As a prolific reader and obsessive note-taker, finding the perfect E Ink digital slate to augment my workflows is no casual affair. These devices may seem straightforward on the surface – just digital paper, right?
But when your livelihood hinges on consuming endless content and scribing sage musings, you need specialized hardware finely tuned for the task.
Enter Onyx and Remarkable – two titans at the forefront of crafting modern digital writing experiences. Their latest flagships, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2+ and Remarkable 2, demonstrate refined E Ink slates tailored for different types of users.
But which writing wonder will claim the crown? I pit these writing tablets head-to-head across 10 rigorous rounds focused on real-world performance. Let the battle commence!
Round 1: Display and Drawing Experience
As always, we kick things off analyzing the quality of the panel and pen-to-screen latency. After all what good is an E Ink slate if the experience of writing on it falls flat?
Onyx Boox Note Air 2+ touts a 10.3” E Ink Carta 1200 display clocking in at 1872 x 1404 resolution, delivering a crisp 227 DPI across its monochrome canvas. Thanks to the latest E Ink tech, refresh latency is barely perceptible and works flawlessly for everything from quickly jotting notes to sketching meticulous illustrations.
Remarkable 2 also sports a 10.3” diagonal E Ink panel at 1872 x 1404 resolution. But instead of E Ink Carta 1200, it utilizes the prior generation E Ink Carta 1000 tech. While the 226 DPI resolution seems nearly identical on paper, fans of the original Note Air claim the Air 2+’s display provides subtly smoother gradients and transitions.
Both slates support a claimed 21ms latency from pen-to-ink thanks to their Wacom layer. In real world testing, input lag is indeed impressively minimal on both devices. Writing feels natural, lines flow organically, and precision sketching poses no issue even for my shaky hands.
When it comes to display clarity and drawing responsiveness, the Onyx Note Air 2+ inches ahead with its best-in-class E Ink Carta 1200 panel. But in all honesty, users will be well served by both.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
Round 2: Design, Dimensions, and Ergonomics
A device tailored for writing needs to comfortable in the hand for extended durations. Neither company pulls punches crafting a slate sized similarly to an A5 notebook.
The Remarkable 2 measures 187x246x4.7mm and tips the scales at 403g. Smooth rounded corners, an easy-grip backside, and balanced form factor make writing on the RM2 comfortable for lengthy study or writing sessions.
Comparatively, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2+ measures 229×195.8×5.8-8.7mm (folded) while weighing 440g, owing that extra heft to a larger battery housed inside. Despite slightly beefier dimensions, the Note Air still nestles nicely in hand thanks to its rounded spine, ergonomic side buttons, and ribbed rear for extra grip.
For flat out portability and ergonomics, the streamlined Remarkable 2 excels as an A5-approximation that throws lightness into the mix. Yet the Note Air 2+ still offers commendable comfort for an E Ink slate packing extra hardware inside to grant its software versatility. This round is close, but design minimalism wins out.
Winner: Remarkable 2
Round 3: Storage, Memory, and Battery
Whether for work or leisure, a device‘s storage capacity and battery longevity can make or break its usability. Let‘s dig into what‘s under the hood.
The Remarkable 2 ships with 8GB internal storage, which provides ample space for thousands of notebook pages of typed or handwritten notes. Its 1900 mAh battery sustainably powers the tablet for about 2 weeks based on average usage.
As one may expect from an Android-based device, the Note Air 2+ doubles down on internal storage with 32GB onboard, quadrupling what its pure E Ink rival offers while still keeping ample room for growth via its USB-C port. Powering the package is a hearty 3000 mAh, promising a whopping month of uptime from a single charge.
While 8GB suffices Remarkable 2’s core functions, I can’t help but wish for expandable storage when stocking ebooks orfinicky documents requiring specific apps. And significantly longer battery life gives the Air 2+ a crucial edge for users on the move.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
| Spec | Remarkable 2 | Onyx Boox Note Air 2+ |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 10.3" 1872×1404 226 PPI E Ink Carta 1000 |
10.3” 1872×1404 227 PPI E Ink Carta 1200 |
| Dimensions | 187 x 246 x 4.7 mm | 229 x 195.8 x 5.8 mm |
| Weight | 403 g | 440 g |
| Storage | 8GB | 32GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 1 month |
Round 4: Operating System and Software
Hardware only paints part of the picture – an E Ink writing slate lives and dies by its software ecosystem and supported apps.
The Remarkable 2 runs a closed Linux-based OS custom tailored for the tablet’s functions. The streamlined interface provides a distraction-free experience strictly geared towards reading, note taking, and document markup. Its curated app selection facilitates those core tasks admirably while eliminating clutter.
Conversely, the Note Air 2+ runs full Android 11, granting users the flexibility to easily install third-party apps via Google Play store integration. Out of the box, the Note Air 2+ comes preinstalled with a robust suite of first-party apps catering to document editing, ebook reading, note organization, and more.
Android opens the Note Air 2+ to limitless customization and bolstered productivity. But that flexibility comes at the cost of occasional interface clutter that distracts from the purity of writing. Here the choice between a streamlined, tailored OS and full featured versatility is ultimately subjective.
Based on my gadget modder predilections, I favor the openness of Android. But for users seeking strict focus on reading and writing above all else, Remarkable’s walled garden stands out. For now, we’ll rule this round a draw depending on user needs.
Winner: Draw
Round 5: Core Feature Set and Performance
Let’s dive headfirst into the apps and services offered by each device to facilitate an effortless writing experience:
The Remarkable 2 ships with a Notebook app providing endless paper templates for writing or drawing. Its Documents app supports reviewing and marking up PDFs or EPUBs uploaded from other sources. Finally, its Planner app serves as an organizer for goals, tasks, and events. Used in conjunction, these core apps enable both spontaneous and structured writing.
The Note Air 2+’s Canvas app offers a robust margin-free writing space supporting pen, highlighter, eraser, lasso, and text box tools out of the box. Its advanced Notes app helps organize notebooks and to-do lists complete with tag filtering, backlinking, and quick switching between stylus and keyboard modes. For document viewing, the Note Air 2+’s File Manager app allows local and cloud files to be previewed and annotated. books can be loaded via the comprehensive NeoReader.
In terms of snappy performance, both tablets instantly wake for writing thanks to the E Ink display. But quicker page turn speeds and smoother UI navigation gives the Note Air 2+ a perceptible bump in responsiveness thanks to its slightly more powerful 2GHz octa-core CPU over the Remarkable 2’s 1.2 GHz dual-core chip.
The Remarkable 2‘s apps stay narrowly focused on core writing tasks while the Note Air 2+ covers that ground through varied apps that also enable more PC-like file interaction. And notably snappier performance gives the Air 2+ another win.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
Round 6: Connectivity, Syncing and Sharing
Once those brilliant words are etched, authors inevitably need to export their resulting brainchildren elsewhere. We’ll now scrutinize how effectively each device facilitates shuttling and accessing documents across other gadgets.
The Remarkable 2’s companion mobile app facilitates one-way transfers of notebooks off the tablet, but uploading documents or syncing changes from other sources remains cumbersome. True real-time cloud syncing requires committing to the $2.99 per month Connect subscription. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections allow rudimentary transports to other mobile devices or computers when needed.
Thanks to its Android underpinnings, the Note Air 2+ treats cloud storage access like conventional PCs thanks seamless integration with services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. This facilitates two-way viewing and transfer of Note Air content on other connected devices. The tablet’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity takes sharing content locally with computers and mobiles equally hassle-free.
For me, the Note Air 2+’s flexibility sharing content through cloud storage or wireless connections is tremendously more practical compared to Remarkable 2’s limited free options. This round goes to the Air 2+
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
Round 7: Third Party Accessories
A gadget’s expandability often depends on accessories crafted by its maker, but third-party cases, pens, and other add-ons prove equally critical. Let’s see which option offers more customization opportunities.
Due to the proprietary nature of its hardware and software, accessories created specifically for Remarkable 2 remain limited outside of first party folio cases and marker tips . No competition exists incentivizing better-performing or cheaper alternatives.
Conversely, thanks to its more accessible Android software and hardware, Note Air 2+ enjoys a flourish of third party accessories available on marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon. These range from cases in different materials, screen protectors, styli with customizable nibs, and more. Compared side-by-side, the Note Air 2+ wins handily driving accessorization.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
Round 8: Learning Curve
Even the most capable gadgets quickly lose their shine if their functionality remains inaccessible behind a massive learning curve. Let’s determine if either company succeeds at device on-boarding.
The pared-down nature of Remarkable 2’s Linux OS lends itself to intuitive navigation 95% of the time. But venturing into advanced territory occasionally surfaces quirky UI behaviors that create headscratching moments if you don’t RTFM. Their tutorials prove helpful but markedly dry and text-heavy with minimal visual aids.
On the flip side, Note Air 2+ leverages the inherent familiarity billions worldwide share with Android and mobile conventions. No true manual needed. But at times, theworkflows between its first-party apps don’t feel fully cohesive, leading to occasional toggling between programs to finish basic note taking tasks. Onyx’s video tutorials help compensate occasionally rocky transitions.
For me, Android familiarity outweighs Remarkable’s UI peculiarties, helping novice users become productive quicker. This round goes to the Note Air 2+.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
Round 9: Customer Support and Warranty
Even the best built devices encounter issues now and then. So we’ll cover differences in included warranty coverage and overall customer service for peace of mind.
The Remarkable 2 ships with 1 year limited warranty covering manufacturer defects. Contacting their technical support team directly proves hit or miss based on reviews. But the company actively monitors user forums to address issues there with helpful solutions or replacement parts.
Note Air 2+’s 1 year limited warranty mirrors Remarkable 2’s in length and coverage. Feedback on Onyx’s direct email support skews mixed based on responsiveness. But like its rival, active user forums exist where Onyx staff actively answer troubleshooting questions and arrange replacement components when viable.
In a narrow victory, Remarkable 2’s generally faster direct responses through email nabs this round. But both companies actively address issues via community channels as a backup.
Winner: Remarkable 2
Round 10: Cost and Value Comparison
Our final round cuts to the core question – which device offers better value relative to its cost?
The Remarkable 2 commands a base price of $399 for the 8GB Wi-Fi model. To access full web connectivity and cloud syncing requires tacking on their $2.99 monthly subscription. Accessories like marker tips,folios, and protection plans add further optional costs.
Note Air 2+’s 32GB Wi-Fi variant retails for $479. Add LTE connectivity for an extra $100. All software functionality works out of box without subscriptions. First-party accessories like cases and screen covers cost extra, but cheaper third-party options help offset expenses long-term.
Factor in Note Air 2+’s added internal storage, vastly longer battery life, free cloud syncing, Android app versatility, and wider accessory support – and its higher upfront cost pays for itself through additional value. This final round goes decisively to the Onyx Boox.
Winner: Onyx Boox Note Air 2+
And the Winner Is…
After a bloody bout across 10 categories, the Onyx Boox Note Air 2+ emerges still standing – narrowly clinching victory 6 rounds to the Remarkable 2’s 3.