Aura HD Aura HD - still a decent device?

[pickyaxe]

So unfortunately my Aura One's screen broke for no apparent reason. Since shipping it internationally to get it fixed is out of the question, I've been looking at replacement devices.

Unfortunately the eReader market has been especially stagnant lately, so I might as well get something older. Refurbished Aura HD goes for a little over 110$, which I think is reasonable. So anyway, my questions are..

1) Is the contrast that much worse than the H2O that I previously owned?

2) How is the white-colored Aura HD? Is the white bezel distracting? Does the plastic degrade and become yellow over time?

3) Any other issue specific to this model?

4) Any other device that can be had for relatively cheap? Maybe not even a Kobo if it's actually good.

[filmo]

I had white Kobo mini and it never developed yellow as it aged.

[Ken Maltby]

I can't say how my AuraHDs compare to newer Kobos, as I have been, and continue to be very satisfied with them. I haven't seen a good enough reason to even try any of the newer ones. In fact I haven't applied Kobo firmware updates, as I don't use the stock software or deal with the Kobo store. So I haven't had to deal with any of the problems that pop up with each new release.

As I understand it, the AuraHD functions with the new firmware as well as the current devices, with the exception of something like "Comfort Lighting" which has hardware requirements.

With modern plastics you need to leave them in the sun to "yellow" them.

Luck;
Ken

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pickyaxe

2) How is the white-colored Aura HD? Is the white bezel distracting?

There was a fad for white e-readers for a bit. Besides Kobo, Nook and Kindle also had white models. The argument is the white bezel was less distracting than a black one. Not sure if that is true, but at least it shouldn't be more distracting.

[ottdmk]

Had I not dropped it, I would probably still be happily using my Aura HD. Great e-reader.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

There was a fad for white e-readers for a bit. Besides Kobo, Nook and Kindle also had white models. The argument is the white bezel was less distracting than a black one. Not sure if that is true, but at least it shouldn't be more distracting.

Amazon still offers a white option in their Basic and Paperwhite eReaders. I (personally) think the black bezels make eInk fonts look a little darker. Maybe with a front-lit eReader (where the screen is whiter) the bezel would look like an extension of the screen – but with the older eReaders (like my Kobo Touch) it just seems to highlight the grayer screen. But, once I'm reading, it really doesn't matter if the bezel is black or white.

[dordale]

I have an Aura One and an older Aura HD. If I look at them both together, I can tell the Aura One has a better screen. But, the Aura HD does have a good screen--and I am happy reading on it.

[RobertJSawyer]

I like and still use my Kobo Aura HD; however, I have the black bezel. Ghosting is worse than on a regular pre-2017 Aura, although that only matters much if you use the night-mode hack (which I do); setting the screen refresh for the hack to every page makes it quite acceptable. I like that you can add a Micro SD card for additional storage and I use one in mine.

[bagpiper1]

Originally Posted by pickyaxe

So unfortunately my Aura One's screen broke for no apparent reason. Since shipping it internationally to get it fixed is out of the question, I've been looking at replacement devices.

Unfortunately the eReader market has been especially stagnant lately, so I might as well get something older. Refurbished Aura HD goes for a little over 110$, which I think is reasonable. So anyway, my questions are..

1) Is the contrast that much worse than the H2O that I previously owned?

2) How is the white-colored Aura HD? Is the white bezel distracting? Does the plastic degrade and become yellow over time?

3) Any other issue specific to this model?

4) Any other device that can be had for relatively cheap? Maybe not even a Kobo if it's actually good.

I am not going to post the link/URL because it is not quite clear to me, this instant, if doing so is breaking the forum rules but I see a refurbished Kindle Voyage for $118.99 on Ebay. The Kindle Voyage is superior, hardware wise, to the Kobo Aura HD not because Amazon is better than Kobo but because it came out a year or two later.

Don't get me wrong I have never owned a Kindle and prefer Kobo for various reasons including philosophical/political but I am also a practical person. I would probably grab that Kindle Voyage quick , if I was you, as there are only two available, for that price, that I see.

I was an owner of a Kobo Aura HD and had it for years and got lots of good use out of it before I took the cover off and dropped it thus breaking the screen. I probably would not have gotten a new eReader, yet, if I did not break it.

So, anyway, I bought a Kobo Aura edition 2 as a replacement and was a little dissapointed but you get what you pay for and the Kobo Aura HD was a more expensive device. So I am waiting for the Kobo Aura ONE to come in the mail (I ordered one obviously). Now I said you get what you pay for but for a similar price as the Kobo Aura Edition 2 the Kindle paperwhite seems like the better deal/device for the money but I have never actually owned or used a Kindle.

That being said I need the Kobo Aura ONE because certain mobi/epub books like Mathematics in 10 Lessons : The Grand Tour by Jerry King have mathematical formulas/pictures, while not a PDF format, are too tiny on a 6 inch or even probably a 6.8/7 screen. So the Kobo Aura ONE is the way to go for me as other larger screen eReaders are either junk or cost way too much.

[JohhnyMix]

Yea, kindles are nice but dont take epubs so thats why i stick to Kobo but any e-reader with build in light and HD resolution you can find for cheap is worth getting if you ask me I almost went for the Kobo Aura edition 2 but due to the lower res and smaller screen is went for the new H2O model, which i am in love with.

[Atilla]

Hi Sorry for necroing this thread. Does the screen flash to black on page turns with the latest firmware or has it been eliminated?

Thanks

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Atilla

Hi Sorry for necroing this thread. Does the screen flash to black on page turns with the latest firmware or has it been eliminated?

Thanks

You can set the number of pages before the screen is refreshed from 1 to 10 or on a new chapter on the latest firmware. This is not something that can be eliminated due to the ghosting which seems inherent in the eInk design. The write all white/black/white triple-write removes the ghosting.