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The Kobo Aura H2O is $180, and it’s disappointing to see it doesn’t have a page refresh rate more comparable to the competition. For comparison, the $80, 6-inch Kindle refreshes every five pages, and the $200 Kindle Voyage refreshes every 14 pages. In ebooks, the E Ink screen refreshed a little too frequently for our liking - about every six pages.
KOBO AURA H2O REVIEWS FULL
It took up to a full second longer to load books than Amazon’s 6-inch Kindle, for example, and it sometimes stuttered in menus - especially the search screen.
KOBO AURA H2O REVIEWS FREE
The resolution and pixel density is unchanged at 1,430 × 1,080 pixels and 265ppi (pixels per inch), and we found text and book covers to be sharp - sharper than the cheaper 6-inch Kindle, which has 167ppi, but not as sharp as the Kindle Oasis, which packs 300ppi (and has a higher, slightly more comparable price point).įeel free to read with the Kobo Aura H2O in the bath.ĭespite the upgrades from the original 2014 device, the Aura H2O isn’t as snappy as we hoped. We’re pleased to see the Aura H2O’s screen is just as crisp and sharp as the original. Feel free to read with the Kobo Aura H2O in the bath - something you need to be a lot more careful with when using Amazon’s Kindle ebook readers. Regardless, water resistance is always a welcome feature because it increases a device’s longevity and durability. You should note the screen does become a little unresponsive, and the device has trouble registering touches until it’s completely dry. After we thoroughly dried it off with paper towels, it was good as new the power button and the IR touchscreen worked as well as they had before, and we didn’t note any signs of damage on the charging port. We put Kobo’s waterproofing claims to the test by submerging the Aura H2O in a large bowl of water for five minutes. It’s comfortable in the palm, and exceptionally light. Thick bezels border its 6.8-inch E Ink screen, and a rubberized dimpled material stretches the length of its ergonomic back cover. It has a distinct, angular design that feels more rugged than its competitors. The Kobo Aura H2O won’t be mistaken for a Kindle Paperwhite. The result is a competent ebook reader that delivers on its promises, but does nothing more. Kobo had a chance to disrupt a stagnant market, but decidedly played it safe. But on some level, the H2O feels like a missed opportunity. The new H2O’s design and features aren’t any less impressive than they were the first time around. The major change? It loses the MicroSD card slot present on the original in favor of double the internal storage. It’s still waterproof, and it has the same backlit 6.8-inch screen, with the same resolution. Unlike the ebook reader market, the newly-refreshed 2017 Aura H20 hasn’t changed much at all. Kobo is reaching back to its well-reviewed 2014 Aura H2O to offer an alternative to the popular Kindle. There have always been only a handful of major players, but Amazon has widened its gap and still reigns king. It’s 2017, and the market for ebook readers isn’t what it once was.