Remarkable 2 Vs Supernote A5x Which E Ink Tablet Is Better For Messy Note Takers

For those who think with a pen in hand—students, creatives, professionals drowning in meeting notes—the shift from paper to digital has always come with compromise. Enter the E Ink tablet: a device that mimics the tactile sensation of writing on paper while offering the benefits of searchability, backup, and portability. Two models consistently rise to the top of this niche market: the reMarkable 2 and the Supernote A5X. But for users whose workflow isn’t neat or linear—who scribble in margins, sketch half-formed ideas, flip between subjects without structure—choosing between them becomes less about specs and more about how each device handles chaos.

This isn’t a battle of raw power or screen resolution. It’s about how well each tool adapts when your thinking process is messy, nonlinear, and full of false starts. Let’s break down where each excels—and which one actually supports the way disorganized minds really work.

Writing Experience: Paper-Like Feel Meets Real-World Use

The foundation of any note-taking tablet is how it feels to write on it. Both the reMarkable 2 and the Supernote A5X use E Ink Carta displays with 227 PPI resolution and support electromagnetic resonance (EMR) styluses, meaning no charging is required. The latency is imperceptible, and both offer palm rejection that works reliably even when you rest your hand on the screen.

The reMarkable 2 has long been praised for its textured screen overlay. This matte film creates friction similar to real paper, giving feedback that many describe as “authentic.” However, that same texture can wear over time, especially if you press hard or use abrasive stylus nibs. After six months of heavy use, some users report visible scratches or a reduction in smoothness.

The Supernote A5X takes a different approach. Its screen is smoother out of the box, with less tactile resistance. At first, this may feel too slick—like writing on glass—but it pairs exceptionally well with its replaceable fiber-tip nibs, which provide their own grip. Because there’s no permanent screen texture, the surface stays pristine longer. For messy writers who tend to tap, scratch, or drag their pens unconsciously, this durability matters.

Tip: If you prefer a textured feel but want longevity, consider applying a third-party matte screen protector to the Supernote A5X—it gives you the best of both worlds.

Organization Philosophy: Minimalism vs Functionality

Where these devices diverge most dramatically is in how they handle clutter. The reMarkable 2 follows a minimalist design ethos: one folder system, no tags, no search within handwritten notes. You create notebooks, organize them into folders, and rely on memory—or meticulous naming—to find things later.

This works beautifully if you’re disciplined. But for messy note takers—those who jot ideas across multiple notebooks, forget titles, or jump between topics mid-thought—the lack of retrieval tools becomes a liability. Imagine trying to locate a sketch from three weeks ago buried in an untitled notebook labeled “Meeting Notes 3.” Without full-text search, you’re scrolling blind.

The Supernote A5X, by contrast, embraces functionality over minimalism. It allows tagging, hierarchical folders, and—crucially—full-text search of handwritten content using AI-powered handwriting recognition. Even if your script is erratic or you switch between print and cursive, the A5X often parses keywords accurately. This means you can type “budget Q3” into the search bar and pull up every note—even partially written ones—that contain those terms.

For someone who thinks in fragments, revisits old ideas, or loses track of where they put things, this capability transforms the device from a digital notebook into a usable knowledge repository.

“Most people don’t need another place to store notes—they need a way to retrieve them. Search is not a luxury; it’s essential for cognitive offloading.” — Dr. Lena Torres, Cognitive Ergonomics Researcher at MIT Media Lab

Feature Comparison: What Each Device Offers Out of the Box

Feature	reMarkable 2	Supernote A5X
Screen Size	10.3 inches	9.7 inches
Resolution	1872 x 1404 (227 PPI)	1404 x 1872 (227 PPI)
Stylus Type	EMR, magnetic attachment	EMR, magnetic attachment
Handwriting Search	No (only metadata/title search)	Yes, real-time OCR during writing
Tagging & Advanced Organization	No	Yes (tags, nested folders)
Voice Recording + Sync	No	Yes (with timestamped note linking)
PDF Annotation Tools	Limited (highlight, underline)	Extensive (shapes, typewriter text, layers)
Export Options	PNG, PDF, RM (proprietary)	PDF, PNG, EPUB, TXT, XOXO (editable)
Cloud Sync	Yes (reMarkable Cloud, limited free tier)	Yes (Supernote Cloud, WebDAV, FTP, local Wi-Fi sync)
Third-Party App Integration	No (closed ecosystem)	Limited (via file export), but open folder access

A Day in the Life: How They Handle Real Messiness

Let’s look at a realistic scenario. Maya is a freelance UX researcher. Her day involves client meetings, rapid ideation sessions, journaling, and reviewing research PDFs. She doesn’t plan ahead—her best ideas emerge during tangents. Her notes are chaotic: diagrams with arrows pointing everywhere, quotes scribbled in margins, sudden shifts from sketches to bullet points.

In the morning, she uses her tablet to annotate a client brief. On the reMarkable 2, she can highlight sections and add marginalia, but inserting typed text requires switching apps or exporting later. There’s no way to layer annotations separately, so edits become messy. When she wants to refer back to a previous meeting note, she remembers writing about pricing concerns but can’t recall which notebook. No search function means flipping through five similarly named files.

On the Supernote A5X, she uses the typewriter tool to insert structured comments directly onto the PDF. She tags the document with “client-onboarding” and “pricing.” Later, when preparing a proposal, she searches “pricing model” and instantly finds all relevant mentions—even those written by hand. During a brainstorming session, she records audio while sketching. The A5X links timestamps so she can tap a sketch and hear what she was saying when she drew it.

By afternoon, Maya has generated dozens of fragments. The reMarkable forces her to manually file each one. The Supernote lets her assign tags like “idea,” “follow-up,” and “quote,” then filter them later. At week’s end, she exports everything tagged “follow-up” into a single PDF for her assistant.

This isn’t about preference—it’s about cognitive load. The messier your process, the more you need a system that reduces friction in retrieval and repurposing.

Customization and Long-Term Flexibility

One of the quiet advantages of the Supernote A5X is its openness. While neither device runs Android or supports third-party apps directly, the A5X allows local file access over Wi-Fi. You can connect it to your computer or network and move files freely, even organizing them in custom folder structures. This is invaluable for users who integrate notes into larger workflows—like syncing with Obsidian, Notion, or Apple Notes via automation tools.

The reMarkable 2, in contrast, locks you into its cloud ecosystem unless you use unofficial hacks (like sideloading via USB). Even then, file management remains rigid. Notebooks are binary: either synced or local. There’s no middle ground.

Additionally, the A5X supports customizable templates beyond basic ruled or grid layouts. You can import weekly planners, mind map canvases, or habit trackers. For messy thinkers who benefit from light structure—just enough scaffolding to focus, but not so much that it stifles spontaneity—this flexibility is key.

Tip: Use the Supernote A5X’s template feature to create “thinking zones”—dedicated spaces for brain dumps, meeting logs, or idea incubation—without starting from blank pages every time.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up for Chaotic Productivity

If you're a messy note taker, default settings won't serve you. Here’s how to configure each device to handle disorganization gracefully:

1. Start with naming conventions: Even if you don’t file neatly, use consistent prefixes like “Meeting – [Date]” or “Idea – [Topic].” This helps when browsing manually.
2. Use tags strategically (A5X only): Assign broad tags like #draft, #review, #quote, #todo. Filter by these later instead of hunting through notebooks.
3. Enable voice recording for context (A5X): Record short summaries after each session. Link them to notes so you remember why something mattered.
4. Set up automated exports: Use the A5X’s Wi-Fi sync to push daily notes to a cloud folder. Pair with IFTTT or Shortcuts to auto-import into your main knowledge base.
5. Create a “junk drawer” notebook: Designate one notebook per week for unstructured dumping. Review and extract value weekly, then archive.
6. Back up frequently: Both devices can fail. Ensure your Supernote syncs to multiple locations; use reMarkable’s cloud plus manual backups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the reMarkable 2 search handwritten notes?

No, the reMarkable 2 does not support optical character recognition (OCR) for handwritten content. You can only search notebook titles and document names. This makes finding specific content within handwritten pages nearly impossible without prior organization.

Is the Supernote A5X harder to learn than the reMarkable 2?

Initially, yes. The A5X has more buttons and menu layers, which can feel overwhelming. However, once core features like tagging and search are mastered, most users report higher efficiency—especially those managing complex projects or large volumes of notes.

Which device lasts longer on a charge?

The reMarkable 2 claims up to one month on a single charge under typical use. The Supernote A5X offers around two weeks with moderate use and voice recording disabled. Heavy annotation or frequent syncing reduces battery life on both, but the reMarkable still holds the edge in endurance.

Final Verdict: Embrace the Chaos

The reMarkable 2 is elegant, focused, and ideal for purists who value simplicity and aesthetics. If your note-taking is deliberate—if you follow outlines, title everything, and rarely dig through old material—it remains a compelling choice. Its paper-like texture and distraction-free interface foster deep work.

But for messy note takers—those whose creativity spills beyond lines, who think in spirals, who lose ideas in the shuffle—the Supernote A5X is the superior tool. It doesn’t shame disorganization; it accommodates it. With search, tagging, voice sync, and flexible export, it turns chaos into retrievable insight. It understands that brilliance often emerges from disorder—and that the goal isn’t neatness, but meaning.

Ultimately, the best device isn’t the one that looks cleanest. It’s the one that helps you find what you forgot you wrote.

🚀 Ready to stop losing great ideas in bad organization? Try the Supernote A5X for one week with intentional tagging and search. You might never go back to blank notebooks again.