Kobo Aura vs Kobo Touch

2022. Kobo is now displaying advertisements on their e-readers



Kobo is now featuring advertisements on most of their e-readers when they wake from sleep mode. A full-page ad now appears, encouraging users to subscribe to Kobo Plus and informing them about the free 30-day trial. This ad is displayed regardless of whether Wi-Fi is turned on or off, as the image is retrieved from the device rather than the internet. This is the first instance of Kobo displaying ads on their e-book readers. Kobo has previously emphasized in their marketing campaigns that, unlike the Kindle, their devices are free from advertisements, but this no longer seems to be the case.


2022. Kobo now allows to adjust font sizes using a pinch gesture



Kobo has begun rolling out a new software update, version 4.33.19759, for their range of Kobo e-readers. This update introduces a couple of new features related to adjusting font sizes and handling PDFs. One new feature allows for on-the-fly font size adjustments using a pinch gesture. While Kindles have had this feature for a while, it's great to see Kobo implementing it too. However, Kobo's version could still use some improvement. The pinch gesture brings up a small circular window with a preview of the font size, but it's somewhat difficult to discern from the tiny window. Sometimes the window appears on a blank part of the page and displays nothing and it often leaves an unattractive afterimage after making adjustments. Kobo should consider adding numerical indicators for font sizes so users can see the exact size rather than just guessing, which has always been a drawback with Kobo’s font size settings.


2021. Kobo e-readers get new My Words feature



Kobo has launched a new firmware update (4.26) for its range of Kobo e-readers. This update introduces a new "My Words" option, which can be activated from the list of Beta Features. It's similar to Kindle’s vocabulary builder feature, which tracks the words you look up in the dictionary for easy review later. Other new features include a “Back to page x” button for EPUBs, enhanced annotation synchronization and improved PDF viewing in landscape mode. Additionally, tapping the text field within the note preview window now allows for editing.


2020. Kobo introduces $99 e-reader Nia to replace Aura



Rakuten has released a new entry-level e-book reader and it stacks up well against the least expensive Amazon Kindle in several key aspects. The Kobo Nia features a 6-inch screen with a 1024x758 pixel resolution and 212 ppi. It comes with Kobo's ComfortLight technology, allowing you to adjust the brightness of the display as needed. The Nia is quite sleek at 172 grams, with a thickness of 9.2mm around the edges. Inside, it has a 1,000mAh battery that provides "weeks" of reading on a single charge, plus 8GB of storage. Amazon's least expensive Kindle, which is a natural comparison for the Nia, starts at $89.99, but that includes Amazon's "Special Offers" ads; without the ads, the price rises to $109.99. It also has a 6-inch screen, but with a lower 165 ppi resolution and half the storage of the Nia. This makes the Nia a strong contender for anyone seeking an affordable e-reader who doesn’t want to be tied to Amazon's ecosystem.


2019. Kobo boosts performance of PDF files



Kobo has recently released a new firmware upgrade for all of their e-readers. They have enhanced the performance of PDF documents, which now load more swiftly. You can now personalize the header and footer with details such as page numbers, reading percentage, remaining time, or disable the header, footer, or progress bar altogether.


2019. Kobo brings many of the Libra H2O features to older Kobo e-readers



Kobo has released a new firmware update for the Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo and Kobo Aura that introduces improved eBook navigation and other features from the latest Kobo Libra H2O model. Headers and footers now show both chapter and book progress, so you are always aware of your location in the book. The progress bar provides a quick overview of your position in the book. You can adjust your page layout by accessing the Reading settings. An upgraded book scrubber now appears as part of the menu. The enhanced eBook scrubber displays the entire book rather than just one chapter. Page previews enable you to quickly reference and navigate to different sections of your book.


2018. Kobo e-Ink readers get rapid Page-Turning


Kobo has released a new firmware update for all their e-readers that enhances the speed of page-turns with a new rendering engine. This updated system allows you to quickly tap or gesture on the screen to turn pages swiftly. You can also hold your finger down on the screen to turn pages. The text may become unreadable while the pages are turning rapidly and you'll need to lift your finger for everything to fully render. The fast page-turning feature works with KEPUB eBooks, which are books purchased directly from Kobo. It does not support CBR/CBZ or traditional EPUB formats and is incompatible with sideloaded EPUB books.


2017. Kobo makes managing ebooks simpler



Kobo has updated the firmware for its e-readers. The update introduced a Manage Books feature: under My Books, you can now select multiple books simultaneously, mark them as read or unread, delete them, or add them to collections. The My Books section has been redesigned with a cleaner layout, including updated Filter and Sort menus. The reading experience has also been enhanced. You can now tap the center of the page to open reading menus, access the Table of Contents, or modify Reading Settings. The screen will refresh after each chapter rather than every six pages.


2016. New 7.8-inch Aura One e-reader - the Cadillac of e-readers



With the new Aura One, Kobo is aiming to challenge Amazon's dominance in the market. Its 7.8-inch screen significantly surpasses the Aura HD, accompanied by a $230 price tag. Despite the addition of several other appealing features, this is a steep price for a dedicated e-reader, especially when Amazon's Kindle Voyage starts at $30 less (for the Special Offers edition, at least). However, Kobo’s previous ventures have been successful and while the company will likely concede that the Aura One isn’t for everyone, it offers exactly what someone willing to spend over $200 on such a device desires: the ultimate e-reader. Kobo earns credit for thinking beyond the conventional e-reader approach and while the Aura One may not be justifiable for most readers, the dedicated few will find much to appreciate, including a large screen, blue-light adjustment, a sleek design and ample storage.


2015. Kobo launches the Touch 2.0 eReader



Kobo has recently unveiled its second new e-reader for the year. The Kobo Touch 2.0 refreshes the four-year-old Kobo Touch e-reader with enhanced storage, extended battery life, a quicker processor and a reduced price. It features a 1GHz processor, 4GB of storage and WiFi, but lacks audio capabilities and a card slot. Its 6-inch display offers a resolution of 800 x 600 and an IR touchscreen, though it does not include a frontlight. Essentially, this e-reader is designed to compete with the basic Kindle and it comes with a price tag to match. The Kobo Touch 2.0 will be released on September 9 in the US and Canada, retailing for $89.99. While it falls between the $79 and $99 price range of the budget Kindle, it may not provide the best value. Instead, we suggest considering the Kobo Glo HD, which costs only $40 more but features a sharper screen and a frontlight.


2014. Kobo unveiled waterproof Aura H2O Reader



Kobo has introduced a new waterproof device - Kobo Aura H2O - priced at $179 and scheduled for release on October 1. This device is the latest in a series of high-end offerings tailored for avid readers. The Kobo Aura H2O is designed as an all-purpose, durable eReader, suitable for use in various environments where other devices might not be ideal, such as in the bath or on the beach. It is both slimmer and lighter than the Kobo Aura HD, costs $10 more and features an enhanced high-definition screen along with a dustproof, sealed design that withstands water exposure for up to thirty minutes when submerged.


2011. Kobo unveils Wi-Fi Touch Edition e-reader for $129.99



Kobo introduced a new e-ink reader model, the Kobo WiFi Touch Edition, priced at $129.99. As its name suggests, the new e-reader features a touchscreen and employs the same Neonode infrared technology used in Sony's 6-inch touchscreen e-readers. It also incorporates E-Ink's latest Pearl e-ink display combined with Neonode's "responsive" zForce infrared touch technology (referred to by Kobo as "Real Touch"). The device includes 1 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (supporting up to a 32GB card) and offers a battery life of up to two weeks. The Kobo Touch supports ePub, PDF and Adobe DRM formats and is available in black (with a black back) and white (with lilac, blue, or white back). It also supports multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch.