Kobo Sage Review - This is the BEST Kobo!
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 9. 07. 2024
- Today, we review the new Kobo Sage! This device is an e-reader and note-taking device, all in one package. Is this the future of premium e-readers?
Subscribe to Bookmarks, my email newsletter: newsletter.maneetpaul.com/
Kobo Sage: geni.us/M68g51
0:00 Video Starts
0:54 Buying Options
1:44 Back Build Quality
2:27 New Power Button
3:17 USB-C
3:55 Battery
4:20 New Front Design
5:10 Page Turn Buttons
5:58 New Display
8:33 Dark Mode
8:50 Stylus Support
10:15 New Processor
11:17 Other Notable Features
11:43 My Thoughts
Disclosure: Some links in the description may be affiliate links, which earn me a commission for qualifying purchases. I'm also a participant in the Amazon Associates program. To learn more, you can read my affiliate transparency disclaimer here: go.maneetpaul.com/affiliate-d...
------------------
Hi there! My name is Maneetpaul Singh, but my friends call me Maneet (pronounced muh-neet).
I'm based out of NYC and make CZcams videos about Book Tech and digital reading.
Think of me like the MKBHD of books đ
I'm also a Sikh with a love for blue turbans. If you want to learn more about Sikhi and why I look the way I do, check out this short documentary I made: âą THEY CALLED ME OSAMA (...
Whenever youâre ready, here are a few other ways I can help you:
1. Read a new book with me every month
At the start of every month, Iâll announce a new nonfiction book Iâm going to read. Every week after that, Iâll email you one lesson Iâve learned from the book and a discussion question to help us reflect on it. Join me and 1,000+ other bookworms in the Presently Reading community: go.maneetpaul.com/presently-r...
2. Check out the books Iâve written
Outside of CZcams, Iâm also an author. I write short books on topics that relate to digital reading, but also self development. You can find my books here: go.maneetpaul.com/books
If you want to get in touch, you can also email me hello@maneetpaul.com
TL;DR:
đ Read with me every month: go.maneetpaul.com/presently-r...
đ Check out the books I've written: go.maneetpaul.com/books
đ Follow me on Goodreads: / maneetpaul-singh
đłđœâïž Learn more about my turban and Sikhi: âą THEY CALLED ME OSAMA (...
đ„° Support my work on Patreon / maneetpaul
NOTE ABOUT THE BATTERY: I used this device to read a full (short) book over the course of about one week. I also used the note-taking features here and there while making this video. I didn't see any issues with the battery, but I'm not a Kobo power-user. It seems like this device has a lot of battery complaints if you use it for several hours. I recommend looking into this before buying if you're in the market!
I had mine for a week now and I already charged it two or three times. At least it charges fast
@@heidis2330Three times in a week?? oh no⊠what do you use it for? If that is usually the case, not sure if I would buy it.
Yes. I had Libra 2 for 2 weeks and then got Sage. Battery life is significantly worse especially when you use the pen and take notes and do mark-ups. For reading alone, battery life is okay but still lower than Libra 2. Libra 2 has sunken screen and Sage has flush screen. Libra 2 has white color vscSage that comes only in black which attracts a lot of smudges. But I am okay with Sage. I won't call it the best of Kobo. I think the best is Libra 2. Just my opinion. I still keep the Sage as the return experience is very bad as I bought directly from Kobo. Battery doesn't last nearly the time he is saying. Another quirk I see is when I plug in the wall charger , the unit still gives "connect to computer" pop up notification. So weird. One thing I agree. The side buttons work better and quiet on Sage vs Libra 2.
I had battery issues with my Sage. So I got a power cover for it, that doubles the battery size. Vent had the power cover long enough to know it that will help the battery issue.
Thanks for the review! I think itâs really important to note that even if the text is still âcrispâ, the glass overlay still casts a shadow that will never beat the sunken display. Itâs really minor but itâs quite noticeable, especially comparing to an ereader 2012. I returned my kindle paper white 2021 and ordered the Libra 2- very exited!
Can you elaborate on the shadow?
@@ayesha36 hey there--i know it's been two years, but did you ever find out about the shadow??? i was about to buy the sage, but now i'm thinking about the shadow.... i'm thinking they mean there is a space between the glass and the actual screen and somehow you can tell. anyone???
Fantastic review. How is this for reading comics and manga?
which has a blacker font color? sage or Oasis 3? also, does the screen turn too? for ex. with my oasis 3, if it's in landscape view, i can either hold it using my left or right hand bec the screen will turn same thing on horizontal
view.
Hi! I'm considering upgrading from my Clara and getting the Sage. I'm curious if anyone can tell me, when you make handwritten notes, circles, underlines, etc while reading an ebook, is there a way to immediately jump between places in the book you've marked up? What happens when you change the font, spacing, or margins? Do your markups get moved around? Thanks for putting this together!
Great review. I have the original Libra "H20" is it worth upgrading to the Sage?
Thanks for all your great reviews. I bought a new Kobo Sage to replace my old Kindle Paperwhite based on your input. Keep it up!
What about the Weight in comparison with Kobo forma ?
Hesitating between the both just for the weight
When you said the Sage has audiobook support, I thought, "yes! Someone finally gets it!" If I really enjoy a book, I'll buy the audiobook version and listen to it when I'm doing things around my home.
Thanks for the review! There were a lot of reports about severe battery drain even when just reading ebooks. For some reviewers (like Voja from My Deep Guide) Sage worked less than 5 hours which is quite far from weeks of reading on a single charge. After a couple of battery cycles, factory reset and firmware update it became better: ~20 hours of reading or 5 hours of note taking. Does it mean that you didn't encounter any problems and had great battery life out of the box?
Yes, I'm also curious about battery life, since some reviewers (also saw Voja's review) say the battery life isn't too good, but here he said weeks of battery life...did he actually test it out or just saying what's printed on the spec sheet đ€
Its likely due to a software bug, responsiveness and battery life tend to get better over time on these devices as new firmwares roll out. The backlight will be a large portion of the energy usage ideally, so some specs may be with the backlight off.
Obviously, I dont know for sure, I'm just throwing ideas around
Excellent review. Thank you.
Great review, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you, great review!
Battery life on the sage seems to be different for different people. Do you think you could test the battery life by taking notes and reading etc etc to see how much battery it's draining after a specific amount of time, and then post it in a separate video?
USB-C is a welcome addition to the charging aspect đ
Hey there! Thanks for watching đ„° I get asked all the time about the books I like to read. If you're interested, check out my email newsletter called *_Bookmarks_* . Every Wednesday, I send out an email with all the best lessons I've learned from the books I'm currently reading. Subscribe here: newsletter.maneetpaul.com/
Any reviews on colour capable e-readers?
What do PDFs look like? You should do some testing with actual files, books.
How do you decide which unit you will use? When do you use kobo & when kindle & why?
Good review, on topic and really gives you the information you want - which is the actually feel and experience.
Hi Maneet,
Could you please suggest whether I should buy Sage or any other ereader? I have to purchase the device so I am very eager to get honest guidance.
I do not have to read many books but just the course study books (mostly pdf format) and I have to take lots of notes while reading and also to after reading I have to write my summaries on those topics.
Also if you could tell me about its battery life for my purpose. (I will have to use it for about 10 hours daily atleast for reading and taking notes)
Would appreciate suggestions from others as well.
Hi little precarious about itâŠcan anyone tell me if its a better option to buy now âŠ.can it be used in other country like India?.. how much battery life should i expect if i Am just using it for reading? And how much if reading combined with little bit of notes making and occasional audio book?
Thanks
can you still use the stylus while on dark mode?
Thanks for a great review! Love the Kobo Sage. Also own the Kindle Oasis and Paperwhite, but the Sage is, by far, my favorite. One minor issue is the inability to export notes from Kobo readers, unlike Kindle readers. Still worth every penny.
Agreed, this is 100% why I can't switch to Kobo. I wish they would add that functionality! I rely heavily on a service called Readwise.
This is definitely a question I had. I want to start annotating and saving my notes and tho I havenât researched kindles platforms yet, I know my kobo h20 doesnât really allow it.
if i cant find the forma anywhere in the 32gig is it worth just getting the sage? or seeking out the forma
could you please tell me if is there any ereader with a better screen? I mean, one with even better contrast (blacks being as black as possible I mean) or at least similar
This new e-ink display being used in the Sage and Libra 2 is supposed to be one of the best right now. The Kindle Paperwhite has it too, but the Kobo looks sharper IMO.
@@Maneetpaul I see... then it's going to be dificult for me to choose one, cause Sage is the perfect size for me, but the battery is terrible đ„Č
- 0:00 đ The Kobo Sage is hailed as the best Kobo available, even surpassing the Kobo Elipsa, according to the speaker's review.
- 0:53 đ The Kobo Sage, priced at $259 USD, offers a premium buying experience with limited customization options.
- 1:46 đ The device boasts a sturdy build quality with a grippy rubbery finish and an improved power button design.
- 3:17 đ USB-C charging is a welcome addition, although the device's long-lasting battery reduces the need for frequent charging.
- 4:20 đ± The Kobo Sage features a modern front design with a sleek glass finish and ergonomic page-turn buttons.
- 5:59 đ The device's display impresses with its 8-inch size, 300 ppi resolution, and improved contrast, making reading a delightful experience.
- 8:50 đ Stylus support elevates the Kobo Sage, offering note-taking capabilities and a notebook feature, enhancing its versatility.
- 10:16 ⥠The device's powerful 1.8 GHz quad-core processor ensures smooth performance, particularly beneficial for multitasking and note-taking.
- 11:17 đ§ Bluetooth support allows for audio book streaming, while the device's water-resistant feature adds to its durability and usability.
As an e- reader it is good but is it good as a note taking device? Its a pity you did not really show the note taking capabilities of the device.
Not using the writing feature but the battery is not nearly as bad as I thought. Itâs not the kindle but itâs certainly wasnât an issue.
Can this Ereader, or any of them be put into Airplane mode? Thanks for the detailed review.
I have the libra and you can turn off the wifi, yes! Very handy for when you havenât quite finished a book, but itâs about to expire on overdrive!
Returned mine due to the lack lustre battery performance. My ancient Kobo Aura H2O gen 1 still last for ages on one charge - which the Sage does not.
Great review. The text does look very crispy. How would you say the display compares with the current Kindle Oasis?
Does the kobo sage have the same 2 types of notebook that the elipsa does
Yes it does
Can you annotate and take notes with just your finger?
Too bad they didnât put those same buttons on libra 2.
Yeah, I just bought this thing two weeks ago. This thing is crazy. I left amazon's ecosystem for it (and I must say I am loving the way Kobo has designed the reading experience). but yeah, not taking abilities on your all in one e-reader. The king, the Sage, is here.
You liked the buttons?? Just got mine. They are super mushy and not consistent. Does not feel like they can be pressed just as well all places.. I miss my Libra H2O already
They are mushy, but work consistently, unlike the Libra which don't work when you press them in certain places
I'm hesitating between the Libra 2 and the Sage as a first Kobo (I already own two Kindles: basic 2022 and Oasis 3). I like the white color of the Libra but the 8-inch screen of the Sage is very tempting (I don't usually take notes).
which did you go with or still deciding
@@Sportsman134 I've decided not to buy a Kobo after all, as I already own Kindles.
I bought the Libra 2 a week or so ago. Love it! The print is sharp and crispy. I didnât know there was a kobo sage. I just purchased it from Amazon two minutes ago. I might send back the Libra 2, wait and see but that sage has me in its grip.
Could you give us a feedback? Which one do you prefer? The Libra or the Sage?
@@julien.s2002 Hi, both are nice but the Sage is it! I havenât read much on it and I will most likely never get the stylus but itâs just the perfect size to read on. I can see me carrying the Libra 2 and a kindle on a road trip. Iâm still new to Kobo, the kindle has been my only reader before now.
Right after I purchased the Libra 2 from Amazon, someone advertised an unopened Libra 2 on EBay without a price. I asked what she wanted for it and it was $60 less than what i paid on Amazon. So I returned the Amazon and purchased it from eBay. So lucky.
Perhaps though, I would have returned the Libra if I didnât get it so cheap đłwell subjectively speaking.
The Sage has a flush screen, the Libra doesnât. I have not paid attention to battery life and reading time on any of my readers but I think the kindle might hold first place on this. The bigger screen is just awesome. Hope Amazon took notes.
Loved this review! As an author I love the sage especially the stylus support but I found a better deal for the libra 2 at a store that doesnât sell the sage đ© Maybe Iâll pick one up later in the year
Whatâs your book
Someone had said in a review that the battery life is terrible compared to the Libra 2; is that true?
Yes. I had Libra 2 for 2 weeks and then got Sage. Battery life is significantly worse especially when you use the pen and take notes and do mark-ups. For reading alone, battery life is okay but still lower than Libra 2. Libra 2 has sunken screen and Sage has flush screen. Libra 2 has white color vscSage that comes only in black which attracts a lot of smudges. But I am okay with Sage. I won't call it the best of Kobo. I think the best is Libra 2. Just my opinion. I still keep the Sage as the return experience is very bad as I bought directly from Kobo. Battery doesn't last nearly the time he is saying. Another quirk I see is when I plug in the wall charger , the unit still gives "connect to computer" pop up notification. So weird. One thing I agree. The side buttons work better and quiet on Sage vs Libra 2.
@@electrology Thanks, I've read a bunch of reviews on youtube and think that Libra2 is the better option for me, as the mark up is cool but I'll use it scantily. Aren't we able to do returns to Indigo even if its bought online through Kobo?
@@drakezen what is indigo?
@@electrology Bookstore that's affiliated (in Canada)
Word of the Day: Crispy
But what about the weight? Forma is 190 grams so I am thinking to buy the forma. And the battery of the forma is better. I dont see the point of notetaking or usb c. I dont need to take notes and i dont care about the cable.
USB c cable will charge the device faster and is current with newer phones using this cable (ie. More convenient for sharing charger between devices if you have a newer phone). But I agree, it's an expensive upgrade for note taking feature if you won't be using it for those purposes. I can see this being a useful feature if using the kobo as a student during a lecture, or if you make notes on PDFs frequently, or for writing down recipes and grocery/shopping lists perhaps!? I do know a few people who enjoy writing notes as they read, but don't see this as a necessary tool for everyone, especially at that price. đ€đ
Thanks.
Hoping for a sage with a screen as good as the libra 2.
From what I can tell, they have the same screen!
Sage or Elipsa? Thatâs the question⊠for me.
Currently have a Forma. Would you say itâs worth upgrading to the Sage for the better buttons and screen and improved lighting? Everything I read is kepub/ePub, donât need to handle pdf files. Note taking isnât important either.
I think so. Forma's power button is obnixious
@@currangill430 Thanks for the reply. A common issue people mention is the battery. Is the Sage a downgrade in terms of battery that youâve noticed?
@@kaleb_of_gondor Sorry I don't know. I have a Forma and Libra 2. The Libra 2 is the best ereader I have ever had. I don't have any of the problems with the Libra 2 that Mannet talks about. If the Sage is anything like the Libra 2 then it's a great ereader just bigger screen
@@currangill430 no apology needed. Iâve got the Forma and Libra 2 as well. I love the screen quality of the Libra 2. The size is nice and fits in my pocket. The forma screen size is nice and I like the larger screen. I wish theyâd release the Elipsa with warm light and buttons.
@@kaleb_of_gondor If you like the Libra 2 you will like the Sage because it is built just like a Libra 2. Power on the back and pretty much everything is like the Libra 2 just with a bigger screen. I was considering getting a Sage because I disliked my Kobo Forma so much because the power button and the wifi were just horrible.
Keep in mind this new kobo Sage is 20% heavier then Forma, 240g vs 200g.
I was looking for this comment! I recently got into the Kobo world and love my forma. Considering trying Sage but worry about the weight!
But, is it crispy?
What about the poor battery life of the Sage?
Have you actually tested the battery life yourself?
I read a full book on it and used it quite a bit to film the review. Didnât have any issues personally
@@Maneetpaul Ok thanks.
I know that some people have been having issues with it but there have been firmware updates since so maybe it's fixed.
Im in the middle of a dilemma, Im buying my first erader and I cant decide between the Kobo Libra 2(179 usd), Kobo Forma(8GB 209usd) and Kobo Sage(259usd). How do you think the new Carta 1200 is a game changer? Since Im reading epubs I can deal with 8GB of space but I dont know how good is the new E ink screen in comparison with the one Forma has. I dont care about audiobooks or note taking. In the future Id buy a 13.3" screen to read pdfs in their native size, do you think a 8" can do a good job in landscape? Thanks, keep up the good work
It sounds like the Libra 2 would be the best option for you. Unless you want to spend the extra money to get a larger display. The Forma isnât worth it IMO, if youâre going to get a âpremiumâ device, get the Sage over that.
When it comes to the new display, itâs much more crispy. But I only noticed because Iâve been using the older display for a long time already
When it comes to the new display, itâs much more crispy. But I only noticed because Iâve been using the older display for a long time already
Only problem is that Kobo is not selling in India
I just received my Kobo Forma on Nov 23. OMG!!! The power/sleep button is f**ked among other issues with the design. I'm sending it back for a refund and will buy the Kobo Sage.
Is the charging port on yours also really wiggly? Itâs so hard to get mine plugged in all the way
@@abigailmurray3979 the Forma has a USB-C port and USB-C has many issues. I sent my Forma back within days of receiving it and bought the Sage. But if you do buy a Kobo Sage you need to know the battery life is dreadful.
I think the battery drainage is caused by people listening to music and drawing with pen, this is the reason I prefer ereaders without Bluetooth or sound capability
An Indian cannot buy as there is no option there in their website in countries other than USA
you shouldn't use a faster charger than your battery can handle @3:30
Modern chargers output what device can handle.
I really don't think you should use other devices' chargers as fast charging really damages the batteries of devices that don't support it
That's a good point. I don't know enough about this to provide any information. But with USB-C, one of the main selling points is being able to carry around one charger for all your devices. I would hope these modern devices are smart enough not to accept more charge than they can handle.
@@Maneetpaul this brings up one of the biggest criticisms of USB C universality, usb c could mean anything, it could have 16 pins, or 24, or 30, it could have a chip inside that handshakes to detect how much wattage the device needs, or it could skip that and potentially turn your battery into a capri-sun. It is generally recommended to get a travel adapter that will suit all your needs
Too expensive, let's hope the kindle Oasis 2 is 8 inches and less expensive
I thought the oasis was in its third generation already?
What you're waiting for is the Oasis 4.
Oasis will be more expensive
The battery Life is horrible..!
Run away..!!!
yeah, why is he saying that it lasts weeks?! Is he trolling ?
True. Absolutely horrible, even with power cover. It drains power cover in a day without reading!!!
In my thoughts it's junk everything I type in author name say can't be found I will stick with kindle
Are there Sikhs (excluding) that don't wear a Turban?
Excluding Women
Yes there are. There are Sikhs from a diverse set of backgrounds, just like other faiths. However, wearing a turban is a central part of the Sikh identity, and many Sikh men (and women) choose to wear it.
@@Maneetpaul Ok. Maybe Some don't wear a Turban cause they want to avoid discrimination.
Omg stop saying crispy
But crispy is such a crispy word!
Sorry to say, but you have just flushed your credibility down the toilet.
Firstly, the page turn buttons on the sage haven't improved they're just as bad as they have always been.. 2nd The build quality of the sage is worse than it's ever been with greatly reduced battery life even if you're not using any of it's enhanced features. Last but not least, when it comes to note taking the Sage is next to useless with a buggy interface, delayed response.and a impractical screen size.
Bottom line? I will be returning my unit for a refund.
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with yours! Mine has been working pretty well with all the points you mentioned.
@@ManeetpaulGlad you're unit is working for you. Had it not been for the page turn buttons I would have kept my unit. It's strange (and a little alarming) that the makers of Kobo have shown by such disregard for quality control and problems such as the buttons issues for so long without ever attempting to address them.
This review is bs. If anyone reading this n thinking about getting one, please go Reddit, google and read up on battery drain. Itâs real. I just got my sage 3 days ago. And the battery does not even last for a day even with sync, wifi, Bluetooth turned off. And this reviewer doesnât even mentioned that. And the worse thing is he claims it will last for several weeks!?
I had no issues while reviewing mine. But I only used it for reading on a daily basis for about a week. This issue might be more prominent for people who use it more than I did or do note taking regularly
Don't forget, POCKET, DROPBOX and OVERDRIVE support in top of everything else. I love mine!
Have a great day