Rakuten Kobo Remote Review: Is It Worth It?

Reading in bed used to mean one thing: eventually, you had to free a hand to tap the screen. Maybe you had the perfect setup, warm blankets, a pillow propped just right, and then the page ended. The Rakuten Kobo Remote promises to fix that. It sounds almost too simple, but this little gadget delivers something genuinely useful for the right reader.

Spoiler: Daily readers will love it. Casual readers and audiobook fans might feel differently.

Here is everything you need to know.

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What Is the Rakuten Kobo Remote?

The Rakuten Kobo Remote is a small Bluetooth page-turner designed specifically for Kobo eReaders. It looks simple, but it solves a real problem.

A First-Party Bluetooth Page Turner

This is the first official remote from Rakuten Kobo. It launched as a dedicated accessory rather than a third-party workaround.

That matters. Most older page turners rely on clips that block part of the screen. This one connects wirelessly and stays out of the way.

You get two color options: black and white. Both look clean and match Kobo devices well.

Who Is It Designed For?

This remote works best for:

People who read in bed under blankets
Users who prop their eReader on a stand
Anyone who reads while walking or cooking
Readers with limited hand movement or joint pain

It also fits power readers who want fewer interruptions. You stay in the story longer because you stop reaching for the screen.

Design and Build Quality

Ergonomic Form Factor

The Kobo Remote measures 3.92 inches long, 0.87 inches wide, and 1.18 inches tall. Pick it up, and it feels natural in one hand. The curved shape sits in your grip rather than against it.

At 35.2 grams, it weighs less than most people expect. The included wrist strap lets you carry it without gripping it, so you can hold it loosely while reading without worrying about dropping it. One small note: threading the lanyard through the remote’s attachment point takes patience. A third button on the top edge handles Bluetooth pairing. You set it up once and forget it.

Once you sort out the lanyard, the whole package feels clean.

Button Design and Tactile Differentiation

Two buttons, two sizes. The larger button moves you to the next page. The smaller button goes back. Here is the clever part: the surfaces differ. The forward button is slightly concave, and the backward button is convex. You can tell them apart by touch alone, without looking down.

That detail matters when you are reading in the dark or when the remote sits under a blanket. You never have to break immersion to check which button you are pressing.

The one real critique here? Button functions are fixed. You cannot customize them to adjust brightness or change font size by long-pressing. For a pricey accessory, adding hold-press shortcuts would have made this a much more complete tool. Right now, it does one thing: turn pages.

Compatibility — Which Kobo eReaders Work with It?

Before buying, you need to check compatibility. This remote does not work with every device.

Full Compatibility List

It works with Bluetooth-enabled Kobo devices, including:

Kobo Clara 2E
Kobo Clara BW and Clara Color
Kobo Libra 2 and Libra Color
Kobo Sage
Kobo Elipsa and Elipsa 2E

If your device does not support Bluetooth, this remote will not connect. Check your device’s settings before buying.

Does It Work with Kindle or Android?

Officially, no.

This remote targets Kobo devices only. If you try pairing it with other devices, such as computers, it may appear as a keyboard in some cases.

It is not built for cross-platform use. You lose features and stability outside Kobo.

Setup and Pairing Experience

Bluetooth 5.0 Pairing Process

Pairing takes about thirty seconds. Turn on Bluetooth on your Kobo, press the button on the remote to enter pairing mode, and the remote shows up in your available devices list. Tap it, and you are done.

Most of the time, the remote appeared in the Bluetooth settings automatically as soon as you enabled Bluetooth on the Kobo Reader; no button press on the remote is required. Either way, the whole process takes under a minute. It genuinely rivals the simplicity of pairing wireless earbuds.

Intelligent Sleep and Wake Functionality

The remote goes to sleep when you stop using it. When you power your Kobo back on, the remote reconnects in a couple of seconds. You do not have to re-pair each session.

This automatic reconnection makes the remote feel like part of the eReader rather than a separate accessory you babysit. Pick up your Kobo, and the remote wakes with it.

Real-World Experience

In-Bed and Cozy Reading

This is the primary use case, and the remote absolutely delivers on it. You prop your Kobo on a stand, pillow, or tablet holder. The remote goes under the blankets with you. You read without ever lifting your hands.

Both buttons work for navigation forward and back, so you never need to touch the screen just because you accidentally moved past a page. You will be flying through books once you no longer need to tap a screen every two minutes.

The page turn response time is fast. It is smooth and immediate, without any noticeable lag between button press and page change.

Active and Multitasking Reading Scenarios

The 65-foot wireless range opens up use cases beyond the bedroom. Set your eReader on a kitchen counter and read while cooking. Hold the remote in one hand while your other hand handles something else. Walk on a treadmill with the device propped at eye level and the remote in your hand. It made reading relaxing. When you remove the constant interruption of reaching for a screen, reading flows differently. You stay in the text longer.

Audiobook Limitation

Here is where expectations need adjusting. The Kobo Remote does not control audio playback the way most people assume. It does not pause or resume audiobooks. It does not control volume.

Pressing the large button during audiobook playback skips forward 30 seconds. The small button goes back 30 seconds. To pause, you still need to tap the eReader screen.

For readers who primarily listen to audiobooks, this remote offers limited use. For people who mix reading with occasional audiobook sessions, the limitation is manageable but worth knowing upfront.

Battery Life and Power Source

AAA Battery Design

The Kobo Remote runs on a single AAA battery, included in the box. Kobo claims the battery lasts several months of daily reading, though actual life depends on how much you use it.

This design choice splits opinion. On one hand, AAA batteries are everywhere. You never need a cable, and the remote stays lighter because it skips a charging circuit. The disposable battery kept things simple. On the other hand, in a world of rechargeable accessories, tossing a battery every few months feels like a step backward.

Third-party page turners on the market generally use USB-C charging. If eco-friendliness or charging convenience matters to you, that is worth considering.

Battery Leak Risk for Infrequent Users

If you plan to shelve the remote for weeks or months, remove the battery first. Unused batteries in devices can leak over time, and battery leakage can permanently damage the remote. This applies to any device with a non-rechargeable battery sitting idle.

For daily readers, this is a non-issue. For occasional readers, it is a practical step to remember.

Pros and Cons

What Works Well

Minimalist Design: It is small, light, and easy to hold for hours.
Tactile Buttons: You can distinguish the forward and back buttons by touch.
Fast Pairing: Bluetooth 5.0 connects quickly and stays connected.
No Screen Obstruction: Unlike third-party clips, it leaves the entire screen visible.
Continuous Flip: Holding the button lets you fly through pages.

Limitations to Consider

No Customization: You cannot use the buttons for brightness or volume.
Hardware Frustrations: The lanyard and battery cover are difficult to manage.
Limited Audiobook Use: It only skips 30 seconds and lacks volume control.
AAA Battery Only: Some would prefer a rechargeable USB-C design.
Compatibility: It only works with Bluetooth-enabled Kobo models.

Price and Value: Is It Worth $33.99?

Comparing Third-Party Page Turners

Third-party Bluetooth remotes for Kindle and Kobo typically run between $10 and $25. Some work well. Many require clip attachments that cover part of the screen, which frustrates readers who frequently highlight passages or tap links.

The Kobo Remote costs more, but it comes directly from the device maker. Firmware updates, Bluetooth compatibility, and device integration all benefit from that relationship. You are paying a small premium for first-party reliability.

Who Gets the Most Value?

Daily readers get the most from this remote. If you read for an hour or more every day, especially in bed or on a treadmill, the price works out to a very small per-use cost over hundreds of sessions.

People with arthritis or hand mobility limitations get strong value at any reading frequency. The remote genuinely changes what comfortable reading looks like for them.

Casual readers who open an eReader a few times a month will feel the price more acutely. The remote will work perfectly, but the convenience it offers matters less when reading sessions are already infrequent.

Audiobook-primary users should skip it. The limited skip controls do not justify the purchase if audiobooks are your main format.

Final Verdict

The Rakuten Kobo Remote is a well-built, niche accessory that does exactly what it promises. It turns pages. It connects instantly. It stays out of the way.

Kobo’s first-party remote beats the clip-on competition by working wirelessly, fitting comfortably in one hand, and offering smart tactile differentiation between its two buttons. The main drawbacks, no button customization, AAA-only power, and limited audiobook controls are real, but they do not undermine what the remote does best.

If you read on a Bluetooth-enabled Kobo for an hour or more each day, or if holding a device is physically challenging for you, this remote is worth it without much hesitation. Everyone else should think about how often they actually read before pulling the trigger.