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Kobo Wireless eReader

Based on 10 reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

2
Average:

4
Bad:

3

Pros

Compact, lightweight, and affordable e-book reader with built-in Wi-Fi; integration with Borders e-book store (powered by Kobo); expansion slot for additional memory; decent battery life (up to two weeks); compatible with ePUB file format.
Attractive design. Very lightweight. ePub file support. Simple to operate. Integrated Wi-Fi.
Slim and light weight, Wi-Fi access, Improved content selection
WiFi is fast; store is well designed given the d-pad centric interface; keyboard is easy to use; dictionary!
Competitve price, Simple, comfortable interface, Light, very comfortable design, Universal ePub support; some draganddrop, E Ink battery and eye benefits, Part of a multidevice ecosystem, SD card slot, Twoweek battery offline.

Cons

Somewhat generic feel to the whole device; sluggish compared with Kindle; screen contrast could be better.
Shorter battery life than some competitors. No AC adapter in box. D-pad isn't always the easiest way to navigate.
Sluggish performance, Lackluster ergonomics, Can't create notes or bookmarks, Must manually re-connect to wireless networks
Even a virtual keyboard is slower than a real one; no ability to redownload already purchased books on the go
Kindle and Nook do more with WiFi, Wireless drains battery quickly, Onscreen keyboard slow to use, Usual epaper slowness, No file support beyond ePub and PDF, Bluetooth of limited help.

By itreviews.com on March 01, 2012

When you don’t have to interact with it, the Kobo Wireless eReader is entirely competent. But when you do, you realise where those corners have been cut....

60
By PC Pro on January 03, 2012

Lightweight with a smart interface and store, but has too many flaws to trouble the...

67
By Expert Reviews on November 11, 2011

Great desktop software and mobile app support make Kobo's readers a cut above the competition. It isn't perfect, but it's good value...

80
By cnet on January 25, 2011

Though the Kobo wireless eReader is a serviceable e-book reader with built-in Wi-Fi, it's worth spending the extra money to get the Kindle or the Nook...

58
By CNET Australia on January 14, 2011

The Kobo Wireless eReader is a noticeable improvement on its predecessor. It takes accessibility and user-friendliness and combines them with a couple of nifty upgrades designed to further streamline your ebook experience. It's simple, slick and...

90
By PC Mag on December 21, 2010

The Kobo Wireless eReader adds some of the features the first Kobo was lacking, which makes it a viable competitor to the Kindle and the Nook....

70
By LaptopMag on December 13, 2010

The addition of Wi-Fi to this eReader is welcome, but can it really compete with the Kindle and...

50
By Good Gear Guide on December 11, 2010

The Kobo eReader's main appeal is to those who prefer ePub files; for now, this is the least expensive Wi-Fi-connected ePub-compatible model, and it handles the format...

65
By techcrunch.com on December 07, 2010

It’s a better version of the Kobo, but is it really a legitimate alternative to the Kindle? I think so. It’s unlikely that you’ll find many books on one but not the other, and personally, I like the Kobo’s look more, though for a...

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By Gear Diary on November 29, 2010

Earlier this fall we had the opportunity to review the original Kobo Reader, a simple ebook reader sold through Kobo and Borders. They recently updated the original design to include WiFi connectivity, and the good folks at Kobo sent a unit over for...

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