Kobo Clara 2E Review

The market of e-readers is predominantly led by Amazon’s Kindle, but there are other players that offer compelling alternatives. The Kobo brand has been a steady presence, known for delivering e-readers that prioritize the user experience and compete well with Kindle. The Kobo Clara 2E is one of their recent additions and at a price of £129.99, it promises a suite of useful features and some unique advantages. Let’s take a detailed look at what it has to offer.

Design and Sustainability

The Kobo Clara 2E features a modern and aesthetically pleasing design. It is available in Black, Green, and Orange, giving users the freedom to choose a device that suits their personal style. With dimensions of 159.02mm by 112.05mm and a thickness of 8.66mm, the Kobo Clara 2E fits comfortably in one hand, facilitating easy, long-term usage.

The device weighs in at 171g, light enough to be carried around without any inconvenience, making it a perfect companion for commuters, travellers, or anyone who enjoys reading on the go.

What makes the Kobo Clara 2E standout, is the company’s commitment to sustainability. The device is made of 85% recycled plastic, including 10% ocean-bound plastic. This is a commendable initiative, turning a product designed for reading into an embodiment of environmental responsibility. It appeals to conscious consumers who appreciate businesses that integrate sustainable practices into their manufacturing processes.

Screen and Readability

The Kobo Clara 2E sports a 6″ screen size, matching the standard for most e-readers. With a resolution of 300ppi, it offers a clear, crisp reading experience that mirrors the quality of printed text, minimising eye strain during extended reading sessions.

The frontlight feature ensures the device is usable in varying lighting conditions, while the additional warm light provides a more comfortable reading experience in dim light or during nighttime reading. However, it does lack an auto-brightness feature, which means manual adjustment of lighting based on external conditions.

One potential drawback for some users may be the lack of a flush screen or physical page-turn buttons, although the touchscreen interface is responsive and makes navigation easy and intuitive.

Operating System and File Compatibility

Running on the Kobo Firmware, the Kobo Clara 2E is designed with a focus on providing an excellent reading experience. While the absence of a Play Store might be viewed as a limitation, the device supports an array of file formats, including EPUB, PDF, MOBI, CBR, CBZ, HTML, RTF, TXT, and a variety of image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF. This ensures readers can access a broad range of content, far beyond just mainstream e-books.

Storage and Connectivity

With a storage capacity of 16GB, the Kobo Clara 2E offers ample space for a sizeable library, allowing readers to carry a vast collection of books, comics, and documents. Despite lacking a Micro-SD slot for additional storage, the built-in capacity should be more than enough for the average reader.

Bluetooth connectivity is a welcomed feature, although the lack of built-in speakers or text-to-speech features may limit its usage to only certain Bluetooth-enabled peripherals. The absence of mobile connectivity means downloads will require a Wi-Fi connection.

Additional Features

One of the major selling points for the Kobo Clara 2E is the absence of sleep-screen ads, which are present on Kindle Paperwhite (Amazon’s offering at the same price point).

The device is also waterproof, making it a great companion for beach trips, poolside reading, or even a relaxing soak in the tub with a good book.

Despite the lack of auto-rotation, colour screen, and wireless charging, these are often considered luxury features and their absence does not significantly impact the overall user experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Kobo Clara 2E is a well-rounded e-reader that provides an excellent reading experience with its high-resolution display, wide file format compatibility, and substantial storage capacity. The sustainability aspect adds an additional appeal, making this e-reader an attractive option for environmentally conscious readers.

While it does lack certain features like auto-brightness adjustment and text-to-speech, the Kobo Clara 2E holds its own in the market with its user-friendly interface, ad-free experience, and robust design. If you are looking for a Kobo e-reader with page-turn buttons, auto-rotation, and a larger screen, you may consider the Kobo Libra 2.

For someone looking for a competent e-reader that doesn’t necessarily come from Amazon, the Kobo Clara 2E is certainly worthy of consideration. With its blend of essential features and environmental responsibility, it serves as a testament to Kobo’s consistent dedication to reader satisfaction and global sustainability.

Check out our fully searchable e-reader comparison table here.

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