Sometimes the most expensive gadgets win for the simplest reasons. Despite calling the Remarkable Paper Pro "outrageous" and "ludicrous" at $629, The Verge's Brandon Russell now reaches for it more than any other device - not because it's the best tablet, but because it stubbornly refuses to be anything else.
The tech world loves to mock expensive gadgets that seem to do less, but Remarkable's Paper Pro is proving there's real value in digital minimalism. At $629 for the base model, it costs more than many full-featured tablets, yet Brandon Russell from The Verge has made it his daily driver for one compelling reason: it forces focus in a world designed to fracture attention.
The numbers seem backwards at first glance. The complete setup with the Type Folio keyboard hits $858, while Apple's MacBook Air frequently drops to $738. Most rational buyers would grab the laptop and call it a day. But Russell's experience reveals why premium simplicity sometimes wins over feature-packed complexity.
"While using it, I'm insulated from a world that's constantly demanding my attention," Russell explains in his review. "There is no Slack app. I can't doomscroll. There are exactly zero notifications." This isn't a bug - it's the entire point. The Paper Pro creates what he calls a "narrow lane" where writing happens without the typical digital detours.
The Type Folio keyboard, despite its $229 price tag, delivers surprisingly well according to Russell's testing. The keys offer "satisfying clickiness" with a soft-touch finish, and select keys feature backlighting for low-light typing sessions. While not the most spacious keyboard around, it's stable enough for lap use and doubles as protection when folded.
The 11.8-inch Canvas Color display pairs with the $129 Marker Plus stylus (or $50 when bundled) to deliver what Russell describes as a "great paper-like feel" thanks to textured glass. Built-in productivity templates turn the device into a digital planner, with seamless sync across Remarkable's mobile and desktop apps - though that requires a $2.99 monthly subscription.
But here's where the Paper Pro's strategy gets interesting. Russell admits he doesn't use the color display much, and the stylus often stays magnetically attached to the side. The device succeeds not by doing everything, but by doing one thing exceptionally well: enabling focused writing without digital interference.
This approach directly challenges the tech industry's more-is-more philosophy. While competitors pack tablets with processors powerful enough for video editing and gaming, deliberately limits functionality. The e-ink screen refreshes slowly compared to traditional displays, making it unsuitable for media consumption or fast-paced tasks.
