Kobo puts the environment front and center with the Clara 2E ($129.99). The outer shell of this e-book reader is formed from ocean-bound and recycled plastic and ships in recycled packaging. Thankfully, it offers a bright and sharp E Ink touchscreen, 16GB of storage, and a waterproof build that rivals its competitors, so it doesn’t put aside the good-to-the-earth features. While it can’t beat Amazon’s Editors’ Choice winner, Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite ($139.99), for its price point, the Clara 2E is a top pick to consider, especially if you want wider format support than Amazon offers. It is one of the Paperwhite alternatives for .
Compact and bright screen
One of the things we love about the Kobo Clara 2E is its size. Compact enough to fit in your pocket. The device measures 6.26 x 4.41 x 0.34 inches (HWD) and is reasonably light at 6.03 ounces, so your hands and arms won’t get tired during long reading sessions. Big-screen ebook readers certainly have their place, but there’s something to be said for the compact Clara 2E’s portability.
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(Credit: Dave LeClair)
The display is a 6-inch, 1,448 x 1,072 E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen with a pixel density of 300ppi. This is an upgrade from the $109.99 Kobo Nia’s 6-inch screen with a pixel density of 212ppi. Text and images are displayed vividly on a black and white screen. With 13 fonts and over 50 font styles, there are many ways to customize your Clara 2E. You can also change the brightness and color temperature with the ComfortLight Pro tool to get just the right amount and warmth of light for your eyes. Like many modern devices, it has a dark mode that inverts the text and background, which some people find easier to see. I prefer the bright mode because it resembles a traditional book page, but it would be nice to have the option.
The Clara 2E is rated IPX8. It can be submerged in water up to 2 meters for up to 60 minutes, so you can safely use it in the bathtub. It doesn’t offer any official protection against dust or other small particles, but it’s waterproof, so it’s easy to wash off.
As mentioned earlier, Kobo is targeted at readers interested in the Clara 2E’s environment. That’s because most of the body is made from recycled plastic from the ocean. That is wonderful. Importantly, it can’t be said to be made from recycled materials—if you pick up the Clara 2E and compare it to a Kindle, there’s no reason to think its plastic is different. Plus, using recycled materials doesn’t affect the price or the experience. The Clara 2E is in the same price and feature range as its closest competitor.
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
There is one button on the back of the device that is used to turn the power on and off. It’s ideally placed near the top to avoid accidental presses that were common on previous models. There is a USB-C port for charging on the bottom. The cable is in the box but not included so you will need to use your own power adapter (in keeping with the green theme).
Kobo offers an optional sleep cover ($29.99) that doubles as a stand for your device. I received it with my test unit and it is very well made. Adds minimal bulk, sleeps when closed, and comfortably cradles when you need it most.
average performance
The Kobo Clara 2E has a 1GHz processor with 512MB of RAM, just like the Kindle Paperwhite. However, the Paperwhite feels noticeably faster than the Kobo. Browsing library books and downloading content on the Clara 2E is a bit slow, scrolling through the library takes longer than expected, and even turning pages is a bit slow.
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
On the plus side, the Clara 2E comes with 16GB of space for books, while the Paperwhite has just 8GB (unless you pay a lot for the 32GB Signature Edition). Ebook files are generally small (Kobo says the Clara 2E can hold 12,000 ebooks), but books with lots of graphics, illustrations, and audiobooks are much larger. space and can quickly run out of storage. Note that only Kobo audiobooks are available. There is no way to load other audiobook formats onto the device.
Clara 2E includes Bluetooth and is the only way to listen to audiobooks. Wired headphones cannot be used as there is no 3.5mm port.
Like most e-readers, the Clara 2E has great battery life. I could read on and off for weeks at a time before recharging.It’s the ideal companion for flights, vacations and other travels.
Easier library borrowing and all formats
If you want to borrow books from the library or read content in different types of files, Kobo e-book readers tend to be generally better than Kindles. When it comes to public library access on Clara 2E, simply log in with your local library account via OverDrive and select a book from there. (I borrowed a Stephen King “stand” to test it, and it worked just fine.) Now the Kindle also supports public libraries via Overdrive, but it’s nowhere near as user-friendly.(opens in new window).
(Credit: Dave LeClair)
Clara 2E natively supports 15 file formats in addition to Kobo audiobooks. It supports EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, and RTF. Additionally, you can download and read CBZ and CBR comic books.
There is an on-device store if you want to buy books directly from Kobo, and prices seem to be comparable to Amazon and Apple. I’ve also tested book sideloading a few different ways and the process is straightforward. It can be loaded directly from your computer using the included USB cable, and the included web browser allows you to download books directly from the Internet via Wi-Fi. I’ve tried EPUB, MOBI, and PDF books and all worked fine.
Eco-friendly paperwhite rival
The Kobo Clara 2E meets many criteria. It’s affordable, compact, and has a great screen. It supports a wide range of e-book formats and has a waterproof and eco-friendly construction. This is better than recent devices from Barnes & Noble such as the Nook GlowLight 4e ($119.99). The Nook GlowLight 4e ($119.99) has an uneven display and isn’t waterproof. However, for most readers, we believe the Kindle Paperwhite offers the best reading experience for the price thanks to its faster and smoother interface than the Clara 2E. If you like to read a lot of different file formats, Clara 2E is worth choosing.
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