The Kobo Aura HD is the newest eReader on the scene and aims to trump its monochrome rivals in every aspect of its capabilities. In the words of Kobo’s CEO Michael Serbinis, the Aura HD is the “eReader reimagined.”
The act of reading a book has undergone a dramatic shift in recent years, the likes of which has never been seen in history before. The waning demand for ‘dead tree media’ giving way to the digital revolution, embodied by the introduction of eReaders such as the Kobos, Kindles and the Nooks of this world. With the London Book Fair in full swing, the stage was set for Kobo to unveil their new high-end eReader, which aims take the crown from the likes of the Kindle Paperwhite.
As the name suggests the Kobo Aura HD is the highest resolution Kobo eReader to date, with a large 6.8-inch 1440 x 1080 HD display, pushing far closer to tablet territory than the company’s previous endeavours. The display therefore totes an impressive 265ppi (the Kindle Paperwhite features a ppi of just 216) making for extremely clear, crisp text and monochromatic images. The overall design of the new reader is minimalist and elegant, with a satin finish, white body, and an asymmetrical ridged back which is said to emulate the look of carefully folded paper.
Despite its size, the Aura HD is a little on the thick side, but that’s likely as a result of the larger battery and other more beefy internals, with a quoted two-month life cycle between charges, approximately double that of Kobo’s typical eReaders.
As with the reader itself, the packaging and contents feel carefully considered with a premium and eco-friendly recycled unbleached card box revealing the Kobo under the lid before granting access to the other extras. Lift off the top tray and there’s a card pouch complete with a setup guide and user manual as well as a very premium looking USB to microUSB which features what appears to be a nylon weave surrounding the wire. What’s more, the Aura HD will happily charge from any USB slot, meaning no plug in the box and an even more eco friendly eReader.
You’ll be able to pick up the Kobo Aura HD from 25 April, 2013 for £140.
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