The Kobo Aura H2O has a sizeable 6.8-inch screen and a microSD slot that allows you to increase its storage to 32GB. More affordable than the Kobo Aura One, and easier to carry with you, this e-reader is very interesting…
Ergonomics/Handling
The Aura H2O exudes quality: the materials used are solid and the handling is very good. The software is that of all Kobo e-readers and is just as clear and pleasant to use. The e-reader is started by a button on the top, and the USB charging port and MicroSD slot are both on the bottom, protected by little plastic caps that help preserve the e-readers waterproof quality.
Screen
The 6.8-inch screen isn’t that much bigger than a 6-inch screen, but this small change makes all the difference: loading and reading PDFs (we’ll come back to this) and ePubs seems more comfortable on this screen than on a 6-inch screen. The lighting is harmonious, even if you do notice the absence of a “natural light” mode in comparison to the Aura H2O version 2. The technology they used (E-ink Pearl) still has a respectable resolution and contrast; even if it’s even better on the H2O version 2, which might be more interesting for you if you’re planning to buy a new e-reader.
Format & Software
Like other Kobo e-readers, this e-reader can naturally read 14 eBook formats: EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR.
The PDF support could use to be improved: while you technically can open PDFs with the default software, if you’re going to want to do more with the document, we recommend installing an outside software, such as Koreader.
For reading PDFs, we recommend a model with a larger screen, like the Kobo Forma or, even better, the PocketBook Inkpad 3. If you’re looking for the best ereader for PDF reading, you might want to check our article on that topic.
Price
Right now, this e-reader sells for about 200 euros. Sometimes you can find refurbished models on Amazon that are selling for less than 100 euros. While the Kobo Aura H2O version 2 or the PocketBook Inkpad 3 are great choices if you’re willing to spend around 200 euros, this model is a great option for a bit less than 100 euros, mostly because of the versatility that the 6.8-inch screen allows, as well as the MicroSD slot, which is useful for those who read a lot of manga.
This e-reader seems like a good purchase if you can find a secondhand or refurbished model; however, if you’re looking to buy new, the Inkpad 3 seems like a better deal.