A waterproof eReader that you can use in the bath, but one with a serious flaw. Here's our Kobo Aura H2O review

Kobo has an obsession on what constitutes the perfect e-reading experience and they have been feverishly working towards this ideal. They have slowly been evolving their product line to fall in line with the quintessential five B's of bookselling; Bath, Backyard, Bedroom, Bus and Beach.

Reads many popular eBook formats; Waterproof; e-Ink Carta screen; You can bring it anywhere and read anytime; Global eBook system that appeals to a worldwide audience

Beyond the Book not available in most modern best sellers; The lack of pinch and zoom may turn some people off; Constant water droplet notifications are annoying

Kobo announced its latest eBook reader, the Aura H2O with IP67 waterproofing, prior to the IFA consumer electronics trade show, but Pocket-lint caught up with the rising rival to Kindle and Nook on its stand to have a proper look at the device.

Kobo has introduced a new e-reader, and the device offers all your typical generational improvements, including faster page turning and a high-resolution display for crisp text. But it also brings a degree of waterproofing to the device, which means it's better able to handle a trip to the beach, or...

With specifications very similar to those of its predecessor, the Kobo Aura HD , the waterproof equivalent boasts an updated 6.8in Carta E Ink 1430x1080 resolution touchscreen display, upgraded from the Aura HD's Pearl E Ink screen, with added IP67 certification meaning it's waterproof for up to 30...

Kobo is taking the ebook reader somewhere it's never been before: Your bathtub. The new Kobo Aura H2O is in many ways the same device as last year's excellent Aura HD , but with one very important change: The Aura H2O is waterproof, so you can read worry-free while in the tub or at the beach.

Waterproof; Sharp screen; Bright edge lighting; Fast page turns; Lots of storage and supported file types; Plenty of font customization options

Pricey; Relatively bulky

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

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

Pricier than Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, the H2O packs a larger, sharper display-and it's waterproof. Serious e-readers will like it for reading in the bath or at the beach, but know that it's a premium-price device, with full-color Android tablets right on its heels.

Waterproof; within limits; Brighter; whiter screen with built-in lighting; Display is big; at 6.8 inches; Light for its size; Superb font controls and onscreen keyboard; EPub support; Expandable storage

Price is high; versus Kindle Paperwhite and many compact Android tablets

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