MOBISCRIBE WAVE (BW) INFO & SPECS

This is an objective information page for the Mobiscribe Wave (Black & White) e-ink tablet, with details of hardware and software specs, features, and capabilities. 

My subjective review can be found here.

DATASHEET

BEST FOR…?

Anyone looking for an inexpensive, mid-range, waterproof eReader and eNotetaker with access to Google Play applications.

HARDWARE

• Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 1.5GHz and 4 GB of RAM.
• 7.8″ (roughly A6-sized) screen with monochrome resolution of 1404×1872 (300 ppi).
• 64 GB of local storage space.
• Wifi (2.4GHz & 5GHz) and Bluetooth connectivity (5.2).
• Front-facing speaker.
• 2500mAh Internal battery
• USB-C for charging.
• Front Light (both warm and cold light can be adjusted).

STYLUS

• Included with the tablet is a proprietary Mobiscribe stylus.
• Three replacement tips and a tip remover are included.
• The stylus requires tips to be changed (rate depends upon usage).
• The stylus does not have batteries or need charging.
• The stylus has an eraser on the top.
• The device allows for 4,096 levels of pressure.
• Other Wacom-compatible styluses can be used.

OPERATING SYSTEM

• Android 12
• The user interface is centered around the device’s primary native apps (as noted below).  This is a proprietary interface.
• Screen refresh rate can be configured on any apps downloaded on the device by long-pressing on the app icon and selecting Optimize from the resulting menu.
• This is not available for native apps, however the menu bar features a refresh button.
• Primary native apps that are built into the O/S are:
  • Notes – Digital notetaking app
  • Books – Reading and annotation app
  • Calendar – Standard app
• Other pre-installed apps:
  • Files – a file explorer for the device featuring a folder structure.
  • Images – image viewer for files imported onto the device.
  • MobiStore – featuring reading apps such as Kobo and Kindle, a small selection of tools including Dropbox, and 10 downloadable classic novels.
• Bluetooth functionality allows for keyboard or earbud connections.
• Google Play can be activated on the device through the System Menu and can take up to a week for registration before being active.
• Performance of Android apps can be variable because most will not have been optimised for the lower refresh rates of e-ink screens

FILE TRANSFERS

• There is native support for backing up notebooks to Dropbox, Evernote, and the proprietary MobiCloud services.
• Files may be imported via Dropbox or Evernote.
• As there is access to the Google Play Store, there are also options to synchronize with other cloud services using third-party apps.
• Digital notepads can be exported as PDFs. Single pages can be exported as a PNG files.
• Files can be transferred to and from the Mobiscribe Wave device via a USB cable.
• Notebook files can be shared via e-mail as PDF or PNG files.

READING & ANNOTATING

• Books is the native reading and annotation app.
• Books can read MOBI, PDF, EPUB, and TXT formats.
• Books does not have native support for DRM-protected files, however, you may be able to download an alternative e-reader from the Google Play Store.
• There does not appear to be a way to export annotations outside of the device.
• With access to the Google Play Store, other e-reading software can be installed, such as Kindle, however these apps do not support annotation.

DIGITAL NOTE-TAKING

• Notes is the native note-taking app.
• Notes are organized using multi-page notepads. Notepads can be organized with folders.
• Notes can be formatted in either portrait or landscape orientations.
• Brushes include ballpoint pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, fountain pen, brush, and highlighter. There is also an eraser.  Most brushes include 6 Eink greyscale colors and there are 15 options for line thickness.
• There are 4 different shapes which can be inserted into a note such as line, square, circle, and triangle.
• Multiple layers (5 in all) are supported. Various templates are included, which are effectively the bottom layer.
• Various elements can be inserted into notes, including text, images, tables, and a hyperlink within or between notebooks.
• Handwriting can be converted into text and searched via OCR technology.
• Notes can be exported as PDF or PNG files.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Mobiscribe products are supplied with a 1-year warranty that covers materials and workmanship.
• Mobiscribe releases updates for their firmware.
• Mobiscribe is a company headquartered in the United States (San Jose, California) with a subsidiary in Germany.

BUYING OPTIONS

• The official Mobiscribe website is MOBISCRIBE.COM
• The return policy is 30-days and requires the buyer to pay for shipping.  Opened items will be charged a minimum 15% restocking fee.
• Mobiscribe devices can be purchased from other vendors, such as Amazon, where other return policies and procedures will apply.

MOBISCRIBE WAVE BLOG POSTS

• Best E-Ink Tablets 2024: My Honest Recommendations
• Best Android E-Ink Tablets
• Kit Betts-Masters & eWritable Launch E-ink Tablet Comparison Tool