Revisiting the Kobo Aura One: 2016 Assessment of This E-reader's Performance
** tl;dr:** The Kobo Aura One is an impressive, state-of-the-art e-reader that boasts a large 7.8-inch screen, exceptional front-lit display, and a nighttime reading mode to reduce blue light before bed. A waterproof and dustproof design makes it ideal for reading at the beach or pool. Some features may be complex, and the PDF experience could use improvement. Despite some drawbacks, the Kobo Aura One is a game-changer in the e-reader market.
Dive into the realm of literature like never before with the Kobo Aura One! Crafted to be the crown jewel of Kobo's e-reader arsenal, this marvelous device is designed to elevate your reading experience to new heights.
Gorgeous Display
Savor every word in vivid detail on the massive 7.8-inch screen that Kobo has ever produced. Boasting a resolution of 1872 by 1404, the Aura One pampers your eyes with an astonishing 300 pixels per inch. The screen syncs flawlessly with the bezel, providing a larger area for effortless navigation through e-books or zooming in PDF files.
The exquisite front-lit display is nothing short of breathtaking. It sports a myriad of tiny LED lights that project light upward, ensuring brightness distribution that leaves no grey areas, even at 50% brightness. The only gadget on the market that edges it out is the Amazon Kindle Oasis. Bucking the trend of white bulbs, the Kobo Aura One harnesses the power of RGB lights to illuminate the screen's depth.
Nighttime Reading Mode
Ever found yourself burning the midnight oil with a screen glowing brightly in your face? Researchers have found that blue light typically suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin more than any other light source. This can make falling asleep a headache. But fear not! The Kobo Aura One introduces a dedicated nighttime reading mode to make sleep easy on the eyes. As the screen's color gradually changes from a cool blue to a warm, orange glow according to the time of day, you'll unwind without worrying about that pesky sleep hormone.
Impressive Lighting System
Bask in the glory of a whopping 17 LED lights illuminating the Aura One's 7.8-inch screen - 9 white and 8 RGB LEDs for nighttime reading. While some may scoff at the world record, we're sure you'll appreciate the crisp, even illumination.
Durable Design
The Aura One flaunts exceptional durability, with an IPX8 rating that allows it to withstand being submerged in up to 6.5 feet of water for an hour. Perfect for al fresco reading sessions at the beach or pool.
Under the Hood
Beneath the Aura One's rugged exterior lies a powerful 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, comparable to what you'd find in modern Kindles. There's 8GB of internal storage, but no publicly available SD card slot. That might sound Like a Bummer, but the clever folks at Kobo have integrated the SD card into the device's circuit board, powering the Linux operating system.
Grip-Friendly Design
The subtle textured rubber back of the Aura One makes it a breeze to hold onto, but be warned: it picks up fingerprints fast. The sleep button is situated on the back, mirroring the design of the Amazon Fire line of tablets. The only port is a Micro USB, allowing for charging or data transfer.
Seamless User Interface
The Kobo Aura One sports a dynamic home screen that adapts to your digital library, displaying entries for new books, e-books, or newspapers for easy access. You'll be able to see your reading progress in percentage format beneath each title.
Overdrive Integration
Experience the joy of instantly borrowing e-books from your local library by diving into the Aura One's Overdrive functionalities. All you need is your library card and PIN, and you'll be able to rent books just as if you were at a physical library!
Ease of Use
The Aura One's operating system hasn't changed much since its inception, but that's not a bad thing! You'll find an Internet browser for perusing your favorite websites and Pocket integration for saving articles for later reading.
Advanced Font Customization
Love to tweak your font settings? The Aura One comes with unmatched adaptability in font weight and margin settings, allowing you to tailor your e-reading experience to perfection.
PDF Support
While the Aura One excels in reading EPUB and PDF formats, the PDF experience leaves something to be desired. If you're pinching and zooming frequently, you might run into issues, so the Aura One may be a better fit for manga, graphic novels, comics, and web-comics that don't require extensive zooming.
Wrap Up
There you have it - the Kobo Aura One: the reigning champion of e-readers, combining unparalleled brightness, exceptional waterproofing, and a genius nighttime reading mode. It's a masterclass blend of function and form.
Expected to hit shelves in September 2016 in select markets such as Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the United States, the Kobo Aura One is an investment in a lifetime of blissful reading. While the price tag of $260 CAD might give pause to some, the sheer value and longevity of this device make it a worthy purchase.
Source: Michael Kozlowski, "Kobo Aura One Review: The Best E-reader Now Available," Good e-Reader, June 30, 2016
Additional Information:
- The Kobo Aura One was initially priced at $229.99 USD in the US and is no longer a new model.
- Newer Kobo e-readers, like the Kobo Libra Colour, feature color displays and an eco-friendly design.
Authors:
- Michael Kozlowski, Editor-in-Chief at Good e-Reader, has written about audiobooks and e-readers for over fifteen years and has been featured in newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post, and the New York Times.
Leveraging advanced technology, the Kobo Aura One sets new standards for e-readers. Its 7.8-inch screen, powered by 17 LED lights, presents a stunning reading surface for your favorite e-books and PDFs. This e-reader, equipped with a host of impressive features like its nighttime reading mode and waterproof design, ensures a comfortable reading experience, whether you're lounging at the beach or snuggled under the covers before bed.
Embrace the digital revolution by exploring diverse reading apps and expanding your literature collection on the Kobo Aura One, a cutting-edge e-reader that epitomizes modern gadgets in today's fast-paced world of technology.
