The launch of the Kindle Scribe was an enormous second for Amazon’s eReaders, nevertheless it was removed from the primary E Ink pill designed for notetaking.
ReMarkable, Huawei and Boox have all launches related gadgets up to now, though Kobo’s Elipsa is the obvious different to the Scribe. The brand new Elipsa 2E is an upgraded model of 2021’s authentic, but maintains the identical $399.99/£349.99 beginning value.
Its premise is straightforward: a big 10.3in, 1404×1872-pixel E Ink pill which lets you learn, take notes or annotate books and different paperwork. Most of that is made doable by the up to date Kobo Stylus 2 pen, which is included within the field.
I had a couple of minutes to attempt it out, and it’s clean and responsive to make use of, but exact sufficient to pick very particular areas of the display screen.
Kobo
The Elipsa 2E’s plastic exterior is made out of 85% recycled plastic, 10% of which might in any other case find yourself in landfill or the ocean. It doesn’t really feel notably premium, however helps the system stay good and lightweight at 390g.
Even with the magnetic SleepCover hooked up (an additional $69.99/£69.99), it may possibly simply be carried round wherever you journey. However not like another Kobo eReaders, there’s no waterproofing.
Efficiency comes from an unnamed 2GHz processor, and in my hands-on time, the system was quick and responsive. Kobo claims “weeks of battery life” from the 2400mAh cell, though utilizing the stylus will deplete it way more shortly than studying. Charging is through USB-C, however don’t anticipate something notably quick, and solely the cable is included within the field.
Nevertheless, it’s the software program expertise that units the Elipsa 2E other than different E Ink gadgets. It helps a variety of file codecs, resembling EPUB, MOBI, PDF and JPEG and HTML. You’ll be able to take notes instantly onto any of those, a key benefit over the Kindle Scribe.
Loads of alternative might be present in Kobo’s eBook Retailer, which incorporates each text-based books and audiobooks. There aren’t any audio system, however the Elipsa 2E can hook up with headphones or audio system through Bluetooth.
Kobo
Like all Kobo eReaders, the Elipsa 2E has OverDrive integration. This implies you may hyperlink your library card and borrow books somewhat than having to purchase them, identical to you’ll in a bodily library.
Importing and exporting paperwork is feasible through Dropbox (with Google Drive coming quickly). Pocket integration helps you to simply learn on-line articles you’ve saved from any of your gadgets.
There’s additionally Readwise help, so highlights and annotations might be moved to numerous third-party notetaking apps in the event you pay for a subscription (from $4.49/approx. £3.60 monthly).
One other subscription you might need heard about is Kobo Plus, which provides limitless entry to 1.3 million eBooks and greater than 100,000 audiobooks. It’s beforehand been accessible in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Italy, France and the Netherlands, however has now arrived within the US and UK.
After a 30-day free trial, Kobo Plus prices $7.99/£8.99 monthly for both eBooks or audiobooks, or $9.99/£11.99 monthly for each.
Pre-orders for the Kobo Elipsa 2E are reside now on Kobo’s web site, the place purchases till 18 April embody a free £25 reward card for eBooks and audiobooks within the UK. It’ll then be launched within the UK, US and lots of different international locations around the globe on 19 April.