REVIEW - If you like reading on a Kobo e-reader and wish you could flip pages without lifting a finger, the Kobo remote page turner promises an elegant solution. This small, battery-powered Bluetooth gadget pairs with compatible Kobo readers and turns pages with a simple thumb press. Below I’ll walk through what’s in the box, how to set it up, how it performs for eBooks and audiobooks, who will get the most benefit, and a few ways it could be improved.
PRICE: $29.99
WHERE TO BUY: Kobo
What's comes in the box?
The package is straightforward: a quick start guide, paperwork you probably won’t read, a lanyard, and the remote itself with a AAA battery preinstalled. The remote is smaller than you might expect. It's lightweight and pocketable, designed for one-handed use.
Kobo remote with AAA battery installed
Quick start guide and documentation
Lanyard
Specifications
Dimensions - 3.92 x 1.18 x 0.87 in
Weight - 36 g
Connectivity - Bluetooth 5.0
Battery type - 1x AAA (included)
Battery life - Months of daily reading
Wireless range - Up to 65 ft
Compatible devices - Kobo Bluetooth-enabled ereaders such as: Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Clara Colour, Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, and Kobo Elipsa 2E
Design and features
The Kobo Remote is made of plastic and is available in black (as shown here) and white versions. The more has a comfortable slightly curved shape with a large button at the top and a smaller button below it.
The back side of the remote has a removable cover over the battery and up top is a tiny LED for the Bluetooth status.
The top edge has a small button used to pair the remote with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled Kobo eReader.
Quick setup and pairing
Pairing the Kobo remote page turner with a Bluetooth-enabled Kobo reader is quick. Turn on Bluetooth on the e-reader, press the pairing button on the top of the remote, and watch the device appear in the Bluetooth list. Tap to connect and you’re ready to go. No apps or complicated menus required.
Page-turning performance
Once connected, the remote behaves exactly as you’d hope for reading eBooks. The large button is mapped to forward page turns and the smaller button goes back a page. The response is fast and consistent. Tap the big button and the screen advances immediately. That reliability is the core reason to carry one: seamless page turns without hold the reader or cozy under the covers.
Using the remote with audiobooks
The Kobo remote can also be used for audiobooks, but it behaves differently than standard play/pause remotes. With an audiobook playing through a paired Bluetooth speaker or earbuds, the big and small page buttons skip forward or back by roughly 30 seconds rather than toggling play/pause. To stop playback you still need to touch the e-reader screen. It works, but it’s not a full-featured remote for audiobook controls.
Who should consider the Kobo remote page turner?
This gadget is ideal for a handful of reading habits and needs:
People who read on treadmills or while walking and don’t want to fumble with the reader itself.
Night readers who keep their hands under the covers and want effortless page turns.
Readers with limited dexterity or arthritis who prefer a comfortably shaped remote to tiny device buttons.
Design and ergonomics
Ergonomically it’s a win. The remote is small, comfortable in the hand, and has a thumb indentation that naturally centers your thumb over the large forward button. The tactile feedback is pleasant with enough click to be satisfying without being loud or fatiguing over long sessions.
My 3 favorite features of the Kobo remote page turner
Compact, lightweight design that’s easy to hold and carry.
Simple, reliable Bluetooth pairing with supported Kobo readers.
Intuitive button layout: big forward, smaller back, perfect for one-thumb operation.
Improvements needed?
There are a couple of areas where the Kobo remote page turner could be better. First, I’d prefer a rechargeable battery instead of replacing a AAA cell, USB-C charging would be a welcome modern touch. Second, broader compatibility with other e-readers (for example, non-Kobo models) would make this accessory useful to more readers. Finally, more complete audiobook controls (play/pause, speed) on the remote itself would add value.
Final thoughts
The Kobo remote page turner is a small, inexpensive accessory that does one job very well: it makes page turning fast and effortless on Bluetooth-enabled Kobo e-readers. If you read while moving, like to stay tucked under the covers, or need a friendlier physical interface due to dexterity issues, this remote is a handy addition to your reading kit. It’s not a perfect multimedia remote for audiobooks, and a rechargeable version would be nicer, but for pure page turning it’s hard to beat.
PRICE: $29.99
WHERE TO BUY: Kobo
SOURCE: The sample for this review was provided for free by Kobo. They did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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