reMarkable Paper Pro Update 3.22: Exciting New Features… and Some Concerns

I’ve been using the reMarkable Paper Pro since it first launched, and I’ve been impressed with how much it has improved over time. But with the release of beta update 3.22, I can’t help but feel a little conflicted. While the update brings some great new tools, one highly anticipated feature has left me feeling frustrated.

Let’s dive into what’s new, what’s great, and what’s bothering me about this update.

🔷 A Quick Look Back: reMarkable’s Progress

When the Paper Pro first came out, it was missing many features people expected in a premium e-ink device. Thankfully, the team has been adding updates over time, including:

• Shapes tool: Perfectly draw circles, triangles, and more.

• Auto-rotation: Seamlessly switch between portrait and landscape.

• Extra brightness levels: Push the screen a little brighter when needed.

These updates have been great, even if they haven’t arrived as quickly as many of us hoped.

🔷 The Big Addition: Handwriting Search (But There’s a Catch)

The highlight of beta update 3.22 is the long-awaited handwriting search feature. Finally, you can search through all your handwritten notes — a feature that many users, myself included, have been asking for since day one.

However, there’s one big caveat:

• Handwriting search is only available to those with a Connect subscription.

  • Price: $3 per month or $30 per year.

While I understand the value of Connect (for example, it extends your warranty up to three years), it doesn’t feel right to lock such a core feature behind a paywall — especially considering the device’s premium price tag.

🔷 Why This Feels Frustrating

Here’s why I’m conflicted:

• Locked features: Unlimited cloud storage, syncing after 50 days, and 48 additional templates (some made by other users!) are also locked behind Connect.

• Premium pricing: The reMarkable Paper Pro costs $629, so adding a subscription for features like handwriting search feels hard to justify.

• User expectations: Core productivity features should be available to all users, not just subscribers.

In short, I feel like this is the wrong move for a device at this price point. I’d love to know if you agree or if I’m just being overly critical.

🔷 The Good News: 2 New Features for Everyone

Not everything in update 3.22 is behind a paywall. Two nice improvements are available to all users:

1. Customizable Toolbar

   • You can now move the toolbar in both portrait and landscape mode.

   • Simply drag the “hide/show” button to reposition it quickly.

   • This small tweak makes navigation much smoother without diving into settings.

1. Refreshed Icon Design

   • The icons in the toolbar and menus have been polished.

   • The pen icons in particular look much cleaner and more consistent.

   • It’s a small visual update, but it adds a layer of refinement.

Free Templates for Everyone

If you don’t want to pay for reMarkable’s template pack, I’ve created free interactive PDF templates you can use instead. You’ll find the link in the description of my original video.

Looking Ahead: September Announcement

There’s another reason to be excited — reMarkable is teasing something new for September 3rd. I have a hunch it might be a Paper Pro Mini (maybe around 7 inches), but that’s just speculation. What do you think?

Final Thoughts

I love my reMarkable Paper Pro and appreciate how far it’s come since launch. But locking features like handwriting search behind a subscription doesn’t sit well with me. At this price point, users should expect more features out of the box.

What do you think? Is this a fair approach, or does it feel like a cash grab? Leave a comment below!

🔗 Get the FREE reMarkable Paper Pro Templates:

► https://howtotechstuff.com/free-download-5-templates-for-remarkable-paper-pro/

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