Two months in, and I can confidently say the reMarkable tablet is one of the best tools I’ve ever used for focus, clarity, and getting ideas out of my head and onto the page.
What surprises people is that it has fewer features than your average tablet—no web browser, no spell check, no distracting notifications—and yet, it delivers more value than any iPad I’ve owned. It’s helped me break a habit I didn’t realise was so disruptive: over-editing in real time.
As a dyslexic person, my thoughts tend to leap off in a dozen different directions at once. The reMarkable helps anchor me. Initially, I found it frustrating that it didn’t show word counts or autocorrect my spelling. But I’ve come to see that those so-called ‘missing features’ are actually deliberate omissions—and they’re genius.
Because here’s what happens with most devices: you’re halfway through a great idea, and a red underline appears. You stop, correct the spelling, and—poof!—the thought is gone. With the reMarkable, you just write. The editing happens later, once you’ve poured everything out and your brain is quieter. That’s how it should be.
Writing vs. Typing
In meetings, I use the stylus and handwriting function to take notes. There’s something about the physical act of writing that makes the content stick better in my mind. I absorb it. That said, when I’m writing reports or brainstorming something longer, I switch to the Type Folio and type—because reading my own handwriting later can be a challenge!
Even so, handwritten notes still serve a purpose. They help me think more clearly. I use the eraser tool on the back of the pen quite a bit—neatening up, correcting as I go—but again, it’s a distraction-free zone. No pop-ups, no endless menus, just me and my thoughts.
One Device, Many Benefits
I’ve let a few friends and colleagues try the tablet too. If you’ve got neat handwriting, the text recognition is excellent. Mine’s not the best, so it’s a bit hit-and-miss, but that doesn’t take away from its usefulness as a thinking tool. For anyone—especially neurodivergent people like me—who needs help cutting through the noise and focusing, this is a standout bit of kit.
The reMarkable might not be flashy, but it’s become one of the most valuable tech tools I own.
(NB with no audio, speech, bluetooth, or anything, this wouldn’t work for most of our visually impaired friends).
