Speaking of eReaders, I bet Amazon Kindle is the one that pops into your mind. Admittedly, Amazon has already become dominant in the e-Book market along with its massive e-book library. However, if you are tired of Amazon Kindle and want to switch to a new brand, there’s always an alternative. Here comes Kobo, established itself in 2009, Kobo has been one of the key competitors of Amazon Kindle that worth taking a look at.


Kobo Aura H2O Review

Kobo Aura is the fifth generation of e-book readers developed by Kobo Inc. Initially released in 2013, this version has been updated consistently during the past few years. Kobo Aura H2O is the one that indeed impressed the market and consumers with its distinct features.

What's New in Kobo Aura H2O?

Essentially, the Kobo Aura H2O is an updated version of the Aura HD, with the improved design and screen technology for the 6.8-inch display. It’s one of the best e-book readers designed to be waterproof. It’s worth noting that the waterproof feature has been certified. While Amazon Kindle still seems to survive only on dry land, Kobo Aura H20 is no doubt the predecessor that surprised us.

Generally, the Aura H2O strongly resembles the Aura One, but more portable. As the H2O is 6.8 by 5.1 by 0.3 inches (HWD) while the Aura One is bulky with 7.7 by 5.5 by 0.3 inches. Aura H2O has distinctive feature -- the waterproof rating has been improved to IPX8, which means it can be submerged in up to 2 meters of water for an hour. It’s twice as long and as deep as the previous model. The Aura H2O also got rid of the charging port so you don’t have to worry about if it’s sealed off in the water. You can relax and enjoy reading while you hit the beach with Aura’s HZO Protection.

When it comes to the display, the Aura H2O’s 6.8” HD Carta E Ink screen is slightly lower in resolution at 265 pixels per inch(PPI) than the 300PPI of Aura One. But it’s negligible, especially for text to naked eyes. Compared to the previous model, the Aura H2O also seems to be more comfortable with the power button on the textured back for one-handed reading. The H2O also gets Aura one’s adaptive light technology which helps reduce blue-light exposure for nighttime reading. The closer you are to bedtime, the less blue light is emitted.

Pros and Cons

The Aura H2O offers the ultimate reading experience with improved features; often considered a relatively bigger size than Kindle, the Aura H2O is designed to be lighter and thinner than the previous model. The revolutionary waterproof feature just got even better, which makes it the best e-Reader when you want to enjoy reading on the beach. The adaptive lighting technology gives you a nicer reading experience. Either go with the default settings or your personal preference, the ComfortLight PRO can effectively reduce the blue light and comfort your nighttime reading. The detailed reading statistic is also an advanced feature; as your reading progress is presented clearly in various metrics, such as reading time, the total percentage read, etc.

Kobo Aura H2O is worth the hype, yet a few points are not satisfied. Even though the size has been improved for better grip, it’s still a bit larger for small hands. The H2O also got rid of the memory card slot, which makes it not possible for extra storage. The 8GB of storage will roughly fit up to 6,000 books. The pricing is set as $180 when it comes out, which is relatively higher than most people’s expectations.


Kobo Aura vs. Kindle Paperwhite -- Which is Better?

The comparison is inevitable when it comes to deciding which e-Reader best suits your need, and this often happens between Kobo and Kindle. Kindle Paperwhite has enjoyed a good reputation among readers as it’s the big-name predecessor on the block. As a serious competitor to Amazon, Kobo’s effort on e-Reader can not be underestimated, too. Let’s see which one is better.

Design

In terms of design, Kindle Paperwhite is more adaptive to different sizes of hands; even Kobo Aura H2O is designed in a more welcome and decreased size, with sharper corner to comfort the shape of your hands; the smaller size and large bezel of Kindle Paperwhite make it easier to reach the entire screen. The Aura H2O is also slightly heavier than Paperwhite, and that levels things out in terms of comfort.

Screen and Display

Screen and display, the all-important factors that make a difference in the reading experience. Both equipped with the Carta display, Kobo Aura H2O has a slightly lower resolution than Kindle Paperwhite as 265 PPI to 300 PPI. But it’s negligible to monochrome text reading. Long time reading strains eyes and that’s the big consideration when it comes to the display. Kobo’s feature called ComfortLight PRO is an adaptive lighting technology to help reduce blue-light exposure; Equipped with an ambient light sensor, the H2O can alter the screen brightness and temperature to the optimum level. The screen will filter out the blue light if you set a bedtime, so the nighttime reading would be more comfortable as the screen adjusted hue and backlight accordingly. The Kindle Paperwhite is also fairly gentle on the eyes but not as intelligent as Kobo Aura H2O.

Hardware and Software

When it comes to hardware and software, both powered by the same 1GHz processor, the Aura H2O is packed with 8GB storage which is way more generous than the 2GB of Paperwhite. Kindle Paperwhite outdoes Kobo with its 3G connectivity for you to download e-books on-the-go. Kobo Aura H2O offers more extra features on software as it allows you to alter the typeface with a choice of 50 font sizes and 11 typefaces. On top of that, Kobo has made its device waterproof, which is something you don’t find on Kindle Paperwhite. The IPX8 rating makes reading near water possible; it means you can drop the device in water to a depth of 2 meters for up to an hour.

Which one is better or worth buying? it’s really up to your budget and needs. If your old H2O is getting worse you may consider getting an updated version for its improved waterproofness and adaptive backlight. But if you don’t care for the beach or reading in the bath, the Kindle Paperwhite with Wi-Fi version is a better value as you get almost the same reading experience at a cheaper price. Not to mention the wider and less expensive catalog of books. Just don’t read near the water.


How to Transfer E-books from Kindle Paperwhite to Kobo Aura H2O?

For those Kindle users who want to switch to Kobo Aura H2O, there’s a problem lying ahead: to transfer the purchased e-books on Kindle to Kobo. The two platforms support different e-book formats: MOBI for Kindle whereas ePub and PDF for Kobo. Just like any other online digital content, such as video and audio; Kindle books are also encrypted as DRM(Digital Right Management) to prevent them from being copied and pirated for the interest of the author. To freely transfer Kindle books to Kobo, you will need to remove the DRM first. Hence, Leawo Prof.DRM is the best tool to help you with it.

  • Leawo Prof. DRM
  • Leawo Prof. DRM

    1. Convert iTunes DRM-protected M4V movie and TV show to DRM-Free MP4
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    5. Convert DRM-protected eBook from Kindle, Kobo, Adobe to DRM-free epub, mobi, azw3, txt, etc., format

Leawo Prof. DRM is a professional DRM removal converter. With Leawo Prof. DRM, you can not only successfully remove DRM on e-books but also videos and audios, to the formats you like. Leawo Prof. DRM is capable of converting iTunes music to local files so you can enjoy the Apple music offline without streaming or subscription. That’s not just it, DRM removal on iTunes streaming video is also possible. For instance, you can enjoy the latest Marvel Movies on 2021 offline with Leawo Prof. DRM. The software is the most powerful tool that can remove DRM with a conversion speed that is 50X higher than average DRM crackers. Now download the Leawo Prof. DRM and learn how to remove DRM on Kindle books and transfer them to Kobo Aura H2O.

Before everything, you’ll need to launch Kindle on your computer and log in. Make sure all the e-books have been downloaded to the Kindle library.

Step 1: Launch Leawo Prof. DRM

Launch Leawo Prof. DRM and click the icon of e-books to enter the e-book Converter.

Step 2: Add Source File

Click the "Add Files" button to add source files or simply just drag and drop.

If you click “Add files”, you’ll see a pop-up window with the “Kindle” option on the left sidebar. Choose the e-books you want to remove DRM and click the “Add” button.

Step 2: Set Output Format

Click the pencil icon on the right side of loaded Kindle books, this is where you can set the output format. Please mind that Kobo supports epub and PDF format. You can edit it one by one or check the "Apply to all e-book Files" button to edit all.

Step 4: Set Output Directory

You can edit the output directory in the “Output” box at the bottom of the screen. Change it if necessary.

Step 5: Convert Kindle Books

Click the “Convert” button in the bottom right corner to start conversion. The converted e-books with DRM removal will be in the designated folders soon.

That’s all for the DRM removal for Kindle books. Since your Kindle books have been converted into epub or PDF files, you can freely transfer them to Kobo Aura H2O. It’s extremely easy to add e-books to Kobo via the Kobo Desktop app. Simply connect Kobo Aura H2O to a computer using a Micro USB cable and open Kobo Desktop on the computer. Click e-Reader to show the content of your Kobo e-books; Drag and drop the converted Kindle e-books to your e-Reader and you are good to go.