Rating 4.2 33 reviews
Manufacturer: Kobo
PC Magazine
5 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O Review

Whether it's the sandy shores of Cancun or your bathtub, if you like to read near water, the Kobo Aura H2O is a waterproof ebook reader worthy of your attention. Summer reading is a treasured pastime, and the last thing you want to do is ruin your vacation after dropping your ebook reader in the pool. You don't have to worry about that with the Kobo Aura H2O ($179.99). In addition to a thinner, lighter design than its predecessor, the new H2O features improved waterproofing so you can read without worry no matter where you are. Plus it adds all the customizability and adaptive backlighting of the excellent (and similarly waterproof) big-screen Aura One for $50 less. While the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite remains a better value for those more comfortable on dry land, the H2O is a fantastic e-reader to take to the beach. What's New? The Aura H2O looks an awful lot like the Aura One, albeit a bit smaller and lighter. It measures 6.8 by 5.1 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 7.4 ounces. The Aura One is a bit harder to get a handle on at 7.7 by 5.5 by 0.3 inches. The Paperwhite is the easiest to wrap your hand around, at 6.7 by 4.6 by 0.4 inches. ...
Pros:
  • Thinner and lighter than previous model
  • Improved waterproofing
  • Adaptive lighting
  • Detailed reading stats
Cons:
  • Still a bit large for smaller hands
  • No memory card slot
  • Relatively expensive
Read more on PC Magazine
Argos
6 years ago

Does exactly what it the makers say it does.

This is the second Kobo we have bought. The first died after four and a half years of daily use, (approximately 1.5 hours a day). The screen went down. I thought we had had our moneys worth out of it. It is good on the eyes with the yellowish background when reading in a dark room.
Read more on Argos
Tech Advisor
8 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O Review

The Kobo Aura H2O is the first premium waterproof and dustproof eReader on the market that can be submerged in 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes.
Read more on Tech Advisor
Amazon
8 years ago

very good ereader

I'm quite happy with the purchase, good quality and usability, nothing fancy but satisfied my needs. I would recommend it, especially if you plan to use it on the beach.
Read more on Amazon
Gizmodo
9 years ago

Amazon's Kindle Is King–Why Would I Buy This Other E-reader

I've got a struggle y'all. I've been using the new Kobo Aura H2O off and on for the last few weeks, switching between reading on it with reading on my overpriced but super damn slick Amazon Kindle Oasis . The two aren't entirely comparable: The Oasis costs $290 and the Kobo goes for $180.
Pros:
  • It's waterproof and inexpensive
Cons:
  • At this point there's really no reason to own anything but a Kindle
Read more on Gizmodo
Trusted Reviews
9 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O

Like tablets, e-readers have seen minimal innovation in the past few years. Amazon seems to have settled on its Kindle lineup and there isn't much in the way of competition. Aside from Kobo, that is, which has been churning out some rather decent e-readers of late.
Pros:
  • Big
  • sharp screen
  • Water resistant
  • Pocket integration and EPUB support
Cons:
  • Sluggish performance
  • Battery life not as good as the competition
  • Expensive for what you get
Read more on Trusted Reviews
amazon.ca
9 years ago

Amazing! Far exceeds expectations. If I cannot read a real print book, this is my second choice. The only failing is that it isn't capable of colour, for cover viewing, comics, anime, Ganga, etc.
Read more on amazon.ca
Stuff.tv
9 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O (2017) review review

Pros:
  • It’s a waterproof wonder
  • Undercuts the Kindle competition
  • Brilliant backlight won’t keep you up at night
Cons:
  • Kobo’s book catalogue still lags behind Amazon
Read more on Stuff.tv
Stuff.tv
9 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O (2017) review

It’s not a giant leap forward for e-readers, and doesn’t deviate very much from Kobo’s previous efforts either, but a few tweaks and changes make this second generation Aura H2O a serious contender. Kobo’s admittedly excellent Aura One is still the better e-reader if you don’t plan on taking it with you on the move - that larger screen almost perfectly matches the dimensions of a real paperback book. Amazon does have a bigger library of books, and if you previously owned a Kindle you’ll have to leave all your old ebooks behind when making the switch to Kobo’s book store. The Kindle Oasis remains the epitome of luxury, too. For tech-savvy travellers, though, this is easily the better buy. If you’re after some summer salvation, make sure to snap one of these up before school finishes in July, and your kids try to turn holidays into hell. Buy the Kobo Aura H20 (20170 here from Kobo
Pros:
  • It’s a waterproof wonder
  • Undercuts the Kindle competition
  • Brilliant backlight won't keep you up at night
Cons:
  • Kobo’s book catalogue still lags behind Amazon
Read more on Stuff.tv
PC World
9 years ago

Kobo Aura H2O review: This e-reader is pool and bathtub-ready

If you do a lot of your reading poolside, on a boat, in the bath, or in the desert, the Kobo Aura H2O's IP67 rating for water and dust resistance...
Pros:
  • Water and dust resistant (rated IP67
  • Well built
  • Capable of reading a wide array of file formats
  • Expandable storage
Cons:
  • Backlight can make text look murky
  • Heavy for its size
  • Port cover seems fragile
  • Expensive for what it delivers
Read more on PC World
4.2 from 33 reviews
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25.0%
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