If you‘re looking for a distraction-free digital notebook, an e-ink tablet like the reMarkable 2 or Supernote X offers excellent note-taking abilities. But with two great options to pick from, which one is right for you?
I‘ve researched both tablets in-depth, and put together this guide to help you decide. I‘ll compare specs, features, hardware, software, pricing and more so you can determine the better e-ink device for your needs. Let‘s dive in!
At a Glance: How the reMarkable 2 and Supernote X Compare
Before looking at specific aspects in-depth, here‘s a high-level overview comparing some key specs:
| Spec | reMarkable 2 | Supernote A6 X | Supernote A5 X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $299 | $415 |
| Screen Size | 10.3′′ | 7.8′′ | 10.3′′ |
| Resolution | 226 PPI | 300 PPI | 226 PPI |
| Dimensions | 187 x 246 mm | 138 x 188 mm | 178 x 245 mm |
| Weight | 403g | 255g | 375g |
| Storage | 8GB | 32GB | 32GB |
| Pen Included? | No, $79+ extra | No, $385+ bundle | No, $514+ bundle |
As you can see, both devices are comparable in core screen specs, but differ in size options, weight, storage space, and pricing once you add accessories. Now let‘s look at those differences in more detail.
Pricing and Hardware: Where Your Money Goes
The base price of the reMarkable 2 tablet itself is $299, while the Supernote A6 X matches that at $299 and the A5 X is priced higher at $415. However, to make full use of either device, you‘ll need to spend more on a pen and accessories:
reMarkable 2 Pricing
- Tablet: $299
- Marker pen: $79
- Marker Plus pen with eraser: $129
Supernote Pricing
- Supernote A6 X tablet: $299
- Supernote A6 X bundle (tablet, pen, folio): $385+
- Supernote A5 X tablet: $415
- Supernote A5 X bundle: $514+
As you can see, Supernote does not sell its pens separately – you have to purchase a bundled package. This makes the total cost of the Supernote A6 X slightly higher than the base reMarkable 2.
Verdict: The reMarkable 2 tablet itself has the lowest entry cost, but Supernote provides more size and bundle options if your budget allows.
Now let‘s look at what that pricing gets you in terms of hardware quality:
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The reMarkable 2 is only available in the 10.3′′ size, and features an elegant, slim industrial design with precise dimensions optimized for reading and writing. Its 403g weight hits a nice balance between sturdiness and portability.
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The Supernote A6 X is smaller at 7.8′′ and lighter at 255g. The A5 X matches the 10.3′′ sizing of the reMarkable 2 at a slightly heavier 375g weight. Both Supernote models have bulkier dimensions but rounded edges for ergonomic grip comfort.
Verdict: The reMarkable 2 boasts sleeker, more premium hardware but the Supernote offers more size options to suit your preferences.
Overall if budget is no concern, the Supernote A5 X provides the largest premium e-ink experience. But the streamlined reMarkable 2 offers better bang for buck if you just need the core digital notebook functions.
Reading Experience: Devices Compared
Both tablets utilize e-ink displays designed to mimic real paper, making them easier on the eyes than backlit LCD screens when reading. However, they differ in some key reading experiences:
reMarkable 2 Reading
- 10.3′′ display is small for textbook or novel reading
- Page turns have slight lag between gestures and screen updates
- No native ebook store or reading apps available currently
- excels as PDF reader due to annotations and navigation
Supernote Reading
- Choice between 7.8′′ or 10.3′′ better suits different reading preferences
- Faster, more fluid page turn refresh latency
- Built-in reading app supports popular ebook formats including PDF
- Kindle app provides access to Amazon‘s library of ebooks
- Images, complex books, and PDFs now display quickly
Verdict: For best overall reading experience including ebooks, web articles, PDF textbooks, and more, the Supernote line offers marked advantages over reMarkable 2.
E-ink tablets may never beat devices dedicated solely to reading like Kindle or Kobo. But with Kindle app integration and speed boosts, Supernote goes above and beyond to make digital reading pleasant on an e-ink screen.
Writing Feel: How the Pens Perform
Just as important as display quality is how pen input feels – an e-ink tablet lives or dies by its note-taking prowess. Here‘s how the two options compare:
reMarkable Writing
- Precision Wacom pen registers 4,096 levels of pressure
- Marker tips provide paper-like friction for smooth writing
- 22ms input latency ensures ink flows with minimal lag
- Eraser and replacement Marker tips available
Supernote Writing
- 8,192 pressure levels with ceramic nib for paper-like feedback
- Less latency than competitors for fluid handwriting
- Bundles include choice pen tips to match preferences
- Available calibrated pen settings adjust sensitivity
Both capture the quality and responsiveness of pen and paper exceptionally well thanks to purpose-built nibs, high pressure sensitivity, and optimized hardware.
Verdict: It‘s a close race, but the reMarkable 2 pen and writing feel edges out Supernote by a narrow margin for the best experience.
While Supernote gives more customization options, reMarkable 2 pulls ahead where it matters most – making it feel like you‘re flawlessly gliding an actual pen across paper.
Software: The reMarkable 2‘s Achilles Heel
The software experience comprises both core user interface and ecosystem integrations like cloud syncing. Here‘s how each device stacks up:
reMarkable Software
- Refined tablet interface tailored for organization
- Intuitive gesture navigation and shortcut actions
- Chrome extension enables web page saves for later reading
- Cloud sync and most features now behind $2.99/month paywall
Supernote Software
- More basic but functional tablet interface
- Growing app ecosystem thanks to Android base
- Kindle, Dropbox and more third-party apps supported
- No monthly fee to access cloud sync and backups
- Public software roadmap detailing frequent meaningful updates
Verdict: Supernote‘s open and transparent software philosophy wins big over reMarkable 2‘s restrictive paywalls.
While reMarkable 2 offers the more polished out-of-box user experience, Supernote‘s combination of Android foundations and customer-friendly planning provides healthier long-term prospects for improving software capabilities.
And for people wanting to fully utilize their e-ink tablet without unexpected recurring costs down the road, Supernote is now clearly the superior choice in this department following reMarkable 2‘s controversial subscription pivot.
Which Tablet Should You Buy?
When all factors around reading, writing, software and pricing are considered holistically, is the reMarkable 2 or Supernote X right for you? Here is my personal verdict:
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For the best overall value, I believe the reMarkable 2 still maintains an advantage if you don‘t require premium reading experiences. Its lower hardware cost combined with the fantastic pen-on-paper feel for writing and sketching make it easiest to justify for people solely needing digital note-taking. Just be prepared to pay subscription fees over time for full cloud access.
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For flexibility plus affordability, the smaller Supernote A6 X checks a lot of boxes. It combines ample screen space for notes with excellent software and subscriptions-free operation at a fair mid-tier price point factoring accessories. This makes it ideal for users wanting great integration of handwriting, reading and planning without breaking the bank.
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For the ultimate premium e-ink experience, the Supernote A5 X delivers largest display size paired with exceptional specs nearly matching the reMarkable 2 at a higher but still competitive price. And its unencumbered Android-based software ecosystem provides the most promising foundation for robust features through years of long-term ownership.
At the end of the day, between the reMarkable 2 and the Supernote X models, there is no one definitive "best" e-ink tablet. All three options provide excellent digital writing capabilities on par with paper. Your personal preferences around size, reading priorities, available budget and distaste for recurring fees should drive which is the superior fit.
Hopefully this detailed look at everything from hardware build to software philosophy helps provide the info you need to pick your perfect tablet for going paperless! Let me know if you have any other questions.
