Kobo Clara Color / BW E-reader

Kobo Clara is a series of electronic ink readers designed to provide a premium digital reading experience. Originally founded as Shortcovers in 2009 by the Canadian bookstore chain Indigo Books & Music, the brand was later renamed Kobo—an anagram of 'book'—to reflect its global ambitions and focus on the digital literary market.

While the brand has its creative and historical roots in Toronto, Canada, Kobo was acquired in 2012 by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten. Manufacturing for Kobo devices typically takes place in Taiwan through partnerships with electronics manufacturers such as Netronix. This global operation combines Japanese corporate oversight, Canadian design heritage, and East Asian high-tech manufacturing.

Today, Kobo remains one of the primary competitors to Amazon's Kindle, maintaining a strong ecosystem of digital books and waterproof, environmentally friendly hardware. The brand continues to operate as a key subsidiary of Rakuten, benefiting from its extensive global logistics and digital services infrastructure.