What's good
- Small and light
- Plenty of storage
- A capable Amazon alternative
What's bad
- No audiobook support
- No subscription-based services
- Not waterproof
What's good
- Light and thin
- Rounded edges make it easier to hold
- More RAM for faster responsiveness
- Bluetooth connectivity for blind or visually impaired users
What's bad
- No front lighting
- Not enough changes from 2014 version to warrant an upgrade
- No 3G connectivity
What's good
- Excellent price point
- Overdrive integration
- Sharp screen
- No unnecessary screen clutter
- Supports many file formats
What's bad
- Plastic build
- Screen contrast not great
- Might be missing some books in its store
Verdict
The Kobo Libra H2O is a great ebook reader for people who want to use a variety of formats and aren’t married to the Amazon ecosystem. It’s cheap, waterproof and generally provides a great reading experience.
What's good
- Large display allows for 30 percent more on-screen text
- Excellent battery life
- Waterproof
- Ergonomic design
- More accessibility options
What's bad
- Expensive
- No integrated speaker
- Can not read a book and listen to an audiobook at the same time
Verdict
The Kindle Oasis (2017) might be expensive, but its large display, waterproofing, and performance make it a must-buy for those looking for a premium e-reading experience.
What's good
- Stylus support
- Documents and books look great
- Good handwriting recognition
What's bad
- Heavy
- No amber lighting
- Writing is restricted
Verdict
While it's definitely an e-reader first and a digital notepad second, the Kobo Elipsa does quite well for Kobo's first foray into active stylus support. It's a big e-reader though, so we don't recommend it for on-the-go use or bedside reading.
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What's good
- Snappy performance
- Adjustable front light color temperature
- Long battery life
- Sharp 300dpi screen
- Ergonomic design
What's bad
- Smaller library selection than Apple or Amazon
- Not water-resistant
- Awkward Overdrive interface
Verdict
The Kobo Clara HD is a great budget e-reader with excellent performance and a beautiful screen. Unless you want access to the Kindle Store's massive line-up, the Clara HD goes toe-to-toe with nearly any low-to-mid priced e-reader out there.
