Kobo Touch

Kobo Touch
Honza chodec · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Kobo Touch
Developer	Kobo Inc.
Manufacturer	Rakuten
Type	E-book reader
Released	2011
Discontinued	2017
Display	6-inch E Ink Pearl
Connectivity	Wi-Fi
Storage	2 GB (approx. 1 GB available)
Weight	185 g

Kobo Touch

The Kobo Touch is a 2011 6-inch e-reader developed by Kobo Inc. and released amid competition from devices such as the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch, and Sony Reader line. It targeted readers seeking a lightweight, touch-driven device with support for open formats like EPUB, positioning Kobo within marketplaces including Waterstones, Chapters Indigo, and later under the ownership of Rakuten. The device influenced subsequent e-reader ergonomics and marketplace strategies in the early 2010s.

Overview

The Kobo Touch was announced as a successor to previous Kobo devices and was showcased alongside announcements from International CES and retail partners such as Borders Group and Indigo Books and Music. It emphasized support for file formats adopted by organizations including the Open eBook Publication Structure proponents and interoperability with ecosystem players like Adobe Systems for Digital Rights Management handling. The launch coincided with competitive product updates from Amazon (company), Barnes & Noble, Inc., and Sony Corporation.

Design and Hardware

The Kobo Touch used a 6-inch E Ink Pearl display similar to panels used in devices by Amazon Kindle 4 and Nook Simple Touch. Its capacitive touchscreen was developed using technologies prevalent in mobile devices from companies like Synaptics and suppliers in the consumer electronics supply chain. The chassis featured a matte plastic finish reminiscent of designs from Sony and PocketBook International S.A., and its weight of ~185 g made comparisons to the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch and the Amazon Kindle Touch common in reviews. Connectivity relied on Wi-Fi radios compatible with infrastructure standards promoted by organizations like the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Software and Features

Kobo Touch ran a Linux-based firmware integrating reading applications that supported EPUB, PDF, and Plain text formats, with support for Adobe Digital Editions DRM via technology from Adobe Systems. The interface provided touch gestures and a home screen with recommendations tied to Kobo's online store and partner retailers such as W H Smith and Chapters Indigo. Features included adjustable font rendering using technologies influenced by the FreeType Project, bookmarking, annotations, and integration with cloud services similar in concept to offerings from Amazon (company) and Google Play Books.

Models and Variants

Retail variants of the Kobo Touch included region-specific bundles and special editions sold through chains like Waterstones and Indigo Books and Music. Kobo and partners released firmware iterations and limited hardware revisions comparable to the approach taken by Amazon (company) for the Kindle family and by Barnes & Noble, Inc. for the Nook. Accessories and covers were offered by third-party manufacturers such as Belkin and retailers including Best Buy.

Reception and Reviews

Contemporary reviews from technology outlets compared the Kobo Touch to devices like the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch, noting strengths in format support and weaknesses in screen contrast relative to later E Ink implementations by E Ink Corporation. Publications and reviewers from organizations such as The Verge, Wired (magazine), and CNET highlighted the device’s open format compatibility and retail partnerships with chains like Waterstones and Chapters Indigo, while also critiquing aspects of touch responsiveness and battery life versus competitors from Amazon (company) and Sony Corporation.

Sales and Market Impact

The Kobo Touch contributed to Kobo Inc.'s expansion into international retail channels including Indigo Books and Music, Waterstones, and collaborations with telecom operators and electronics retailers in markets such as Canada and Australia. Its positioning against the Kindle and Nook families influenced distribution strategies and licensing negotiations with content providers and DRM vendors like Adobe Systems. Kobo’s growth during this period factored into its acquisition by Rakuten and the company’s broader ambitions in digital content and cross-border retail.

Successors and Legacy

Successive Kobo models, including devices in the Kobo Glo and Kobo Aura series, built on the touchscreen foundation introduced by the Kobo Touch and incorporated front-lighting and higher-resolution panels from suppliers connected to E Ink Corporation and display manufacturers serving the consumer electronics supply chain. The Kobo Touch’s emphasis on EPUB compatibility and retail partnerships informed later ebook ecosystem debates involving Amazon (company), Barnes & Noble, Inc., and standards bodies advocating interoperable formats. Its legacy persists in Kobo-branded hardware and Kobo’s role within global book retailing under Rakuten.

Category:E-book readers Category:Kobo Inc. products