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.
0 kommentar(er)
