Kobo has updated the design of its e-readers to feature a “totally flat” front in order to compete with the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon and Barnes & Noble's Nook Simple Touch.

Although Kobo produces a range of Android-based tablets, but the firm told the BBC that its e-ink devices still accounted for between 80% to 90% of all the machines it sold, denoting that the Aura will play a crucial role in attracting consumers to its ebook store.