I recently got my hands on the new Penstar eNote 2 and I am here to give you our initial impressions of this new E-Ink device.
Unboxing
The eNote 2 arrived packaged in a neat, stylish box, though I did note that nowhere on the box does it explicitly state it is the eNote 2. I was a bit confused about receiving the correct model.
Inside, I was delighted by the contents. Penstar is incredibly generous with its inclusions, providing:
- The eNote 2 tablet with its folio.
- Not one, but two pens.
- A USB-C cable for charging.
- 10 spare nibs.
This is a welcome change from most devices that typically offer only one pen and about five nibs. In a pleasant surprise, opening up one of the pens revealed even more spare nibs stored inside!
Design and Hardware
The first thing that stands out about the eNote 2 is that it feels super light and thin. When compared to a device like the Boox Note Air 5C, which I am used to carrying, the eNote 2 is noticeably lighter.
A key design feature is the set of physical buttons located on the left-hand side. There are eight square buttons separated by a circular button. This immediately tells you that this is not a touch-sensitive device, and these buttons will be essential for navigation.
In terms of ports and controls, the power button is located at the top of the device, and a USB-C port is found at the bottom.
The Stylus and Folio
The included stylus is fairly light and features a clip, which is useful for securing it to the side of the tablet, although it does not utilize a magnetic attachment mechanism. The pen is equipped with an eraser at the top and a button on the side.
The accompanying folio is also different from what we’ve seen on similar devices. It is not a full-coverage folio but rather a light screen cover that simply protects the display. Unlike the magnet-heavy folio of the Boox Air 5C, this cover adds virtually no weight. It also features a practical pen loop to secure one of the included styli.
A Crisp, Pure E-Ink Display
Initial setup is straightforward. While there is no touchscreen, the included pen is used to navigate the system—from choosing the language and agreeing to the terms, to connecting to Wi-Fi and checking for the latest firmware.
The true highlight is the display itself. When compared to the Boox Note Air 5C, the eNote 2 is incredibly crisp, sharp, and bright—almost like pure paper. I found that I often struggle to use the Boox Note Air 5C without turning on the lights, but the eNote 2 is so clear that it can be used comfortably in almost any indoor environment.
This clarity is a direct result of the design philosophy: the eNote 2 offers a pure E-Ink experience because it lacks both a touchscreen layer and a frontlight layer, allowing the E-Ink particles to be closer to the surface.
While the lack of a touchscreen might be difficult for some, using the pen for all operations quickly feels less strange, though it will certainly require an adjustment period for new users.
Writing Experience and Compatibility
The writing experience on the eNote 2 is excellent. The included pen boasts double the levels of pressure sensitivity compared to our Boox pen, which definitely shows in the quality of the line variation.
However, a surprising point was the lack of cross-compatibility. The Penstar pen did not work on the Boox tablet, and conversely, the Boox pen did not work on the eNote 2. This suggests that the Penstar pen is locked to its system, which could be a drawback for users who own other EMR (Electro-Magnetic Resonance) pens and prefer to use them across devices.
The Penstar eNote 2 is a very interesting device that delivers on a promise of a bright, pure, paper-like E-Ink display and a high-quality writing experience. We are looking forward to thoroughly testing it to see how its unique button-based navigation and superior display hold up in long-term use.
You can purchase it here
