Best thing I bought this year: Remarkable Paper Pro

We said about a year ago Maybe you don’t need it the Great Paper Pro. The e-ink device is equal parts quality and luxury; It’s not ideal for book consumption, and the screen can sometimes feel painfully slow. Then there’s the starting price, which is frankly ridiculous at $629 (up from $579 thanks to US-imposed tariffs). Add in $229 Paper TypeAnd holy hell.

Based on that description, most reasonable people would stay pretty far, and probably spend their money, I don’t know, The latest MacBook Air from Apple. We’ve seen the price of Apple’s laptop drop to $738, making it a less expensive option for the combined price of the Remarkable Paper Pro and Type Folio keyboard case.

However, not only did I buy the Paper Pro, it’s the device I find myself turning to most often when I want to GTD, such as writing this blog. Not because it’s the best tablet, it’s not, but because it’s a single-purpose device. This is a good thing!

While using it, I am isolated from the world that constantly demands my attention. No Slack app. I can’t scroll. There are exactly zero notifications. Instead of bludgeoning me with AI and algorithms, it sits there quietly, inviting actual human thought and organization.

This is the trick. Paper Pro allows me to focus on what I’m doing, which seems like a small miracle. It creates a narrow corridor, and that’s where I stay – no distracting detours or YouTube gaps. Combined with Type Folio, the experience is an absolute pleasure. Yes, the accessory is expensive at $229, but it’s worth every penny. Installs on tablet easily; It’s thin and light. It doubles as protection.

I’m not very familiar with keyboards — I use Apple’s Magic Keyboard as my daily driver — but the Type Folio is good. It’s not the roomiest keyboard, but it’s very comfortable. The keys have a satisfying click and feature a soft-touch finish. Some of the keys are backlit as well, allowing me to type well at night. I still have a hard time folding and unfolding it, but it’s stable enough to use on my lap when I need to.

Meanwhile, you can write directly on the 11.8-inch color fabric screen with the upgrade Marker pen plus (Which adds another $129 purchased separately, or another $50 When purchased with Paper Pro) Provides a wonderful paper-like feel thanks to the tablet’s textured glass. I can scribble on a blank page or a PDF file, and there are some built-in productivity templates available, allowing me to use Paper Pro as a daily planner. Every note I write and write syncs across Remarkable’s mobile and desktop apps, though it requires a $2.99-a-month subscription.

Admittedly, I don’t use the Paper Pro to its full potential. I don’t often make use of the color display and the pen generally stays magnetically attached to the side of the tablet, even though I try to write with it more. There are other tablets that are cheaper and offer more capabilities. For me, though, the distraction-free approach and Type Folio are worth the price of admission. If you’re looking for a way to take a break from apps and notifications — look no further Brick your phone -Paper Pro and Type Folio are an excellent setup.

Photography by Brandon Russell/The Verge