Having tested e-readers for about seven years now, I can say that I have tried most of the models from the major brands – Amazon KindleKobo, reMarkable, Onyx Boox and PocketBook. These companies produce some of the best ereaders and writing tablets, but I’m partial to Kobo because of the user interface and the fact that I can check out e-books from public libraries in Sydney, Australia (where I live). I also have Kobo Plus subscription.
Currently my daily e-ink device is Kobo Ellipse 2E – I I prefer Kindle Scribe’s writing features and its interface is much more simplified than any Onyx Boox device I’ve tested. It also gives me the screen backlight which reMarkable 2 no, so I can read in bed at night or write down an idea at 2am without turning on the light.
However, if you asked me to recommend a tablet for writing on e-paper, I would probably suggest something other than the Elipsa 2E for one simple reason – how the Kobo Stylus 2 feels on the screen. If Kobo can fix just one bit of hardware, then I dare say all writing tablets from the Japanese-Canadian brand – Libra Colour. Kobo the Sage and Elipsa 2E would be my top recommended devices.
This little piece of hardware is the tip or tip of the stylus.
The Kindle Scribe (left) uses a softer plastic pen tip compared to the hard, tapered pen tip of the Kobo Stylus 2 (right) (Image credit: TechRadar/Sharmishta Sarkar)
Softly does it
While most brands use plastic for stylus tips, the Kobo Stylus 2 has a stiffer point than Amazon’s Basic and Premium Pens, Onyx Boox’s Pen Plus, and reMarkable markers. The softer plastic makes sliding across the various E Ink screens of their respective writing tablets very smooth, and this is especially true for the 2022 Kindle Scribe (we haven’t fully tested the new 2024 Kindling Scribe).
On the other hand, the Kobo Stylus 2 creates much more friction than any other brand I’ve tested. It’s not quite like using a fountain pen or ballpoint pen on paper, because it feels like you’re actually writing on a sheet of plastic. However, let me be clear: the overall writing experience on the Elipsa 2E is Color Kobo Libraeven the Sage is not so bad; It’s just that other brands do it better.
However, I think a harder nib may also mean that the wear won’t be as bad as softer nib tips. When I first started using the Elipsa 2E, I found that the Stylus 2’s tip began to show signs of wear quite quickly (within a few days), but it evened out after that and hasn’t gone away in the year I’ve been using it. it didn’t get any worse.
This may be because I don’t put as much pressure on my pens when writing as other people do. Take my colleague’s experience for example: Philip uses the reMarkable 2 to take notes and “burns through the plastic pen tips (sic) faster than expected.” So he turned to third-party alternatives to titanium which unfortunately turned out to be “a mistake that destroyed the pen.” I have another friend who used up the Marker Plus tip from reMarkable in about two months, almost equaling it! This may seem like a strange occurrence, but I have seen similar conditions on Kindle Scribe Pens.
Original Kobo stylus with two buttons and no eraser. (Image courtesy of TechRadar)
The pen is stronger
Kobo is no stranger to updating the design of its digital pen. The first version of the Kobo Stylus was a pen powered by an AAAA battery, which meant it was a bit on the heavy side. Moreover, most people will likely have a spare AA or AAA battery on hand, not necessarily AAAA. So you had to take into account not only the ongoing cost of replacing the pen, but also the battery.
This old pen didn’t have an eraser on the top, but did have a button on the side (or is that the “length” of the cylindrical object?) near where the thumb would be. There was also a second button next to it to use as a marker.
Debuting alongside the Elipsa 2E in April 2023, the Kobo Stylus 2 was a significant improvement over its predecessor. The battery is gone; instead, the USB-C port helps keep it charged, so it’s lighter and a bit thinner in comparison. The Stylus 2 has an eraser at the top, so there’s only one button for making selections. I also like the white shade of the eraser – I think it adds something to the design aesthetic.
If Kobo is still interested in innovation, the only change I’d really like to see is a softer nib for the potential Stylus 3 that allows for smoother writing. Although I hope this won’t result in frequent replacements.