Kobo Aura One - better than a Kindle Oasis?

When Amazon revealed its premium-edged Kindle Oasis two months ago, it looked as if the e-reader would be in a class of its own thanks to excellent ergonomic design and lightweight, bright display.

However, it's already got competition. Canadian firm Kobo's Aura One can do things the Amazon e-reader can only dream of, says Wired.

You may not have heard of the company, but its products have attained a reputation among those in the know, with Digital Trends saying real "digital bookworms turn to Kobo's ebook readers".

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This new model is Kobo's latest flagship device and critically, it packs in three standout features that could give Oasis buyers second thoughts.

One big display

The Aura One's screen is huge. At an iPad Mini-rivalling 7.8ins, it's noticeably larger than the 6ins standard many of the key industry players adhere to. As a result, not only is it one of the largest e-readers on sale, it's also one of the most tablet-like.

Many e-readers have thick, chunky designs with big bezels and old-fashioned displays sat deep behind the surface. In contrast, the One's screen is placed into a casing with much thinner sides and sits flat on the front.

A solid 300ppi pixel density means the letters appear sharp and crisp and it's all housed within a case just 0.27ins (6.9mm) thick – the same as an iPhone 6.

Waterproof design

Not only is it big, the Aura One is also tough, with a waterproof design featuring an IPX8 rating. Bath time readers could drop it in water more than six feet deep for up to an hour without any damage.

That's a big distinguishing factor, says The Verge. Amazon may have an Oasis, but it isn't waterproof at all.

A better night's sleep

Once you're out of the tub, an ambient light sensor measures light levels to detect the time of day and reduces the amount of blue light exposure when it gets late, so night-time reading should genuinely help you nod off.

Any drawbacks?

Of course, plucking for the Kobo Aura One means you'll be buying a device outside Amazon's vast e-reader ecosystem, although you still have the choice of five million titles to download. Plus you can use OverDrive – a new book rental service tied to real libraries for free books.

Alphr says that overall, the Aura looks promising, adding that with 512MB RAM and 8GB internal storage, it's a powerful e-reader too.

Amazon's Kindle Oasis retails for £269.99; the Aura One is £190.

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