Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2 vs. Kobo Aura H2O

August 31, 2014 By Michael Kozlowski 16 Comments

In this video comparison we look at the flagship Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2 and the Kobo Aura H20. This two e-readers have fairly similar technology, as they are both rocking e Ink Carta, which result in faster page turns.

The Kindle Paperwhite 2 is certainly one of the most popular e-readers in the world, and Amazon currently controls 70% of the global eBook market. Now that Sony is out of the picture, it is a two horse race with Amazon and Kobo.

The Purpose of today’s comparison is to give you a sense on how these two devices fare head to head. We look at Beyond the Book and Amazon X-Ray, GoodReads, PDF files, eBooks, menus, settings and the how the online bookstores perform.

Michael Kozlowski

Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about audiobooks and e-readers for the past ten years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and Verge.

FM

This is an awesome video! Thanks guys!

Which devise has the better contrast? It looks like H2O has a whiter background? Which device has blacker blacks?
cb

Thanks Michael! So do your sources at Kobo say what the next Kobo release with Carta will be? Is an Aura updated with Carta in the works? Something else?
Maria

Any idea when Amazon will release new versions of their Kindle ereaders?
Michael Kozlowski

I heard they are going to do something in the middle of September. They have to either time it before or after the new line of Apple products, so they don’t get lost in the shuffle. Amazon plans 2 new e-readers and 3 tablets.
Michael Kozlowski

Kobo has told me there is no plans for anymore new products in 2014. They said their tablet line competes really well with all other devices on the market, so there is no need for a product refresh. The Aura H20 is all they have for this year, but seldom give advanced notice on whats in store for later in 2015.

Since you are asking me, I have a feeling. Kobo sources all of their hardware through Nettronix. At a recent tradeshow Nettronix was showing off a new Wacom enabled e-reader that used the chassis of of the Aura HD. So my thoughts is this is a proof of concept device they are trying to sell Kobo on.

If you are asking me to speculate. Sony e-readers were best known for their stylus, which was way more intuitive for making notes, annointations and highlights. If Netronix manages to convince Kobo to use their Wacom technology, we will have a future kobo reader that is designed to be capacitive touchscreen and a viable note taker.
Michael Kozlowski

Kobo is more customizable. You can load in your own fonts and have more advanced control over how black you want the text to be.
Mehdi

What were the brightness settings of these two ereaders? The Kobo looks more washed-out than being whiter white. Can you guys give us your opinion on real-world (not merely the spec difference, we know them) contrast and sharpness comparison?
cb

Any info about the new Amazon ereaders? What do you anticipate the competition will release with Carta?
C

Good question. Michael, for those of us who will use the device as a book and will consider the bells and whistles only as extras, how do the reading experiences compare? Contrast, readability, light quality, glare and the like?
Fiddle Castro

Have you heard any gossip, Michael, about the PW3 coming with hardware buttons to turn pages?
Santo

Yeah but outside of US and few countries is unknown tech. I think the kobo is better than the Kindle PW
Shahri Cct

kindle seems to have a better e-ink