Kobo Forma vs PocketBook InkPad Color

Last updated: July 10, 2023
The Kobo Forma and PocketBook InkPad Color are both premium eReader devices with distinct features and design elements.

The Kobo Forma features an 8-inch E Ink display with an ergonomic design that allows for comfortable one-handed reading. It offers an adaptive front light with adjustable color temperature, providing a customizable reading experience in various lighting conditions. The Forma supports various eBook formats, including EPUB and PDF, and offers seamless integration with the Kobo eBookstore. It provides access to a vast library of eBooks, personalized recommendations, and features like OverDrive integration for borrowing eBooks from public libraries. The Forma is known for its durable build quality and waterproof design, making it a suitable choice for reading in different environments.

In comparison, the PocketBook InkPad Color features a larger 7.8-inch color E Ink display that provides an immersive reading experience with vibrant illustrations and graphics. It offers adjustable front lighting and physical page-turn buttons, giving users more control over their reading experience. The InkPad Color supports a wide range of eBook formats and offers a customizable software ecosystem. It allows users to load content from various sources, supports note-taking and annotation features, and provides extensive customization options. The InkPad Color caters to users who want an advanced eReader with a larger color display and additional features for enhanced reading and note-taking.

One notable difference is the software ecosystem. The Kobo Forma integrates tightly with the Kobo ecosystem, providing access to the Kobo eBookstore, personalized recommendations, and features like Whispersync for syncing reading progress. It also offers integration with OverDrive for borrowing eBooks from libraries. On the other hand, the PocketBook InkPad Color runs on the PocketBook operating system, which offers a versatile platform supporting a wide range of eBook formats and customization options. It provides access to various eBook sources and allows users to organize and manage their digital library effectively.
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Kobo Forma
To make the reading experience better for ravenous booklovers who read for hours on end, and want a lightweight, portable alternative to heavy print books, we’ve delivered our most comfortable eReader yet with waterproof reliability, the choice of landscape or portrait mode, and the expanded access of book borrowing.
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PocketBook InkPad Color
PocketBook InkPad Color is equipped with big E Ink color screen capable of displaying 4096 colors. The frontlight provides users with the freedom of reading anytime and anywhere. It can play audiobooks and music, supporting 6 popular audio formats (M4A, M4B, OGG, OGG.ZIP, MP3, MP3.ZIP). PocketBook InkPad Color supports a record number of formats: 19 book, 4 graphic and 6 audio.
Kobo Forma vs PocketBook InkPad Color in our news:

2023. Pocket updates support for Kobo e-readers



News and article reading service Pocket has announced that Kobo e-readers will no longer be supported. The reason is that in order to improve security all Pocket accounts are migrated to Firefox accounts. This news caused great indignation among Kobo users and the developers of Pocket decided to solve the problem anyway. Sarah Vasquez, the Senior Manager, Communication at Mozilla, told Good e-Reader in an exclusive statement, “Kobo is aiming to update the Pocket login on their e-readers to support Firefox accounts. The exact timing is to be determined. However, Pocket’s existing Kobo users will not be affected nor lose access to their accounts.


2022. New Kobo software update added a pinch-zooming gesture



Kobo has released a software update for their entire range of Kobo e-readers, including models dating back to the original Kobo Touch (excluding the Kobo Mini). The update introduces a pinch-zooming gesture to adjust font size and now includes a new gesture that allows users to quickly access the last three books they read by swiping down from the top of the screen. Additionally, two new font options specifically designed for digital reading, Rakuten Sans and Rakuten Serif, have been added. The interface now supports three additional languages: Czech, Polish, and Romanian. A new feature called "Recently Viewed" has also been introduced, which displays recently viewed ebooks in the Kobo store, although users have the option to disable this feature in the settings.


2021. Kobo released Sage and Libra 2 with Bluetooth and stylus support



Kobo has introduced two new e-readers, the Sage and Libra 2, which build upon the company's high-end offerings by incorporating Bluetooth audiobook and stylus support. These devices retain the recognizable asymmetrical design of their larger counterparts. Furthermore, the Sage and Libra 2 are equipped with a new charging cover, allowing users to recharge the device every few months instead of every few weeks. The Sage, an evolution of the Forma, boasts an impressive 8-inch, 300 PPI screen and a color-adjustable screen light, ensuring an exceptional reading experience. Similarly, the Libra 2 serves as the successor to the Libra H2O (sans the H2O branding, although it remains waterproof), featuring a 7-inch display with the same display and lighting characteristics. For those seeking a more compact option, the Clara model remains the ideal choice.


2021. PocketBook unveiled 7.8-inch InkPad Color


The PocketBook InkPad Color, an e-reader equipped with a 7.8-inch color E Ink display, is now available for purchase on Amazon at a price of $329. It shares many similarities with its smaller predecessor, the 6-inch PocketBook Color released last year, but boasts the addition of a USB-C port. The updated Kaleido screen enhances color reproduction and provides a brighter white background. Powered by a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, the device also offers a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a frontlight, albeit without the warm frontlight feature found in other color models. With a 2900mAh battery and weighing 225 grams, the PocketBook InkPad Color offers support for various formats such as ePub, PDF, CBR, CBZ, FB2, HTML, MOBI, and more.


2018. Kobo Forma e-Reader gets first major update



Kobo has recently released a significant update for their Kobo Forma e-reader, addressing various persistent issues such as improving WIFI stability and enhancing manga performance. With this update, readers now have the ability to navigate through pages by pressing dedicated page-turn buttons, enabling them to move forward or backward with ease. Furthermore, by pressing and holding these buttons, users can rapidly flip through multiple pages. Kobo has also ensured that their e-reader is suitable for both left-handed and right-handed individuals. By simply holding the Kobo Forma in either hand, the screen will automatically adjust. Additionally, readers can now enjoy the flexibility of reading in landscape or portrait mode. While reading, users can rotate their device to any orientation they prefer. To lock the screen into portrait or landscape mode, readers can tap the middle of the page to access the menu and then select the rotation icon located in the header (all while maintaining the option to hold the device in either hand).


2018. Kobo Forma - e-Ink reader with IPX8 case



Kobo has unveiled their latest ebook reader, the Kobo Forma, which surpasses the Kindle Oasis in several aspects, making it their most innovative e-reader to date. With a design reminiscent of the Kindle Oasis, featuring page buttons on one side of the screen and a tapered back (without the wedge), the Kobo Forma offers the flexibility to read in both portrait and landscape mode, complete with the option for automatic screen rotation. Boasting a spacious 8-inch screen and waterproof capabilities, this digital eBook reader delivers an immersive reading experience. Moreover, it allows direct borrowing of ebooks from Overdrive, resulting in long-term cost savings. The inclusion of comfortlight technology enables users to dim the bright white screen for comfortable nighttime reading. The adjustable front-light is gentle on the eyes and gradually reduces blue-light exposure, promoting better sleep quality. With an IPX8 rating, the Forma is waterproof for up to 60 minutes, and it even comes pre-installed with the popular library app OneDrive, simplifying the process of connecting your library account to the e-reader.


2018. Kobo's latest e-reader is called the Forma



Kobo has introduced the Forma, their latest addition to the lineup of e-ink e-readers, showcasing a range of enhancements. The Forma is equipped with an 8-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel (1080p) e-ink display, combining high resolution with an immersive reading experience. Its new ergonomic design stands out, featuring a handle on the side that not only provides a fresh aesthetic but also improves the device's grip. Along the right edge, convenient buttons simplify page-turning, offering a more tactile alternative to touchscreen interactions. Weighing just 197g, the Forma is approximately 15 percent lighter than the Kobo Aura One, without compromising durability. Kobo assures that the e-reader can withstand drops from two meters. Furthermore, with its IPX8 rating, the device is water-resistant and capable of enduring submersion in up to two meters of water for around 60 minutes. The Forma is available in an 8GB version starting at $299.99 CAD.