The Kobo Aura H2O is a solid e-reader choice, boosted by its top-notch screen, excellent build quality and waterproof skills that make it the ideal poolside reader, but its ecosystem pales in comparison to Amazon's Kindle.

Kobo's range of Aura e-readers have had a certain premium quality to them, and that continues with the Aura H2O, which as the name suggests, arrives with waterproof skills; Like Sony's range of Xperia phones and tablets , the Aura H2O is IP67 certified, meaning it can take a dunk in one metre of...

The Aura H2O is a solidly built reader with a grippy plastic texture to it; and the strange; 3D-esque asymmetrical design on the back makes a return; but that makes it a bit bulkier than Amazon's Paperwhite; which also weighs slightly less.

The Kobo Aura H2O is the e-reader you can use in the bath

Attractive; page-like display; Long battery life; It works under water

Could be lighter; Could be thinner; Could be cheaper

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.

Big; sharp screen; Water resistant; Pocket integration and EPUB support

Sluggish performance; Battery life not as good as the competition; Expensive for what you get

For those looking for a book reader then the AuraH20 from Kobo could well be something to consider. The bright white background makes it seem just like what one used to take off the bookshelf to read, the main advantage is that text size can suit your eyesight.

I received my Kobo H2O as a gift and I loved it at first! Unfortunately, the screen recently froze and then my ereader stopped working completely. It won't turn on, it won't charge, it won't respond when plugged into my computer, and it won't reset.

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. ...

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.

Thinner and lighter than previous model; Improved waterproofing; Adaptive lighting; Detailed reading stats

Still a bit large for smaller hands; No memory card slot; Relatively expensive

The Kobo Aura H2O offers one of the most authentic reading experiences of any ebook reader and it even has a cool design. The reader's special features are what set it apart from Amazon's offerings.

Waterproof; Bright screen; Comfortable to hold

Less browser-friendly store; Wide bezels

The aftermarket-treated Waterproof Kindle is just about perfect: an already fantastic e-reader with the added bonus of being built like a rock. But all that comes with one hell of a price tag - $US240, specifically.

Waterproof; Beautiful high-res screen; Functional home screen

Waterproofing is unnecessary; No 3G; no touchscreen; Odd keyboard layout

There are lot of waterproof products on the market – smartphones, speakers, cameras – but the Kobo Aura H2O is the world's first waterproof e-reader. Forget sealing your e-reader in a plastic zip-lock bag or special waterproof case next time you're within sight of water.

Whether reading a book or an eReader , water has always been the greatest threat to your books. Fortunately, the new Kobo Aura H2O is a durable eBook reader with excellent waterproofing and a wide range of excellent features.

The Kobo Aura H2O is waterproof; so you don't have to worry about taking it to the beach or pool

This eReader does not support audiobooks