Kobo's new Libra H20 is like a cheaper Kindle Oasis

Kobo has launched a new e-reader, the Libra H20, which seeks to join the current Kobo Forma to tackle the luxury of Amazon's Kindle Oasis, with a similar design to a hand. But where Forma stumbled by increasing the size of the screen to an 8-inch screen, creating a camera a bit difficult to hold, the new Libra H20 goes with Amazon's electronic reader with a size of 7 inches much easier to manage.

Although, unlike the Forma, which starts at $ 279.99 – even more than the Oasis, which starts at $ 249.99, despite its superior metal design, the Libra H20 will cost $ 169.99, making it the cheapest option for an asymmetric Oasis. e-reader style.

In addition to its smaller screen and lower price, the new Libra H20 is very similar to the Forma: it is waterproof to IPX8, offers built-in backlighting and adjustable color temperature, has a high-resolution 300ppi e-Ink screen (same as Forma and Amazon's Oasis and Paperwhite models) and offers the same deep overdrive library and Pocket integrations as the product line.

Kobo is also launching a new book navigation interface with the Libra H20 (which will also be available on the rest of the current Kobo product line), which adds some welcome features. You can now browse an entire book, instead of the current chapter, with page previews that will appear when scrolling. The updated headers indicate the chapter you are currently reading and the number of pages you have left, while a new footer indicates the page you are currently in. These improvements are welcome because the software was one of Kobo's weak points compared to their Amazon counterparts.

The Kobo Libra H20 will cost $ 169.99 in the United States when it goes on sale Sept. 17. Pre-orders will begin on September 10th.