Tablets have become indispensable productivity tools for many, but with countless options on the market, deciding which one best suits your needs can be a challenge. Two premium devices that often come up are the reMarkable 2 and iPad Pro. Both offer large displays and responsive stylus input but are actually quite different tablets tailored toward distinct use cases.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the key features of the reMarkable 2 and iPad Pro to help you determine which is better for your needs.
A Brief Background
First, some history on both devices. reMarkable is a Norwegian startup founded in 2014 that focuses solely on innovative paper tablet technology aimed to replace notebooks and physical paper. Their first product was the original reMarkable tablet launched in 2017, followed by the reMarkable 2 in 2020 which improved upon the original in nearly every way.
In contrast, Apple debuted the first iPad Pro back in 2015. As a versatile high-end tablet, the iPad Pro encompasses everything from media consumption to business productivity and creative work, all powered by Apple’s intuitive iPadOS ecosystem. The latest 6th generation iPad Pro was released in October 2022.
So while both devices offer big screens with stylus input for writing and drawing, the reMarkable 2 is purpose-built just for those tasks, while the iPad Pro is an exceptionally powerful all-in-one tablet. Keeping that core difference in mind, let’s compare them.
Size and Design
The two size options for the latest iPad Pro tablets are 11-inches and 12.9-inches. Dimensions are as follows:
- 11-inch – Height: 9.74 inches (247.6 mm), Width: 7 inches (178.5 mm), Depth: 0.23 inch (5.9 mm), Weight: 1.03 pounds (467 grams)
- 12.9-inch – Height: 11.04 inches (280.6 mm), Width: 8.46 inches (214.9 mm), Depth: 0.25 inch (6.4 mm), Weight: 1.5 pounds (682 grams)
As a 10.3-inch tablet focused squarely on reading and writing, the reMarkable 2 is more comparable to the 11-inch iPad Pro in size but thinner at just 0.19 inches (4.7 mm) thick and 0.95 lbs (403 g). The lightweight slate feels solid with its anodized aluminum frame but undoubtedly benefits from having a simpler function than the iPad Pro’s computing power.
Both tablets have modern, minimalist designs with slim straight edges and large displays flanked by modest bezels. The iPad Pro comes in space grey and silver finishes, while the reMarkable 2 is offered in grey only. Overall build quality seems excellent on both.
The reMarkable 2 earns points for its incredible lightness and razor-thin form – making it easy to hold and carry around all day for reading and note-taking. But the iPad Pro offers a bit more flexibility with its two size options to suit different needs.
Displays
A key part of the experience with both tablets of course comes from interacting with the display.
The iPad Pro features a stunning Liquid Retina display with Promotion technology boasting a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The 11-inch screen has a sharp 2388 x 1668 resolution, while the 12.9-inch pushes it up to an immersive 2732 x 2048 pixels, with both supporting wide P3 color, True Tone, ultralow reflectivity, and 600 nits brightness. Vibrant, fluid and perfectly balanced.
The reMarkable 2 also has an excellent display tailored to its core functions of reading and writing. At 226 PPI, sharpness and text clarity are excellent. But it also mimics actual paper with its Canvas display technology which uses a proprietary friction algorithm to give the stylus a paper-like feel, aided by a latency of just 21ms for precise input. There is also less glare even in sunlight for distraction-free use.
Between the two, while the iPad Pro offers the more striking display overall, the reMarkable 2’s screen is perfectly optimized for the realistic writing experience that is the device’s primary focus.
Performance and Features
Here is where we see a major difference in the makeup of these tablets.
Powering the iPad Pro’s world-class display and versatile functionality is the impressive new Apple M2 chip which enables excellent all-around performance whether working, gaming or anything in between. Multitasking is smooth and fluid with 8GB or 16GB of fast unified memory. Combined with iPadOS 16 and the vast array of optimized apps in the App Store, the iPad Pro is an productivity powerhouse perfect for creators and business users.
In contrast, the simpler reMarkable 2 runs on a modest 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM processor and just 1GB RAM. Clearly no match for the iPad Pro in terms of performance or features, but then again this tablet is built solely for the core functions of reading, writing and sketching. And with those focus in mind, the optimized software ensures a reliable experience whether taking notes or marking up documents.
Another major difference is that iPadOS offers full access to Apple’s rich App Store with millions of apps and games as well as services like iMessage, Siri and more. This adds limitless functionality from productivity to entertainment. Meanwhile, reMarkable’s Linux-based OS is purposely designed just for reading and writing. Outside of some templates and document formats, don’t expect apps or other digital distractions. Battery life is excellent though at about 2 weeks per charge.
So if you want a tablet focused simply on reading ebooks and replacing paper notepads – the reMarkable 2 perfectly fits the bill with lag-free writing and incredible long battery life. But if you think you’ll ever want more versatility from your tablet, then it’s hard to beat everything the feature-packed iPad Pro has to offer.
Stylus Performance for Drawing & Note-taking
As tablets designed for freehand writing and sketching, a key aspect for both the iPad Pro and reMarkable 2 lies in stylus performance.
The iPad Pro supports the Apple Pencil 2nd Generation which magnetically snaps onto the side of the tablet when not in use. Extremely accurate and responsive, the Pencil boasts 4,096 pressure levels and imperceptible 20ms latency, enabling precise control whether drawing fine lines or shading. Convenient gestures like tap to change tools or swipe to undo further aid the creative process.
reMarkable’s Marker Plus stylus delivers similarly excellent performance with 4,096 pressure levels like the Apple Pencil. But its unique CANVAS Display technology results in a different feel described by users as more friction-like paper when writing. Latency is an imperceptible 21ms and palm rejection works flawlessly. Coupled with thin marker tip, it makes for an extremely natural writing experience akin to actual pen and paper.
Tilt support and customizable shortcut buttons add functionality to both styluses. They also charge magnetically and last about 12 hours per charge.
For drawing and writing, both deliver exceptional results – just down to your preference between the ultra-smooth glassy feel of the iPad Pro or the friction-enabled paper-like canvas of the reMarkable 2.
Price and Value
With high-end tablets like these, price is an important consideration alongside capabilities.
A base 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 for a 128GB WiFi-model. Stepping up to higher storage tiers, cellular connectivity, AppleCare+ and accessories like the Magic Keyboard can quickly drive up the total cost. Meanwhile the 12.9-inch version bumps the starting price to $1,099. So being such a versatile device, spend can vary widely based on your needs.
The reMarkable 2 pricing is simpler at just $299 for the 8GB tablet which is perfectly fine for its core functions. That also includes the Marker Plus stylus right away too. Accessories like folio covers or extra marker tips are optionally available as well.
So if you only need a big-screen tablet purely for reading ebooks and replacing paper notepads for writing and sketching – the $299 reMarkable 2 offers excellent value with a fantastically natural writing experience at an affordable price point.
But if you think you’ll want more versatility like media viewing, presentations, gaming, Illustrator/Photoshop work etc., then the iPad Pro brings tremendous performance and features. While pricier, the value is there with Apple quality and comprehensive functionality that can fully replace a laptop.
Final Verdict
To recap, both the reMarkable 2 and iPad Pro 6th gen offer:
- Large 10 to 13-inch displays with stylus support
- Premium hardware and build quality
- Excellent stylus input with ultra-low latency
Differences ultimately come down to:
- reMarkable 2 – purpose-built just for reading and writing. Extremely portable and long battery but simpler performance and no apps
- iPad Pro – cutting edge hardware, feature-packed iPadOS, expansive App Store access enabling unlimited versatility
So if you only need an ebook reader and digital notepad replacement for writing, drawings, sketching and PDF annotations – then the lightweight reMarkable 2 perfectly fits the bill at an affordable $299. Battery lasts weeks and the paper-like friction display technology makes for an unmatched natural writing experience.
But if you think you’ll ever want more from your tablet like gaming, media, creativity apps, external monitor support etc., then it’s hard to beat the blazing Apple M2 performance and versatile productivity power of the iPad Pro. Yes it is pricier but delivers elite-level portable computing. Video editing, graphic design work, business tasks and more – few tablets can match it.
Ultimately – the reMarkable 2 if you just need to write. But the iPad Pro if you need a computer. Pick the one aligned to your needs.
I hope this detailed reMarkable 2 vs iPad Pro comparison helps shed light on the key factors differentiating these excellent tablets. Let me know if you have any other questions!
