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Kobo’s Elipsa 2E, our favorite e-reader for taking notes, has hit its best price yet

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We also found deals on the second-gen Google Pixel Watch and Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12.

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The new Kobo Elipsa 2E on a desk surrounded by papers.

a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>The Kobo Elipsa 2E lets you actually take notes directly on pages, which is one of the reasons I recommend it over the Kindle Scribe.
a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Image: Kobo

We’re already seeing great deals land on Amazon devices like the Kindle Scribe ahead of Prime Day next week, which makes sense as it’s an Amazon event. It’s possible we’ll see even more Kindle deals arrive soon, but it’s less certain what kind of discounts — if any — we’ll see on e-readers from rivals like Kobo. Thankfully, if you don’t want an Amazon e-reader, Rakuten Kobo has launched a new sale, dropping its top-notch Kobo Elipsa 2E down to an all-time low of $349.99 ($50 off) when you purchase it direct from . You can also pick it up for the same price at Amazon or Target via a third-party seller.

I spent a lot of time testing both the Kindle Scribe and the Kobo Elipsa 2E, and ultimately Kobo’s is my favorite large-screen ebook reader for taking notes. For one, you can actually write directly on any page — which allows for a more intuitive note-taking experience — whereas the Scribe only lets you directly annotate select Kindle titles. Moreover, it can accurately convert handwriting into typed text while exporting notebooks and — unlike the Scribe — while you’re writing within a notebook. The ad-free e-reader also boasts double the storage (32GB) as the entry-level Kindle Scribe and features a great selection of pen styles (and shades).

The main downside is that the Elipsa 2E doesn’t natively support Kindle books, though it does support many other file formats (EPUB, EPUB3, CBZ, FlePub, etc…). Plus, if you’re willing to invest a little extra time and effort, there are ways to convert your collection so you can still read your Kindle library from your Kobo.

The Kobo Elipsa 2E is an ad-free 10.3-inch e-reader you can write on with the included stylus. It offers a whole host of useful features, like the ability to convert handwriting to typed text and a great selection of pen types.

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a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highlight-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>Some more ways to save this Saturday

  • The Google Pixel Watch 2 is down to a record low of $279.99 ($70 off) at Wellbots when you use promo code PDVERGE70 at checkout through July 20th. Google’s second-gen wearable is one of our favorite Android smartwatches and represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor thanks to its faster charging and longer battery life. It offers an improved array of Fitbit-powered fitness and health tracking features, too, including automatic workout tracking and abnormal heart rate notifications. It also grants access to Google services like Calendar, Gmail, Maps, and Wallet. Read our review.
  • Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 is available in multiple colors at its all-time low of around $69 ($11 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target (for Target Circle members). After testing dozens of instant cameras, the Mini 12 is my top pick for most people. It doesn’t sport advanced creative settings and features that rivals like the Instax Mini Evo offer, but it’s affordable, prints shots of similar quality, and is simple to set up, making it a fun camera for all age groups.
  • If you’re looking for an outdoor smart plug, TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Dimmer (KP405) is matching its all-time low of $14.99 ($15 off) at Amazon when you apply the on-page coupon. Along with reliable dimming, the plug features a straightforward companion app that lets you quickly and easily schedule, adjust, and turn on the lights. It also supports Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, while its IP64 rating means it can withstand a variety of weather conditions.