Is The Kobo Remote Peak Laziness Or Totally Brilliant?

Few electronic devices inspire as fervent devotion among Chatelaine editors as their Kobo eReaders. 

I love my Clara BW precisely because of its minimalism—it’s just for reading, period, with no distractions. So I was skeptical about the utility of the new Kobo remote, which launched late last year and lets you turn pages with the click of a button. After all, even without the remote it just takes one tap to advance to the next page (the higher-end Libra Kobo also has a built-in button for page turning). 

How does the Kobo Remote work?

That is, until I tried one. It was easy to connect—you just need to make sure your Kobo’s Bluetooth is turned on. After that, it connects with the press of the top button (you will have to wait a second or two for it to connect, then it's ready to turn pages).

The device, which retails for $35, is simple and designed to be comfortably held, with an optional wrist strap. One big button advances the page, a smaller one goes back. That’s it. (While people have been using third-party remotes for their ereaders for a while—it’s big on BookTok—this is the first official Kobo remote.) 

The verdict: Is it worth the money?

I was surprised at how much more immersed I was in a book with the remote—it made turning pages easier, with no extraneous movement (so, yes, it is a bit lazy, but reading should be relaxing!).

I’ve already found two perfect scenarios for its use. First: cocooned in bed, with my hands under the blankets and my Kobo propped on my lap (hey, it’s been super cold in Toronto!). Second: waiting for the bus in the Canadian winter, because you can hold the Kobo with your mittened hand and turn pages with your other hand from your warm coat pocket. 

Michael Tamblyn, the CEO of Rakuten Kobo, said in a press release that customers have been asking for the remote: “The excitement from readers following our initial announcement was palpable, especially because the idea came from our customers and how they like to read.”

Which eReaders are compatible with the Kobo Remote?

It’s compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled Kobos, including Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Clara Colour, Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa 2E, Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Elipsa. The remote is powered by a single AAA battery which, Kobo says, is enough to keep you reading for months before needing to replace it. 

I also appreciated that Kobo says the remote is made with recycled ocean-bound plastics (that is, plastic that is at risk of contaminating waterways, though I wish Kobo quantified how much of the remote is made with those recycled plastics). 

When will the Kobo Remote be restocked?

Around the holidays, the device was sold out online at Kobo and at Indigo and Best Buy; it was restocked briefly in late January, but sold out again. So if you'd like to get your hands on one sign up for text updates on the Kobo site.

Pros:

• Easy Bluetooth connectivity
• Perfect for winter reading (hands in pockets!)
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Single-use functionality (only turns pages)
• Sold out!

Where to buy