Better reading with this book-sized device
The Kobo Aura One is the successor to the hugely popular Kobo Aura H20 that was released a few years ago. Since then. Kobo has seen a slight change to its line of eReaders, but the Aura still remains at the top of the range. Larger than the H20, the 7.8“ screen with a Carta e-ink HD touchscreen and a maximum resolution of 1872 x 1404 of the Aura One puts it well into the realms of the tablet world, but also makes it one of the highest quality screens we’ve ever seen on an e-reader.
It measures 195 x 138.5 x 6.9mm and weighs a decent 230g. You get 802.11n wi-fi, but Kobo has gone one better again by including 8GB of storage built in. Although there’s no SD card option with the Aura One, as there was with the Aura H20.
The greatest selling point of the Aura H20 is obviously the screen, and thanks to the ClarityScreen+ technology and a 300dpi resolution, Kobo has created an e-reader that happily takes the pleasure of reading into new territory. Admittedly, you could argue that you can read a book quite as easily with an 800 x 600 screen as you could an 1872 x 1404 and, in most cases, you’d be correct. However, the detail and sharpness that the Aura One offers is exceptional and near-print quality.
The Aura HD took an age to boot, and it felt very sluggish when you had to navigate the menu system. Kobo rectified that with the H20, speeding up the process somewhat, and now the company has decreased the startup times once more with the Aura One. It’s an extremely quick e-reader, with you being able to start reading from just a few seconds after pressing the power button.
The welcome, or home screen, contains all the necessary information you would expect. Your current library, the Kobo store, a search function, what book you’re reading and the last time you synced with your computer are all present in a reasonably uncluttered fashion.
Battery life is rated at an impressive one month, and once set up you can view the usual list of ePub, PDF, TXT, HTML, CBR and so on, as well the more popular photo formats.
It’s a nice device to hold; it feels sturdy enough, and not too cheap. The backlight is effective, and the screen is readable in pitch black and full-on sunlight without any problems or glare that leaves you feeling like you’re suffering from flash blindness. Additionally, the screen will auto adjust its brightness depending on the surrounding light levels, this also includes reducing the blue light for bedtime reading.
Another feature we rather liked is that the Aura One can be submersed in two meters of water for up to an hour and still be functional – providing the mini-USB port is closed off. Handy for when you drop it while reading in the bathtub, if you’re at the beach, or fancy reading a spot of Jacques Cousteau while scuba diving.
It’s big, but lightweight and has a great set of specifications
E-reading is a pleasure with the Kobo Aura One. It’s a sleek, comfortable device that’s well-designed and fits nicely in the hand. There’s plenty to like about it, and while it costs there’s the potential for it storing over 6,000 books which, for the bibliophiles among you, is probably worth every penny, mm David Hayward