Kobo Aura One (2016)

Big screen is sharp and crisp ; Supports any ebook format ; Long battery life ; Night mode eliminates blue light ; Waterproof

No page turning buttons ; Pricey

I thought ebook readers couldn’t get any better than Amazon’s Kindle Oasis, but Kobo’s Aura One has beaten the former best. You’ll still prefer the Oasis if you’re deeply embedded in Amazon’s Kindle ebook system, but if you don’t, the Aura One is...

Large, bright screen is perfect for reading graphic content ; 32GB of storage makes uploading large files to the device feel less cramped ; Access to OverDrive library service ; Excellent Pocket integration

Expensive for a device that brings little new to the table ; Screen lighting blurs text at higher illumination levels ; Build quality unimpressive compared to that of similarly priced Amazon hardware

When the Kobo Aura One was released in 2016, with its large, bright display and exclusives like Pocket and OverDrive integration, it had the potential to be a Kindle-killer. It was a flagship device that cost less and arguably did more than Amazon’s...

Big, bright screen. Adaptive backlight. Waterproof. Supports EPUB files. 8GB of internal storage.

Pricey. Screen has slightly shadowy edges. Lacks memory card slot.

Kobo Store and Conclusions The Kobo store is home to more than four million titles, including magazines and newspapers. In a random comparison, every major title I searched for was available from both Amazon and Kobo. Books are generally cheaper...

Highly water resistant (rated IPX8) ; Large display and editable typefaces make for enjoyable reading ; 8GB of onboard storage ; Lightweight for its size

Uneven, hazy backlighting ; No microSD card slot ; Some users will find it to be too large

Light, easy to hold and navigate. OverDrive support. Auto Brightness and Natural Light make reading easier on the eyes. Decent battery life.

Some PDFs are a bit sluggish. Updated while in the middle of reading. Currently sold out.

Excellent ambient-light sensors ; Waterproof design ; Larger display than Kindles ; Grippy back

Not the best book selection ; Laggy keyboard

The Kobo Aura One is a waterproof, 7.8-inch e-reader that offers excellent ambient lighting, but could be faster.

Big screen ; Blue-light night reading adjustments ; Waterproof

Expensive ; Diminished Battery

No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot for a devoted e-reader, and Kobo doesn’t have the same benefits as Amazon’s aggressive hardware subsidizing (though the fact that it’s now owned by Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten undoubtedly helps) or a...

Larger, beautiful screen ; Interesting night time reading idea ; Waterproof design

Hard to hold ; Expensive for some ; Lacking Amazon's store

The Aura One is one of the best premium ereader devices, but a larger screen on a Kobo may not be for everyone.

The price might seem off-putting at first (after all, it's possible to get a Kindle for a third of the price, if you're willing to put up with 'special offers', or £70 if you're not) but there's plenty here to justify the expense.