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| The reMarkable Paper Pro is capable of running Android 13 with great benefits. |
The reMarkable Paper Pro is designed to be one thing: a distraction-free digital notebook. With its custom Linux-based OS, it excels at replicating the feel of pen on paper without the pings, notifications, and app overload that come with standard tablets.
But what if it could do more?
That’s exactly what one YouTuber set out to discover — and the results are turning heads in the e-paper community.
The Experiment That Started Slowly
Chalid Raqami, a tech enthusiast and content creator, successfully ported Android 13 to the reMarkable Paper Pro. The device, which was released in 2024, packs modest hardware: just 2GB of RAM and a processor with four Cortex-A53 cores. So it’s no surprise that the initial boot-up was painfully sluggish.
After some serious optimization, however, the experience transformed. Core functions like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi started working reliably, and battery optimizations were ironed out to the point where the tablet can now last up to 300 hours on standby with a single charge.
Android allows users to install third-party apps for reading and entertainment on the reMarkable Paper Pro.
Why This Matters for reMarkable Owners
Out of the box, the reMarkable Paper Pro does one thing incredibly well — but it doesn’t play nicely with third-party apps. Android changes that entirely.
With Raqami’s port, users can install:
- The Kindle Android app for reading e-books
- Microsoft OneNote for richer note-taking and syncing
- A web browser for light research
- Bluetooth keyboards for typing
That last point is particularly interesting. reMarkable sells its own keyboard folio for the Paper Pro at $229. Android opens the door for users to connect any Bluetooth keyboard they already own.
Latency Fix Inspired by the Competition
One of the biggest challenges with running Android on an e-paper device is stylus latency. Raqami credits Boox’s stylus solution for Android-powered e-readers as inspiration for his fix.
He created a low-latency pen mode that works with any Android app supporting stylus input. Users can toggle it on instantly by tapping a button in the navigation bar — no complicated settings digging required.
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| A low-latency pen mode makes the stylus usable on Android. |
Dual Boot Without Losing Your Original OS
Perhaps the smartest part of this project? Raqami didn’t have to wipe the default operating system.
Users can switch between Android and reMarkable’s native OS in under a minute. That means you keep the distraction-free experience when you want it, and you can jump into Android when you need more functionality.
When Can You Try It?
Here’s the catch: Raqami hasn’t released the installation process publicly yet.
There are still a few issues to resolve. For instance, the Android partition gets wiped whenever reMarkable pushes an official OS update. He wants to smooth out these wrinkles before sharing the method with the public.
Once those bugs are fixed, though, the door will open for reMarkable Paper Pro owners to unlock a whole new world of functionality on a device that already has a beautiful color e-paper display.
Should reMarkable Go Android?
Raqami’s experiment raises an interesting question: should reMarkable consider launching an Android-based device? The company has built its brand around focus and simplicity, and Android could muddy that identity.
Still, with competitors like Boox already offering Android-powered e-ink tablets, the pressure is there. For now, enthusiasts can look forward to a DIY solution — assuming Raqami releases his work to the public.
If you’re curious about picking up a reMarkable Paper Pro and exploring the possibilities yourself, you can find it on Amazon with the stylus and keyboard folio.
Final Thoughts
The reMarkable Paper Pro was never meant to run Android — but that’s exactly what makes this project so fascinating. It shows how much untapped potential is sitting inside a device that’s otherwise locked down. While it’s not ready for prime time yet, this port gives tech enthusiasts something exciting to look forward to.