Kobo
Kobo Elipsa 2E
$399.99Cheaper
Released 2023
Best E Ink Tablets · head-to-head
Kobo Elipsa 2E vs Boox Note Air5 C
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Kobo Elipsa 2E is cheaper at $399.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Onyx Boox
Boox Note Air5 C
$499.99
Released 2025-10
Which is better: the Kobo Elipsa 2E or Boox Note Air5 C?
The Boox Note Air5 C wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Kobo Elipsa 2E is the cheaper at $399.99. Get the Boox Note Air5 C for the stronger spec sheet, the Kobo Elipsa 2E to spend less.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Kobo Elipsa 2E | Boox Note Air5 C |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399.99 | $499.99 |
| Brand | Kobo | Onyx Boox |
| Released | 2023 | 2025-10 |
| Screen size (in) | 10.3 | 10.3 |
| Ppi | 227 | 300 |
| Storage (GB) | 32 | 64 |
| Color display | No | Yes |
| Front light | Yes | Yes |
| Pen included | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Battery weeks | — | — |
Sources — Kobo Elipsa 2E: us.kobobooks.com (verified 2026-07-11). Boox Note Air5 C: shop.boox.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Kobo Elipsa 2E and Boox Note Air5 C?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Ppi: Kobo Elipsa 2E 227 vs Boox Note Air5 C 300
- Storage (GB): Kobo Elipsa 2E 32 vs Boox Note Air5 C 64
- Color display: Kobo Elipsa 2E false vs Boox Note Air5 C true
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Kobo Elipsa 2E
Two whitelisted hands-on reviews cover the exact Kobo Elipsa 2E and both survive verification: TechRadar (measured) and Reviewed/USA Today (qualitative). Both praise it as a versatile note-taking ereader with a well-lit 10.3-inch display and ecosystem integrations (Pocket, OverDrive, Dropbox) that Amazon can't match, but flag an eraser that forces distracting screen refreshes and a sleepcover that is no longer bundled. TechRadar additionally rates the Kindle Scribe ahead on writing smoothness and battery life. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Much-improved note-taking experience over the previous Elipsa, with more templates and pen options; Pleasant, well-lit 10.3-inch display comfortable for long reading sessions; Strong ecosystem integrations (Pocket, OverDrive library, Dropbox sync).
Flagged: Digital eraser triggers distracting screen refreshes / ghosting (Reviewed also finds it inaccurate); Sleepcover no longer bundled, sold separately (~$69.99); Writing has more friction than the Kindle Scribe.
Boox Note Air5 C
Two whitelisted testers reviewed this exact model: TechRadar (lab-tested, benchmarked) and Digital Trends (hands-on, no measurements). Both praise the Pen 3 writing/note-taking experience and Android 15's open Play Store ecosystem, and rate it strong value against the pricier Kindle Scribe. TechRadar flags typing lag, heavy 440g weight, weak battery life, and muted colors; deep-lab outlets like RTINGS are absent. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Pen 3 writing/note-taking experience is among the best, with paper-like friction; Runs full Android 15 with an open Play Store app ecosystem and versatility; Strong value versus the pricier Kindle Scribe / reMarkable Paper Pro.
Flagged: Noticeable typing lag on both the on-screen and physical keyboard folio; Disappointing battery life for an Android e-notebook; Heavy (440g); uncomfortable for long one-handed use.