This new accessory might just be what my Kobo ereader needs

• Kobo has just announced a remote page turner for its ereaders
• It will be available to buy in most major markets from November 4
• Kobo, however, is yet to announce any new ereaders for 2025

I’m an avid reader. Someone once told me that if an average reader goes through about 3,000 books in a lifetime, I’d probably have read 6,000. Most of that reading is done in bed, where I have my (month-old) Kobo Libra Colour propped up beside me on its magnetic cover, my arms tucked under my head or under the blanket. And every minute or two, I need to stick a hand out to press a page-turn button.

The new Kobo Remote, however, could completely change that experience for me.

Yes, Kobo has just announced a new hands-free reading experience via its new remote page turner that will be available to buy around the world from November 4 in black and white variants.

I was hoping for a new ereader (Kobo hasn’t announced anything in 2025), but I’ll take it.

Look, mum, no hands!

Remote page turners aren’t new – you can get cheap RF (radio frequency) ones on Amazon easily enough, but most of them are compatible with Kindles and can be glitchy with other brands. I should know, I’ve tried using a couple with my old Kobo Elipsa 2E and with the Onyx Boox Note 3 Air and I’ve not really liked the experience.

The Kobo Remote is Bluetooth enabled and is compatible with only the brand’s ereaders, but I suspect it might work on other ereaders too (although Amazon’s disabled Bluetooth connectivity in Australia, where I’m based, so there goes that experiment).

If you already own one of Kobo’s Bluetooth-enabled ereaders, the company promises “the absolute minimum of movement to disturb your reading cosiness”. I’m eager for this experience, and can’t wait to try it once it’s available to buy. It will cost $29.99 / AU$44.95 in the US and Australia, with price in the UK to be confirmed.

You might also like…

• These are the best ereaders to buy – all tried and tested
• Kindle vs Kobo: which ereader brand is better?
• Read me in-depth Kobo Libra Colour review – it’s my fave ereader. Or take a look at my Kobo Clara Colour review or Kobo Clara BW review for cheaper models

While she’s happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta’s main priority is being TechRadar’s APAC Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. While she loves reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she’s also an avid reader and has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these underrated devices. Other than her duties at TechRadar, she’s also the Managing Editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World, and writes for Tom’s Guide and T3.