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217 reviews
Jun, 2025
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 opinions, but the storage and durability get mixed views. Many are negative about the reliability and screen.
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.
Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)
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. People really like the screen and performance. The durability and price also get good feedback. Reviews are divided on the portability.
usability, price, durability, performance, screen
79% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.
Consumer review (amazon.com)
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. Reviewers really like the screen and size. The portability and price are also mentioned favorably. There are mixed views on the design and durability. The reliability and performance get negative views.
usability, price, portability, size, screen
performance, reliability
72% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.
Expert review by : Jamie Carter (techradar.com)
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.
Expert review by : Jamie Carter (pocket-lint.com)
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.
Expert review by : David Carnoy (cnet.co.uk)
Those of you out there who are e-reader scholars may remember that a couple of years ago, Sony was offering a 5-inch e-reader with no Wi-Fi, the Pocket Edition PRS-350 . You can still find that model for sale for $99, but Sony has since moved on to its...
The Kobo Mini 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...
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.
Expert review by : Lee Bell (theinquirer.net)
A lightweight, pocket-sized ereader
Small, light and pocket sized
Touchscreen not as responsive as we'd like, contrast could be better
The Kobo Mini is a good lightweight pocket-sized ereader that is very simple looking. This might be good for those looking for a portable device with minimalist styling, but we think it's perhaps too simple, since its lack of physical page-turning...
Expert review by (channel5.com)
Say hello to the Kobo Mini, the cutest lil' e-reader around. Unlike most black and white e-readers, which pack similar six-inch eInk displays, the Kobo Mini screen measures a mere five inches across. It still packs the specs to go toe to toe with its...
The Kobo Mini doesn't pack in all the features of Amazon's Kindle line, it's true. But now that Sony has all but given up on e-readers, it's also the only game in town for a tiny e-reader that will fit in even the smallest handbag. If that's what you...
Expert review by : K. T. Bradford (digitaltrends.com)
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...
Expert review by : Brian Heater (engadget.com)
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.
Expert review by : David Carnoy (cnet.com)
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.
Expert review by : Jamie Lendino (pcmag.com)
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...
Expert review by : Michelle Starr (cnet.com.au)
Kobo has announced the Mini, a 5-inch e-reader that is pretty much a scaled-down version of the Touch.
Stay tuned for our full review.
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