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Kobo Glo review

7.9/10 AVG.
RATING
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Kobo Glo
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7.9/10
Informr score
The Kobo Glo currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 20 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The number of e-book readers with built-in backlighting used to be zero. No longer. There are now over half a dozen e-book readers with backlit screens, and one of them is the Kobo Glo. It comes with a rather sizable 6-inch e-ink Pearl touchscreen display and lasts up to 55 hours of continuous usage with the light on.

In terms of speed, the Glo has no issues. It runs on a 1GHz Freescale processor that’s more than capable of driving the 1024x758 pixel touchscreen display. The high native resolution results in crisp on-screen text, great for reading on the go. And of course, with the built-in backlighting, it’s possible to read pretty much anywhere regardless of whether it is day or night.

As with Kobo’s other e-book readers, the Glo is designed to work well with social networks and offers easy access to nearly 3 million books in the Kobo eBookstore. And the best thing is that it is available in a range of different colors, so you can easily choose a style that's uniquely you.

Need to Know: Kobo Glo

1. High-resolution e-ink Pearl touchscreen display offers crisp text on all kinds of digital content. (The Good)

2. Built-in backlighting makes it possible to read at all times of day. (The Good)

3. Lacks built-in 3G wireless connectivity. (The Bad)

4. A bit too expensive for its price-to-features ratio. (The Bad)


6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6"
Yes
Backlight
Backlight
Yes
2 GB
Storage
Storage
2 GB
No
3G
3G
No
55 hours
Reading Time


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

For a suggested retail price of £99.99 the Kobo Glo is twice as expensive as the Nook, but still £10 cheaper than the new Kindle Paperwhite. But the Glo more than makes up for its double price over the Nook in both form and function, and at £10 cheaper than the Kindle it still come...

- Michael Grothaus, Know Your Mobile
Laptop Mag
Laptop Mag

The Kobo Glo offers a good reading experience with an extraordinarily bright backlight and a large selection of content. With a price tag of $129, the Kobo Glo backlight and gamified reading experience help this e-reader stand out, but it doesn't unseat the champ.

- Anna Attkisson, Laptop Mag
Digital Trends
Digital Trends

The Kobo Glo is a decent e-reader with good features and an average design. It doesn’t score a definitive win over the Nook or Kindle, but it is competitive in a way previous efforts from the company weren’t.

- K. T. Bradford, Digital Trends
Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper

So, take a very close look at the Kobo Glo. It’s a handsome device, and there’s virtue in supporting a high-quality underdog. However, for U.S.-based consumers, we suspect the Kindle Paperwhite still has an edge. You may already purchase items from Amazon, and it has a diverse product ra...

- Dave McClintock, Computer Shopper
Chip Chick
Chip Chick

In two areas the Kobo Glo clearly outdoes its competitors. Firstly, it offers better and more even lighting than both the Nook Simple Touch With GlowLight, and the Paperwhite. It also offers a MicroSD card slot that the Kindle Paperwhite lacks. Does that mean the Kobo Glo is a superior choice? Unfor...

- Helena Stone, Chip Chick


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Quick view

Screen Size
6"

The Kobo Glo's screen size is 6 inches with 768 x 1024 pixels resolution.

Backlight
Yes

There is a built-in backlight for reading in the dark.

Storage
2 GB

Internal memory is 2 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

3G
No

This model has no 3G wireless capabilities.

Reading Time
55 hours
Battery life is rated for up to 55 hours reading time according to Kobo's.

Kobo Glo Specs

Overview
Release Date October 1, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada
Networks
SIM Card Size No
Operating System Unknown
Processor 1 GHz
Internal Storage 2 GB
RAM No
ROM Unknown
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Languages No
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Power & battery
Battery Capacity Unknown
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Unknown
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Reading Time Up to 55 hours
Standby Time Up to 60 days
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors White, Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.7 x 11.4 x 1 cm (6.2 x 4.5 x 0.4 in)
Weight 185 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Display / Screen
Type Grayscale
Technology E-ink
Colors Unknown
Resolution 768 x 1024 pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 6 inches
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock No
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Anti Glare Unknown
Additional Display Features -
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Page Turn Key Unknown
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Unknown
External Volume Control No
Fingerprint Sensor No
Web / Email / Messaging
Web Browser No
Connectivity
USB Yes
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth No
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Wi-Fi Encryption No
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC
PC Synchronization No
Audio / Video
Audio Playback No
Video Playback No
Streaming Video No
External Speakers No
Headset Jack No
Vibration Alert No
More
Additional Information
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Kobo Glo Reviews
Where to buy Kobo Glo
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