Kobo Aura H2O Ereader Makes Your Digital Books Waterproof

Kobo has taken the wraps off its newest traditional ereader, the Aura H2O. As its name suggests, the newest e-ink device from the company is waterproof, setting it apart from some of its similarly-designed brethren. The device is supposed to be the first of its kind, and unshackles readers so they can enjoy their digital books poolside or in the tub.

The device, while waterproof, isn't something you'll be able to use for reading sessions under the water. Instead, the IP67 certification allows it to survive in up to about 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes — assuming you had the port's cover closed before it got wet.

Waterproofing aside, the Aura H2O has a 6.8-inch touchscreen using Carta E Ink technology, offering 265dpi. Under the hood is a 1GHz processor and 4GB of internal storage space, as well as a microSD card slot that supports expanding the storage up to 32GB. You should be able to run the ereader for up to two months before needing to charge.

The Aura H2O will be first launching in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the Netherlands on October 1st. For those in the United States, the e-ink slate will be priced at $179.99 USD/CAD, and £139.99 in the UK.