I ran a little experiment using the e-readers I have on hand. My goal was to show that the reMarkable digital notebook may not be as relevant as it once was in 2026, given the new devices that have come to market over the past few years.
Note: as you can see in the video, I used the Bigme B7 Color (full review here) for this tutorial.
Step 1: Write Your Handwritten Note
Open the built-in note-taking app on your e-reader. Use the stylus to write by hand, just like you would on paper: meeting notes, grocery lists, email drafts, annotated diagrams, etc.
If your e-reader has a color screen, you can use different colors to organize your notes (headings, annotations, highlights).
Step 2: Export the Note as a PDF
Once your note is done, export it as a PDF from the note-taking app. The exact steps vary by device, but there’s usually an “Export” or “Share” button in the note’s menu. The PDF file is then saved locally on your e-reader.
If your device supports it, you can also send the PDF to a cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) to retrieve it on another device, in case you prefer to use the AI from your computer or phone.
Step 3: Open the AI of Your Choice
Launch the web browser on your Android e-reader and go to the website of whichever AI you want to use:
- Claude: claude.ai
- ChatGPT: chatgpt.com
- Gemini: gemini.google.com
You can also install the Android app for any of these directly from the Play Store on your e-reader, if it’s available on your device.
Step 4: Send the PDF to the AI for Handwriting Recognition
In the AI chat, attach your PDF file (use the file attachment button or paperclip icon), then type something like: “Transcribe the handwritten text in this document.”
The AI analyzes your handwriting and returns the transcribed text within seconds. You can then copy and paste it wherever you need: an email, a Word document, etc.
Since you’re using an online service, you can also log into the same AI on your computer to retrieve the text there.
Step 5 (Bonus): Do Even More With AI
Handwriting recognition is just the beginning. Unlike a basic OCR tool, a conversational AI can also, starting from your handwritten document:
- Summarize your notes into a few key points.
- Proofread the spelling and grammar of the transcribed text.
- Rewrite your ideas in a more formal style.
- Answer questions about the content of your notes.
- Expand the text by adding additional information.
- Translate your notes into another language.
- Produce a finished document (report, meeting summary, presentation) from your raw text.
Just ask in the same conversation, for example: “Turn this into a professional email” or “Give me a 5-point summary.”
Why This Method?
Digital notebooks like the reMarkable offer a handwriting transcription feature, but it requires a monthly subscription (around $4/month) and is limited to plain text conversion.
By using an Android e-reader with an AI like Claude or ChatGPT, you get transcription plus the full power of an intelligent assistant capable of reworking your notes.
All of this without an extra subscription – the free versions of Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini are generally enough for this use case.
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