E-Readers are for the most part, immune to the same sort of upgrade cycle we see with smartphones and tablets. The amount of RAM, processor and internal storage are fairly consistent and not much innovation is happening in the e-reader world. This leaves software and resolution as the main reasons why upgrading is worth it. Today, we ask the question, is the upcoming Kobo Glo HD a must buy?
The brand new Kobo Glo HD features a six inch e-ink Carta screen with a resolution of 1448×1072 and 300 PPI. The screen is powered by infrared touch and allows you to pinch and zoom PDF documents. The H2O does not allow you to pinch and zoom but the Kobo Aura does.
Underneath the hood is a 1 GHZ processor and 4 GB of internal storage. When you take the e-reader out of the box for the first time you only have 3.1 GB of memory, primarily because the OS takes up a fair amount of space. In the past, the lack of memory could be offset by inserting an SD card, but for some reason Kobo decided to forgo it in this model.
Most people who own Kobo e-readers have older models, such as the 1st generation Glo which came out in 2012, or maybe even the Kobo Touch that was issued in 2011. The former has a resolution of 1024 x 758 and the latter 800 x 600. They both employ E Ink Pearl, which is more susceptible to ghosting and slower page turns. The new Kobo Glo HD, uses an e-ink Carta screen and has 300 PPI, which is what the Kindle Voyage employs.
Is the Glo HD worth upgrading if you have an H2O or Kobo Aura? This becomes a bit trickier to answer because the Glo HD is considered an entry level device. The H2O is waterproof and can be relied on to read anywhere, at anytime. The Aura is better with PDF files, because you can pinch and zoom. This also is useful if you are browsing the internet.
The Glo HD is worth upgrading to if you own any model issued before 2012. It simply has a better user experience and is amazing with its high-definition screen. This is tremendously useful if you are reading like crazy and staring at the screen for hours at a time.
Do you like to watch videos? Below is our comparison of the Kobo Glo HD vs the Kobo Aura, Kobo H2O, Kindle Voyage and our review/unboxing.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
