If you’ve been dreaming of an E Ink laptop that allows you to type in peace away from the hustle and bustle of online marketplaces, the ReMarkable 2 tablet and its new keyboard could be for you.
We’ve been longtime fans of ReMarkable 2, calling it “the best digital inking and sketching experience you can get this side of paper and pencil.” But strangely, an official keyboard accessory has been missing to add to its appeal to writers – until now.
The new Folio type ($199 / £179 / AU$299) is an ultra-slim keyboard that snaps onto the ReMarkable 2 via magnets and apparently requires no additional pairing or charging.
This means you can write your notes or your debut novel on the tablet’s 10.3-inch E Ink display without worrying about straining your eyes or being bombarded by increasingly persistent notifications and online advertisements.
Despite the slim profile, ReMarkable claims the Type Folio’s keys have 1.3mm of travel – still far from the best keyboards in the world, but much better than tapping your fingers on a touchscreen. Several recent software upgrades also promise that typing pairs well with ReMarkable’s traditional note-taking and sketching benefits.
For example, any handwritten text will be intelligently combined with the typed text, so that saved and typed notes stay connected during editing. You can also convert handwritten notes to text and then edit them using the Type Folio keyboard.
As ReMarkable promises that future software updates will bring more features to the Type Folio’s integration with the latest tablet, it could become a must-have accessory – especially if you find it hard to concentrate while typing in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. We don’t blame you because ChatGPT is always just a few clicks away.
Analysis: an expensive delight for minimalists
For writers, the internet has become the ultimate test of self-discipline – and while the ReMarkable 2 tablet and its new Type Folio keyboard aren’t the only way to shut out its many distractions, it promises to be one of the best concentration-enhancing combinations around.
The combination certainly doesn’t come cheap – grab a ReMarkable 2 tablet with a new keyboard and Marker pen and you’ll see an investment of $577 / £517 / AU$917. That’s more than the iPad 10.9 (2022), and it’s worth bearing in mind that ReMarkable doesn’t have home conveniences like a web browser or spell checker, or even a backlit screen.
If you need more connectivity from an E Ink typewriter, pairing something like the Boox Nova Air or Meebook P10 Pro with a Bluetooth keyboard can be a cheaper and more efficient setup as both run on Android and give you access to the Google Play Store. Of course, our Onyx Boox Tab Ultra review found the tablet struggled to keep up with keyboard input.
We believe these more powerful options can defeat the object of a clean, interference-free typewriter. If you want to combine the touch of real paper, an amazing typing experience, and the convenience of digital connectivity, the ReMarkable 2 tablet remains an exceptional option – and its new Type Folio keyboard turns it into a super-minimalist laptop that might be worth the premium.