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Kobo Mini

Kobo Mini
Kobo MiniKobo MiniKobo MiniKobo MiniKobo MiniKobo Mini
alaScore 90

217 reviews

Apr, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 217 reviews of Kobo Mini. The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. Reviewers really like the battery and size. The price and portability also get good reviews, whereas some have doubts about the reliability and screen. There are mixed views on the storage and durability.

usability, portability, price, size, battery

screen, reliability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Kobo Mini is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 90/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 217 reviews)

Expert Reviews  

User Reviews  

Review Ratings

  (44% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews   (25% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews   (11% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews   (8% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews   (12% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

performance
  Show positive (54%)Show negative (46%)(Show all)
usability
  Show positive (79%)Show negative (21%)(Show all)
portability
  Show positive (88%)Show negative (12%)(Show all)
price
  Show positive (85%)Show negative (15%)(Show all)
size
  Show positive (63%)Show negative (37%)(Show all)
screen
  Show positive (40%)Show negative (60%)(Show all)
reliability
  Show positive (18%)Show negative (82%)(Show all)
battery
  Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)
design
  Show positive (77%)Show negative (23%)(Show all)
durability
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
storage
  Show positive (50%)Show negative (50%)(Show all)
More features

Showing 116 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 101 of 116 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (101)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Kobo Mini

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 52 user reviews of Kobo Mini from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.4/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.co.uk. Views about the screen and performance are on the whole positive. The durability and price also get good feedback. There are some mixed reviews about the portability.

usability, price, durability, performance, screen

79% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Kobo Mini

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 39 user reviews of Kobo Mini from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 3.6/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.com. Reviews about the screen and size are overall positive. The portability and price also get good opinions. The design and durability get mixed comments. Many are critical about the reliability and performance.

usability, price, portability, size, screen

performance, reliability

72% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : K. T. Bradford (digitaltrends.com)

Kobo Mini Review

 

The Kobo Mini comes with a budget price tag yet doesn't come off as cheap.

The $80 Kobo Mini comes with a budget price tag yet doesn’t come off as cheap. Yes, to get to that price point there are sacrifices in quality — you won’t get the crispest screen or the fastest performance. But this is not a crappy dollar store...

Jan, 2013
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Expert review by : Brian Heater (engadget.com)

Kobo Mini review: does the world need a smaller e-reader?

 

More InfoHands-on with Kobo's Glo and Mini e-readers (video)Kobo Glo review: another illuminated e-reader lights up the marketAmazon Kindle

Inexpensive ; Notably small and lightweight ; Intuitive UI

Limited screen space ; No expandable storage ; Low-contrast display

The Kobo Mini is lightweight and temptingly priced, but that smaller form factor also comes with some trade-offs.

Nov, 2012
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Expert review by : David Carnoy (cnet.com)

Is Kobo's Mini too small or too big?

 

The affordable Kobo Mini is a likable touch-screen e-ink e-reader that's a bit of an in-betweener -- too small for some and not quite small enough for others.

The ; is a modestly priced, very compact Wi-Fi-enabled e-ink e-reader with a 5-inch touch screen. It supports EPUB files, it's compatible with any e-book store that uses the Adobe DRM format, and with Wi-Fi off it gets up to a month's worth of battery...

Ideally, the device would be even smaller and thinner. Also, Kobo's selection of e-books lags behind Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's. Loading library loaners and third-party e-book purchases requires tethering to a PC.

The affordable Kobo Mini is a likable touch-screen e-ink e-reader that's too small for some and not quite small enough for others.

Jan, 2013
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Expert review by : Jamie Lendino (pcmag.com)

Kobo Mini

 

With its 5-inch touch screen, the Kobo Mini caters to an underserved market: Those who want a tiny, dedicated ebook reader. Unfortunately, it also underperforms.

Inexpensive for a touch screen ebook reader. Small, cute form factor. Powerful ecosystem of books, mobile, and PC apps. Supports ePub format.

Sluggish. Slightly stubborn touch screen. Display is noticeably smaller than that of a paperback book. No memory card slot.

Other Features, Store, and Conclusions While reading, you can highlight text, look up words in the built-in dictionary, and share passages on Facebook or Twitter directly from the device. The Mini also comes with Reading Life, which tracks your reading...

Nov, 2012
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Expert review by : Julie Strietelmeier (the-gadgeteer.com)

Kobo Mini and Glo eReaders review

 

Are you interested in switching to an eReader device so that you can carry more books with you, but without all the bulk? For the past few years, choosing an eBook reading device aka eReader has been a choice between 2 main companies. Amazon with the...

Mini is very portable ; Glo has a very even front-light ; Great battery life

Books tend to be more expensive and not available as early as Kindle / Nook versions ; Mini version does not have a microSD card and requires a desktop app to copy books ; No 3G capability

Sep, 2013
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Expert review by : cellphones.ca (cellphones.ca)

Kobo Mini

 

If a market for cheap, entry-level e-readers didn't exist, Kobo would have no trouble kickstarting one with its no-frills 5-inch Kobo Mini . It weighs in at just a little over 130 grams and measures 10mm thick, and features a touch-enabled 5-inch e-ink...

Jan, 2013
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Expert review by : The eBook Reader Blog (the-ebook-reader.com)

Expert Review

 

The Kobo Glo still isn't available in the United States yet, although it should start becoming available as soon as this week, but the Kobo Mini has been available from Best Buy for nearly a month now. I picked one up a few weeks ago and have been...

Nov, 2012
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Expert review by : Vic (technoodling.net)

Kobo Mini Ebook Reader Review

 

The new Amazon Kindles. The even newer Barnes and Noble Nook HD. And the upcoming iPad Mini and the refreshed Google Nexus 7 line – these are all contenders for your money if you're looking to read ebooks on a small, current generation device.

In the past three days I’ve already churned through two and a half books (well above my usual book-a-week pace) and I’m looking forward to the rest of my reading queue. The Kobo Mini is one of those devices that just does the job, gets out of the way...

Oct, 2012
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Expert review by : Jamie Carter (techradar.com)

Kobo Mini review

 

A small e-ink e-reader with Wi-Fi, customised type and EPUB side-loading

Portable ; EPUB compatibility ; Screen calibration options ; Kobo interface

No 3G ; Drab design ; Average processor ; Side-loading requires PC/Mac

If you'd rather not travel with a high-end tablet and think that even a Kindle is too big to carry on the daily commute, the touchscreen Kobo Mini could be the e-reader for you.

Nov, 2012
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Expert review by : Jamie Carter (pocket-lint.com)

Kobo Mini

 

This, the smallest e-reader on the market at around 5 inches, is gadget nirvana for book-loving commuters. The secret is in its size, which is carefully judged to fit into a handbag, a chest pocket of a shirt, or even the back pocket of a pair of...

Pocket-sized, same experience as on larger Kobo ereaders, screen customisation options

Slightly too big for shirt chest pockets, no document/book emailing, computer required, unstable and liable to crash

Nicely priced at £59.99, the Kobo Mini is a possible stocking filler for frequent travellers, commuters and anyone who likes to travel light, though in strict hardware terms it's certainly convenience over quality.

Dec, 2012
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