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Kobo Glo HD review

7.5/10 AVG.
RATING
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Kobo Glo HD
Kobo Glo HD
Kobo Glo HD
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7.5/10
Informr score
The Kobo Glo HD currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 3 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • High resolution display
  • Compact and comfortable design
  • Affordable

What's bad

  • Limited storage
  • Fewer book options in store
  • Some lag when opening books and turning pages

While it might seem as though Amazon has a tight grip in the e-reader market there are, in fact, other choices available – most notably the Kobo Glo HD. It comes in a fairly small package of 6.1 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches and weighs in at only 180 grams. Experts found it incredibly easy to grip and comfortable to hold thanks to its larger bezels and dimpled, rubberized back cover. It also only comes with the only the necessary buttons and ports: power, reset and micro-USB port. The only issue critics ran into when handling the device was a slight creakiness to the front when they held it tightly.

In an effort to edge out Amazon, the Glo HD's 6-inch display offers a resolution of 1,448 x 1072 pixels for a pixel density of 300pixels per inch. This is slightly higher than the Kindle Voyage though not by much. Still, reviewers were sufficiently impressed with the sharp text and clearer images with Tech Radar stating, "…it's the best experience I've had on an ereader." Even in bright sunlight critics did not experience any glare thanks to e-ink technology. As the "glo" in the name suggests, the Glo HD offers front lighting for low-light reading, which offered experts fairly even light distribution. With that said, they did notice some discoloration and blotchiness towards near the bottom bezel. As the Glo HD has limited buttons, the majority of commands are done through the touch screen, which experts found to be very responsive.

Despite its 1GHz processor, reviewers actually noticed significant lag when turning pages or opening up a new book when compared to the Kindle Voyage. Still, they add it does handle the HD screen well enough and while the delay was annoying it wasn't a deal breaker. Battery-life is fairly standard and drained down to 50 percent after a month of use even with WiFi always enabled. The Glo HD also comes with 4GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, it does not come with an expandable microSD slot. To counteract this Kobo offers a cloud service to store your e-books. Speaking of books, it should come as no surprise that Kobo cannot compete with Kindle devices in terms of sheer book selection. Despite its smaller library it still offers more than 4.7 million titles and supports 15 file formats including ePub and ePub3.

Despite its limitations, reviewers still recommend the Kobo Glo HD. CNET states, "…we can confidently recommend the Glo HD as an upgrade to the Glo, or for someone looking for their first-time e-reader." Mashable adds, "…the Glo HD has just about everything most users want from a current-gen e-reader…"


6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6"
Yes
Backlight
Backlight
Yes
4 GB
Storage
Storage
4 GB
No
3G
3G
No
-
Reading Time


What the Critics Are Saying...


PCWorld
PCWorld

It offers all of the features most people might find desirable in an e-reader, without any of the unneeded bloat.

- Séamus Bellamy, PCWorld
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

There isn’t a lot to dislike about the Kobo Glo HD. It’s well-built, lightweight and inexpensive, with a sharp display, even lighting system and excellent battery.Its biggest knock is that it is just that: a dedicated ereader, without the bells and whistles one expects from a modern tabl...

- Daniel Bader, Mobile Syrup
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

For $129, the Kobo Glo HD is largely comparable with the $199 Amazon Kindle Voyage. The Voyage boasts a nifty adaptive light and a more-premium design. But that extra $70 is a lot to spend on new books if you go with the Glo HD. Your best bet, however, the Kindle Paperwhite. It costs even less than...

- Timothy Torres, PC Magazine


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Quick view

Screen Size
6"

The Kobo Glo HD's screen size is 6 inches with 1072 x 1448 pixels resolution.

Backlight
Yes

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

Storage
4 GB

Internal memory is 4 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

3G
No

This model has no 3G wireless capabilities.

Reading Time
-

The e-reader is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol) battery.

Glo HD Specs

Overview
Release Date May 1, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada
Networks
SIM Card Size Yes
Operating System Custom

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Processor 1 GHz
Internal Storage 4 GB
RAM Unknown
ROM No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Languages No
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Power & battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity Unknown
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 3 hours
Reading Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 60 days
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.7 x 11.5 x 0.9 cm (6.2 x 4.5 x 0.4 in)
Weight 180 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Display / Screen
Type Grayscale
Technology E-ink
Colors Unknown
Resolution 1072 x 1448 pixels
Pixel Density 300 pixels
Size 6 inches
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification No
Screen Orientation Lock No
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Anti Glare Unknown
Additional Display Features -
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Page Turn Key Unknown
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock No
External Volume Control No
Fingerprint Sensor No
Web / Email / Messaging
Web Browser Yes
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth No
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Wi-Fi Encryption No
Memory Expansion Slot No
PC Synchronization Yes
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 HD Reviews
Where to buy Kobo Glo HD
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