Supernote A5 X2 Manta launches as a modular alternative to Amazon's Kindle Scribe but costs more

The Supernote A5 X2 Manta is the latest E Ink notebook to hit the market, arriving as a rival to devices such as the Kindle Scribe and the Kobo Elipsa 2E. However, what sets apart the Supernote A5 X2 Manta from its rivals is its modular design which allows users to upgrade its internals or repair it.

According to the manufacturer, the device's name is inspired by manta rays, and its sleek design combines aesthetics and practicality. It is pretty slim at 6.0mm with the thinnest edges measuring 3.6mm. It doesn't have uniform bezels but the two side bezels have an equal thickness and have touch-sensitive sensors for navigation.

The Supernote A5 X2 Manta has a 10.7-inch flexible E Ink display with a 1920 × 2560 resolution but lacks a front light like the upcoming BOOX Note Max. The display has palm rejection and a FeelWrite 2 self-recovery soft film for a paper-like writing experience.

The A5 X2 Manta is powered by Rockchip's RK3566 1.8GHz quad-core processor and it is paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB). The E Ink notebook runs a custom version of Android 11 called Chauvet that is designed for note-taking. The E Ink notebook has a 3,600mAh battery, dual-band Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 Type-C, and Bluetooth 5.0 with optional keyboard support.

Unlike the Kindle Scribe (2024) which comes with a Premium Pen, the Supernote A5 X2 Manta doesn't come with a stylus. However, buyers can purchase any of the styluses sold by Supernote which starts at $59 for a standard pen and goes up to $89 for the LAMY safari twin EMR pen that can switch between a ceramic nib and a ball-point pen with just a twist.

The modular nature of the Supernote A5 X2 Manta will allow users to upgrade its motherboard and also replace its battery. Owners won't need tools to open up the device as all it requires is a switch to open up the back panel.

The Supernote A5 X2 Manta is priced at $459 which makes it more expensive than the 2024 Kindle Scribe (16GB version available on Amazon for $399) and the reMarkable 2 which costs $399 with a stylus. Supernote also sells a half-folio for the Manta that is thin and sturdy and weighs just 92 grams. It costs $59 but lacks a pen loop. However, you do get three pen loops in the box of the device. The pen loops can be screwed on directly onto the device (screwdriver and screws included too).

Supernote says owners of its A5/A6 notebooks (not A5 X or A6 X) can get 50% off as compensation for the slower software upgrades. This discount, which can only be used once, also applies to the Supernote Nomad, and anyone who already used it to purchase the Nomad can't use it for the Manta. To get the discount, buyers will have to provide a receipt and the serial number of the device. Upon verification, an email with the discount code will be sent to you.