Upcoming Kobo eReader N782 Spotted at FCC: Is it the Kobo Aura ONE Edition 2?
Although Kobo is no longer available through regular channels in Germany after taking over the technology partnership with the Tolino Alliance, the eReader specialist remains one of Amazon’s major competitors in the international market. Most recently, Kobo launched the Clara HD in May 2018, and a new model might soon follow.
As The Digital Reader discovered while reviewing the FCC website (the American telecommunications authority), an unnamed Kobo model was recently tested for its radiation levels. Such a test is mandatory for every electronic device with a wireless connection to be approved and can be identified on the device by the FCC logo and registration number. If the logo and number are missing, it usually means that the device is not intended for sale in the USA at this time.
NOIKBN782
The Kobo model in question has the number N782 and, as usual, is manufactured by Netronix. Otherwise, the entire FCC report is very reserved, due to a nondisclosure agreement that has been in effect since July 11, 2018, for 180 days. The secrecy goes so far that in a screenshot of the operating system, the device’s name has been replaced with the word “eReader.”
Is the Kobo Aura One Edition 2 Coming?
Only two technical details are known: First, the eBook reader has a battery with a capacity of 1,200 mAh and second, it has internal storage of either 8 GB or 32 GB. Nate from The Digital Reader also mentions an expandable memory, which I could not find in the documentation.
Instead, the documents show three different model variants: two devices with 8 GB (Samsung and Sandisk) and one model with 32 GB (Sandisk). The new Kobo eReader will either be offered in two storage options, or the 8 GB versions are development samples.
Of course, the question arises as to which device is behind N782. Based on the battery capacity and large internal storage, I assume it’s the successor to the Kobo Aura ONE. The current version of the 7.8-incher (model number N709) already has the same battery size. If Kobo sticks to its somewhat awkward naming convention, we’ll likely see a Kobo Aura ONE Edition 2 soon.
Nate speculates an announcement within the next 24 hours. At the latest, we will know what device it is after the nondisclosure agreement expires in January 2019.
