We’ve reviewed several Kobo reading tablet devices before, including the Kobo Libra Color and the Kobo Clara 2E. Both tablets are great for reading books and comics, but what if you want a tablet that can also be used as a tool for signing documents, or for making any corrections?
If that’s a need for you, Kobo recently sent us another tablet for review, the Kobo Elipsa 2E.
Specifications and Design
Unlike the two Kobo tablets we’ve reviewed before, the Kobo Elipsa 2E comes with a 10.3-inch E-Ink screen display design with touch functionality, which also allows it to be paired with the Kobo Stylus 2 digital pen.
This tablet also comes with a tablet display cover frame to ensure the E-Ink display is not scratched. The display is activated immediately when opened, and comes with the same functions that were shown on the Kobo Clara 2E and Kobo Libra Color that we reviewed previously.
This includes support for WiFi connectivity, the ability to purchase digital books from Kobo's own bookstore and support for Google Drive account connection, which allows this device to access PDF documents and digital books stored on that account.
The Kobo Elipsa 2E is also equipped with a 2400mAH battery which with a full charge allows it to be used for several weeks without problems. In the meantime, it also comes with USB Type-C charging for easy charging.
In terms of storage, the Kobo Elipsa 2E is loaded with 32GB of built-in storage, which can accommodate hundreds, if not thousands of document files such as PDF, CBR, EPUB and so on without any problems. Unfortunately, this tablet does not come with a storage expansion slot, so you are only limited to the built-in storage for all your digital books.
User Experience
In terms of use as a regular PDF reader, if you've read our previous Kobo Libra Color and Kobo Clara 2E reviews, the reading and scrolling functions on the Kobo Elipsa 2E are the same as what was shown on both previous devices.
Google Drive integration is also still the same, and it's still the easiest way to upload digital books of various formats to this device.
The most noticeable difference that can be shown is support for the Kobo Stylus 2 pen. With this pen, you can add notes to digital books and use it as a highlighter pen to mark sentences or paragraphs in your reading material. However, since this tablet only uses a black-and-white E-ink display, you won't be able to change the highlight color.
This stylus pen can also be used to fill in and sign PDF documents. Handwriting using this stylus can also be converted to a font if you want. To erase writing or scribbles made, you can use the "eraser" located on the top of the stylus.
In terms of charging and battery, the Kobo Stylus 2 comes with a USB Type-C charging plug on the top. In my experience using it, I only charged it once, and after leaving it for a few weeks, I was still able to use it without any issues.
As for the Kobo Elipsa 2E tablet, I was also able to use this tablet for several weeks continuously with regular use. The charging of this tablet is also quite fast, so I can use it whenever I want
What's in the Box?
This is what comes in a Kobo Elipsa 2E box when you buy it.
1x Kobo Elipsa 2E tablet
1x USB Type-C charging cable
1x Kobo Stylus 2 pen
2x extra stylus nibs
1x user leaflet
Cover
The Kobo Elipsa 2E is another excellent digital book tablet from Kobo. I still like the way it is used which is not that different when compared to the Kobo Libra Color and Kobo Clara 2E. At a price tag of RM2019, it looks a bit more expensive than the Kobo digital reader we reviewed before, but it also comes with a stylus pen that is quite flexible in use,
The uniqueness of the Elipsa model comes through the support for the Kobo Stylus 2 stylus pen, and if you see yourself as a user who likes to edit text documents or is more used to physically signing documents, this device is very suitable for your reading and writing needs.
Pros:
Another good digital book reader from Kobo
Long battery life
A stylus pen that can be used in various ways
Cons:
Very expensive tablet price
Does not use a color E-ink display panel
