Love the vibe of the Kindle Scribe? You need to read about the Kobo Elipsa 2E - it's even better

I can remember when e-readers were praised for being able to condense one book onto a screen. These days, they need to do more: note-taking, illustrating, reading, and researching. And one of the models that does it the best is the Kobo Elipsa 2E.

If you look at reviews of the Kobo Elipsa 2E you'll see plenty of people praising it. Most notably in comparison to one of the best Kindles you can buy, the Kindle Scribe.

As part of my delve into the great Kindles vs Kobos debate, I've pitted this against the Kindle Scribe, with its note-taking features. However, I've also pulled out the reMarkable and Kobo Libra Colour as worthy competitors. The only way to work out whether the Kobo Elipsa 2E is for you, is to find out what it was like for me to use.

Specifications

What books are on offer on the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

Kobo’s library is like a well-stocked bookshop that also moonlights as a digital librarian. You’ll mostly get your books via the Kobo Store, which features everything from beachy bestsellers to the classics you swore you’d read one day. Like Kindles, there's Kobo Plus, a subscription that gives you unlimited access to loads of titles, which is excellent if you devour books like snacks.

Here’s the clever bit that gets lots of people excited: the Elipsa 2E lets you borrow library books via OverDrive (provided your local library supports it), and it plays nicely with EPUBs, PDFs, and audiobooks too. Dropbox integration means you can upload research papers or recipes, scribble over them to your heart’s content, and then ping them back to your phone or tablet. It's basically a digital notebook that loves to read.

While I love Kobo’s bookish flexibility, in my house Amazon’s Kindle library still has the edge for sheer volume and variety: Kindle Unlimited, Prime Reading, Audible. You do get a lot. But compared to Kobo's Elipsa 2E, the Scribe’s note-taking feels oddly limited: your annotations show up like digital Post-Its and don’t carry across devices. With the Elipsa 2E, your thoughts feel a little more permanent.

What is the display like on the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

The Kobo Elipsa 2E makes quite the entrance with its 10.3-inch screen. It’s bigger than most paperbacks and perfect for those who love a large page view or plenty of room for notes. I've made an exaggerated example of how large it means you can get text on the screen. It's brilliant if you normally wear reading glasses. That said, it's not the easiest to cradle in one hand during a bedtime binge-read (we’ve all been there, wrestling with gravity in the dark).

Tech specs-wise, it boasts an E Ink Carta 1200 display with 227 ppi, ComfortLight PRO for soft illumination, and a dark mode. In normal speak, that translates to an e-reader that looks and feels like real paper, minus the glare and the eye-strain of a traditional screen. While 227 ppi is technically lower than the Kindle Scribe’s 300 ppi, I honestly didn’t notice a difference when reading. It’s subtle, not a dealbreaker.

The matte surface adds to that bookish charm, and it’s a dream to read in sunlight: no glare, just glorious words. As for illustrating, the stylus glides nicely, and the screen texture gives it just enough resistance to feel like sketching on real paper.

Who would the Kobo Elipsa 2E suit?

The Kobo Elipsa 2E is for those of us who want our e-reader to do more than just, well, read. It’s the largest Kobo in the line-up and feels the most like a proper notebook. So, if you want to brainstorm, doodle, mind-map, annotate, or draft your next novel on the go, this is your tablet.

It’s especially brilliant for anyone who prefers open formats like EPUB and PDF, or who loves the idea of borrowing books rather than buying every single one. I know academics and students who adore it for exactly this reason. It’s versatile, affordable (thanks to library loans), and super functional for research.

How responsive is the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

Now for the (briefly) geeky bit: the Elipsa 2E runs on a 2GHz dual-core MediaTek processor. In real life that means it’s fast. Page turns, scribbles, highlights, it keeps up beautifully.

The stylus experience is intuitive, too. You can double tap to turn messy handwriting into tidy text (a godsend for anyone who writes like a spider doing backflips), and circling a word instantly highlights it. These little gestures make it feel smart, like it's learning how you work, not the other way around.

I also loved being able to write directly onto pages. Unlike the Kindle Scribe’s sticky-note system, the Elipsa 2E lets you scribble freely on books, PDFs, and even blank pages. It’s a very satisfying mix of old-school pen and futuristic paper.

What is the battery life like on the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

Look, I’m not about to conduct a battery-drain test in a lab coat, but I can tell you this: my Kobo Elipsa 2E happily lasted three full weeks with daily reading and a fair bit of note-taking before it even blinked at a charger.

When it does need topping up, the USB-C port makes things simple (finally, one cable for everything!), and it powers up quickly.

What is the design like on the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

Despite being the biggest Kobo, the Elipsa 2E doesn’t feel like a brick in your bag. At just 390g, it’s 40 grams lighter than the Kindle Scribe, and it’s slim enough to slip into your tote without drama. The back has a subtle grip too, which makes it easier to hold without a case.

The stylus is well-designed, with a digital eraser at the back (a very satisfying nod to school pencil cases), and it attaches magnetically to the side so you’re not constantly losing it at the bottom of your handbag.

What is the performance like on the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

This one really surprised me. For something that looks like an e-reader, the Kobo Elipsa 2E performs more like a tablet in disguise. It's snappy, efficient, and rarely lagged, even when I had several documents open or was jumping between books and notes.

Writing on it feels seamless. There’s minimal lag between pen and page, and the writing experience is clean and fluid. If you’re someone who enjoys journaling or brainstorming on the go, this could totally replace your notebook.

How does the Kobo Elipsa 2E compare?

Let’s get to it: Kobo vs Kindle. If you’re already deep in the Kindle ecosystem, the Scribe will feel familiar. It has a sharper display, an elegant metal body, and some clever AI features, like summarising your notes or generating to-do lists (although, be warned, these are still a bit hit-and-miss).

But if you're the kind of reader who likes choice and flexibility, the Kobo Elipsa 2E is the better all-rounder. EPUBs, PDFs, OverDrive, Dropbox—it all just works. I also found the writing experience more natural. It feels like Kobo is trying to make reading and writing blend beautifully, not keep them in separate boxes.

Then, within the world of Kobos, the Libra Colour is the next toughest contender. The Libra is smaller, but the screen offers colour resolution. You can scribble on your books and enjoy vivid magazines, but you won't have the note function on offer with the Elipsa. The Libra is for enhanced reading, whereas the Elipsa covers notebook functions too.

Should you buy the Kobo Elipsa 2E?

If you’re looking for an e-reader that doubles as a notebook, and maybe even a bit of a sketchpad, the Kobo Elipsa 2E is a joy. It’s not the cheapest model out there, but for what it offers, it earns its place.