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If you are familiar with the E Ink Tablet market then the first name that pops up in our mind is reMarkable . reMarkable 2 has created a name for its device and has a loyal fan following.
Whereas, Kobo Elipsa 2e is Kobo’s third foray into the world of e-notes, following their initial model and the Sage. It’s evident that Kobo is taking e-notes seriously, investing more heavily in them than some of the major competitors, like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
But what sets the Kobo Elipsa 2E apart? And is it better or worse than the reMarkable 2?
Lets dive in and find out…
Comparison Table Remarkable 2 Vs Kobo Elipsa 2e
| FEATURES | REMARKABLE 2 | KOBO ELIPSA 2E |
| Year | 2020 | 2023 |
| Display | ||
| Screen type | (CANVAS) Carta | Carta 1200 |
| Screen size | 10.3" | 10.3" |
| Screen resolution | 1404 x 1872 | 1404 x 1872 |
| Screen density | 226ppi | 227ppi |
| Hardware | ||
| CPU | 1.2Ghz Dual-core | 2 GHz |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 8GB | 32GB |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 2400mAh |
| Thickness | 4.7mm | 7.5mm |
| Weight | 405g | 390g |
| Software | ||
| OS | Linux-based | KoboOS |
| Handwriting recognition | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Play Store | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| Other Features | ||
| Backlit Screen | ⨯ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ⨯ | ✓ |
| Speakers | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| Microphone | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| Auto Rotate | ⨯ | ✓ |
| SD card slot | ⨯ | ⨯ |
| Waterproof | ⨯ | ⨯ |
Aspect of Consideration
- Design
- Display
- Stylus
- Notetaking
- Reading
- Hardware & Software
- Pricing
Design
Kobo Elipsa 2e and the Remarkable 2 both have a tablet-like form factor and are equipped with greyscale E Ink screens.
Notably, they feature bezels framing the displays, with a wider strip on the left side for more comfortable handling. Both devices have rubber feet on the back to prevent sliding.
I find the reMarkable 2 a bit more appealing when it comes to design probably because it thinner.
reMarkable 2
- Its the thinnest E Ink Tablet in the market (4.7 mm)
- It has a white frame with a silver-accented grip strip and a thicker lower bezel
- Its weight 404g and the slimness makes it feel more nimble while holding
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- It weights under 400 grams in weight.
- The device is made of plastic with a textured finish.
- Power button and the USB-C port are on the side
- Though quite thin its still thicker than the reMarkable 2 at 7.5mm.
Display
The displays of the Kobo Elpisa 2e and Remarkable 2 are quite similar. The pixel density, screen resolution, and screen size are the same.
Both displays have a paper-like texture that mimics real paper and are glare-free. The Kobo Elipsa 2E shares a similar design to its predecessor. The screen comes with back lit screen and warm lights making it perfect for reading in low light conditions.
reMarkable 2
- The reMarkable screen uses their patented CANVAS technology. The screen has more fiction and paper like feel to it.
- The device lacks a backlit screen or warm lights.
- Screen has a textured finish that mimics real paper.
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- The device and dual front light both warm and cool.
- The 10.3” screen has 225 PPI same as reMarkable 2.
- It has auto-brightness too, so can adapt the brightness of the display to match your environment.
Stylus
The Remarkable 2 stylus needs to be purchased separately. You can buy the standard marker or the Marker Plus. Both the styluses have a very natural feel to them.
On the other hand, the Kobo Elipsa 2e Stylus comes in the box and it does not support 3rd Party Styluses.
The performance of the Kobo Elipsa 2E Stylus represents a mixed bag. While the device’s potential is evident, the use of an active pen and the challenges associated with it may limit the overall writing experience.
reMarkable 2
- The standard Marker costs $79 and the Marker Plus with an eraser costs $129
- Tilt detection & accurate pressure sensitivity makes I writing highly enjoyable.
- The eraser tip at the end feels like real rubber and is really responsive on the marker plus.
- The cardboard stylus tip give it that peculiar pencil over paper like feel but it requires frequent replacements.
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- The included stylus comes with an eraser. The button is thoughtfully placed and indented.
- The stylus is is based on Active EMR and rechargeable via USB.
- The Nibs used are different to what we find with E Ink Tablets.
- There tracking precision, line quality, and overall writing responsiveness needs improvement
The stylus is not Wacom supported, which is an unfortunate oversight.
Note Taking
The Remarkable 2 and Elipsa 2e both offer useful features for note-taking.
The Remarkable 2 has a minimalistic UI with decent templates and pen options but the writing experience is out of the world.
I think writing experience can be a bit subjective but in my opinion Remarkable 2 is the winner when it comes to note taking.
reMarkable 2
- Offers 51 templates for note-taking
- The pages can be layered and tagged individually which helps in better organization.
- Great Pen Response, different tips and pens styles, pressure and tilt sensitivity make the note taking experience premium.
- Handwriting recognition and convert to text are available. I found the results surprisingly accurate.
- You can take your notes directly on PDFs pages.
- Allows you to sign into cloud storage accounts like OneDrive and Dropbox for immediate access to your documents.
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- Kobo Elipsa 2e has hand writing recognition
- Kobo’s mathematics support lets you handwrite complex equations, which it then digitizes for you.
- Notebooks have various background styles, and users can choose from different pen types, shading, and sizes.
- Users can write directly on ebooks and view their handwritten notes when resizing the text.
- The Elipsa 2E also supports cloud backup for notes.
- Notetaking offers advanced features like as adding diagrams, equations, and converting handwritten notes to text.
- The built-in notebook feature seamlessly syncs with cloud services like Dropbox and, soon, Google Docs, making it an efficient digital notepad.
Reading
When it comes to reading experience, the Kobo Elipsa 2e is far better than reMarkable 2.
Changing formatting, such as line spacing and margins, is easy and responsive, in Elipsa 2e. With its own ecostystem and dual lights the Kobo Elipsa 2E’s performance as a reader is impressive, offering a responsive and enjoyable reading experience.
reMarkable 2
- Supports ePUB, PDF and Word documents.
- For annotating files are converted to PDF. But the good thing is you can take notes directly on PDFs.
- There is no backlight so you cant read at night.
- No in build dictionary
- No preinstalled book store, it means dragging and dropping EPUB files manually.
- You can also add sticky notes directly to Word docs, and from later this year you’ll be able to send documents to the Scribe from within Microsoft Word.
- Bigger sized files lag alot.
- Supports all the major reading formats.
- Has a build in dictionary.
- Kobo’s expansive catalog is huge catering to a wide range of reading preferences.
- You can also sideload your own ePubs and annotate them.
- It panel view functionality, something available on other devices.
- You can annotate on EPUBs
- Stylus works well for annotation, but responsiveness and precision is not consistent.
Hardware & Software
The reMarkable 2 was launched in 2020 and the hardware is a bit outdated when compared to Kobo Elipsa 2e but still packs and punch. The devices has its own tailored OS and run on Linux. It adopts a pared-back approach, with clean visuals, tidy menus and neat icons for switching tools.
Kobo Elipsa 2e has its own tailored Linux based OS. Which is really fast and part of the Kobo ecosystem, so no third party apps can be installed in it.
reMarkable 2
- The reMarkable 2 has a dual-core processor with 1Gb RAM.
- The storage is only 8Gb which can be a problem for some people.
- Doesn’t have Bluetooth.
- Has a decent battery with 3000 mAH capacity.
- It doesnt have G sensor or light sensor.
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- Its slightly better in hardware specification than the reMarkable 2.
- Comes with backlit screen and a G sensors
- 2 Ghz processor with 2 GB of memory and 32 of storage.
- The battery is smaller 2400 mAH but works really well especially for reading.
Price
In terms of pricing, the Remarkable 2 seems more affordable. However, when you factor in the cost of a stylus, the minimum price for the Remarkable 2 increases significantly.
reMarkable 2
- The Remarkable 2 has a single version with 8 GB of non-expandable storage.
- However, the tablet doesn’t come with a stylus in the box. You can opt for the standard or premium Marker for additional cost.
- Remarkable charges a monthly subscription fee if you want to use the “connect” feature.
Kobo Elipsa 2e
- The Kobo Elipsa 2e comes in a single variant and the pen comes in the box.
- There are no subscription charges.
reMarkable 2 or ELipsa 2e? Final Verdict
Both of the devices are great but they target a different user altogether. Personally I think reMarkable 2 is a better option overall.
If you want something simple, minimalistic and distraction free to jot down your thoughts, take notes, sketch or just doodle then reMarkable 2 is the device for you.
Whereas if you a more into reading or already a part of the Kobo Eco System then Elipsa 2e may suit you but in the same price bracket you get Kindle Scribe which is a far better device.
Before You Go…..
Check Out Indepth reviews of reMarkable 2 & Kobo Elipsa
More Comparison Of reMarkable 2. reMarkable Vs Supernote, Kindle Scribe Vs reMarkable 2,
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