Kindle Oasis vs Kobo Aura

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.


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



In the vast and occasionally perplexing universe of e-book readers, Rakuten has flung a new contender into the cosmic void of consumer electronics. Behold the Kobo Nia, a nifty little gadget with a 6-inch, 1024x758 pixel touchscreen clocking in at a crisp 212 ppi. Thanks to its ComfortLight tech, you can make the screen as bright or as dim as your whims demand, all while clutching a remarkably svelte 172-gram device that’s just 9.2mm thick. Inside this sleek bit of circuitry lies a 1,000mAh battery, cheerfully boasting "weeks" of page-turning endurance, and 8GB of storage for more books than you can realistically read in a year. Inevitably, it invites comparison to Amazon's cheapest Kindle, which starts at $89.99 (but only if you're willing to endure the indignity of ads; $109.99 if you’re not), featuring the same 6-inch screen but with a comparatively meh 165 ppi resolution and half the storage. For anyone feeling mildly allergic to Amazon's ecosystem and looking for an affordable e-reader that doesn’t nag them with special offers, the Nia makes a rather compelling case—perhaps even with a wink and a smug little grin.


2019. Kindle update makes page turn speed faster



In the infinite improbability drive that is Amazon's firmware rollout, a new update (Version 5.10.3, if you’re keeping score) has been beamed to an impressive assortment of Kindle e-Ink e-readers—models like the Oasis 2, Paperwhite 4, and Voyage, which already sound like they could double as names of intergalactic starships. Ostensibly, this update "improves performance issues," a phrase about as descriptively useful as saying a towel is "quite handy." However, those brave enough to poke around will notice that page-turning via swipe or tap now zips along with the grace of a well-tuned starliner, and ebooks themselves leap open as if they’ve just spotted Zaphod Beeblebrox at the helm. Expect this magical improvement to hitch a ride on your Wi-Fi any day now—because the universe, it seems, has a soft spot for readers.


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. Amazon's Kindle Oasis gets big and waterproof



Amazon is revamping its flagship e-reader Kindle Oasis in a dramatic fashion. It is Amazon’s largest Kindle e-reader to date, featuring a 7-inch display. It’s also the company's first waterproof model. It’s remarkably, almost paper-thin on one side (0.13 inches) and then expands significantly to a third of an inch on the other side to house the battery. Amazon has also boosted the number of over-the-screen LED lights to 12 (up from 10) for more even illumination. Another major update is the integration of the Audible audiobook service. Although Amazon owns Audible, it had never been included in the Kindle before. Now, you can browse and purchase Audible books directly on the device. Additionally, the starting price of the Kindle Oasis is now $249 with 8 GB of storage.


2017. Kobo makes managing ebooks simpler



In a small corner of the digital galaxy known as Kobo, a fleet of e-readers received a firmware update of such significance that even the electrons buzzed with excitement. The cosmic architects behind it introduced the Manage Books feature, a sublime tool allowing the bookish traveler to select multiple volumes, mark them as triumphantly finished or woefully unread, banish them to oblivion, or gather them into curated collections with the flourish of a celestial librarian. The My Books section underwent a metamorphosis, emerging with a layout so clean and orderly it might make a Vogon weep. Filter and Sort menus now stand ready like sentinels of user-friendly order. And as if that weren’t enough, the reading experience ascended to new heights—tap the middle of a page, and voilà! Menus unfurl, the Table of Contents beckons, and Reading Settings await your command. In a final act of brilliance, the screen refreshes after each chapter, sparing you the tedious blink every six pages, because in this universe, even pixels deserve a break.


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.


2016. Amazon unveils new Kindle Oasis



The new Amazon Kindle Oasis is the smallest and lightest Kindle to date and features a handle for gripping. It gets closer to the feel of a real book with a thickness of just 3.4 mm at its thinnest point and the new one-sided handle is designed to mimic holding the spine of a book while reading. The device includes two buttons for navigating pages forward and backward. It’s unusual to see buttons reintroduced after moving away from keyboards and buttons in previous generations. However, according to Amazon, users simply prefer buttons, so they are making a return. The WiFi version of the Oasis will be priced at $289 and the 3G version will be available for $359.


2014. Kobo unveiled waterproof Aura H2O Reader



Kobo, in its infinite wisdom and borderline obsession with waterproofing, has unleashed the marvelously amphibious Kobo Aura H2O, set to splash onto shelves (but not into oblivion) on October 1 for a modest $179. This latest contraption in their lineup of posh page-turners is a veritable Swiss Army knife of reading devices, tailored for those who see no reason why a good book should stop where water begins. Lighter, thinner, and boasting a display so crisp it practically sneers at lesser screens, this $10-pricier cousin of the Kobo Aura HD defies dust, sneers at air, and will cheerfully hold its breath for up to thirty minutes underwater, whether it’s joining you in the bath or braving a beachside splash.