I love Kobo’s E Ink writing tablets, but there’s one critical area where Kindle has them beat

by wadminw / Tuesday, 04 February 2025 / Published in 1

I love Kobo’s E Pen writing tablets, but there’s one critical area where Kindle has them conquer

Having tested ereaders for about seven decades then, it’s fair to say I’ve tried most concepts from the contemporary models– Amazon Kindle, Kobo, impressive, Onyx Boox and Pocketbook. These companies produce some of the best writing tablets and e-readers, but I prefer the Kobo due to the user interface and the fact that I can borrow books from Sydney, Australia’s public libraries ( where I work ) ). I also have a Kobo Plus subscription.

My everyday electronic gadget is the Kobo Elipsa 2e right now, but I prefer the reading capabilities over the Kindle Scribe’s, and the layout is much simpler than any Onyx Boox machine I’ve ever tried. I can read in bed at night or jot down ideas at 2 a.m. without turning on the leds because it also gives me a display mild unlike the remarkable 2 doesn’t.

For one basic explanation: how the Kobo Stylus 2 feels on the screen, if you were to beg me for a endorsement for an e-paper writing pill, I’d perhaps recommend anything other than the Elipsa 2e. I dare say that all the writing pills from the Japanese-canadian product, including the Libra Colour, the Kobo Sage, and the Elipsa 2e, had become my most-recommended devices if Kobo can fix one small technology issue.

The stylus ‘ tip or nib is the hardware piece.

The Kindle Scribe ( left ) uses a softer plastic tip for its Pen compared to a hard, conical nib on the Kobo Stylus 2 ( right ) ( Image credit: Techradar / Sharmishta Sarkar )

Softly performs it

While most brands use plastic for the styli tips, the Kobo Stylus 2 has a harder point than the ones on Amazon’s Basic and Premium Pens, Onyx Boox’s Pen Plus, and remarkable’s Markers. We are yet to fully test the new 2024 Kindle Scribe, and this is especially true for the 2022 Kindle Scribe. Gliding over the various E Ink screens of the respective writing tablets is very smooth due to the softer plastic.

On the other hand, the Kobo Stylus 2 causes a lot more friction than any other brand I’ve tested. Because it feels like you are actually writing on a sheet of plastic, it doesn’t quite resemble a pen – either fountain or ballpoint – on paper. Let me be clear, though – the overall writing experience on the Elipsa 2e, the Kobo Libra Colour, even the Sage, isn’t too bad, it’s just that the other brands do it better.

Having said that, I believe the harder nib might mean there won’t be as much wear and tear as the softer pen tips do. The Stylus 2 tip started showing signs of wear quite quickly ( within days ), but it eventually plateaued and, in the year that I’ve been using it, it hasn’t gotten any worse.

That could be because I don’t put as much pressure on my pen as I’ve seen others do when I write. Take my colleague’s experience as an example – Philip uses the remarkable 2 for notes and “burns through the plastic pen nubs]sic ] quicker than expected”. So he turned to third-party titanium alternatives which, unfortunately, ended up being a “pen-destroying mistake”. Another friend of mine nearly flattens the remarkable’s Marker Plus tip in two months. Although this may seem like a remarkable situation, I’ve seen it on Kindle Scribe Pens.

The original Kobo Stylus with 2 buttons and no eraser ( Image credit: Techradar )

The pen is mightier

Kobo is no stranger to having its digital pen redesign. The Kobo Stylus was a Aaaa battery-powered pen, which meant it was a little heavy at the time of its debut. Moreover, most people would likely have a spare Aa or Aaa battery lying around, not necessarily a Aaaa. So you had to consider the ongoing cost of replacing the nib and the battery as well.

This older pen had a button on the side rather than an eraser on the top ( or is that the’length’ on a cylindrical object? close to the point where the thumb would be. A second button was accessible close enough to serve as a highlighter as well.

The Kobo Stylus 2, which debuted with the Elipsa 2e in April 2023, marked a significant improvement over the Kobo Stylus 1. Gone is the battery, instead a Usb-c port helps keep it topped up, so it’s both lighter and a wee bit thinner in comparison. There’s an eraser at the top of the Stylus 2, so it features just one button for highlighting. I also adore the white on the eraser, which, in my opinion, adds a little something to the design aesthetic.

The one thing I’d really like to change is a softer nib for a potential Stylus 3 that provides a smoother writing experience if Kobo is still interested in innovations. Despite the fact that I sincerely hope it doesn’t require frequent replacements.

The best Kobo Elipsa 2e and Kobo Libra Color deals of today are$ 349.99 and$ 319.99.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Contact me with updates on upcoming products and offers from other future brands. Sharmishta Sarkarmanaging Editor ( Apac ) for social links

While she’s happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta’s main priority is being Techradar’s Apac Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. She has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these undervalued devices, but she also enjoys reviewing cameras and lenses whenever she can. She also serves as the managing editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World and contributes to Tom’s Guide and T3 among other duties at Techradar.

More about ereaders

Amazon’s brand-new Kindle Colorsoft just got its first discount – but there’s a catch

Onyx Boox Go 6 review: bugs and performance woes undermine a promising entry-level ereader

Latest

I can’t wait to type on this smartphone case prototype because it features what appears to be a mechanical keyboard.

See more recent.