Kobo Clara 2E assessment

Verdict

The Kobo Clara 2E is a substantial enchancment over the Clara HD, with a positive E Ink show, a high-quality waterproof design, and Bluetooth for audiobook assist. It’s not the strongest or most constant in relation to efficiency, and it’s a disgrace there’s no cloud assist, however that is arguably Kobo’s pound-for-pound eReader champ.

Introduction

The primary port of name for any Amazon-eschewing eReader fan needs to be Kobo. This model, owned by Japanese retail large Rakuten, has been offering Kindle-rivaling gadgets for some years now.

The Kobo Clara 2E is a brand new inexpensive possibility, sitting above the ageing Kobo Nia and the unique Kobo Clara HD within the vary, however under premium fashions just like the Kobo Sage and the Kobo Libra 2. Extra importantly, with a worth of £129.99 / $139.99, it sits proper in between the Kindle (2022) and the equal spec of the Kindle Paperwhite.

In positioning the Clare 2E this manner, has Kobo managed to hit the eReader candy spot?

Design and Display

• Constructed from recycled and ocean-bound plastic
• IPX8 licensed
• 6-inch E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen

It may appear unfair to forged the Clara 2E in opposition to the massively in style Kindle (2022) and Kindle Paperwhite. However provided that’s what most potential eReader patrons might be doing, we’re going to need to comply with go well with.

At 112.05 x 159.02 x 8.66mm, the Kobo Clara 2E is fractionally bigger than the Kindle (2022) rival. It’s additionally a little bit heavier at 171g, with the Kindle (2022) hitting the scales at 158g, although it stays very straightforward to wield in a single hand.

In addition to, that further density displays the Kobo’s superior construct high quality. True, it’s created from (85% recycled) plastic, nevertheless it has a properly textured rear panel in a pleasant darkish blue color. 

The Kobo Clara 2E additionally advantages from being IPX8 licensed, very like the Paperwhite, which means it could stand submersion in as much as two metres of water for as much as 60 minutes. It’s completely suited to poolside and bathtime studying. 

I want the Clara 2E’s energy button to Amazon’s method. It’s positioned excessive and recessed into the again of the system quite than being uncovered on the underside edge, and is a big, tactile, clicky button. 

Finally, which means you solely press the Clara 2E’s energy/sleep button if you intend to.

The Kobo Clare 2E employs the identical high-quality Carta 1200 E Ink show as you’ll discover in Amazon’s classier Kindles, such because the Paperwhite, although in a smaller 6-inch kind issue. With a 300 PPI decision, textual content actually pops right here, but it’s a lot hotter than the icy-cool Kindle (2022), with inkier black textual content.

All in all, it’s simply plain simpler to learn on the Kobo than it’s on the cheaper Kindle, and can in all probability be much less tiring on the eyes. 

The entrance lighting is well-spaced and even, resulting in a pure image even in lesser lighting. It’s a disgrace there’s no auto-brightness operate, nevertheless it’s a small matter of adjusting it manually, and you need to solely want to take action in case you’re a nighttime reader.

Speaking of which, there’s additionally a slider that allows you to flip the tone of the Kobo Clara 2E’s display screen from cool to extraordinarily heat, which lessens the blue mild output that may disrupt your sleep patterns.

Efficiency and software program

• 16GB of inner storage
• Assist for 15 file codecs
• Battery lasts weeks

Efficiency with the Kobo Clara 2E is suitable for a contemporary eReader, however that’s so far as I’d go. It’s moderately fluid when flicking between the pages of an eBook, however considerably much less slick when navigating by way of the UI and between menus. Don’t go anticipating smartphone-level snappiness from this set-up, which features a 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM.

There’s an ample 16GB of inner storage on board, although, which ought to show greater than adequate for storing dozens of books and audiobooks. It might have been good to have additional storage choices, nevertheless it’s not an excessive amount of of a difficulty.

Kobo will solely decide to a quite obscure ‘weeks’ of battery life promise. There’s actually nothing to fret about although. I did not get wherever near operating it down in the course of the fortnight or so I had it on check. It’s actually aggressive with the Kindle (2022), broadly talking, as you would possibly anticipate given the same {hardware}.

Identical to earlier Kobo eReaders, the Clara 2E affords large entry to fifteen file codecs, together with the generally used EPUB. Nearly the one important eBook format it lacks is Amazon’s proprietary AZW format, which can preclude you from prepared Kindle books on it. No shock there.

In contrast to the Clara HD, you additionally get audiobook assist, with Bluetooth connectivity enabling you to hook up a set of wi-fi headphones. Kobo’s audiobook providing isn’t the match of Amazon’s Audible service but, although.

Accessing all these disparate file codecs is made pretty straightforward, however not as straightforward as with the costlier fashions. You’re pressured to make use of the bundled result in join as much as your pc and switch the information that method. 

For some purpose, Kobo has opted to not embrace Dropbox compatibility to drag information in wirelessly, as you possibly can on the likes of the Kobo Elipsa 2E. These extra premium Kobo eReaders are additionally set to realize Google Drive assist, making them a lot better gadgets in case your eBook library is scattered far and large.

In fact, the best and most direct approach to get one thing to learn on the Kobo Clara 2E is to purchase it by way of Kobo’s well-stocked storefront, which typically works in addition to ever – although I’m not 100% offered on the in-built search operate, which appears a little bit flaky.

Then there’s Kobo’s new (to the UK and US not less than) Kobo Plus service, which is a month-to-month subscription providing that’s akin to Kindle Limitless. The choice is considerably restricted, however there’s a complete heap of classics on there in case you seek for them (once more, utilizing that flaky search system).

Kobo’s extra open method offers the Clara 2E a few neat benefits over any Kindle. First, there’s Pocket assist, which helps you to learn internet articles you’ve saved for later in your telephone. 

Maybe coolest of all, nonetheless, is OverDrive, which helps you to entry your native library’s digital horde and primarily borrow eBooks.

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