• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog
  • Kindle
  • Nook
  • Onyx Boox
  • Kobo
  • Comparisons
  • About
  • Disclosure
The eBook Reader Blog

The eBook Reader Blog

The eBook Reader Blog keeps you updated on the latest ereader and tablet news, reviews, and tutorials.

  • News
  • eBook Readers
  • Sales & Deals
  • Reviews
  • How To Guides
  • eBooks
  • Free eBooks

Kobo Aura One vs Aura Edition 2 Comparison (Video)

September 24, 2016 by Nathan

Kobo Aura One vs Aura Edition 2

The Kobo Aura One is getting all the attention lately but Kobo actually released two new ebook readers this September.

In addition to the Aura One, they also came out with a new 6-inch Kobo Aura Edition 2 to replace the original Kobo Aura.

I posted a Kobo Aura One review earlier in the week and I’ve been trying to use the Kobo Aura Edition 2 to post a review of it next, but it’s hard to want to use it with the much better Aura One on hand. 😀

I put together a quick video comparison for the two new models showing the difference in size and build quality.

For the most part the software is the same and they share all the same features.

The one exception is the Aura One has OverDrive support built-in for downloading library ebooks directly, whereas the Aura Edition 2 has to have library books sideloaded using a computer.

Perhaps Kobo may add OverDrive support to other models later but it’s only on the Aura One at present.

With the larger screen size the Aura One also offers a few more font sizes but that’s about the only noticeable difference software-wise.

When it comes to hardware, the Aura One has a 7.8-inch E Ink Carta screen with 300 ppi and the Aura Edition 2 has a 6-inch E Ink Carta screen with 212 ppi. Text is a bit crisper and darker on the higher resolution screen but it’s not a big difference.

Both models have frontlights and the Aura One has an auto-adjusting light and the color tone of the frontlight can be customized from bluish to orange. With the Aura Edition 2 it just has a regular manual-adjusting frontlight with no sensor or color tone option. The light on the Aura One is brighter and a bit more even, but lights can vary a lot from one to the next.

The Kobo Aura One is waterproof, which I forgot to mention in the video. The Aura Edition 2 is not.

The other hardware difference is the Aura One has 8GB of storage space, whereas the 6-inch model has 4GB. Neither have memory card slots and both have the same 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, so there’s no performance advantage either way. Additionally, the Aura One has a capacitive touchscreen and the Aura Edition 2 has an infrared touchscreen.

The larger Kobo weighs 230 grams and the smaller one weighs 180 grams. The Aura One is thinner at 6.9mm to the Aura 2’s 8.5mm, but the Aura 2 has the advantage with longer batter life, twice as long by Kobo’s own estimates.

In terms of price, the Kobo Aura One sells for $229 in the US and $249 in Canada. The Aura Edition 2 sells for $119 in the US and $129 in Canada.

Kobo Aura One vs Aura Edition 2 Video

Filed Under: Kobo, Reviews Tagged With: kobo aura, kobo aura one

Disclosure: This website earns commissions using affiliate links through Skimlinks and Amazon's Associates program.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lorenzo says

    September 30, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    do you think i can install Android on it ? thanks

    • Nathan says

      September 30, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      No, I don’t think that will ever be happening.

  2. Susan says

    October 1, 2016 at 4:21 am

    I have both. I bought the Aura Edition 2 to read my Sony books. I chose this because it was a newer device and the cheapest one with a light. I have never been fond of Kobo and have read my books on their ipad app but wanted something more portable – handbag size. I was so impressed with the responsiveness and screen/light quality (the 212 ppi was still quite clear and sharp) that I ordered the Aura One and really fell in love. I have been a solid kindle fan since day one but the Aura One is such an awesome pleasure my alliances have now switched happily to Kobo.

    • Rach says

      May 8, 2017 at 1:23 am

      So which one would you recommend – the aura one or aura 2. Would be interested to know as my kobo glo has just died and I need to replace.
      Thanks

Primary Sidebar

Kindle Reading Insights

eBook Readers Lack Useful Reading History and Reading Stats

eReader Boot Times

Boot Times for eBook Readers Ranked from Fastest to Slowest

Kobo Clara Colour Summer Return

Kobo Says the Clara Colour Will Return to the US This Summer

Kindle Rewards Changes

Kindle Rewards Program Now Open for All US Accounts

BookFab Kindle Converter

BookFab Kindle Converter Removes DRM From Kindle eBooks

Navigation Menu

  • Homepage
  • The eBook Reader Blog
  • Comparison Tables
  • Kindle Comparisons
  • Best eBook Readers
  • Reviews
  • How To Guides

Follow

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress