Kobo has severely discounted the price of their 2nd generation e-Reading tablet, the Arc. The 16GB model now starts at $130, while the 32GB model is selling for $180 and the 64 GB edition for $200. Many of Kobo’s retail partners have also started to abide by the new pricing scheme, including Chapters/Indigo.
The Kobo Arc features a seven inch HD display with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels and 215 PPI. The screen features IPS screen technology, which is an industry-leading display optimized for 178 degree viewing angles and ultra-durable glass, resistant to damage, scratches, bumps, and drops. Underneath the hood is a Texas Instruments OMAP 4470 1.5 GHZ dual core processor and 1 GB of RAM. It currently runs a fairly modern version of Google Android, with 4.1.1.
The Arc even by today’s standards is fairly relevant with the hardware specs and overall performance. We consistently compare it against new tablets that come out on a monthly basis and it still keeps up. The big draw about this model is the focused attention on the entire e-Reading experience. There are a number of core features, such as Reading Life, and eBook discovery that are prominently displayed on the home screen.
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.