Kobo’s take on the Kindle Scribe with the $400 Elipsa 2E e-reader

Rakuten-owned Kobo unveiled its latest e-reader today, a $400 alternative to the Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2. The Kobo Elipsa 2E iterate 2021 advances With a better stylus, more varied lighting and color temperature adjustments and other improvements.

The Kobo Elipsa 2E has a 10.3-inch e-ink touchscreen (like its predecessor), but the new model gets a 300ppi resolution. Plus, it adds ComfortLight Pro, which adjusts the headlight temperature and brightness to reduce eye strain. Kobo says its battery lasts longer, especially when using a stylus, though its description is only specific as “weeks of battery life.”

Kobo says the new e-reader has a faster processor (dual-core 2GHz), resulting in lower latency and faster zooming/page-turning. It also includes the Kobo Stylus 2, an improved digital pen (rechargeable and 25 percent lighter) for note-taking. The pen has an “eraser” on the back end and a separate highlighter button. Plus, the optional SleepCover includes a magnetic attachment to stash the stylus when not in use. Finally, the device has an improved design using recycled plastics and metals.

The Rakuten-owned company has announced the launch of Kobo Plus, its answer to Kindle Unlimited and Audible. The tier-based subscription service provides unlimited access to over 1.3 million e-books and 100,000 audiobooks. Starts at $8 per month for e-books or audiobooks or $10 per month for both.

The Kobo Elipsa 2E will cost $400 when it launches in stores and online on April 19th. Pre-orders begin April 5th Kobo websiteCustomers who pre-order one before the launch date in the US, UK and Australia will receive a $25 Kobo e-gift card for digital reading content. The e-reader will be available globally in the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Turkey.

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