{"id":19905,"date":"2019-03-02T08:08:29","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T08:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comparakeet.com\/?page_id=19905"},"modified":"2019-02-24T17:01:50","modified_gmt":"2019-02-24T17:01:50","slug":"kobo-touch-2-0-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/comparakeet.com\/best-ebook-readers\/kobo-touch-2-0-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Kobo Touch 2.0 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Software<\/h2>\n

Ecosystem<\/h3>\n

Price-wise, Amazon almost always offers cheaper books bought from their store compared to books bought from the Kobo store, but unlike its major competitor, Kobo\u2019s support for the most widely used eBook formats allows readers to get their books from anywhere\u2014even for free, if you know where to look!<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t mind waiting after the hype of a title\u2019s release dies down, you can also score great deals with the Kobo stores. Kobo often offers loads of coupons for their store, but this mostly carries over to non-agency books (read as: when your beloved author isn\u2019t actively promoting the book with publishers through their agents anymore).<\/p>\n

Kobo also offers separate file downloads for Adobe Digital Editions. The integrated support for Pocket (an article reading service) is particularly delightful as it extends Kobo\u2019s reading functionality by simplifying file transfers. Just drag and drop your books and PDF files and you\u2019re good to go, no third-party programs or hacks necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Other products in this category<\/div>
<\/a>
<\/div>1st<\/sup> Place<\/span>9.8 out of 10<\/span>
Read Review<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
<\/div>2nd<\/sup> Place<\/span>9 out of 10<\/span>
Read Review<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div>8th<\/sup> Place<\/span>7.5 out of 10<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
\n

A slight caveat to Kobo\u2019s rather liberal ecosystem is that they apparently extend the same freedom to publishers. As a result, not all eBooks sold in the Kobo store are Adobe Digital Editions compatible, which means that you don\u2019t<\/em> always get a separate .ascrm download. While most of them do have it, it certainly wouldn\u2019t hurt if Kobo can add a way to let users know if an .ascm will be offered before purchasing a book.<\/p>\n

Oh, and here\u2019s a treat: if you\u2019re a die-hard fan of a certain genre publisher, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll be able to buy your copy from them directly and help them continue to generate the kind of content you like.<\/p>\n

Readability<\/h3>\n

When it comes to readability, Kobo\u2019s got you covered. Unlike most of the eReaders out there, Kobo offers a great degree of customizability to how you want to read. Comparing Kindles and Kobos shows that Kobo has more in the way of customizability than Kindle, manifested in a variety of font faces, the ability to fine-tune font weights, and control the content alignment.<\/p>\n

The Kobo Touch 2.0\u2019s reading interface, meanwhile, is structured much like your average book: with the title of the book\/chapter in the header and the page number at the footer. You can also dog-ear pages and the like to give off the reading experience of a physical book. But hey, if you\u2019re not a fan of the space wasted by the headers and footers, there\u2019s an easy enough way to get rid of them.<\/p>\n

User Interface<\/h3>\n

While its reading tools aren\u2019t as robust as Kindle\u2019s X-Ray feature, Kobo still has a lot to offer. The user interface is clean and intuitive. Kobo pulls up recommendations, reading progress, list books by file type, and much more. You can even set how often you want your screen to refresh per page turn.<\/p>\n

Self-Publish<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a reader, chances are that you\u2019ve played with the thought of writing. Which is great! All renowned writers started out as nothing more than a kid with a book. Bridging the gap between passively reading, actively writing, and actually publishing can be daunting, so Kobo decided to offer a way for users to self-publish their own eBook with their Writing Life service.<\/p>\n

Bugs\/Issues<\/h3>\n

The customers have spoken: PDFs still suck on any eReader device that dares try accommodating it. The Kobo Touch 2.0 in particular has received some rather negative attention from users. One such reader was dismayed over the bugs that come up with PDF files on the Kobo Touch 2.0. Pinching and zooming into the content pixelates the screen and flashes sporadically regardless of file size. If you are looking for an eBook reader for perusing your PDF files on, this isn\u2019t it.<\/p>\n

Hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nKOBO TOUCH 2.0<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/strong><\/td>\n$89.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Built-in Light<\/strong><\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Page Turns<\/strong><\/td>\nTouchscreen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Resolution<\/strong><\/td>\n800×600 (167 ppi)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waterproof\/Dustproof<\/strong><\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charging cover<\/strong><\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Advertised Battery Life<\/strong><\/td>\nMonths<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ads<\/strong><\/td>\nAd-free<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connectivity<\/strong><\/td>\nWiFi\/Micro USB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/strong><\/td>\n185 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dimensions<\/strong><\/td>\n157 x 115 x 9.2 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Screen size<\/strong><\/td>\n6\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Storage (on board)<\/strong><\/td>\n4GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connectors<\/strong><\/td>\nMicro USB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cloud Storage<\/strong><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Display<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a bit of perspective before diving in. The entry-level Kindle (with special offers \u2013 or ads) costs $79.99, comes with a resolution of 167 ppi and has no front lights. The Kobo Touch 2.0, meanwhile, will cost you $89.99 with the same 167 ppi screen and no front lights. Both screens have a darker display and all-together worse resolution when compared to the next eReader up their line (the Paperwhite for Kindle and the Aura for Kobo).<\/p>\n

The lack of built-in lights mean both eReaders are useless in the dark, so chances are you\u2019d like to spend a little more for the front lights. But if you\u2019re looking to save as much money on you can by sticking to one of these entry-level devices, you\u2019re better off with Kobo\u2019s more open ecosystem.<\/p>\n

A small caveat though: the screen of the Kobo Touch 2.0 is sometimes prone to ghosting. This is where traces of text from the previous page tend to \u201cbleed through\u201d the current one. It\u2019s not a huge deal \u2013 compromises had to be made for Kobo to deliver on this price point, after all \u2013 but it is still distracting.<\/p>\n

Ergonomics<\/h3>\n

Among the updates Kobo made on the Kobo Touch 2.0\u2019s design is the removal of the raised argyle adorning its back. In its place is a simpler, admittedly cleaner look of a simple textured back that adds a bit more friction for a better grip. The slightly tapered sides are angled for a better grip, and in front they swapped the minutely distracting white logo in favor of a darker one, all resulting in a sleek, professional finish. Overall, no complaints here \u2013 this is a pretty good device, as far as ergonomics go.<\/p>\n

Other Flaws<\/h2>\n

This is a minor issue, considering Kobo\u2019s cloud capability, but they completely removed the expandable memory on this version of the Kobo Touch. The omission doesn\u2019t make sense \u2013 seeing as this is supposed to be an upgrade to the previous model. It feels like a step back. Plus, that\u2019s one less thing they could hold over Amazon\u2019s head.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>

What's the Verdict on Kobo Touch 2.0?<\/h3><\/div>Worth It, Some Issues<\/a><\/div><\/section>
\n

Kobo Touch 2.0 Review 2020 \u2014 Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The Kobo Touch 2.0 is a good entry-level eBook reader. Its liberal eBook ecosystem brings in more meat to your device than an eReader with a locked-in ecosystem, and you can mess around your reading settings until you\u2019re satisfied. It still doesn\u2019t compare to the sheer polish of Amazon\u2019s store, though.<\/p>\n

On the plus side, Kobo makes it possible for you to find a copy of the book you want at the price you\u2019re willing to pay. File transfers, meanwhile, are smooth and easy due to Kobo\u2019s support, which means books you buy will always be available to you wherever you want to access them. You can even share your books with your friends and family!<\/p>\n

You can definitely do better with the hardware, though. If you want to be able to read at night, or if you are the type to keep eBooks in microSDs for faster access across devices, the Kobo Touch 2.0 might not be for you. The Aura Edition 2 or the Kindle Paperwhite might be though. However, if you are looking for a budget eReader but are not fond of Amazon\u2019s special offers (i.e. ads), and are not a night reader, then the Kobo Touch 2.0 should fit the bill. Just don\u2019t expect more from the device \u2013 you get what you pay for, after all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Software Ecosystem Price-wise, Amazon almost always offers cheaper books bought from their store compared to books bought from the Kobo store, but unlike its major competitor, Kobo\u2019s support for the most widely used eBook formats allows readers to get their books from anywhere\u2014even for free, if you know where to look! If you don\u2019t mind […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"parent":19931,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/review-template.php","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nKobo Touch 2.0 Review - Comparakeet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/comparakeet.com\/best-ebook-readers\/kobo-touch-2-0-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kobo Touch 2.0 Review - Comparakeet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Software Ecosystem Price-wise, Amazon almost always offers cheaper books bought from their store compared to books bought from the Kobo store, but unlike its major competitor, Kobo\u2019s support for the most widely used eBook formats allows readers to get their books from anywhere\u2014even for free, if you know where to look! 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