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eading, Annotating — Other eBook readers like Kindle, Kobo, and Nook connect users to online eBook stores, which can be a distraction. reMarkable simply displays eBooks regardless of where they come from. Better yet, it's focused more on how readers actively engage with the book, particularly on highlighting words, scribbling on pages, and underlining texts.

reMarkable supports only .pdf and .epub files. Use a conversion tool if you prefer a different eBook format.

LiveView - LiveView is a desktop and phone app feature that updates notes, markings, and sketches in real time via WiFi. It allows users to adjust the reading settings (i.e., font type, justification, line spacing, page margins, and text size) for an eBook almost instantaneously. It also allows searching for words and phrases within the eBook, which can be helpful to, even necessary for students.

LiveView, still in beta, is not without glitches. It straggles, and worse, struggles to sync large eBook files. Disappointingly, LiveView does not support marking up eBooks.

Our Conclusion

YES. If you love that reMarkable can give you as close an experience to using real pen on real paper; that it's light, sleek, portable, and easy-to-use; that it's dedicated solely to productivity (actual drawing, reading and annotating, and writing sessions) without the distractions of email, social media, and streaming technologies; that it does automatic syncs and file backups; and that it works with a light and comfy pen that needs no batteries or Bluetooth pairing — never mind the hefty price tag — then go ahead and get one.

NO. If you're holding out until an upgraded version comes out — one that allows exporting to other image, text, and document file formats; puts out finer resolution for images; supports OCR options to convert handwriting to text that can be manipulated; includes a dictionary; enables swipe-based page navigation; and integrates efficiently with standard workflows — or until the price drops — then try other options. ¹