Remarkable 2 vs Onyx Boox Note Air 

"If you have comments, questions or concerns, let us know" I've never seen a reply from these guys.

The Remarkable is remarkable for the amount of stuff it doesn't have

I’ve been shopping for a tablet like this for sometime and I see the value in the ones that offer more services for the price point. The thing I really like about the remarkable 2 is the pen to paper feel experience and believe it or not the fact that there are no other apps. It is meant to simply replace a notepad and I kind of like that because it’s mindful when there are other apps involved it’s very tempting to take your focus away from what you’re doing. Part of me feels like that’s worth the money but then another part of me feels like I’m not getting as much for my dollar. This is why I haven’t gotten anything yet.

I can't believe the one thing that literally everybody is asking for is writing feel on the onyx glass surface in comparison to remarkable surface. It's like you're deliberately not mentioning this on both note air reviews

Guys, you're missing the point. You're comparing a feature intensive device with a device built just for a single purpose: to perfectly replicate the feeling of writing on paper. You didn't compare this aspect at all. Onyx has a glass screen whole the remarkable works with a flexible display, which should mean that right out the gate, the writing experience with the two should be vastly different. Also, writing latency. What are the exact numbers for the boox note air vs 21 ms in rM 2? Granted, rM2 could use better software, but as far as the hardware goes, how do these two compare? What's the build quality like? How durable are they? Which one can take accidental falls better than the other? Also, VERY IMPORTANT: how do the battery lifes compare?

Disappointed with the review. In reality the one deciding factor that could possibly sway a decision to purchase the RM2 over the Air was overlooked. The whole writing element was fast forwarded and confined to a few seconds at the end of the video. Please provide a proper demonstration of both of the tablets writing capabilities side by side so that those who wish to purchase the highest quality writing and sketching tool can make an informed decision. I appreciate the upload but this did not tell us anything that we did not already know. Can the Air search written notes? Is the RM2 writing experience superior or not? (With clear video evidence)

Can you say something about the following points: 1. Battery usage (life time, loading time, usage time) 2. weight and grip 3. writing surface 4. using the onyx without backlight (reading quality) 5. are there differend highlighter colors with onyx (as - virtually - with remarkable)? Thanks!

In the PDF, the RM2 looks like it has deeper blacks and whiter whites. Is that just due to the settings on the Boox Note Air? Or an artifact of the camera? To be honest, the RM2 looks so much clearer and better than the Note Air.

As an "overall" device the Onyx Boox Note Air makes way more sense. But there's something about the reMarkable that makes it more appealing to me as a specialized device meant for a specific purpose without distractions.

The thing Remarkable is focusing on the most is the writing feel. They are very explicit about it. Why don't you compare that in your impartial comparison?

How does the air feel?????? This seems to be a major question that many users have (as well as myself). All the bells and whistles aren't worth much to me if it doesn't feel good to write on.

Having seen (and read) many reviews of the reMarkable2, I bought one. Like anyone who's ever tried it, I was blown away by the writing experience, but I quickly began to have doubts. While the hardware is beautiful, the software felt very lacking, and, as I dug around online, I soon realised that the company has not kept up with the competition in that area. Furthermore they did not seem very willing to engage with customers or open up any kind of roadmap on future developments. I decided, therefore, to try out the Box Note Air and make a decision thereafter on how to proceed. Long story short, he Note Air has been everything I'd hoped for and then some. I had grave concerns that comparing it directly with the reMarkable 2 would leave me disappointed (to the point where I might actually consider keeping both devices). The stylus that comes with the Air is far from the best so I tested with both reMarkable and Lamy pens and have been delighted with the results. The Air doesn't provide tilt functionality for the stylus but that doesn't matter to me. The writing experience on the RM2 is only marginally better, and certainly not noticeable on a day-to-day basis. Given everything else that the Boox software brings to the table the decision was a trivial one. I know it's been a long time since this video was posted, but I discovered it - and its legion of comments - just last week while deciding whether to try the Note Air. Thanks to My Deep Guide I did just that, and will be forever grateful. I hope that the reMarkable team listens closely and addresses the concerns of the money-paying community because they provide an incredible device withe immensely underpowered software. In the meantime I'll keep scribbling away on my Box Note Air with a big smile on my face.

I don’t want to watch videos, listen to music or read emails my notebook. That’s what my iPad is for. I want to know what the writing experience is like.

Hi, couple questions: - What's the erasing function like on the Onyx over the reMarkable? - How does the response speed of the screens during writing and drawing compare? - How does the writing feeling of both devices compare?

Straight feature comparison? Sure. Note Air wins. But the rM2 isn't trying to be an all-encompassing tablet like the Note Air. So it's a little of an unfair comparison due to different use cases. I will say - this seems like an obvious biased video since you sell the Note Air but not the rM on your store. You're stoking this fire of giving a comparison on a surface level and not doing what people really want: comparing the note taking features and feel.

I pre-ordered RM2 (batch 7) and I'm trying to understand if it fits my needs or I should switch to onyx note air. this review however looks to me a bit unfair (and therefore useless) as it does not expressly take into account the peculiar aspect of the RM2 (hand writing) whilst it considers bell and whistles that nothing has to share with note taking. to the same extent, it would be unfair (if not correctly carried on) a comparison between note air and iPad pro...

Does anyone that has RM2 or Onyx, how does it work when writing? When I write on paper, I tend to rest the palm on the paper itself. Would this interfere in the e-ink devices?? It's something I've always wondered. In the video, it seems Peter writes without touching with the palm, of course. Only with the pen. Would appreciate your insights. Thanks.

Good review: apart from no comparison in surface feel or latency. Why? 🤔

3:07 "Unfortunately"? That's the whole point of this tablet!

Oh yeah, I'm definitely buying the Note Air because of the PDF software, but I'm not buying from your store since this "review" is completely biased.

I was really hoping that around 11:00 you would have shown the note taking in real time. My biggest question was about the response of the tablet with the writing. :(

Without the aggressive marketing from reMarkable, I would never have discovered the Onyx Boox. Thank you reMarkable! Loving your work❤!

I purchased a SuperNote (instead of a Remarkable) based off the comparison video you posted and I was actually disappointed with it. I have a friend with a Remarkable and I found it much better. I am going with the Remarkable 2 this time. I have a Samsung tablet to do all the multimedia stuff and I just want a no-distraction tool/device for annotating and study purposes. I appreciate the review though, it gives viewers a reasonable idea of the capabilities of these two EInk devices.

Any comment on the latency comparison?? It looks like the Air has slightly higher latency.

Why would I use the Eink device as a monitor or watching videos or listening to music? I think it should be as simple as a piece of paper. Your cheap iPad will do other things much better.

Excellent comparison of 2 direct competitors. Note Air is an excellent allrounder but Elnk devices, at least for me should be firstly defined through the write feel, then features (otherwise a Tab S6-S7\Ipad are the clear winner with the exception of the screen) Q: how does the write feel compare with Remarkable 2, which until now was mentioned to be best in business?

For everyone asking. I've used both for about 4 months. (I was indecisive & got both). The remarkable 2 hands down is a better writing experience. It's almost indescribable. It doesn't feel like you are writing on paper. It feels, in a word, better. Sure the boox can do a great deal more but that's specifically what the rm2 focuses on NOT doing. As a writer, I was stuck in the mud between writing on paper & typing on a computer. Sure, writing was nice but it wasn't portable & transcribing it was a chore. I'd spend hours speaking through dragon to have it type it up for me. Typing wasn't a good creative medium for me either. The rm2 let me go for hours just writing & when I was finished the transcription rate was about 98% (I have terrible handwriting) accurate. The boox had significantly for trouble recognizing my handwriting. For the bang & the buck go ipad pro. For a true writing e-ink experience, rm2. P. S. The battery life on boox was trash in comparison.

I have a ReMarkable 1 and absolutely love it. I'm a nursing student so I take lots and lots of notes and I love how I can just carry one light device instead of a giant notebook. Even though the speed is a little slow when flipping pages/opening documents, the writing speed from pen to device is perfect. It never lags for me. Honestly I like the ReMarkable more because it doesn't have all the other features to distract me.

This seems a biased review. Do you sell both devices or just one?

Can you also compre the contrast? With and without the light on on the note air.

3 things I think was missing. How you do manage files on each? Is it easy to manage folders. Is there an easy backup of the files incase you break or loose the device. What is the latency like when drawing. Does the device keep up with the pen?

What’s that upside down reMarkable logo at 1:42 ??

The thing is I have a laptop/tablet so If I wanna do anything internet related I can just use that, that is the same for many. So to me the remarkable is the right choice because I don't need another tablet like device. In fact I like that it's only for note taking. This may be reaching but because it is far more simple it may last me more years, hopefully through undergrad and med school.

My questions not covered in your review are as follows: 1. What is the writing experience like? Is it comparable to the rM 2? 2. What is the latency comparison? 3. What are the export features from sketching and note taking? .pdf, .jpg, etc? 4. What do the notes/ sketches look like after being uploaded to a computer? All of these questions matter to me when making my decision. Thanks,

I have a Remarkable 2 and I use it for doing work, not interested in the distraction of internet. For play and other features I use an iPad. I want to see documents in PDF and I want to work freehand and like the organization of Remarkable. I got it because working with a pen on the glass of my iPad I did not care for, I like the feel of the Remarkable, very paper and pencil like tactile experience.

Thanks for the review :D Any comments or the "paper feeling" when writing on them? Which one has more friction and precision? Which one is best when writing small letters? Or, an unfair question, which one is closest to pen/pencil on paper (unfair because that would havily depend on the paper and pen/pencil, so it may the worth to specify to which combination is the closest).

It's great to see a direct comparison! Both of these have similar designs, but appeal to different target audiences. reMarkable is more popular* and provides a focused experience, while BOOX is less popular but provides a more open experience that appeals more to someone like me who wants to read more kinds of content, including DRM-protected e-books, which includes content from major publishers, across many e-book platforms, even those without dedicated e-readers. *This, at least for me, affects things like the availablity of third-party accessories and note templates.

Note air placement of power button and USB port is really odd. Does it interfere with using folio case? Also does power button gets accidentally triggered when using with a bluetooth keyboard? What about the writing experience? Is glass surface slippery? I do agree specwise, Note air is ahead, but question the usability. Most likely end up with Note Air because of crappy reader software on RM2.

Can you please make a comprehensive comparison based on pure writing experience?

I have been using my Boox Max 2 for a while now; I've used it every day. I was thinking I needed an upgrade and, was looking deeply at reMarkable2. Now, I am rethinking the whole thing. Maybe keep what I have for a while longer. How is the Max 3?

Hi, congratulations for your channel. I have a question; You can write over the epubs directly with pen as in PDF. Is it possible write in EPUBS with pen directly as in PDF to take notes, or underline...etc? thanks.

I looked at both of these devices. They both look great. In the end I went with the Remarkable 2. I have an IPad Pro. I wanted something with no distractions, simple design and looked nice. I can use my IPad for the complex stuff.

I use both , feelings when you write on reMakable is a lot more better for that reason alone reMakable win for me i just need to on paper carry a lot document I can do anything else boox do on ipad

As a college student, I actually prefer the simplicity of the remarkable 2. Recently purchased mine, and it's great. I know myself all too well and I know that if my tablet had access to internet and apps like Facebook I will easily get distracted instead of using the device as I intended at purchase; to take notes during class without needing to deal with an abundance of paper.

I think this was a bit too hard on the Remarkable... the one thing it has been created for is the feeling of writing on paper with a pencil. This is something Remarkable does best, period. Getting close to this (not even matching) with the Onyx requires buying a different pen with softer nibs and third party screen protectors. For everything else, OBNAir is just an other league, a different product. I have tried the Remarkable from a colleague that is totally in love with it, but I have chosen the Onyx because I need my notes to be sent by email quickly and for the possibility to review documents selecting the text to add notes is a game changer. Backlight makes it better than paper, the possibility to check emails is crucial, apps or browsing are just a plus, but very welcome.

But what do they FEEL like to write on???

Have you tried the reMarkable 2 stylus on Note Air? The marker plus is excellent, the eraser works too.

Little pissed at the review. I almost made a decision based on it. Your comparison implies that the Onyx has similar functionality as the Remarkable. In fact it never mentions the key point of the Remarkable or that the Onyx lacks it. The Onyx is just writing on glass. I have a surface, and other devices with active stylus pens to write on, that blow the Onyx out of the water. Those devices are simply writing on glass, we would I need an Onyx, if I was ok writing on glass? The Remarkable is trying to give a feeling of writing on paper. I have different tools for different needs. Either you are a dishonest person or a lousy reviewer; you will have to decide which one you are.

A couple of points I hope that can be addressed. Any “dead pixel “. Are the dpi the same? What is the onyx policy on stuck pixels? One of the advantages of reMarkable is if you have a problem with the screen they will replace it. I’m not sure of the onyx replacement policy. Maybe some viewers can pipe in about that part. If we are comparing the onyx as a multimedia device, shouldn’t it be compared to an iPad for features and price? If comparing to reMarkable we should hear a lot more about writing experience and lag. Speeding up video of the writing then stating onyx is more accurate without explanation needs to be rectified. Maybe another video is to explain how you concluded why onyx is more accurate. I’ve been with you guys since the way the beginning even before you had your own eink devices. Maybe this was an overreaction to the beginning of the year when your channel highly rated the remarkable 2 even before any review units were available to test. Keep posting interesting videos but do be careful making general comments without qualification. I know you guys put a lot of work into your reviews but this one felt a little too rushed.

To those wondering about the whole return policy and how long it will take to get your money back, it took me exactly 30 days from the day the item was received at their facilities. I live in Australasia. Very credible company. And if the item wasn't so niche I would have kept it. The technology is phenomenal! And I would rank the brand up there with Apple in terms of service presentation and being environmentally conscious.

Unbiased review from someone who doesn't actually take notes or draw, you mean. Remarkable is has almost inperseptable latency. Which is not only better than the Onyx, but a key feature. And the lack of internet is a feature also.

Here's an idea that Goodereader can do for us. How about fast shipping/lending the Note Air over to My Deep Guide for an in-depth review comparison. I know it's in the best interest of Goodereader to sell these devices so its all good, but please allow us a more detailed review on the things that are important to potential buyers instead of these "feel" good reviews. What may be "great" on one device does not negate the other if it's lacking in features.

I get that the reviewer values functionality in e-ink devices, but that really doesn't do justice for a large fraction of people interested in such devices. A lot of them value the writing experience/feel over functionality. As a reviewer you should consider that.

Great review!! does onyx have a monthly subscription? with onyx can u open a pdf from email sign and send back quick?

Never had a chance to try out the writing experience on the remarkable but I wanted the extra features as I use it for ebooks as well and the note air definitely delivered

Thanks! For everyone cancelling their RM2 order, I'll get mine faster :-)

Which is the best option amongst all Botox/Onyx products? Is there any expected release by any writing pad manufacturer? How does the Onyx compare to the Supernote A 5x and the IPad Pro?

i have my rM2 and love it but was going to buy a new laptop to replace my Macbook Air thats quite old now, but now i'm considering gettting the Onyx Book Note Air instead with bluetooth keyboard whats anyone think?

Unbelievable you didn’t check the main feature of Remarkable- DRAWING!!!!

is the Onyx compatible with android apps?

so how is just buying an iPad Pro... super quick with reading PDF... I guess bad thing was, we cannot annotate the PDF (highlight, write notes on it)

This is an apples to oranges comparison though. These two tablets have completely different uses. I have a remarkable 2, and the one thing I love the most is that there are no notifications, no apps, no email, no messages. No clutter, and i can focus on work. Also, the screen and feel of writing on it is far superior to anything else that exists today.

I wanted to ask, for an aspect on both of them, how does file transferring work? As I would like to be able to download pdfs and make notes and then put them somewhere on Dropbox/Google Drive. Is this possible for these devices? I hear Remarkable charges for this service

Great Video thanks. Note Remarkable 2 has seen a lot of updates since this video was made. e.g. PDF pinch & Zoom plus integrations with one Drive & GDrive plus Screensharing to PC using the companion app. Also would love to get feedback on the feel of the writing on the Air. I read elsewhere you need a screenprotector to get a good resistance feel like remarkable 2 has

I love the fact that the Onyx is based on Android and lets you treat it like a tablet. But... The Remarkable has a noticeably brighter screen when no glow light is active on the Onyx. I really don't like the extra layer and the dimming that the front lighting on any e-ink device provides. Let the screen act like paper and turn on your reading light.

Hi how good is Onyx Boox for business meetings and conferencing, like via Zoom? ReMarkable looks pretty good for that, so wondering if Onyx has superiority there too. Thanks

You failed to mention which product feels more like writing on paper which is what most people is looking for. All the other stuff i can do with an iPad or Surface tablet.

Well the Onyx wins hands down. Spec and software flexibility is unmatched. Probably why people are expecting the remarkable to cost less. If it was around $300 it would fly. But one thing you are wrong about is the pen. If they both use Wacom, than technically the Onyx can do tilt. I have an older model and regular art apps on android like infinity painter or artflow and more that supports tilt work on Onyx too. Except Infinity painter lags waaaay to much on older boox devices. Not sure about the new ones. I wouldn’t be surprised if tilt is implemented in the Onyx notes app down the line.

What I like about the reMarkable 2 is that very fact that it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that the Onyx offers. I have used both devices and I can tell you that the Onyx feels like a device from the past. It literally feels like an old B&W Macintosh and it completely takes away the whole "futuristic" feel of the device. The rM2 on the other hand truly feels like a brand new type of device. True, the Onyx may have more features, but the battery life falls very short compared to the reMarkable 2. The reMarkable 2 has a better feel when writing compared to the Onyx. One thing that I noticed with the Onyx is that you really get tired of using it. I mean, it literally makes you want to put down the device and write on a real piece of paper. By contrast, you don't get tired of using the reMarkable. The entire experience of writing on a tablet becomes very enjoyable with the reMarkable. In my opinion, the reMarkable is the right choice. (it also looks and feels way more professional)

"We are going to be as fair and impartial" you started by saying...before you went on to talk for 13min and never discussing the writing experience which is a huge thing for users and before I decide to buy one or the other... Thank you for the tilted advice. :)

Peter, in the Onyx Note Air review you said that it does not have the pinch-and-zoom functionality and in this video, it seems it does. Is it an update or something?

The lag and registration of pen strokes at the end of the review on the Onyx when compared to the ReMarkable is shameful. So to say that that Onyx's pen is more accurate, that's a farce. If you don't plan on doing serious sketching, I'd say go with the Air, otherwise the actual drawing/writing experience on the ReMarkable hasn't been beat here.

Disappointing that the reviews on this channel have gotten worse instead of improving.

Hello everyone! Can I use the reMarkable nib on Onyx Note Air pen?

What about the writing experience??? The feel, which one is closer to paper? the latency when jotting notes? I have a tablet that can do everything the Onyx can but better, but obviously writing on glass isn't what most people prefer if they're looking at these reviews.

Onyx Book AIR rocks, it is the better product for sure. As a owner of one for almost a month my workflow has changed and I loving the AIR.

Hi! I was wondering if you can also use the highlighter pen function in the pdfs on the Onyx Boox device? Or is that only possible in your notes app?

Just one thing ? Does the new stylus from Max Air can be used on Max Lumi? How is it the writing experince? Is the nib the same? Thanks!

This “review” is ridiculous. Actually you have done this before: with the Dasung external monitor and the Onyx Max. And actually the external monitor feature of the Onyx was utter rubbish.

Can you lookup definitions of words on the Boox note air? And/or use google translate in the out-of-the-box .epub / .pdf reader?

Thank you, Peter, for your unbiased review based on facts and features. I need a device that I can work with when reading and writing. Disregarding the no-distraction mentality, the rM just doesn't offer me that nearly enough, which is why I cancelled my pre-order and bought the Note Air, which is currently stuck at HKG ;-) but I'm in batch 2, so still well in time. What many of us are still curious about is how the two devices differ in feeling. Anyone who decides for a rM wants that special, snappy, sharp "almost like paper" feeling specifically in writing. You mentioned the new Boox pencil is more precise with its finer tip. I think you mentioned in the first Note Air review that it also gives a little? How do the nibs compare in experience? Is any screen more paperlike thus has more friction? Is the Note Air more glass-smooth? How does it compare to the Max Lumi? Which feeling do you actually prefer apart from the feature comparison? That would be helpful to still undecided users. Thank you!

Quick questions guys, I live in Australia so shipping sucks for most things, wondering if I have to buy the pen tips for Remamarkable 2 from their website, or the Goodereader store or do the Wacom tips will work on the pen? Mostly curious if I should order some ahead of time or if I have a quick solution, thanks o/

How about pdf reading with complicate equations and figures? Which is best?

Peter, thanks for the review. One thing that RM2 seems to be doing better is handwriting recognition (as to keeping the formating of your notes). Does Onyx allow for text searching of your pdf notes? That for sure would top everything. Please keep up your good Word.

Is there a greater gap from the pen tip to the e-ink display due to the added layers of the backlight on the Boox Note Air?

1:41 I detect a video editing error…

Great review always punchy quick & to the point. However, the writing feel would be good to know on both. Does the Air have lots of pre-set templates? Also do you have the overview screen on all your saved docs on the Air as you do on the Remarkable? I must say even though I like Remarkable it is looking less remarkable on this factual review. Thanks

I will say that this video is outdated, but it has been 3 years. I feel like something you forgot to mention is that the remarkable battery does last 1-2weeks, and the Onyx only one day. The image is also crisper on the remarkable. Sure if you want a full working android tablet (if you don’t already have one) get the onyx. But if you want a tablet meant for note taking and drawing, the remarkable is just far more convenient, just for the battery life alone. And now text has been included with a full on keyboard.

Why do all your articles on the web read like press releases with 0 downside? Eg: on boox max lumi you don’t mention the poor quality stylus at all as a downside

You can clearly see in the video, that your handwriting is way more paper-like on the Remarkable 2.

In this video it seems like the boox screen is not as white as the remarkable... Has anyone else noticed?

For someone like me that has an IPAD PRO I use it at home for graphic design, photography, etc does everything I wanted it to do except using it for my main job as a loan officer which I never got used to using it for that part of my life. So I got the Remarkable 2 for just that....- customer applications, note taking and filing/organizing all of my customer files, and using a PDF 1003 app to take an application while on the go. I got rid of all paper notes and this save my time which in hand makes me money so yeah it was worth it. The paper feel display is way worth it compared to the glass screen of other personal devices.

Dear good reader, why you underestimate the type writer experience i mean using e ink as a writing machine via keyboard.. this is the holy grail we all are looking for.. not the pen or app experience or note or whatever.. is the boox 3 max the best out there as is hdmi connectable with a laptop? or can you sink a usb keyboard and use a writing app internally .. this is the market that is lacking.. or there are other alternatives? thank you

“Pretty unbiased when it comes to these devices” “But when the onyx books air came out it absolutely destroyed the remarkable” “There’s absolutely nothing about the remarkable that is better than the onyx” Also includes a sponsor from Onyx Note in description, but not remarkable. ...

I have ordered a reM2 , but if Boox N/A is better I would get it instead. It is a tool after all. Having said that, if the writing experiencing is not comparable on the Boox Note Air to the reM 2, then what are we talking about? These are supposed to be (primarily) note taking instruments after all to go "paper free"; that should have been much more of the focus of the comparison. Regarding all the functions discussed other than the writing, I have an iPad which does all of those function and more ... better & in color.

Hi guys, does the onyx have the feature to record audio. Also would an app like onenote from playstore work. On a tablet there are apps which allow to import a pdf take notes on it and recrod synchronised audio at the same time. If onenote works on the onyx or if the onyx has this feature built in then for me personally this product would be by far superior to remarkable

For me the killing part on the reMarkable is that it has no flip screen feature. I need that because i'm lefthanded.

The screen on reMarkable2 is whiter, more of a paper-like feeling.

Remarkable tilt is a must for artistic types.

Peter. You guys need a "note taking experience comparison" video with these two devices.