Kobo this week unveiled its latest eReader. Billed as “the world’s first premium waterproof E Ink eReader,” it will let book readers take their ereader to the beach, the pool or the tub without fear of getting it wet. It is very similar to the Kobo Aura launched last year but adds the waterproof capabilities that many Kobo readers have been asking for.
“We are most interested in those people who put books at the centre of their lives – what they want to see next, what gets them excited. When we asked our customers what held them back from reading more eBooks, many told us they love to read in the bath, by the pool, or on the beach, but believed that devices and water didn’t mix,” said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Kobo. “As we dug deeper, we found that more than 60% of customers surveyed said they would love to be able read near water without worry. We designed the Kobo Aura H2O, our latest premium eReader, so that eBooks could be just as common at the beach or in the bath as they are on the bus or in bed.”
With its IP67 certification, the Kobo Aura H2O can immersed in up to one metre of water for up to 30 minutes (as long as the port cover closed) without any issue. It also improves upon the original Kobo Aura by bumping up the display size slightly and increasing the resolution.
Kobo Aura H2O specifications:
- Processor: 1GHz
- Operating system: Proprietary
- Cellular connectivity: None
- Other connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Display: 6.8-inch Carta E Ink HD (1430×1080 / 265DPI) touchscreen
- Internal storage: 4GB
- External storage: MicroSD cards up to 32GB
- Rear-facing camera: None
- Front-facing camera: None
- Connectors: Micro-USB port
- Battery: Up to 2 months (based on 30 minutes of reading per day)
- Dimensions: 179 × 129 × 9.7 millimeters
- Weight: 233 grams
- Colours: Black
- Other: Waterproof (IP67 certified), ComfortLight technology
The Kobo Aura H2O will sell for CA$179.99 (and US$179.99 in the U.S.). It will be available for pre-order on September 1 with shipments expected to begin on October 1. It will also be available in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, More countries are expected to follow later.
Source : Kobo