Comparison
Kobo vs Meebook: a bookstore ecosystem against an open Android tablet
Kobo comes with a bookstore and a library-loan pipeline built in. Meebook comes with Android flexibility and a choice of black-and-white or color at the same 7.8" size.
Meebook & PocketBook
Meebook M8 (7.8" B&W)
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Meebook M8C (7.8" Color)
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PocketBook Era Lite (7")
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PocketBook Verse Pro
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Kobo
Kobo Clara Colour — Black
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Kobo Clara Colour — White
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Kobo Libra Colour — Black
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Kobo Libra Colour — White
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Boox
Boox Note Air 5 C
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Boox Go Color 7 Gen II
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Boox Go 10.3 Gen II (Lumi)
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Boox Go 7 (B&W)
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Kobo
You're buying into Kobo's store and library-loan integration as much as the screen. That's the whole pitch against Kindle.
Meebook
An open Android E Ink lineup from an experienced team, with a black-and-white and a color option at the same 7.8" size.
| Kobo | Meebook | |
|---|---|---|
| What it fundamentally is | A dedicated reading device tied to Kobo's bookstore and OverDrive/Libby library loans | An Android E Ink tablet, unattached to any particular bookstore |
| Company | Rakuten Kobo Inc. — Rakuten subsidiary since 2012, founded as Shortcovers in 2009 | Haoqingtech — an independent company founded in 2021 by a team with prior E Ink device-design experience |
| Models covered here | Clara Colour (6") and Libra Colour (7"), both color E Ink | M8 (7.8" black-and-white) and M8C (7.8" color) |
| App ecosystem | Kobo's own store plus library-loan integration; not built for sideloading | Open Android — install whichever reading apps you already use |
What actually separates these two
Kobo and Meebook aren't really rivals in positioning — Kobo is selling a bookstore-plus-hardware bundle, Meebook is selling open-platform Android hardware. The comparison that matters isn't a spec-by-spec race; it's which kind of device fits how you read. Kobo gives you one store, native EPUB support, and public-library borrowing through OverDrive/Libby built into the device. Meebook gives you a 7.8" Android tablet, in black-and-white or color, that runs the reading apps you already use.
How buying works here
Both brands are sold to you here through a retailer listing, so that retailer's own return window and process apply to either purchase. Check the specific listing before you buy, since terms can vary by seller.
Pick Kobo if
- You prefer a smaller 6" or 7" dedicated reader over a 7.8" tablet
- Library ebook borrowing through OverDrive/Libby is something you'll actually use
- You'd rather commit to one bookstore than manage several reading apps
Pick Meebook if
- You want an Android device with a larger 7.8" screen
- You want the choice between black-and-white and color at the same screen size
- You want the option to run Kindle, Kobo, or Libby's app on the same hardware
Common questions
Who makes Kobo and Meebook?
Kobo is made by Rakuten Kobo Inc., launched in 2009 and a Rakuten subsidiary since 2012. Meebook is made by Haoqingtech, an independent company founded in 2021 by a team with years of prior experience designing E Ink Android devices.
Can I read my Kobo books on a Meebook?
Meebook runs Android, so the Kobo app can be installed alongside other reading apps. We haven't used the app on an M8 or M8C ourselves, so we can't speak to how it performs day to day.