[graycyn]

OK, after several days switching back and forth between my Kindle Oasis 2 and my new Kobo Forma, I think you'd be happy with EITHER device.

Initially, the Kobo Forma felt a bit large because of the more square format. But in practice, holding it has been just fine.

Over the past decade, I've owned a LOT of different reader devices in different sizes. Nook, Sony, Kobo and Kindle, more than one model each for the last three brands. Only ONE was a poor ergonomic experience for me. (Kindle Keyboard) But ergonomics differ a lot depending on the individual, so it's hard to predict another's experience.


If you've been wrangling 700 page hardbacks, ANY premium e-reader is likely to delight you!

For fun, I took all three of my current readers, Kobo Aura One (7.8" screen), Kindle Oasis 2 (7" screen) and the Kobo Forma (8" screen) and put ALL THREE, in their official covers on my kitchen scale at once. Weighed together they came in at roughly 1013g, give or take.

I then took a hardcover of approximately 700 pages (694 exactly) and weighed it. 1114g.

So, you will cut the weight your hand has to hold by over a third of what you are used to! More if you don't use a cover.

Holding to Read
Kobo Forma (no cover) vs. Kindle Oasis 2 (no cover): Kobo won for me, because the metal on the Oasis feels slippery. And cold.

Kobo Forma (Kobo cover) vs. Kindle Oasis (Kindle cover): About equal for me, the size of the Forma perhaps felt a smidge harder to hold.

Page Turn Buttons Kindle won hands down. The Oasis 2 buttons are spaced just right for easy forward and back paging. The Forma buttons are more widely spaced and paging back felt awkward with the buttons to me. YMMV.

Lighting
Kindle wins, but both were pretty even.

I can detect, in some lighting situations, though not all, slight shadows around all four edges of the Forma screen. Also, the light on the side with the buttons is slightly lighter and slightly more blue. I believe this is where the Forma LEDs are located. While I've seen pictures of early Formas that had a very distinct line, mine is not that way, it's diffuse and in most lighting situations I read in, this lighter area is completely invisible.

Anyway, I'd call my Oasis 2 about 98-99% even, maybe 96-98% for the Forma. Pretty much a wash, both are pleasant to read on.

Screen size
I love, love, love the 8" screen! I'm in my 60s, need a bit larger font these days, but even without that, it's just more immersive to have more text on the screen. I have the Kindle for testing epub conversions and reading inexpensive Kindle books, but the reader that is in my hands the most is either my Aura One, or now my Forma.

For reference, I read a LOT. In the 100+ books per year category.

If you don't need to read at a larger font size, it may be moot as to whether the larger screen is necessary. It feels more like reading an actual book to me, which I like. You have a bit more discretion in margin size selection. Large chapter headings or ornaments are less likely to leave you with that annoying one or two lines at the bottom of the first page of a chapter. And if your book has illustrations, bigger is nicer. As long as the publisher has done their job in providing quality images...

If you read in bed and sometimes fall asleep, the Forma may have an advantage because of the Mobius screen. It shouldn't break if you fall asleep and knock it off the bed.

Hope that helps and happy reading!