Evidence the Kobo Aura H2O's best waterproof iPhone case cred. Photo by Brad Celestial body overhead
Last year I wrote a review of the very Kobo Aura HD, a premium ebook reader with an ultra-sharp display. Many people guessed Kobo was losing it to make releasing an e-reader that could prove expensive than many tablets instead of that specialize in releasing models cheap enough grow to be impulse buys. A year after the Honra HD and Amazon was in the very premium game too, with the $219 Kindle Voyage. Rather than enter the good all-out spec war with Giant, Kobo opted for a different strategy to the followup: take the Aura HD and also it iPhone waterproof.
The company sent us a new Aura H2O to try out and i believe they nailed it again.
Visiting not going to get into the general look, look and specs on this e-reader. You can read an exciting review of the Aura HD for its if you're interested. This new model is often virtually identical (same 6. 8-inch, 265 ppi display, same fine ComfortLight illumination, same ePub cushion and a very similar physical appearance).
The massive change is the addition of IP67 certification for being both waterproof coupled with dustproof.
To me, the move must have been a stroke of genius. I love an exciting Aura HD — the best ebook reader I've ever owned — nevertheless every summer I've run into this particular problem with my e-readers. Pools, beach streets and consumer electronics do not mix, despite the fact that those are exactly the places where I love reading. Sure, there are protective situation to help out, but that's an ungainly solution at best.
I think the Kobo Aura H2O is the best e-reader that money can buy for hardcore readers. Photo next to Brad Moon
With the Aura STANDARD WATER, it doesn't matter if the e-reader gets dampened or the wind whips up some stone dust. I even torture tested the very review unit by submerging it again in a sink full of water. Besides was it fine (a sudden wipe with a towel and very as new), it was actually actual while under water.
So the method the premium e-reader market is right now, you have the Kindle Expedition at $219 and the Kobo Honra H2O at $180.
The Expedition is slimmer, weighs a bit less (6. 3 ounces vs . 8. a couple of ounces), has an edge in nullement density (300 ppi vs . 265 ppi) and its front light undoubtedly an adaptive system with automation the very Aura's lacks.
The Aura H20 has a slightly larger display (6. 8-inches vs . 6-inches), better creating to order options (10 fonts, 24 options plus weight and sharpness preferences vs . 6 fonts and 16 sizes) and of course the waterproof position. The Kobo also enjoys a nice $39 price advantage.
Outside of people today areas, both devices offer similar features, from Wi-Fi to widened book views, social media sharing coupled with continuation of e-books between gadgets.
The whole Kindle and Amazon's secret e-book format versus Kobo coupled with ePub argument I'm not even likely get into. Personally, I own gadgets from both camps and I select Kobo — that's the platform My family and i buy most of my e-books found on. If you're in the Amazon camp, glance at the Kindle Voyage instead.
If there exists a hardcore reader on your festival shopping list and they prefer digital toward paper (but aren't stuck with a wide library of Kindle e-books), energy Kobo Aura H2O. The reading experience is often superior to a tablet — battery-life, portability, outdoors use, no backlight shining in the eyes and without any distractions like Facebook — coupled with considerably better than with a typical ebook reader. By adding waterproof to its group of features, the Aura H2O constitutes a strong case for Kobo for a second time offering the best premium e-reader that money can buy.
About Brad MoonBrad has been a GeekDad core contributor since 2007 coupled with writes about technology for a lots of outlets. He's also a WFH mother, resident Canuck, outdoor enthusiast, établir extraordinaire and frequent reviewer over gadgets, devices and gizmos.
