Rakuten Kobo announces Kobo Nia: The affordable, lightweight and stylish entry-level eReader

Toronto, ON – July 15, 2020 – Rakuten Kobo’s family of eReaders welcomes its latest addition, Kobo Nia. The compact, affordable device is easy to use and full of features only a Kobo eReader can offer.

With Kobo Nia, Kobo’s expert product designers and software developers restyled the entry point for eReading on a device, including features normally found on our premium devices at a budget-friendly price point. Complete with ComfortLight for better night-time reading, a 6” Carta E Ink glare-free screen and 8 GB of storage, Kobo Nia brings a youthful aesthetic that embodies the joy of reading. The latest device is available in classic black, with three SleepCover options in Black, Aqua and Lemon.

“With each new device we design, the goal is simple: to make people’s reading lives better. As pioneers in the digital reading space for over a decade, we have been pushing what’s possible in an eReader every step of the way,” said Michael Tamblyn, CEO, Rakuten Kobo. “With Kobo Nia, we reimagined what our entry-level eReading experience could be and I could not be more proud of the outcome. In recent months, eBooks have really come into their own, with an astounding influx of new users and a global surge in time spent reading - and this new eReader is ideal both for people trying digital books for the first time or upgrading an eReader they have had for years.”

Kobo Nia, with space for up to 6,000 books and weighing only 172 grams, will retail for $99.99 USD at www.kobo.com and select retailers. Pre-orders will be available on July 15 and the device will be available in stores and online as of July 21 in Canada, the US, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Digital Reading on the Rise

Over the last few months, with countries across the world in various stages of lockdown due to COVID-19, Kobo has seen unprecedented growth in the amount of time our readers the world-over are spending with books.

“With people turning to digital reading as a source of entertainment and comfort in these uncertain times, we have seen record-high growth in the amount of time people are reading worldwide,” said Tamblyn. “From March to July, we saw Kobo users globally spending 93 per cent more time reading than the year before. We have also had a flood of new readers trying and falling in love with eReading with us for the first time, after having the chance to experience the benefits and versatility of digital. This is part of the reason we are so excited to introduce Kobo Nia as our newest entry-level device and great option for first-time digital readers.”

Get to Know Kobo Nia

The perfect introduction to eReading

Designed with the love of reading in mind, Kobo Nia is an approachable entry point to digital reading that doesn’t compromise on features or quality. With a 6” Carta E Ink glare-free touchscreen offering a 1024 x 758 212 ppi resolution, Kobo Nia provides a high definition reading experience at low cost. The compact device features a sleek, modern design at 112.4 mm wide x 159.3 mm long, with a 9.2 mm thick area around the edges. At 172 grams, Kobo Nia is one of our lightest devices, so you can bring it with you on any adventure for hours of comfortable reading. With a 1,000 mAh battery, enjoy reading for weeks on end with a single charge*.

The advantages of ComfortLight

Kobo Nia features our built-in ComfortLight technology, so you can easily adjust the brightness of your screen to perfectly suit any reading situation. Readers can enjoy their books from day to night with ease, and choose their own light setting based on personal preference.

Stress-free library integration

Readers can easily borrow eBooks from most local public libraries right from their device with built-in one-touch OverDrive access. Set-up is easy and free with a library card. Through the integrated catalogue, booklovers can search for the title they want, and depending on local library availability, choose to borrow from OverDrive or buy through the Kobo eBook store. OverDrive integration is available on all of Kobo’s current eReaders in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Never lose your place, no matter where you read

Switch between devices stress-free. You can extend your reading experience with the free Kobo App for your smartphone or tablet—so your library is always with you, even when your eReader isn’t handy. We remember where you last bookmarked a page, so you’ll never lose your place, no matter which device you choose to pick up where you left off in your favourite reads.

*Device battery life is dependent on individual usage.

Kobo Nia Photos: https://bit.ly/3j6gcxl

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About Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s biggest digital booksellers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo enables more than 38 million readers worldwide to read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated devices and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives.

To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit www.kobo.com.

Press contact

Erin Ierullo
Manager, Global Communications
[email protected]