Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2

$239.95, au.kobobooks.com

Another Kobo ereader? What’s different this time?

Yes, regular readers of T3 may have spotted our glowing review of the Kobo Aura One last year. And now, ready for winter 2017, Kobo has released the Aura H2O Edition 2. Compared to the Aura One, the newcomer is lighter, smaller and more affordable.

Does that mean Kobo has compromised on the tech side?

The Aura H2O does have a smaller display – 6.8 inches compared to the Aura One’s 7.8-inch display – and the battery life is closer to two weeks instead of four, but Kobo’s new ereader still has a slew of nice features. These include a print-quality touchscreen display, a customisable reading experience and onboard storage for up to 6,000 ebooks.

Is it suitable for nighttime reading?

It is! The Aura H2O uses ComfortLight PRO tech to reduce blue-light exposure and emits an optimal hue based on when you’re using it. So if you’re reading at night, the device automatically emits a candlelight glow to avoid affecting your sleep, or waking up any loved ones as they snooze beside you.

I’m going on holiday soon. Is it pool-side friendly?

The clue is in the name… The Aura H2O has HZO Protection and is waterproof for up to 60 minutes when submerged in two metres of water, so you can read in the pool (or in the bath) without fear of dropping it in the water if you get distracted by your margarita.

Cool. When can I buy one?

The Kobo Aura H20 Edition 2 will be available in late July.

POCKET LIBRARY

Download the Kobo app and you can flit between reading on the Kobo Aura H2O and on your smartphone, tablet or desktop – the app will sync your bookmarks so that you can switch between devices if needed