Kobo Forma

Lovely, big screen ; Kobo’s software has some nice touches ; Unique design is surprisingly comfortable

Ugly ; Slow, plodding UI ; Bookstore can’t match Amazon’s ; Super-expensive

A few decent features aren't enough to justify the Kobo Forma's steep price.

Strong battery life ; Comfortable reading experience ; Waterproof build

Lacklustre design ; Limited ebook store ; Very expensive

The Kobo Forma is good for its waterproof design and big screen, but it doesn't reach the heights of the Kindle Oasis. However, it's a suitable alternative if you want to avoid Amazon, or you're already embedded in the Kobo ecosystem.

Blue light filter ; IPX8 waterproof ; Huge 8in display ; OverDrive library access

Overpriced ; Slow response times ; No audiobook integration

The Forma is a formidable Kindle Oasis rival but it’s not perfect. £240 seems a steep price for such a limited device, and the lack of audiobook support is a real shortcoming, especially as Kobo has its own Audible rival, now. Compared with the £120...

Crisp, large display ; Display lighting adjusts to environment ; Intuitive user interface with in-depth reading stats ; Overdrive integration allows checking out books from local libraries

Build quality feels cheap ; Home button is spongy and in awkward location

At $280, the Kobo Forma is on the expensive side of ebook readers. While we wish the build quality reflected its premium price point, it is still an excellent value for serious readers.

Big screen is great for large type and manga. Light for its size. Waterproof. Public library integration. Handles many file formats.

Expensive. Not pocketable. Materials don't feel premium.

While manga fans will adore the Kobo Forma for being big enough to show the smallest text on a page, most readers will be better served by Kobo's less expensive Clara HD and Kobo Aura H2O models. They save you money, fit better in your pocket, have...

Crisp, bright display ; Comfortable to hold for hours, in multiple orientations ; Free reading content via OverDrive and Pocket ; Waterproof

Expensive ; Questionable quality control ; No audiobook functionality ; Touch controls cannot be turned off before exposing device to liquids

Those who consume a lot of graphic content, or whose eyesight requires them to use a larger font size while reading, will love the Kobo Forma’s crisp, expansive display. That the Forma is waterproof and insanely light, and offers multiple methods to...