Rakuten's Kobo lineup is an increasingly strong rival to Amazon's e-book empire. On April 19, Rakuten will officially launch the Kobo Elipsa 2E, a 10.3-inch e-reader that can be used for taking notes and annotating documents. The Elipsa 2E directly competes with the Amazon Kindle Scribe and reMarkable 2, boasting some upgraded features.
Rakuten's Kobo Elipsa 2E: Offering Practicality and Comfort at a Affordable Price
According to the story by ARS Technica, Rakuten's Kobo Elipsa 2E is set to offer an intriguing alternative to the reMarkable 2 and the Amazon Kindle Scribe. For those looking to purchase a device with pen compatibility, the $400 price tag may be an acceptable trade-off for the high level of practicality and comfort available with the 2E.
The Elipsa barely edges out the weight of its competitors, weighing just 0.88 pounds, and boasts a screen density of 227 PPI. This is on par with the reMarkable 2, though a step below the pixel density of the Kindle Scribe. Fans can pre-order the device from Rakuten's website.
The 2E has the edge over the Scribe in that it offers a "lasso" for quickly grabbing and moving written or drawn items and cloud integration with Dropbox and Google Drive. Rakuten's device doesn't offer the same features as Amazon, though.
Comparing the Elipsa 2E to Amazon's E-Readers and Kobo Plus Subscription
As of press time, the Elipsa only supports one pen and a 16GB hard-drive size, whereas, with Amazon, buyers can pay a bit more and get a Premium pen and up to 32GB of storage.
Nonetheless, the Elipsa 2E competes directly with Amazon's Scribe and their Oasis, Paperwhite, and basic Kindle. Kobo's added advantage is their recently-introduced Kobo Plus subscription, a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited service.
The Elipsa 2E is designed to bridge the gap between a traditional e-reader and a new kind of notepad/e-reader hybrid device. The sleek design, practical features, and lower price tag make it an attractive purchase for someone looking for a one-size-fits-all e-reading experience.
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Kobo's Elipsa 2E vs. Amazon's reMarkable 2: An Overview of Price, Features, and Potential Buyers
Another strong point of the Elipsa 2E is its price. Starting at $400, the device resonates well with consumers. The potential for Amazon to undercut Kobo on price is still present, with the most expensive Scribe coming in at $390.
However, Kobo's Elipsa 2E has more features than Amazon's reMarkable 2 counterparts. Kobo Plus is a subscription that allows customers unlimited access to audiobooks and e-books.
Starting at $8 a month, it competes with Amazon's Kindle Unlimited service. The decision between devices may come from personal preference, utility, and price point. However, The Elipsa 2E is a formidable opponent for the reMarkable 2 and should attract many potential buyers.
Ultimately, the Elipsa 2E may not have all the bells and whistles of rival e-readers. Still, it's a solid and competitive choice for buyers looking for an on-the-go productivity solution. And, if they are keen to avoid Amazon's proprietary ecosystem, Rakuten's Kobo lineup might be the way to go.
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