Value reveal by Supernote may presage an imminent launch of the A5 X2

Key Takeaways

• Supernote’s A5 X2 E Ink pill might be referred to as Manta & be priced at $459, a outstanding deal in comparison with opponents.
• The Manta will not have a frontlight, making it much less optimum as a studying system.
• Though the launch date stays unknown, anticipation is rising for the inexpensive writing-first Manta pill, probably obtainable in early 2025.

To say there’s a religious group of Supernote followers on-line, eagerly awaiting any morsel of stories concerning the perpetually delayed A5 X2 can be an understatement. Supernote has been teasing it’s 10.3-inch system for over a yr now, and whereas some followers have grow to be despondent over the wait, for others the hype solely continues to develop. That hype reached a fever pitch final evening when the first information since October was inadvertently revealed.

What’s new with the A5 X2?

We all know a reputation and a worth!

Someday late Sunday evening, Reddit sleuths discovered a meant-to-be-hidden web page on Supernote’s web site. Early on Monday, the web page was taken down, however not earlier than it was saved to the Wayback Machine. So, because of an oversight by the Supernote IT group, we might lastly know that the A5 X2 E Ink writing pill might be referred to as the Manta and goes to value $459.

Despite the fact that this worth is in keeping with our prediction again in September, it’s nonetheless a outstanding deal for somebody on the lookout for a writing-first E Ink system. Kindle and Kobo each promote note-taking e-readers for round $400 however these are sponsored by e-book gross sales and exist in a closed ecosystem. The Boox Go 10.3, which has an open Android 12 ecosystem, is simply $380, however it isn’t constructed from the bottom up for a premium handwriting expertise. In the event you do need that first-class, pen-on-paper really feel that Supernote is thought for, you may get it within the new reMarkable Paper Professional, however that can run you $580, plus a subscription to entry a closed ecosystem.

However there are some caveats in case you’re serious about choosing one in every of these up. For one, the Manta gained’t have a frontlight. Placing a frontlight on an e-reader meant to be written on will increase the gap between the stylus and the output, making for a worse writing expertise. Sadly, that additionally implies that it has to sacrifice a few of its utility as a studying system.

One other compromise is using a plastic display screen as a substitute of a glass one. Supernote’s smaller system, the Nomad, has had quite a few buyer complaints about damaged screens, so it’s seemingly that Supernote opted for the versatile Mobius screens to mitigate that difficulty.

Nonetheless no phrase on when it is going to arrive

However we’re hoping to see it earlier than Christmas

We’ve reached out to the Supernote group to substantiate if this identify and the worth are locked in however have but to listen to again from them. There was no point out of a launch date on the found webpage, however simply the truth that it existed in any respect signifies that we’ll in all probability get some official information quickly. It’s in all probability too late to have it in our palms earlier than Christmas, however it’s not unlikely that we’ll be capable of order it this yr and obtain it in early 2025.