Yesterday, Amazon's new Kindle went on sale, a device that Bezos himself announced as the best eReader on the market, but Amazon's competitors still have something to say about it. Therefore, we wanted to compare the Kindle Oasis with the Kobo Aura H2O , the two most powerful and expensive eReaders available.
The truth is that despite this comparison, the two e-readers are devices aimed at different segments, although they both have in common that they seek to offer the best reading experience for the user, something that we will try to measure and show you.
Kindle Oasis Specifications
- Features a 6-inch Touchscreen with Paperwhite technology with E Ink Carta ™ and built-in reading light, 300 dpi, optimized font technology, and 16 gray scales
- 143 x 122 x 3.4-8.5 mm
- Manufactured on a plastic housing, with a polymer frame that has been subjected to a galvanization process
- WiFi version 131/128 grams and 1133/240 grams the WiFi + 3G version (The weight is shown first without cover and second with it attached)
- 4 GB that allows you to store more than 2.000 eBooks, although it will depend on the size of each of the books
- WiFi and 3G connection or only WiFi
- Format 8 Kindle (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP by conversion
- Integrated light
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Kobo Aura H2O Specifications
- It incorporates a 6,8-inch touch screen with E Ink Letter technology, integrated reading light with ComforLight, 365 dpi and optimized font technology.
- 179 x 129 x 9.7 mm and 233 gr.
- 4 Gb of internal storage.
- Wifi connection and Microusb output.
- 2 month battery life
- Format EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR.
- Integrated light and water resistance.
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Design
The Kindle Oasis design has been both controversial and beloved, a situation similar to that of the Kobo Aura H2O, though to a lesser extent. The truth is, both devices aim for a more comfortable reading experience, allowing you to read the eReader without feeling its weight in your hand . In this regard, the Kobo Aura H2O's rubberized cover is noteworthy, making it easy to handle with just a few fingers or even the palm of your hand . The Kindle Oasis, on the other hand, has a thicker finish that gives it the feel of holding a book, but its surface is too bulky to grip comfortably. In this respect, I believe the Kobo H2O surpasses the Kindle Oasis.
Screen
The Kobo Aura H2O has a 6,8-inch screen with a resolution of 1430 x 1080 pixels at 265 dpi. It uses Carta technology, like the Kindle Oasis, but its backlighting isn't as good. The Kindle Oasis, on the other hand, has a higher resolution and better backlighting , but is slightly smaller. Despite the size difference, the Kindle Oasis outperforms its rival in this aspect.
Battery
The battery life of both devices is excellent, lasting over a month on either device. However, it's worth noting that the Kindle Oasis has a built-in power bank that further extends the eReader's battery life. But let's be honest, a power bank can do the same for the Kobo Aura H2O. Even so, it seems that fast charging gives the Kindle Oasis a slight advantage over the Kobo Aura H20O, but not by much, as few users actually need an eReader with exceptionally long battery life.
Software
The Kobo Aura H2O uses the same software base as the rest of Kobo's devices, meaning you can switch eReaders without having to learn how to use them. It's also compatible with Pocket , a great service for reading later. The Kindle Oasis integrates with Goodreads and SendToKindle , two great apps that many users enjoy. However, regarding formats, the Kobo Aura H2O supports the ePub format, while the Kindle Oasis does not. In this respect, the Kobo Aura H2O might have the edge , but not by much if you really prefer the Amazon ecosystem.
Extra features
The Kindle Oasis comes with a free case and is very durable, plus it has a button layout that makes it suitable for both left- and right-handed users . This is a major advantage, as many people struggle to read comfortably on their eReaders due to these issues. However, the Kobo Aura H2O's IP67 certification and ComfortLight, which adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient light, are extra features that are quite appealing. In this respect, I think both devices are evenly matched , as one or the other will be better depending on your needs. Left-handed users might prefer the Kindle Oasis, but if you frequently go to the beach, the Kobo Aura H2O is the better choice.
Price
Price has become a major factor for many. A great e-reader isn't just measured by its pixels or technology, but also by its price. A great e-reader has a low price, or so they say. The Kobo Aura H2O costs €179 , a very high price for an e-reader, but the truth is that people are willing to buy one at that price. The Kindle Oasis will cost €289 , €100 more than the Kobo Aura H2O, but if we consider that it comes with a case with an auxiliary battery, the price can be more affordable than the Kobo Aura H2O, which doesn't include a battery or case.
In this respect, it seems that the winner for many is the Kobo Aura H2O, but we must not forget the additional costs, so it seems that the Kindle Oasis will offer some future surprises.
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Opinion
Personally, I think they're both great eReaders. The Kindle Oasis hasn't brought many new features, but those it has are very interesting and could make us forget the disappointment of the Kindle Voyage. But we also have to remember that the Kobo Aura H2O has been around for over a year now , a great eReader that, despite its age, can compete with newer models like the Kindle Oasis. If I had to choose one, I'd probably consider which ecosystem I prefer , Kobo's or Amazon's, and then choose the corresponding eReader. It's not a clear-cut decision, but both devices are great, whether their companies like it or not.
Which one do you stay with?