Aura Kobo Aura screen irregularity

sunshinebuns · 01-26-2015, 08:46 PM

Hi,

I bought an Aura just the other day and the screen appearance is not uniform. I've tried to capture it in some pictures but it is difficult.

The top had a bar running across it, while the right side looks fine for the top half and then at the bottom half, and running around the corner to the bottom, there is another darkish line.

It doesn't seem normal, although it's the only Kobo Aura I've ever seen before.

Thanks in advance for any help.

BWinmill · 01-26-2015, 09:16 PM

Based upon my experience with an Aura H2O, this is "normal". It is a product of the front light, which is extremely difficult to make perfectly uniform. I did stick the normal in quotes though because I it is hard to judge how extreme it is. As you said, it is difficult to photograph.

GeoffR · 01-27-2015, 01:39 AM

Someone with an Aura will know better, but if the dark area is due to the frontlght then it is strange that it extends up the side of the bezel. On my Glo there is a small shadow at the very bottom of the screen where the frontlight LEDs are located, but the rest of the screen is unaffected, and the Aura frontlight is supposed to be better even than the Glo's.

bartveld · 01-27-2015, 05:19 AM

Actually, the grey line at top and bottom has been reported on before and is, as mentioned, an inevitable secondary effect of the frontlight. I am surprised though by the grey line along the sides and the very visible and sharp corner where vertical en horizontal meet. On my Aura that doesn't happen.

Anak · 01-27-2015, 09:24 AM

Front light is a tricky thing for ereaders (any brand and model).

Well, this irregularity is not normal. It is a defect as the light is not distributed even across the screen. The screen should be even from top to bottom and left to right. It shouldn't have those darker and lighter areas. Or maybe a little at the bottom of the screen (less than is visible at the picture) as the front lights are positioned along the bottom of the screen. But the top side of the screen should be flawless

This is a technical defect, which some buyers might find acceptable and/or consider minor. But it is not normal.
That's also why it was not thrown out at QC at the end of the production line. Selling it is cheaper than fixing it as many buyers will accept it (at least that is what manufacturers hope they will do). Replacing it only when a customer complains is much cheaper then replace all units with minor defects at the end of the production line.

You said you just bought the device, and it seems to bother you (at least a bit). The best advice is to replace it while you still can and if you don't, you might regret this later.

My Glo was replaced three times. The first unit had dark spots at the bottom, the second has something similar to your Aura: a horizontal whiter stripe across the top edge of the screen, third unit was fine.

sunshinebuns · 01-27-2015, 04:16 PM

Thanks for your feedback, all!

I did think the screen was outside the limits of what might be considered normal, and it can be quite distracting (I'm a details oriented person and things like this always take more of my attention than they should).

I bought from JB Hi Fi in Australia and their policy seems quite clear on these issues - if I return it within 30 days I can get a replacement or refund, and then it's just a matter of deciding if I should replace it (and hope that the next screen is better) or buy a Kindle PW 2.

I'm pretty new to the world of eReading (never actually thought of it as an option until I realised how portable a small screen is compared to an 800 page book, especially for holidays, but even for every day use!) and I did jump straight in after reading only glowing reviews for the Kobo Aura.

Since knowing that there are problems with the screen I've been able to find more articles that detail the negatives, but I do love the small size of the Aura compared to the Kindle PW, although it sounds as though the reading experience on the Kindle is better.

Thanks again everyone!

Care · 09-08-2015, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinebuns

Hi,

I bought an Aura just the other day and the screen appearance is not uniform. I've tried to capture it in some pictures but it is difficult.

The top had a bar running across it, while the right side looks fine for the top half and then at the bottom half, and running around the corner to the bottom, there is another darkish line.

It doesn't seem normal, although it's the only Kobo Aura I've ever seen before.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi sunshinebuns, I have the same thing on my aura. It doesn't really bother me as I only have it when the light is on. I didn't realize it wasn't normal.

I am not sure if you ever come back here, but I like your reading choice.

peterwardgd · 09-08-2015, 02:15 PM

This slight colouring of the screen is fairly common across kindles and kobo devices from what i've seen on the forum over the past few years. Some screens are warmer some are colder and some a bit half and half. If its a good book your reading you'll be so engrossed you wont notice it.

01-26-2015, 08:46 PM	#1
sunshinebuns Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kobo Aura	Kobo Aura screen irregularity Hi, I bought an Aura just the other day and the screen appearance is not uniform. I've tried to capture it in some pictures but it is difficult. The top had a bar running across it, while the right side looks fine for the top half and then at the bottom half, and running around the corner to the bottom, there is another darkish line. It doesn't seem normal, although it's the only Kobo Aura I've ever seen before. Thanks in advance for any help. Attached Thumbnails

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01-26-2015, 09:16 PM	#2
BWinmill Nameless Being	Based upon my experience with an Aura H2O, this is "normal". It is a product of the front light, which is extremely difficult to make perfectly uniform. I did stick the normal in quotes though because I it is hard to judge how extreme it is. As you said, it is difficult to photograph.

01-27-2015, 01:39 AM	#3
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Someone with an Aura will know better, but if the dark area is due to the frontlght then it is strange that it extends up the side of the bezel. On my Glo there is a small shadow at the very bottom of the screen where the frontlight LEDs are located, but the rest of the screen is unaffected, and the Aura frontlight is supposed to be better even than the Glo's.

01-27-2015, 05:19 AM	#4
bartveld Evangelist Posts: 413 Karma: 1477913 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Netherlands Device: KA1, Galaxy S8, Galaxy Tab A 10.1, ReMarkable	Actually, the grey line at top and bottom has been reported on before and is, as mentioned, an inevitable secondary effect of the frontlight. I am surprised though by the grey line along the sides and the very visible and sharp corner where vertical en horizontal meet. On my Aura that doesn't happen.

01-27-2015, 09:24 AM	#5
Anak Guru Posts: 601 Karma: 641742 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: DE Device: Kobo Glo	Front light is a tricky thing for ereaders (any brand and model). Well, this irregularity is not normal. It is a defect as the light is not distributed even across the screen. The screen should be even from top to bottom and left to right. It shouldn't have those darker and lighter areas. Or maybe a little at the bottom of the screen (less than is visible at the picture) as the front lights are positioned along the bottom of the screen. But the top side of the screen should be flawless This is a technical defect, which some buyers might find acceptable and/or consider minor. But it is not normal. That's also why it was not thrown out at QC at the end of the production line. Selling it is cheaper than fixing it as many buyers will accept it (at least that is what manufacturers hope they will do). Replacing it only when a customer complains is much cheaper then replace all units with minor defects at the end of the production line. You said you just bought the device, and it seems to bother you (at least a bit). The best advice is to replace it while you still can and if you don't, you might regret this later. My Glo was replaced three times. The first unit had dark spots at the bottom, the second has something similar to your Aura: a horizontal whiter stripe across the top edge of the screen, third unit was fine.

01-27-2015, 04:16 PM	#6
sunshinebuns Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kobo Aura	Thanks for your feedback, all! I did think the screen was outside the limits of what might be considered normal, and it can be quite distracting (I'm a details oriented person and things like this always take more of my attention than they should). I bought from JB Hi Fi in Australia and their policy seems quite clear on these issues - if I return it within 30 days I can get a replacement or refund, and then it's just a matter of deciding if I should replace it (and hope that the next screen is better) or buy a Kindle PW 2. I'm pretty new to the world of eReading (never actually thought of it as an option until I realised how portable a small screen is compared to an 800 page book, especially for holidays, but even for every day use!) and I did jump straight in after reading only glowing reviews for the Kobo Aura. Since knowing that there are problems with the screen I've been able to find more articles that detail the negatives, but I do love the small size of the Aura compared to the Kindle PW, although it sounds as though the reading experience on the Kindle is better. Thanks again everyone!

09-08-2015, 02:15 PM	#8
peterwardgd Addict Posts: 221 Karma: 1550696 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: kobo aura	This slight colouring of the screen is fairly common across kindles and kobo devices from what i've seen on the forum over the past few years. Some screens are warmer some are colder and some a bit half and half. If its a good book your reading you'll be so engrossed you wont notice it.

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