Looking for waterproof e-reader with large or expandable storage

[Peliaien]

Hello,

I recently bought a bunch of e-books from some independent sites. These come in epub format, and I am interested in getting a new e-reader so that I can really enjoy these because my phone just isn't doing it. I have a Kindle 4 that I haven't used in a while, but I remember it worked well enough, I was mainly just tired of paying full retail on e-books when I could pretty much always get paperbacks at the same price new, and even cheaper used.

That being said, I am looking for the following feature set, split into "need to have" and "nice to have":

Need to have:

• Waterproof (for bathtub use)
• Basic browser functionality (mainly Reddit text posts and comments, light articles)
• Expandable storage, either a card slot or easily being able to open the back and swap an internal SD or micro SD card, or optionally 64GB+ storage not expandable
• Easily sideload books in nearly any common format, probably mostly epub, maybe some mobi

Nice to have:

• Physical buttons
• Open / unlocked software and ecosystem, the more open the better

My budget is max $100 for a new or used reader, preferably closer to $50. I have done some research already and it seems the only option that matches both waterproof and expandable storage within that budget is the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 1. Though, if there are any other suggestions, I very much would like to hear them. International reader suggestions are OK as long as I can find one to import.

Ideally, I am looking for something more "open" and "hackable". While Kindles are extremely common here in the USA, they seem very locked down to Amazon's ecosystem - meaning they want you on Kindle Store only. In my case, I want to be able to read books on a dedicated device and easily transfer them from Calibre on my PC or similar. If there is a little more work involved then just placing an Amazon order and having a book show up, that is OK if it's set up more for sideloading.

Any questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks in advance.

Peliaien

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Peliaien

Waterproof (for bathtub use)
Expandable storage, either a card slot or easily being able to open the back and swap an internal SD or micro SD card, or optionally 64GB+ storage not expandable

That's impossible

I have done some research already and it seems the only option that matches both waterproof and expandable storage within that budget is the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 1.

The sealing compound of the "waterproof" housing has long been porous and permeable to water.
The option for the bathtub is Tolino Shine 3 or Kobo Clara HD, opening the housing, changing the SD and using a zip bag.

[Sirtel]

Kindles are not locked down in regard to sideloading. Yes, they don't do epub, but you can sideload as much as you want after converting your epubs to mobi or azw3. I have thousands of books on my Kindles, all sideloaded from Calibre.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kindles are not locked down in regard to sideloading. Yes, they don't do epub, but you can sideload as much as you want after converting your epubs to mobi or azw3. I have thousands of books on my Kindles, all sideloaded from Calibre.

Kindles have issues with 64GB?

[JSWolf]

You can get a Kobo Libra H2O is waterproof and has a 7" screen. It's more expensive then a Kindle PW4 and cheaper then a Kindle Oasis. It's a better Reader then either because it has much better firmware.

With Calibre and a the DeDRM plugin, you can liberate your eBooks and side load them to the Kobo. With Calibre, the eBook management on the Kobo is very good. On the Kindle, meh!

So I do suggest you add to your budget if you can and get the better Reader. The Libra H2O has buttons and is fairly open without the need to jailbreak. Also, it handles ePub. It ticks most of your boxes. More then a Kindle would.

The only thing that's not ticked with Kobo or Amazon is expandable storage. 8GB is more then enough to store more eBooks then you could read.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The only thing that's not ticked with Kobo or Amazon is expandable storage. 8GB is more then enough to store more eBooks then you could read.

Ridiculous.
The free space is just enough for about 20 comics.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Ridiculous.
The free space is just enough for about 20 comics.

Nothing was mentioned about comics by the OP. The OP only mentioned books.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Nothing was mentioned about comics by the OP. The OP only mentioned books.

He mentioned 64 GB.
And that's a little more than the Koboean 8 GB

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

He mentioned 64 GB.
And that's a little more than the Koboean 8 GB

But the price point mentioned is not going to get 64GB or a card slot. In fact, the price point mentioned is a bit shy of getting a good Reader.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But the price point mentioned is not going to get 64GB or a card slot. In fact, the price point mentioned is a bit shy of getting a good Reader.

Yes, but the Kobo Libra is not what it needs and 10 cents are too much for that.
I have already answered what is possible for him.
And the water resistance of these devices is a fairy tale anyway, because the USB ports cannot be protected.
The only waterproof device was the Aura H2O, and it didn't last long because the sealant had become porous.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

The only waterproof device was the Aura H2O, and it didn't last long because the sealant had become porous.

Do you have a source for that claim? I don't use it much anymore so I placed my Aura H2O in a baking dish filled with water for an hour and I don't seem to have any issues with water leakage. No water was under the USB/etc. cover and I checked for any internal leakage by weighing the H2O before and after and the net change was -0.05g after I dried the outside of the H2O.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Do you have a source for that claim? I don't use it much anymore so I placed my Aura H2O in a baking dish filled with water for an hour and I don't seem to have any issues with water leakage. No water was under the USB/etc. cover and I checked for any internal leakage by weighing the H2O before and after and the net change was -0.05g after I dried the outside of the H2O.

Naturally. I dropped my H2O into a sink about a year ago with the result that water penetrated the housing.
Not on the USB / SD seal, but about 5 cm on the right housing / screen cover. The otherwise plastic, sticky sealant was crumbly and therefore permeable to water.
It was probably new waterproof, but with age .....
I assume that such problems have become known and that therefore no further construction of this type has taken place.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Naturally. I dropped my H2O into a sink about a year ago with the result that water penetrated the housing.
Not on the USB / SD seal, but about 5 cm on the right housing / screen cover. The otherwise plastic, sticky sealant was crumbly and therefore permeable to water.
It was probably new waterproof, but with age .....
I assume that such problems have become known and that therefore no further construction of this type has taken place.

A ZIP bag is not a good idea (IMHO). It makes reading harder and with a Clara HD or Tolino Shine 3, you can accidentally change the page. You cannot set it to swipe. It's just a disaster waiting to happen.

Not knowing how long the waterproof sealant lasts is why I treat my H2O like it's not waterproof. It probably isn't given that it's just over 6-years old.

[Sirtel]

My current readers are all waterproof in theory, but I haven't tested any of them. Not even tempted.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

My current readers are all waterproof in theory, but I haven't tested any of them. Not even tempted.

I haven't used the Aura H2O in several years so testing it's waterproofing was not that big a deal to me. Other than @ottischwenk, the only other person I know of who ran into problems with his Aura H2O's waterproofing was after they opened it up to replace the internal uSD card. Hmmm... pry the waterproof seal open likely damaging the adhesive and wonder why it was no longer waterproof.

The sealing on the Aura H2O is an actual waterproofing in contrast to the HZO coating on the electronics. I've heard several anecdotal stories about the HZO coating flaking off but so far no decent images and no first party reports. To me, an anecdotal reports from a cousin of my sister-in-law's niece's husband lacks a certain reliability.