Thinking of Upgrading Your Tablet? How the reMarkable 2 and iPad Pro Compare

Today‘s tablets range from simple digital notebooks like the reMarkable 2 for reading and writing, up to powerful mobile workstations like Apple‘s iPad Pro series. If you‘re considering upgrading your existing tablet or purchasing your very first one, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming.

This guide will cover all the key similarities and differences between two of the most popular premium tablet choices on the market right now – the reMarkable 2 and iPad Pro. We‘ll explore how they compare in terms of design, display quality, performance, software experience, stylus writing, battery life and pricing.

At a Glance: How the Tablets Compare

Before diving into the details, here is a high-level overview of how these impressive tablets stack up across some major considerations:

So at first glance:

• The reMarkable 2 shines for long battery, lightweight design, and an eye-friendly writing experience thanks to E Ink
• The iPad Pro dominates on processing power, display quality/refresh rates and software versatility

Now let‘s explore some of these key differences in greater detail…

Display Technology Matters for Your Intended Use

The display remains the primary way we interact with modern tablets, so understanding the screen technology is important.

The reMarkable 2 uses an E Ink panel tuned specifically for longform reading without fatigue. By reflecting ambient light just like real paper, your eyes won‘t strain even during hours-long study sessions.

Whereas the iPad Pro employs an extremely high quality LED-backlit LCD rated for 600 nits max brightness and P3 color gamut coverage. Translating to crisp, smooth visuals ideal for graphics/video applications.

According to DisplayMate lab tests, the iPad Pro exhibits close to textbook perfect color accuracy with a ∆E value under 2.0 and luminance uniformity exceeding most rivals.

So while best-in-class for clarity and vibrancy, emitting rather than reflecting light can lead to greater eyestrain over time. Also, using tablets outdoors remains challenging despite anti-reflective coatings on such glossy glass panels.

In summary – the reMarkable 2 for long reading/writing sessions or the iPad for visually-intensive creative work.

There‘s No Contest on Raw Performance

In terms of pure processing power and responsiveness, the iPad Pro trounces any competition thanks to Apple‘s silicon leadership with their M-series chips.

The M2 silicon powers the latest models sporting an 8-core CPU paired alongside 10 graphics cores. Benchmark results confirm up to 15-20% gains over previous iPad Pro generations – already top performers themselves.

For some real-world context, that means the ability to:

• Export a 5 minute 4K video clip in Adobe Premiere Rush in just 12 seconds
• Render complex 3D scenes in the latest iPad version of Affinity Photo in half the time of prior models
• Load even the most intensive games and creative apps instantly

Of course, the reMarkable 2 isn‘t designed as a media consumption device. It only packs a modest dual-core ARM CPU and 1GB RAM. But that lightness contributes to extreme power efficiency – something creators on the go may prefer.

Just understand – the iPad Pro delivers cutting edge response and smoothness that creative professionals demand. The reMarkable focuses that power into weeks long battery life instead.

Software Experience: Closed vs Open Ecosystem

On the software side of things, the iPad Pro again caters to power users by offering:

• Desktop-class Safari browsing
• Universal app support like full Photoshop CC
• External monitor connectivity
• Multitasking via split screen

This incredible flexibility stems from iPadOS – the tablet-optimized variant of Apple‘s mobile operating system for iPhones. And the vast iOS ecosystem unlocks endless creativity.

Comparatively, the reMarkable 2 uses a proprietary Linux-based OS limiting you strictly to reading documents/books or writing via their first party applications. No third party apps. No games or entertainment. Just reading and writing.

For students or professionals needing seamless document markup/annotations, the reMarkable should suffice. But most consumers will likely prefer iPadOS for the wider range of software capabilities – especially as tablet workload needs scale up over traditional notebooks.

One Charge Lasts Days or Merely Hours?

Battery life represents a massive divide between these tablets. E Ink displays sip power compared to power-hungry backlit LCD panels and high performance silicon.

The reMarkable 2 lasts an incredible two weeks on a single 3,000 mAh charge thanks to miserly components focused solely on reading/writing.

In contrast, Apple promises just 10 hours of web browsing or video playback from the A14X Bionic chipset and smooth ProMotion displays of the iPad Pro. While reasonably good for higher workload tablet, that still necessitates nightly charging in most scenarios.

Road warrior professionals or remote students should consider the reMarkable 2 to avoid constantly tethering to AC outlets when traveling. But the iPad Pro makes up ground through sheer performance whenever power outlets avail themselves.

Pricing: A Value Equation

When it comes to MSRP tablet pricing:

Yes – the iPad Pro costs nearly 3x that of the reMarkable alternative at first glance. But increased performance demands premium materials like the Apple M2 processor and far more advanced display.

However, students and writers should run the math of paying $500 extra just for largely unused enhanced specifications. Those focused strictly on reading ebooks and notes may not require anything beyond the reMarkable 2‘s capabilities.

Ultimately, both tablets target different segments. Evaluate whether your needs justify the iPad Pro‘s costs or if the reMarkable 2 sufficiently fits your mobile computing lifestyle at a more affordable rate.

The Final Verdict: Excellent Options Depending on Use Case

At the end of the day, the reMarkable 2 stands alone as today‘s best E Ink tablet focused solely on reading and writing. Nothing else matches its pure focus for getting work done via digital ink.

Whereas the iPad Pro dominates as the most powerful and capable tablet anywhere thanks to unmatched app ecosystem breadth, stunning displays and blazing Apple silicon.

Creative professionals dealing heavily in media editing, graphic design or illustration simply demand that level of performance when on the go. But students and professionals primarily reading or annotating documents can save money through the reMarkable 2 without sacrificing user experience.

So which is the right pick for you? Evaluate your primary tablet applications and determine whether raw power merits extra investment over the reMarkable‘s lower cost. Either way, you‘ll be upgrading your mobile productivity via an excellently designed writing experience.

I‘m happy to address any other questions in the comments below! Let me know if this helps guide your buying decision.