Kobo’s new ‘whimsical’ circumstances are beautiful, however they are not the {hardware} releases I hoped for this yr

First revealed on the 2026 BookCon occasion in New York final month, Kobo has introduced a variety of limited-edition “collector circumstances” with “whimsical” and colourful designs. The circumstances are, certainly, lovely, going from a leafy Inexperienced Cover choice to extra enjoyable and joyful Botanical Bliss and every design is on the market for all three 2024 ereader releases — the Kobo Libra Color, Clara BW and Clara Color.

They’re already listed for buy on the Kobo web sites within the US and the UK, and Aussies will be capable to purchase them from Could 12 — the smaller circumstances price $29.99 / £24.99 / AU$44.95, whereas a Libra Color collector case will set you again $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$49.95.

I personally love the Botanical Bliss case and would not thoughts it on my Kobo Libra Color, however, in all honesty, I am a bit of disillusioned with this announcement. I used to be actually eager to listen to about an up to date model of the Kobo Elipsa 2E that’s now lengthy within the tooth and feels dated towards the likes of the most recent releases of the Kindle Scribe and Boox Observe sequence.

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I bear in mind a time when Kobo would launch new {hardware} almost each Could, however 2025 was an exception and the Japanese-Canadian model launched the Kobo Distant later within the yr as a substitute. With no new ereader launch for the reason that three present gadgets from 2024, I actually thought 2026 was after we would see an up to date 10-inch slate.

Evaluation: the Kobo Elipsa 2E simply would not evaluate any extra

The Kobo Elipsa 2E (backside) now feels dated in comparison with the 2024 Kindle Scribe (high proper) and the brand new Boox Go 10.3 Gen II Lumi (high left) (Picture credit score: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I make no secret of the truth that I am a fan of Kobo’s person interface, and I would been utilizing the Kobo Elipsa 2E since its launch in 2023 as my ereader and digital pocket book. On the time, I appreciated it a lot that I referred to as it an actual Kindle Scribe contender in my Kobo Elipsa 2E assessment, however I changed it with the 2nd-generation Kindle Scribe in 2025 because the latter supplied me a greater studying and writing expertise. In actual fact, I discover the Onyx Boox Go 10.3 a greater digital pocket book regardless of not having a frontlight.

I nonetheless love Kobo’s Superior Notebooks, however the hard-nibbed Kobo Stylus 2 would not really feel as good to make use of as Amazon’s Premium Pens or the numerous different styli that come packaged with their respective tablets. Almost each different stylus I’ve tried, together with these from ViWood, affords a smoother ballpoint pen-like expertise that you just will not get from the Kobo Stylus 2.

The ambient gentle sensor on the 2024 Kindle Scribe makes the show look brighter and the 300ppi decision places the Elipsa’s 227ppi display to disgrace. In actual fact, most 10-inch monochrome digital notebooks launched in 2025 have a 300ppi show.

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There have been a number of Boox tablets launched for the reason that Elipsa 2E and whereas I am not anticipating Kobo to match that frequency — I actually hope not because the Boox gadgets aren’t precisely good — even Amazon launched new Scribe fashions in 2024 and 2025!

Should you actually need a Kobo note-taker, the Libra Color continues to be my choose of the very best ereader to purchase (and the Kobo Sage has been discontinued), however the Kobo Stylus 2 continues to be not the nicest pen to jot down with, so a refresh of a few {hardware} objects is overdue.

So c’mon, Kobo, the place’s the brand new Elipsa at?

Right now’s greatest Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024), Onyx Boox Go 10.3 and Kobo Elipsa 2E offers

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