to what you’ll experience on the iPad Pro. The original felt more like you were writing on a sheet of paper, which leads us to the features of these slates.
Apple Pencil vs. reMarkable 2: Features
If you’re considering the reMarkable 2 tablet, you’re looking for a slate to read ebooks and take notes. While you can tackle some other tasks from the reMarkable, it’s not a traditional tablet like the iPad by any means.
CANVAS Display
The flagship feature of the reMarkable 2, aside from the CANVAS display, is its note-taking ability. It quickly converts handwritten notes to text, regardless of how bad your handwriting is.
You can notate directly on PDFs or you can import content from Microsoft Office, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This cloud-friendly tablet can replace notebooks but allows you to feel like you’re writing on one.
There are no cameras or fingerprint scanners on the reMarkable 2 as it provides a distraction-free experience. If you’re interested in a slate that performs like an oversized smartphone, you’ll love what the iPad Pro brings to the table.
Camera
On the iPad Pro, you’ll find a 12MP wide and 10MP ultrawide camera with optical zoom. While the tablet may not be pocket-friendly, it takes amazing photos, but can also shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second.
- Powerful productivity features in iPadOS
- Next-generation Apple Pencil experience
- Run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos
- Stage Manager makes multitasking easy with resizable, overlapping apps, and external display support
- Comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps available on the App Store
- Wi-Fi 6E gives you fast wireless connections so you can work from anywhere with quick transfers of photos, documents, and large video files
- The 8-core CPU in the M2 chip delivers powerful performance, while the 10‑core GPU provides blazing-fast graphics
- All-day battery life so you can do everything you can imagine on iPad Pro
- Up to 2 terabytes of storage means you can store everything from apps to large files like 4K video
- Magic Keyboard features a great typing experience and a built‑in trackpad while doubling as a protective cover for iPad
- Space Gray
You can use Animoji or scan things in 3D thanks to LiDAR technology. You also get a virtual assistant with Siri along with four speakers and five studio-quality microphones.
Face ID, Apple Pay, and external display support are other perks of the iPad Pro. While this part of our reMarkable 2 vs. iPad Pro debate is a bit unfair, it’s safe to say the iPad Pro provides a more well-rounded experience overall.
Operating System
There are two main mobile operating systems on tablets for users to consider when it comes to Android and iOS. As an Apple product, the iPad Pro runs the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. That means you’ll get a streamlined experience, plenty of updates, and access to the App Store.
The App Store has millions of apps and games available to download. From ebook readers and professional editing software to match 3 games, there is something for everyone.
That includes services like Disney+ and software from companies like Adobe and Microsoft along with Apple’s unique apps. The iPad Pro is a multimedia machine, but the App Store turns it into an entertainment powerhouse.
With the reMarkable 2, you’re getting a Linux-based operating system built from Android. Users feel it’s intuitive and easy to use, although you’re not going to find Google Play on the device. There’s no traditional app store, so you can’t play games or use apps like Netflix on this tablet. There are a handful of compatible productivity apps available, however.
Battery Life
The iPad Pro is a large slate in both configurations which means it needs plenty of power. The company promises up to 10 hours of battery life from the 11-inch or 12.9-inch versions of the iPad Pro, although they have different size batteries.
A 40.9-watt battery is in the larger model while the 11-inch iPad Pro has a 28.6-watt-hour battery under the hood. 10 hours is considered “all day” battery life for many manufacturers, although the real number varies depending on how you use the tablet.
With the reMarkable 2, you’ll get up to 2 weeks of battery life from a 3,000mAh battery. That’s impressive, and a significant upgrade over the original tablet. It’s also true, so you can expect to get close to that mark whether you’re using the tablet to read books or take notes.
The iPad Pro may beat the reMarkable 2 with specifications and features, but it can’t hold a candle to the E-ink slate when it comes to battery life.
Pricing & Availability
One of the biggest issues with the original reMarkable was the pricing. It launched with a price of $599 in 2017, which put it behind comparable devices designed for ebooks and taking notes. The company remedied that problem and other issues with the reMarkable 2, which has a more palatable price tag of $299.
Pricing for the 6th generation iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 11-inch model or $1,099 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Pricing goes up depending on the configuration, but it’s more expensive than the reMarkable 2 in every variation. That’s expected given the specifications and branding.
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While you might expect a large price gap between these devices, availability might surprise you. You can purchase the new iPad Pro directly from Apple or through any major retailer like Amazon. You can get them at a discount through mobile carriers like Verizon or even purchase older models at a discount, like the 2021 iPod Pro.
If you want to purchase the reMarkable 2 tablet, you’ll need to go to the official reMarkable website to do so at this time. While we were able to track it down at a few online retailers, it was almost twice the price. You can’t buy the reMarkable 2 on Amazon, although you can buy accessories for it, or pick up the original reMarkable paper tablet.
iPad Pro vs. reMarkable 2: 4 Must-Know Facts
- The new iPad Pro is the 6th tablet from the iPad Pro collection.
- At 4.7mm, the reMarkable 2 is the thinnest tablet on the market.
- Apple uses 100% recycled aluminum in the iPad Pro construction.
- The Marker Plus stylus on the reMarkable 2 has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
reMarkable 2 vs. iPad Pro: Which One Is Better?
Which of these tablets is the best choice for you all depends on what you’re looking for from a slate. If you’re simply purchasing a tablet to take notes and read ebooks, it’s hard to argue against the reMarkable 2.
It’s designed for that purpose, so you can read or work in peace without being distracted by social media or unnecessary apps. The note-taking capabilities are top-notch, and it produced a more paper-like feel than other writing tablets in this class.
However, you can also take notes with the Apple Pencil or read any ebook under the sun on the iPad Pro. Formats won’t be a problem, and neither are apps considering the wealth of options in the App Store. It’s the better all-around tablet and it’s not even close, especially if you plan on doing more than taking notes or reading books.
Consumers that just plan on reading books or working on documents from their tablet will appreciate the reMarkable 2 and its fantastic battery life. For everyone else, we recommend the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
