3.19 Update for reMarkable Paper Pro: Full Battery Test Results

Recently, a beta update (version 3.19) rolled out for the reMarkable Paper Pro, and it brings three notable updates—one of which stands out as a game-changer. If you’re like me and enjoy reading or writing on your device in various lighting conditions, the increased screen brightness will be a welcomed change. Let’s dive into the details of this update, discuss how the new features perform, and look at how it affects the device’s battery life.

3.19 Update changes

🔷 Quick Reminder: Beta Update

Before we get started, a quick reminder: this is a beta update. That means it’s not available to everyone right off the bat. To get this update, you’ll need to join the reMarkable beta program, which you can do via the device’s settings. Just a heads-up: beta updates can sometimes cause issues, so it’s best to only sign up if you’re comfortable with that risk.

You may need to enroll into beta program to see the new update

New Features in Update 3.19

This update comes with three new features, and here’s a breakdown of each:

1. Updated Settings Menu

A small but notable tweak is the change in the settings menu. Previously, Display, Cloud, and Help were all grouped together. Now, they’ve been separated into individual sections, making the menu feel clearer and easier to navigate.

2. Grid Size Options for Reviewing Pages

When reviewing pages, reMarkable has added a useful feature: you can now change the grid size. There are four options:

• Large

• Medium

• Small

• List view

Personally, I find the Small grid the best balance. It provides enough detail in the thumbnails without taking up too much screen space.

Grid size has more options available

3. Quick Notebook Access via Plus Button

Here’s an interesting discovery I made after installing the update. When you press and hold the plus button at the bottom of the screen, a pop-up appears giving you quick access to a notebook sheet where you can start drawing or writing immediately. It’s a convenient shortcut! Though I don’t recall seeing this option before the update, so I’m not sure if it was always there or if it’s part of this new release. If you know, let me know in the comments!

Long press on “+” icon opens a quick notebook

🔷 The Game-Changer: Increased Screen Brightness

Now, let’s talk about the most exciting feature of this update: the increased screen brightness.

Before & After: Brightness Comparison

The difference is clear! The new brightness options are noticeably brighter, especially when you enable the Extra Bright feature.

• Lowest Brightness → Highest Brightness

• Extra Bright On/Off Comparison

Max brightness with Extra Bright OFF

Max brightness with Extra Bright ON

It makes reading in darker environments or in bed much more comfortable. In fact, this brightness increase should have been there from the beginning, but better late than never, right?

Battery Test Results: Is It Worth the Brightness?

The big question on everyone’s mind: How does the new brightness impact battery life?

I conducted several tests to measure battery drain over 15-minute reading sessions with various brightness settings. Here’s what I found:

• Maximum Brightness, Extra Bright Off:
  6% battery drain per hour

• Maximum Brightness, Extra Bright On:
  10% battery drain per hour
  That’s a 4% increase, which means about 65% more battery used.

• Brightness Level 3, Extra Bright Off:
  4% battery drain per hour

• Brightness Level 3, Extra Bright On:
  8% battery drain per hour
  This is 100% more battery used compared to when Extra Bright is off.

Battery tests show between 65-100% increase in battery drain

So, if you’re planning on using the Extra Bright feature, be prepared for a significantly higher battery drain. These results were based on my tests at home, so your mileage may vary depending on your use case and environment.

🔷 What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear from you—if you’ve tested the new update, did you see similar battery results? What do you think about the increased brightness? Are there any other features you’d like to see added to the reMarkable Paper Pro? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

🔷 Final Thoughts

This update has certainly improved the reMarkable Paper Pro experience. The increased brightness is a welcome change, making the device more versatile in different lighting conditions. While there is a noticeable battery impact when using Extra Bright, it’s definitely a feature worth trying, especially if you read or write in low-light environments frequently.

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