Hi, I have one quick question. I just bought the Kobo Sage directly from Kobo store. I currently use Libra2 which I will return when I get the Sage delivered. I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ which has the Bluetooth S Pen. Do you know if that Pen works on Sage? I see in many videos people using other pens on Sage. Please advise. If that won't work then I will order the Sage pen too.
@@electrology The Kobo pen price seems alright, at least it's cheaper than Microsoft Surface Pen. Also if you want to use the PowerCover, the Kobo pen will fit into the slot of the PowerCover.
@@teohontech7141 makes perfect sense. Going to order that too. Cover I'm unsure. One last thing. Do you know how long it takes to receive the sage? I ordered it on Oct 25.
Thank you for this full complete review 🙏. No click-bait and time wasting rambles talking about nothing but the obvious like most youtubers. Your complete detailed full analysis is what makes you stand out!
For Sage and Libra 2, It has been discovered that mp3 audio files can be sideloaded as zipped file renamed as .mp3z files. Each file is treated as a chapter.
Teoh! I am on your Patreon for your sketch and watercolor work, and just happened across this review. Fancy meeting you here :-) thank you for the excellent review.
I am currently choosing my first e-reader between these two, and it's pretty hard to decide. Thanks to this thorough and very informative review, especially the side by side comparison, I can now have more confidence to chose one of them.
I bought a kobo forma a few months ago. That is the previous generation version of this. I love the 8 inch screen. Looks like they have improved the way the reader connects to the case. I will buy one of these in a few years 🤓
@@mowtoll That's exactly why I bought the Sage... for the larger screen size. I don't like the continuous buttonclicks / screen taps for page turning. Of course, the downside is that it makes the device less portable, but I have my Kindle Oasis 2 for that. ;)
Excellent review as a whole! I had to laugh a little about your conclusion, because another reason to buy the Sage over the Libra 2 is obviously the larger screen size... and not just the stylus / drawing support. ;) A really nice feature you may have overlooked is the handwriting-to-text feature (write something, double-tap with your finger, and it will convert to 'computer text').
also libra2 lacks of dropbox support, so the only way to sideload your own file is the USB-C. Kobo deliberately limit dropbox cloud transfer to Forma/Sage/Elipsa. In conclusion, it's pretty lame that Kobo is still using Dropbox as a selling point for their higher-end devices. Cloud-based book storage is a common feature for e-readers nowadays.
@@teohontech7141 Someone else might say: “the markup / stylus support doesn’t justify paying 80 more”… simply because that person doesn’t need it. Fact is, it is one of the reasons why one would choose the Sage over the Libra 2. As is the larger screen size. If you’re summarizing the reasons why someone / anyone would buy the Sage over the Libra 2, the size is definately among those reasons why.
@@teohontech7141 I dont care so mutch of the price diff, but less battery life and more weight is a good point. this will end whit both Libra 2 and Sage i gess for me :) shorter battery life is OK when your home, Libra 2 for it is enuf portable to carry out of home.. will newer go back to 6" screen thats a torment to use just...
One key thing I feel kobo lacks is that their store does not deliver samples. This is my main method in deciding to purchase a book based on the authors 1. Style of Writing 2. Expertise, especially in non-fiction. So between the kindle and the kobo, this is the deal breaker for me.
Brilliant review, thank you Sir! One thing i have a differnce in opinion around is that for me screen size makes a huge differnce to my reading experience. I tried the Forma and Oasis 2 at the same time, and altough the oasis has a far superior screen and lighting, i choose to keep the Forma because that extra screen real estate makes me feel like im reading a book rather than an e-reader. To me its a night and day differnce. Im soOOoooo lucky as i had just bought my forma directly form Kobo when the sage was then advertised!! but i was able to use the 30 day return policy, and am waiting for my band new sage.. Yay!! So the take away is that for some people the screen size can have a big impact, if you think you may be one of those type of poeple, see if you can compare the two in the flesh and return the one you dont want. Also, out of intrest, Kobo have apparently said that the lighting on the sage is not PWM type. Forma had this and it casuses flickering, which can be seen when recording the backlight on the Forma using the slow motion camera mode on your phone. I havent seen anyone confirming that this is not present on the Kobo Sage by testing. Any chance you could test that pelase Teoh? i think allot of people woudl really appreciate it.
I have a Forma. Worth mentioning that flickering you see in videos is caused by technical aspects of the shutter of the camera. Unless you are planning to replace your eyes with a camera I wouldn’t worry about flickering which a camera sees but your eyes don’t. 🤓
Excellent review. I got my Sage the other day. Love it but the battery life us surprisingly low. I am going to have to get the power case when it comes out
@@elvinventucillo4501 I’m not sure yet since I have been setting it up and downloading books. My guess, reading 4 hours a day would be two days. Not using the device with Wi-Fi off and powered off I would say weeks
Well done thanks! I bought it. U right about PDF, and battery 🔋 issues. The latter issue may be a non issue given the prevalence of on-the-go chargers.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. I want to upgrade my older Kindle Paperwhite. My primary use will be reading, but I like the idea of being able to write on the Sage. I often have to review academic papers in PDF format (with no DRM), so the idea of the Sage is appealing to make comments on a PDF. But I fear that the writing implementation on the Sage isn't good enough for that, and I would end up not using that feature (and waste money and have poor battery life compared to the Libra 2). Is the writing good enough to really use in practice in a work context? Thanks.
Eric I am in your exact situation! I am struggling for days choosing between a new paper white and switching to kobo for the sage. Have you decided what to do?
@@andrearampoldi3690 I've decided to get a Libra 2. Almost all my books are sideloaded on my current kindle, so I'm not heavily invested in Amazon ebooks. Kobos can use Overdrive for libraries in Australia, where I live, but kindles can't. That's the deciding factor for me against a new kindle. As for the Sage, I've decided that it is too small for practical reading and writing on Pdfs. The larger screen compared to the Libra 2 is nicer but not really needed for reading. If the Sage isn't big enough for work applications, then why spend the extra money on features I probably wouldn't end up using? Plus, by all accounts the battery life is inferior and by many accounts the screen quality is also inferior to the Libra 2. At some point I may buy a 10 inch e-ink tablet dedicated to writing to use for work and still use the libra 2 for reading.
@Zoide I didn't say the screen is inferior. I said the writing implementation wasn't great from what I read, and there were battery problems. I ended up buying a Kobo Libra 2 and am happy with it.
Is black color of the text much darker on Sage than Libra2? It seems when you use Sage with outside light black text is notable darker on Sage. But in dark room text looks like darker on Libra2.
3:15 the cutt out is very necessary what are you talking about sleep does not mean off so it consumes way more battery other than that your review was good
I have a Sage, It's really annoying how uneven the backlight is. The side with the buttons is much brighter. You mention it's even but I can see around the 15.47 mark you have the backlight bleed issue on the left side of the sage. I'm curious if they're all like this? I had a Libra and it was much more even, but not sure if I should exchange the Sage and end up with the same or worse.
All e-readers with lighting are gonna look like that. The side where light is coming from will be brighter. The worse ones are brighter sides that also show wavy alternate bright/dimmer light pattern
@@teohontech7141 I used to have a Libra that had almost perfectly consistent back lighting without bright sides/edges. Maybe I was just lucky. Given the Sage's $300 cost in Canada (where I live) I feel like the back-light is very subpar. Also, it seems like the orange/white light from opposite sides creating a color gradient as well. I like everything else, and can live with the battery life that every one seems to complain about, but the back light might have me returning it if keeps bothering me.
In answer to your question, battery life is poor. When taking notes on the Sage the battery is drained at around thirty percent per hour. I am hoping that the powercover will help. I don't have that yet.
Thank you for going into such detail with the screen brightness and reading in the dark (12:58). I like my screen to be deep orange and with low brightness. So it's like dark mode (with the black background) but with orange instead of black as the background colour. I can't stand the background light being yellow. I've tried it on my phone with the kindle app and I found the yellow background very harsh.
Hi, friend! Very good your review. Just a comment: I think that with the back button of the Microsoft pencil you can highlight texts. Try it and tell me. I was convinced to buy the Kobo Sage but after seeing your reviews on the Kobo Libra 2 and the Kobo Sage, I think I'm going to go for the Libra 2. Thank you very much and greetings from Patagonia Argentina.
I don't have Kindle Voyage so I can't say much. But text contrast for these eInk eReaders are quite similar. The text is sharp since it's 300PPI, as shown in video.
Great video! I want to read mainly pdf (and some ebooks too), since my eyes gets tired after reading pdf in my computer I was thinking about an ereader. What ereaders would you consider for thar purpose? Is 8" Kobo Sage a better purchase for that matter or the extra inch isnt enough? I dont care about writing or the accesories
Just get Kobo Libra 2 which is 7-inches, cheaper and has longer battery life. 7-inch is still a good big size. However, if you read PDFs often, you may be better off getting a larger display because you cannot adjust font size within PDFs.
thanks for this comprehensive comparison.. and I need your your advise on this : I read mainly PDF books and I use medical specs.. do you think Libra 2 (7" screen) will still provide a clear reading ? thanks
Are the letters and words in the dictionary window bigger and easier to read on the Sage compared to the Libra 2? I REALLY struggle on my Paperwhite 3 when reading at night with backlights dimmed to spare my eyes.
I have a Nook Glowlight 3 which I love. Was thinking of upgrading to the larger Glowlight Plus. I really like the small bezels with physical turn buttons. Kobo has a different form factor and I am now really torn between these 2 sizes. The pen option also looks cool but all in all I’m all about reading the reading experience. Still not sure what I want. 😕
I’m getting ready to buy an ereader and want the best. I might note take from time to time but i would like to know what are the best ereaders out there for note taking or just reading. What do you suggest?
Thank you for the great review. :) What pen/stylus are you using in this review? You mentioned that it was not the one distributed by Kobo. Is there any difference in using the pen you used over the one by Kobo? How much was the pen you used?
@@teohontech7141 Thanks for letting me know. It will be good to know if there is any difference in function between the Microsoft Surface Pen (and other similar pens) and the Kobo Stylus. Actually, I was looking for a cheaper replacement for the Kobo Stylus. Keep up the great work. :)
If you don't need the pen or battery charging PowerCover, get the Kobo Libra 2. Actually if you don't listen to audibooks, just get Kobo Clara HD. 6-inch is small, but it's still the classic novel size that still in publication today.
I'd reply with a definate "no". ;) However, the larger size really does make a difference, at least for me. I don't like all the page turning, and the device has a little bit more of a "book" feel to it. Also, you can increase the font size to get the same amount of text.. which is convenient if your eye sight is getting worse.
Great review, the 8" screen on Sage is temting, but Libra 2 are probely more practical for just reading ebook, i know i will not listen to audio books and probely dont need notes, Libra 2 seams to have litle better screen also, today i have a Clara HD and dont use it mutch coz i find the screen to smal, find it uncomfortable to read on coz of the smal sitze, maybe Libra 2 will be enuf.. What i understand Sage have a battery 1200mah and Libra 2 a battery 1420mah, maybe do the diffrense in audio..
Do you think the Libra 2 is too small to read manga? The only reason I am considering the Sage is because of this concern...None of the stores near me have displays for Kobos so I won't be able to check in person before making a decision :(
After you increase the font size, the markup "disappears". However, a small button to the right of the line with your markups will appear which you can click. It will then show you the original text size, including the markup, and with the caption "This markup was made with a different font". Interestingly, if you have your margins set to zero, the small button might be covering / "on top of" the text.
I'm wondering if Kobo fixed the buttons on the Sage and Libra 2. I have read that you have to be very precise with the Libra H2O or the clicks don't register (as in, it has to be right in the middle).
I just got my Kobo Sage today and have tested out the buttons and they both work every time, no matter what part of the button you are touching. So they appear to have fixed that problem, at least on the Sage. Hope that helps. :)
Thanks for the detailed review. i just bought the sage and is new to e reader. Is the fickering screen normal when you turn pages? (especially when there are pictures)
Not sure what flickering you are referring to. eInk pages will redraw with each page. Sometimes you may see ghosting from the previous page. Sometimes the redraw will be for a small portion, sometimes the whole page
Thank you for this review! I'd like to understand if there is a big difference performance wise between the Sage and the Elipsa, as I can see the the PPI is higher on the Sage, which gives me the impression that it would have sharper text. If the backlight for the Elipsa has the warmth option, I'd like to see that compared too. Finally, if you can compare with the actual Kobo stylus, I'd like to see how responsive it is with Kobo's own stylus.
I don't have the Elipsa so I can't say how much sharper the fonts are on the Kobo Sage. Main selling point of Elipsa is the 10.3-inch display which is good for PDFs. If you don't read that many PDFs, I don't see any compelling reason to get such a big display. I'll review the Kobo Stylus when I get it. So far I'm very please with the Microsoft Surface Pen performance on the Kobo. It's much better than I expected.
I have both Elipsa and Sage and the resolution difference is noticeable. Some books, not only PDFs are much better on the bigger screen, and if I don't put both devices side by side, the resolution is still very good. Elipsa doesn't have the warmth option but it doesn't bother me because the screen is outstanding at all light levels, and I was very annoyed with the Libra 1 for its permanent yellowish tint, event with warmth option off.
Im looking to change cos libra 1 is spolit.. im torn between sage , libra 2 and forma. Forma is still attractive cos its lighter despite an 8 inch... i dont do audio book so i guess there’s no need for sage? That still leaves bet libra 2 n forma..... any opinions between these 2?
@teoh on tech hi, I find the Kindle e-reader very difficult on my eyes. Yes very. I just find it uncomfortable and unclear. Is Kobo sage much different and better than kindle.
The gray levels and contrast will look quite similar to the Kindle. The main difference is resolution and size of the display. Look at 08:43 for a close up
I still have my Kobo Aura from 2015, works wonderfully, even if ink is not as sharp and snappy as today’s models. I would be very interested if you’ll be doing any reviews on e-ink writing/drawing tablets like Boox or Remarkable. Especially since I enjoy your drawings and paintings. Yes, E-ink tablets have limited capabilities, but sometimes I just don’t want to stare at LCD screens. I find E-ink is a lot easier on the eyes after long periods. Could be great for long sketching sessions/line drawings?
I still can't decide which one to buy. I do a lot of pdf because that is what books in my language are mostly available in, but I am worried that it would be a struggle just like on the smaller amazon kindle. Anyone here tried PDF on these? how is the font size on PDF's? If anything, I will just get the sage and install KOreader on it. I really like the 8" size, but I'm worried about the battery and other cons compared to the libre 2
I prefer Libra2 but it lacks of Dropbox Support. At this point, it's pretty lame that Kobo is still using Dropbox as a selling point for their higher-end devices. Cloud-based book storage is a common feature for e-readers. it’s annoying as the Kobo Forma/Sage/Elipsa has it but they won’t implement it on the lower end Kobos even though it’s clearly possible. Their business decisions seem incredibly short-sighted.
On the higher end devices, you can create your own content (drawing / text)... which might be another reason for Kobo to include Dropbox support on those devices. But you're right, it's pretty lame... it's hardly a selling point at all and easy to include on the lower end devices.
@@christopher1800 Kobo's 2018 Device Forma does not have Kobo Stylus compatible to takenotes to export from device (everything is similar to LibraH2O except screensize) , It's the first device came up with Dropbox support , after Forma .. LibraH2O (2019) & nia (2020) & Libra2 (2021) still lacks of Dropbox Support.
I have kobo sage and elipsa. For reading battery is exactly the same, something more than 10 hours . With and without light. Elipsa has a much better even screen. However elipsa weights more. So, Just for reading outside Sage is better. For writing elipsa is better. For comics both sucks if you compare with a tablet that has 100000 times better contrast.
@@alojomora3xalojomora3x39 its not a lie. There are thousands of comments and reviews on the battery life. i think they may have had an update that addressed it for it seems to have improved
Let me know if there are other things you want me to test
Hi, I have one quick question. I just bought the Kobo Sage directly from Kobo store. I currently use Libra2 which I will return when I get the Sage delivered. I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ which has the Bluetooth S Pen. Do you know if that Pen works on Sage? I see in many videos people using other pens on Sage. Please advise. If that won't work then I will order the Sage pen too.
@@electrology Samsung S Pen or the Noris Digital (S Pen alternative) do not work on the Kobo Sage
@@teohontech7141 Thank you. I will then order a Kobo Pen. Any cheaper alternative that you can suggest?
@@electrology The Kobo pen price seems alright, at least it's cheaper than Microsoft Surface Pen. Also if you want to use the PowerCover, the Kobo pen will fit into the slot of the PowerCover.
@@teohontech7141 makes perfect sense. Going to order that too. Cover I'm unsure. One last thing. Do you know how long it takes to receive the sage? I ordered it on Oct 25.
Thank you for this full complete review 🙏. No click-bait and time wasting rambles talking about nothing but the obvious like most youtubers. Your complete detailed full analysis is what makes you stand out!
For Sage and Libra 2, It has been discovered that mp3 audio files can be sideloaded as zipped file renamed as .mp3z files. Each file is treated as a chapter.
Thanks for this very clear and no frills review. Told me much more than any other video so far on this advice.
Teoh! I am on your Patreon for your sketch and watercolor work, and just happened across this review. Fancy meeting you here :-) thank you for the excellent review.
Thanks! :-) I've separated my tech and art channel. Otherwise, posting this on the art channel seems weird.
I am currently choosing my first e-reader between these two, and it's pretty hard to decide. Thanks to this thorough and very informative review, especially the side by side comparison, I can now have more confidence to chose one of them.
Well what did u get and r u happy with it
I'm in the same boat now. I would love to know what you got and if you are happy with it. I like the 8" display for my pdfs
I think I have found my new favourite e-reader channel.
Proud to see a good tech reviewer from sg. Steady
I bought a kobo forma a few months ago. That is the previous generation version of this. I love the 8 inch screen. Looks like they have improved the way the reader connects to the case. I will buy one of these in a few years 🤓
its a completely different thing
Is anyone else just reading and pouring over tons of reviews while they wait for their sage? Lol
Yup haha
Yes but not desided if i will go for the Sage or Libra 2 yet. the 8" screen on Sage is very temting, but common sense says Libra 2
@@mowtoll just get the sage with afterpay. That's what I did
I'm even reading those reviews while I already have the Sage. lol
@@mowtoll That's exactly why I bought the Sage... for the larger screen size. I don't like the continuous buttonclicks / screen taps for page turning. Of course, the downside is that it makes the device less portable, but I have my Kindle Oasis 2 for that. ;)
Excellent review as a whole! I had to laugh a little about your conclusion, because another reason to buy the Sage over the Libra 2 is obviously the larger screen size... and not just the stylus / drawing support. ;) A really nice feature you may have overlooked is the handwriting-to-text feature (write something, double-tap with your finger, and it will convert to 'computer text').
also libra2 lacks of dropbox support, so the only way to sideload your own file is the USB-C. Kobo deliberately limit dropbox cloud transfer to Forma/Sage/Elipsa.
In conclusion, it's pretty lame that Kobo is still using Dropbox as a selling point for their higher-end devices. Cloud-based book storage is a common feature for e-readers nowadays.
7 vs 8 inch for just reading doesn't really improve the reading experience that much that I want to pay $80 more for less battery life and more weight
@@teohontech7141 Someone else might say: “the markup / stylus support doesn’t justify paying 80 more”… simply because that person doesn’t need it. Fact is, it is one of the reasons why one would choose the Sage over the Libra 2. As is the larger screen size. If you’re summarizing the reasons why someone / anyone would buy the Sage over the Libra 2, the size is definately among those reasons why.
@@teohontech7141 I dont care so mutch of the price diff, but less battery life and more weight is a good point. this will end whit both Libra 2 and Sage i gess for me :) shorter battery life is OK when your home, Libra 2 for it is enuf portable to carry out of home.. will newer go back to 6" screen thats a torment to use just...
One key thing I feel kobo lacks is that their store does not deliver samples. This is my main method in deciding to purchase a book based on the authors 1. Style of Writing 2. Expertise, especially in non-fiction. So between the kindle and the kobo, this is the deal breaker for me.
Actually Kobo does deliver samples now
Brilliant review, thank you Sir! One thing i have a differnce in opinion around is that for me screen size makes a huge differnce to my reading experience. I tried the Forma and Oasis 2 at the same time, and altough the oasis has a far superior screen and lighting, i choose to keep the Forma because that extra screen real estate makes me feel like im reading a book rather than an e-reader. To me its a night and day differnce. Im soOOoooo lucky as i had just bought my forma directly form Kobo when the sage was then advertised!! but i was able to use the 30 day return policy, and am waiting for my band new sage.. Yay!!
So the take away is that for some people the screen size can have a big impact, if you think you may be one of those type of poeple, see if you can compare the two in the flesh and return the one you dont want.
Also, out of intrest, Kobo have apparently said that the lighting on the sage is not PWM type. Forma had this and it casuses flickering, which can be seen when recording the backlight on the Forma using the slow motion camera mode on your phone. I havent seen anyone confirming that this is not present on the Kobo Sage by testing. Any chance you could test that pelase Teoh? i think allot of people woudl really appreciate it.
Someone at reddit said it is not pwm
I did not notice any flickering
@@teohontech7141 thanks teoh, much appreciated!
I have a Forma. Worth mentioning that flickering you see in videos is caused by technical aspects of the shutter of the camera. Unless you are planning to replace your eyes with a camera I wouldn’t worry about flickering which a camera sees but your eyes don’t. 🤓
I have 7” oasis and 8” sage, sage just for manga. 7 is really too small to read the text
Excellent review. I got my Sage the other day. Love it but the battery life us surprisingly low. I am going to have to get the power case when it comes out
how long does it last with reading books only; and when reading books and doing note-taking?
@@elvinventucillo4501 I’m not sure yet since I have been setting it up and downloading books. My guess, reading 4 hours a day would be two days.
Not using the device with Wi-Fi off and powered off I would say weeks
@@elvinventucillo4501 just reading 10-12hours
Great review as always, straight to the point. Thank you. ❤
Gorgeous video! The best review of Kobo Sage. Congrats!
Thank you for a good comparison, the display difference, and lightning and warmth. Good review!
You could have tested the handwriting to text accuracy of the notes functionality.
Perfect review ..i finally made my decision.. Thank you
Would be great comparing Sage side by side with the Forma, especially the led uniformity. Thanks for the review!
I don't have the Forma. Anyway, the lighting is quite even as you can see in the review at 12:56
@@teohontech7141 can u improve pen letency by changing the pen or is it determined by the tablet or ereader
@@Ahmedmahad789 Combination of both
@@teohontech7141 i see. Alright. Thanks
Well done thanks! I bought it. U right about PDF, and battery 🔋 issues. The latter issue may be a non issue given the prevalence of on-the-go chargers.
Great review, thanks for the comprehensive coverage of features! ☺
Excellent information. Thank you so much for laying it out. It helped me make a decision between Libra 2 and Sage.
i chose the libra 2 black. So far i love it. worth the money.
great job!!! comprehensive and really informative; An exact review I need right now cuz I''ve been torn between Libra2 and Sage
What tablet is that you’re using?
Due to vision problems I will gladly pay extra for the significantly larger screen. Thank you.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. I want to upgrade my older Kindle Paperwhite. My primary use will be reading, but I like the idea of being able to write on the Sage. I often have to review academic papers in PDF format (with no DRM), so the idea of the Sage is appealing to make comments on a PDF. But I fear that the writing implementation on the Sage isn't good enough for that, and I would end up not using that feature (and waste money and have poor battery life compared to the Libra 2). Is the writing good enough to really use in practice in a work context? Thanks.
Eric I am in your exact situation! I am struggling for days choosing between a new paper white and switching to kobo for the sage. Have you decided what to do?
@@andrearampoldi3690 I've decided to get a Libra 2. Almost all my books are sideloaded on my current kindle, so I'm not heavily invested in Amazon ebooks. Kobos can use Overdrive for libraries in Australia, where I live, but kindles can't. That's the deciding factor for me against a new kindle. As for the Sage, I've decided that it is too small for practical reading and writing on Pdfs. The larger screen compared to the Libra 2 is nicer but not really needed for reading. If the Sage isn't big enough for work applications, then why spend the extra money on features I probably wouldn't end up using? Plus, by all accounts the battery life is inferior and by many accounts the screen quality is also inferior to the Libra 2. At some point I may buy a 10 inch e-ink tablet dedicated to writing to use for work and still use the libra 2 for reading.
@@en2ec I suggest to have a look at Onyx Boox Note 5.
@Zoide I didn't say the screen is inferior. I said the writing implementation wasn't great from what I read, and there were battery problems. I ended up buying a Kobo Libra 2 and am happy with it.
@Zoide OK. It was 9 months ago. I would have read it in a review. No idea where.
Fantastic review. Thanks.
Does underling with the pen transfer to annotations or does the text need to be highlighted?
Thank you for this really useful review 🙂
Battery life sounds pretty disappointing. Is it also short for ereading? I wonder if that quad core processor is overkill.
Is black color of the text much darker on Sage than Libra2? It seems when you use Sage with outside light black text is notable darker on Sage. But in dark room text looks like darker on Libra2.
They look equally dark to me. Even if there's a difference, you'll need the two devices side by side to see it.
3:15 the cutt out is very necessary what are you talking about sleep does not mean off so it consumes way more battery other than that your review was good
I have a Sage, It's really annoying how uneven the backlight is. The side with the buttons is much brighter. You mention it's even but I can see around the 15.47 mark you have the backlight bleed issue on the left side of the sage. I'm curious if they're all like this? I had a Libra and it was much more even, but not sure if I should exchange the Sage and end up with the same or worse.
All e-readers with lighting are gonna look like that. The side where light is coming from will be brighter. The worse ones are brighter sides that also show wavy alternate bright/dimmer light pattern
@@teohontech7141 I used to have a Libra that had almost perfectly consistent back lighting without bright sides/edges. Maybe I was just lucky. Given the Sage's $300 cost in Canada (where I live) I feel like the back-light is very subpar. Also, it seems like the orange/white light from opposite sides creating a color gradient as well. I like everything else, and can live with the battery life that every one seems to complain about, but the back light might have me returning it if keeps bothering me.
In answer to your question, battery life is poor. When taking notes on the Sage the battery is drained at around thirty percent per hour. I am hoping that the powercover will help. I don't have that yet.
When writing, it's 15-20% drain per hour. Same as reading mode.
@@teohontech7141 lie. At least 10 hours reading
Thank you for going into such detail with the screen brightness and reading in the dark (12:58). I like my screen to be deep orange and with low brightness. So it's like dark mode (with the black background) but with orange instead of black as the background colour. I can't stand the background light being yellow. I've tried it on my phone with the kindle app and I found the yellow background very harsh.
🙋🏼♂️🇪🇦 Me ha gustado mucho tu revisión. Muy útil. Gracias 🤗🤗👏👏👋👋
Hi, friend!
Very good your review.
Just a comment: I think that with the back button of the Microsoft pencil you can highlight texts.
Try it and tell me.
I was convinced to buy the Kobo Sage but after seeing your reviews on the Kobo Libra 2 and the Kobo Sage, I think I'm going to go for the Libra 2.
Thank you very much and greetings from Patagonia Argentina.
How text's contrast and crispness compared with kindle voyage? its same same or better or less contrast than voyage? Thank you.
I don't have Kindle Voyage so I can't say much. But text contrast for these eInk eReaders are quite similar. The text is sharp since it's 300PPI, as shown in video.
@@teohontech7141 but the contrast is poor. A tablet is much better
Great video! I want to read mainly pdf (and some ebooks too), since my eyes gets tired after reading pdf in my computer I was thinking about an ereader. What ereaders would you consider for thar purpose? Is 8" Kobo Sage a better purchase for that matter or the extra inch isnt enough? I dont care about writing or the accesories
Just get Kobo Libra 2 which is 7-inches, cheaper and has longer battery life. 7-inch is still a good big size.
However, if you read PDFs often, you may be better off getting a larger display because you cannot adjust font size within PDFs.
thanks for this comprehensive comparison.. and I need your your advise on this : I read mainly PDF books and I use medical specs.. do you think Libra 2 (7" screen) will still provide a clear reading ? thanks
7-inch may not be big enough for PDFs because you cannot change the font size of text in PDF files.
@@teohontech7141 thanks for the advice
Are the letters and words in the dictionary window bigger and easier to read on the Sage compared to the Libra 2? I REALLY struggle on my Paperwhite 3 when reading at night with backlights dimmed to spare my eyes.
Dictionary box takes up 1/3 of the page for both devices. Font size is larger on Kobo Sage. Maybe two increments larger.
I have a Nook Glowlight 3 which I love. Was thinking of upgrading to the larger Glowlight Plus. I really like the small bezels with physical turn buttons. Kobo has a different form factor and I am now really torn between these 2 sizes. The pen option also looks cool but all in all I’m all about reading the reading experience. Still not sure what I want. 😕
I’m getting ready to buy an ereader and want the best. I might note take from time to time but i would like to know what are the best ereaders out there for note taking or just reading. What do you suggest?
In which countries is available the Bluetooth connection to audiobooks, and the pdf editing?
Thank you for the great review. :) What pen/stylus are you using in this review? You mentioned that it was not the one distributed by Kobo. Is there any difference in using the pen you used over the one by Kobo? How much was the pen you used?
Microsoft Surface Pen. Performance is good. I'll review the Kobo Stylus when I receive it.
@@teohontech7141 Thanks for letting me know. It will be good to know if there is any difference in function between the Microsoft Surface Pen (and other similar pens) and the Kobo Stylus. Actually, I was looking for a cheaper replacement for the Kobo Stylus. Keep up the great work. :)
Great review. Would you know if they Wacom stylus is compatible and would work
@@annaciviti1670 Wacom is not going to work
@@teohyc thank you
Fantastic review! Thank you. As an e-reader only, aside from the size, are there any advantages to the Kobo Sage over the Kobo Libra 2?
If you don't need the pen or battery charging PowerCover, get the Kobo Libra 2. Actually if you don't listen to audibooks, just get Kobo Clara HD. 6-inch is small, but it's still the classic novel size that still in publication today.
read manga is better on 8' Sage
I'd reply with a definate "no". ;) However, the larger size really does make a difference, at least for me. I don't like all the page turning, and the device has a little bit more of a "book" feel to it. Also, you can increase the font size to get the same amount of text.. which is convenient if your eye sight is getting worse.
Must buy for book lovers!!
Great review, the 8" screen on Sage is temting, but Libra 2 are probely more practical for just reading ebook, i know i will not listen to audio books and probely dont need notes, Libra 2 seams to have litle better screen also, today i have a Clara HD and dont use it mutch coz i find the screen to smal, find it uncomfortable to read on coz of the smal sitze, maybe Libra 2 will be enuf.. What i understand Sage have a battery 1200mah and Libra 2 a battery 1420mah, maybe do the diffrense in audio..
Sage quad-core 1.8GHz with 1200 mAh vs Libra2 1.0GHZ single-core with 1420 mAh
I'm surprised the larger device has a smaller battery capacity. So that's probably the reason why Kobo Sage has the PowerCover (pricey though)
@@teohontech7141 may be it has to do with the processor ?
I believe the extra layer for pen use - will draw more power as well
Hi! The subscription service is not available in Singapore right?
Currently subscription only for Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands (Sep 2022)
Thank you. Great job.
Do you think the Libra 2 is too small to read manga? The only reason I am considering the Sage is because of this concern...None of the stores near me have displays for Kobos so I won't be able to check in person before making a decision :(
For manga a larger display would be better. The eInk canvas on Kobo Libra 2 is 10.2 x 14cm, on Kobo Sage it's 12 x 16.2cm
@@teohontech7141 Appreciate it, thanks a lot!
Elipsa for manga. But a tablet has better contrast
What happens to the encircled markup word after enlarging the text of the book? Will the markup adjust accordingly?
After you increase the font size, the markup "disappears". However, a small button to the right of the line with your markups will appear which you can click. It will then show you the original text size, including the markup, and with the caption "This markup was made with a different font". Interestingly, if you have your margins set to zero, the small button might be covering / "on top of" the text.
@@christopher1800 thank you very much
Can I use CNT+F or something similar to look up specific words in the ebook?
I'm wondering if Kobo fixed the buttons on the Sage and Libra 2. I have read that you have to be very precise with the Libra H2O or the clicks don't register (as in, it has to be right in the middle).
Seems to work fine. There's no special way to click those buttons.
I just got my Kobo Sage today and have tested out the buttons and they both work every time, no matter what part of the button you are touching. So they appear to have fixed that problem, at least on the Sage. Hope that helps. :)
@@teohontech7141 Thank you, both!
It sounds like like the buttons on the Libra 2 makes a louder click noise. Is the Sage more quiet?
Yeah, slightly louder on the Libra 2
How does the screen compare to previous edition Cartas, please? I have a Paperwhite 3. Is it worth upgrading for the contrast alone?
The contrast seems quite similar to me. If your current eReader is still working, there's not much reason to upgrade.
thanks for the video! 2nd time i watch it.
just wonder what is the name of the tablet shown near the end of video! so nice 😊
The white one? Kobo Libra 2
Thanks for the detailed review. i just bought the sage and is new to e reader. Is the fickering screen normal when you turn pages? (especially when there are pictures)
Not sure what flickering you are referring to. eInk pages will redraw with each page. Sometimes you may see ghosting from the previous page. Sometimes the redraw will be for a small portion, sometimes the whole page
Does it come with a protective cover or it needs to be bought separately?
Cover is sold separately
Thank you for this review! I'd like to understand if there is a big difference performance wise between the Sage and the Elipsa, as I can see the the PPI is higher on the Sage, which gives me the impression that it would have sharper text. If the backlight for the Elipsa has the warmth option, I'd like to see that compared too. Finally, if you can compare with the actual Kobo stylus, I'd like to see how responsive it is with Kobo's own stylus.
I don't have the Elipsa so I can't say how much sharper the fonts are on the Kobo Sage. Main selling point of Elipsa is the 10.3-inch display which is good for PDFs. If you don't read that many PDFs, I don't see any compelling reason to get such a big display.
I'll review the Kobo Stylus when I get it. So far I'm very please with the Microsoft Surface Pen performance on the Kobo. It's much better than I expected.
@@teohontech7141 thanks for the reply sir! I appreciate your perspective and insights, I'll take the Elipsa selling points into consideration
@@l3xx000 manga looks better on Large screen so i bought Elipsa
I have both Elipsa and Sage and the resolution difference is noticeable. Some books, not only PDFs are much better on the bigger screen, and if I don't put both devices side by side, the resolution is still very good. Elipsa doesn't have the warmth option but it doesn't bother me because the screen is outstanding at all light levels, and I was very annoyed with the Libra 1 for its permanent yellowish tint, event with warmth option off.
@@anacreon6055 how's the battery life on elipsa for ya, im tempted to get the elipsa but held off due to the weight of it
Im looking to change cos libra 1 is spolit.. im torn between sage , libra 2 and forma. Forma is still attractive cos its lighter despite an 8 inch... i dont do audio book so i guess there’s no need for sage? That still leaves bet libra 2 n forma..... any opinions between these 2?
Maybe Libra 2. 7-inch is still a good size
@@teohontech7141 thx!
@teoh on tech hi, I find the Kindle e-reader very difficult on my eyes. Yes very. I just find it uncomfortable and unclear.
Is Kobo sage much different and better than kindle.
The gray levels and contrast will look quite similar to the Kindle. The main difference is resolution and size of the display. Look at 08:43 for a close up
@@teohyc Thanks for sharing!
Where did you get that vibrant blue sleepcover for Libra 2?? I can only find the grayish blue one...
That was sponsored by the company
@@teohontech7141 Aw man :( ok, thank you for the swift reply!
I still have my Kobo Aura from 2015, works wonderfully, even if ink is not as sharp and snappy as today’s models.
I would be very interested if you’ll be doing any reviews on e-ink writing/drawing tablets like Boox or Remarkable. Especially since I enjoy your drawings and paintings.
Yes, E-ink tablets have limited capabilities, but sometimes I just don’t want to stare at LCD screens. I find E-ink is a lot easier on the eyes after long periods. Could be great for long sketching sessions/line drawings?
Please! Can you tell me another cheaper alternative to the Kobo Stylus pen for Kobo Sage? Thanks
Surface Pen is compatible so you can search for Surface Pen alternatives.
@@teohontech7141 I said cheaper 😅😅
@Zoide no, examples by users are very expensive, please if you find something cheaper, write me
Great presentation, thank you.
I still can't decide which one to buy. I do a lot of pdf because that is what books in my language are mostly available in, but I am worried that it would be a struggle just like on the smaller amazon kindle. Anyone here tried PDF on these? how is the font size on PDF's? If anything, I will just get the sage and install KOreader on it. I really like the 8" size, but I'm worried about the battery and other cons compared to the libre 2
For PDF get 11 inch or larger. Because text size in PDF cannot be adjusted unless you zoom into the page
@@teohontech7141 Thank you. I bought the sage and installed koreader on it and I can zoom the text only on the PDFs. So, all good.
Does Scribd work on this ereader
No
I prefer Libra2 but it lacks of Dropbox Support.
At this point, it's pretty lame that Kobo is still using Dropbox as a selling point for their higher-end devices. Cloud-based book storage is a common feature for e-readers.
it’s annoying as the Kobo Forma/Sage/Elipsa has it but they won’t implement it on the lower end Kobos even though it’s clearly possible.
Their business decisions seem incredibly short-sighted.
On the higher end devices, you can create your own content (drawing / text)... which might be another reason for Kobo to include Dropbox support on those devices. But you're right, it's pretty lame... it's hardly a selling point at all and easy to include on the lower end devices.
@@christopher1800 Kobo's 2018 Device Forma does not have Kobo Stylus compatible to takenotes to export from device (everything is similar to LibraH2O except screensize) , It's the first device came up with Dropbox support , after Forma .. LibraH2O (2019) & nia (2020) & Libra2 (2021) still lacks of Dropbox Support.
Make a video of sonar pen using xiaomi pad 5 plsss
I have kobo sage and elipsa. For reading battery is exactly the same, something more than 10 hours . With and without light. Elipsa has a much better even screen. However elipsa weights more. So, Just for reading outside Sage is better. For writing elipsa is better. For comics both sucks if you compare with a tablet that has 100000 times better contrast.
Sage is slightly faster than elipsa
nice Review !
is it good for side-loading my own PDF and do annotation on it ??
You can
@@teohontech7141 thank you
Can you side load android drawing apps?
No
What's tablet is that at 4:26?
Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8
不知道视频中展示的是什么漫画，但其中有有一格的对话是“little aunt，run”。我猜原文是”小姨快跑”吧。little aunt这翻译实在是太搞笑了
神鵰俠侶
@@teohontech7141 原来是姑姑快跑😂
I didn't know condor hero has english version.
That particular title from this publisher was translated recently
Battery is horrible. You will charge it almost daily. turn buttons often dont work and screen freezes
Lie. No frozen. Battery enought 2 full days for reading
@@alojomora3xalojomora3x39 its not a lie. There are thousands of comments and reviews on the battery life. i think they may have had an update that addressed it for it seems to have improved
File management
Sin Tiaw Hiap Lu
the more powerful processor probably uses more power
Could be, but it doesn't improve user experience in any way
小龍女！！
This is an excellent review. Thank you
What tablet is that @ 18:40?
Huawei MatePad 10.8