Kobo has launched a new waterproof ereader, the Kobo Aura H2O.
The 6.8” device is IP67 certified, meaning it’s waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 1 metre of water with the port cover closed, providing users with peace of mind should their ereader suddenly get dropped in the bath.
The screen includes Carta E Ink technology, which Kobo claims “offers the closest experience to print-on-paper,” while under the hood there’s a 1GHz processor and 4GB of onboard storage (expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card).
“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.”
The device goes on sale from October 1st in Canada, the US, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain and will cost £139.99 in the UK, $179.99 CAD/USD, and €179.99 in the EU.
Pre-orders will be available at Kobo.com in Canada, the US, and the UK.
