ReMarkable has slipped into Reddit to learn what users want

Most software updates follow the same familiar pattern: release notes, a rollout, and then the inevitable cataloging of bugs by disgruntled users, typically on Reddit. What we don’t often see is a company employee showing up in those threads to respond in real time, explain design choices, and acknowledge what needs fixing. That’s exactly what’s happening right now in r/remarkabletablet. A user posting under u/Vegardfromremarkable, who identifies himself as part of reMarkable’s customer care team, has been actively engaging with reMarkable tablet users, and I find this super laudable and interesting.

Vegard first introduced himself a few weeks ago, positioning his role as a listener and conduit rather than an official spokesperson. Early on, his replies focused on gathering general feedback, acknowledging long-standing feature requests, and clarifying how users could best route issues back to the company. With the most recent software update, Vegard’s role has evolved. He’s now addressing bugs, confirming known issues, and providing context around decisions and changes. He’s also seemingly relaying feedback directly to the product team, offering Reddit users a level of access that’s often unheard of from most hardware makers.

E-ink hardware companies are not known for open dialogue. Amazon’s Kindle support lives behind help pages and private tickets, Kobo tends toward one-way announcements, and Boox leaves most troubleshooting to power users and forum threads. ReMarkable’s decision to embed an actual employee in an unofficial Reddit community is a deliberate break from those norms. Reddit is where users compare bluntly, critique harshly, and complain loudly. Participating with those posts directly shows that reMarkable is willing to engage its most vocal users without routing everything through a carefully managed channel. So far, Vegard’s responses aren’t scripted marketing plugs, careful PR language, or deflection. He’s openly acknowledging issues (tied to the latest update and otherwise) and attempting to provide clear expectations about what the team can and can’t change quickly.

What’s striking isn’t just that he’s responding, but how. Vegard’s replies read as openly appreciative and excited by the level of engagement, even as he fields a steady stream of questions and bug reports. It’s hard not to admire the enthusiasm while also feeling a bit of secondhand anxiety at the idea of one person trying to keep up with Reddit at full volume.

Most prominently, Vegard’s main thread has become a live snapshot of what reMarkable’s most engaged users want next. Unsurprisingly, familiar requests dominate the conversation, including stronger EPUB support, better hyperlink handling, and improved export quality, particularly for professional and academic workflows. None of these complaints is new, but seeing them acknowledged by someone inside the company helps ease some of the frustration. One of the most common frustrations among E-Ink users isn’t missing features, but uncertainty about what’s a bug and what’s a permanent (or misguided) change. Having user questions answered directly, in public, removes a surprising amount of friction and makes reMarkable’s products feel more accessible.

ReMarkable has always marketed its tablets as intentionally limited with fewer features, fewer distractions, and a narrower set of workflows than many competitors. That approach is perfect for users who value focus, but it also frustrates power users who want more flexibility. By engaging publicly on Reddit, reMarkable isn’t pivoting from its core philosophy, just explaining it more readily while also leaving the door open for conversation around what’s missing. Responding to complaints with context, such as why certain features work the way they do, or why others aren’t a priority, suggests the company is aware of the trade-offs it’s making and comfortable standing by them.

In a category where companies often go silent when criticism surfaces, ReMarkable is clearly focused on improving users’ experience. With acknowledgment, limitations feel less like oversights and more like deliberate choices, and bugs and issues seem more likely to be fixed. Dropping an employee into Reddit’s constant fire won’t fix every issue, and it won’t replace formal support channels, but when many companies keep users at arm’s length, it’s a meaningful attempt at customer service. Whether this becomes a long-term approach or a short experiment, reMarkable is showing up, answering questions, and allowing users to be part of the conversation.