Review - The Mobiscribe E-Ink Reader

Over the years, I've eagerly anticipated the arrival of a device that checks all my boxes: an Android-based, Kindle Paperwhite-sized e-ink reader. Shipping was prompt and free when I opted for a refurbished model, proving that patience indeed pays off. 

The advent of larger note-taking devices like the Kindle Scribe and the ReMarkable had piqued my interest, but their size was a deal-breaker. As someone who often spends mornings at museums, effortlessly slipping my Paperwhite into my cargo shorts pocket was an advantage I wasn't ready to forfeit for a larger device. The timely appearance of the refurbished Mobiscribe came as a pleasant surprise, with the added bonus of saving me some cash.

Despite the launch of Mobiscribe's latest version - the Wave, available in both greyscale and color e-ink screens, the hefty price tag and mixed online reviews kept me satisfied with my refurbished gem.

Setting up the Mobiscribe was straightforward. Its Android operating system allowed me to access the Play store and download a variety of reading apps seamlessly.

The refurbished package included a soft case, a passive stylus (no charging or syncing necessary), and replacement tips. The stylus offers different pressure levels and comes with a handy eraser button. Unfortunately, the case, which relies on a sticky pad to hold the device, was the package's weakest link. I'd rather have a fitted case like those Amazon provides, complete with a stylus pocket.

Underneath its hood, the Mobiscribe boasts 32GB of onboard storage, expandable by an additional 32GB via a micro SD card. Its front-lit screen provides legibility in normal lighting conditions, even when the front light is switched off. The screen is touch-responsive, although writing with the stylus while resting my palm on the screen occasionally triggers some false positives. The screen's refresh rate is slower than the Kindle Paperwhite or Oasis, but a button to enforce a full refresh ameliorates this issue.

Writing on the screen feels and sounds close to pen on paper.  There is a slight lag, in terms of milliseconds.  

The Mobiscribe has become a staple at my desk, facilitating quick note-taking and keeping me organized, thus replacing the ever-growing piles of scrap paper. It's also my trusty travel companion on the Metro, ideal for jotting down story ideas, reading, and journaling. The unique feature of hand-annotating books opened via the Mobiscribe reading app is a boon for writers, students, and researchers alike.

Despite its merits, the Mobiscribe has a few drawbacks. The battery life is shorter than the Kindle Paperwhite's, although it can last a week on airplane mode. Running WiFi drains the battery significantly faster, so it's recommended to store books on the SD card. Also, compatibility with Mac devices is limited, a common issue with Android-based devices. Backing up notes is possible via various cloud services like Dropbox, and you can export them as images to Google Drive.

In terms of handwriting recognition, the optical character recognition (OCR) functionality is adequate, though it sometimes struggles with poor handwriting.

Priced under $200, the refurbished Mobiscribe is a robust device for reading, working, journaling, and sketching. Its few downsides are far outweighed by its benefits, making it a valuable tool for any tech-savvy reader or writer.