Verdict
The Kobo Clara 2E is a considerable improvement over the Clara HD , with a o.k. eastward Ink presentation , a eminent - quality rainproof design , and Bluetooth for audiobook support . It ’s not the strongest or most reproducible when it hail to execution , and it ’s a pity there ’s no cloud supporting , but this is arguably Kobo ’s pound - for - pound eReader champion .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The first port of call for any Amazon - eschew eReader fan has to be Kobo . This brand name , possess by Nipponese retail giant Rakuten , has been allow Kindle - rivaling gadget for some years now .
The Kobo Clara 2E is a fresh low-cost choice , sitting above the ageingKobo Niaand the originalKobo Clara HDin the range , but below insurance premium model like the Kobo Sage and the Kobo Libra 2 . More importantly , with a price of £ 129.99 / $ 139.99 , it model decently in between theKindle ( 2022)and the equivalent spec of theKindle Paperwhite .
In positioning the Clare 2E this way , has Kobo managed to hit theeReader sweet spot ?
Design and Screen
It might seem unjust to mould the Clara 2E in resistance to the massively democratic Kindle ( 2022 ) and Kindle Paperwhite . But given that ’s what most potential eReader buyers will be doing , we ’re going to have to come lawsuit .
At 112.05 x 159.02 x 8.66 mm , the Kobo Clara 2E is fractionally big than the Kindle ( 2022 ) rival . It ’s also a little heavier at 171 g , with the Kindle ( 2022 ) strike the scurf at 158 g , though it remains very easy to manage in one handwriting .
Besides , that extra compactness reflects the Kobo ’s higher-ranking build tone . truthful , it ’s made from ( 85 % recycled ) plastic , but it has a nicely textured rearward instrument panel in a dainty dark blue vividness .
The Kobo Clara 2E also gain from being IPX8 certify , much like the Paperwhite , meaning it can abide immersion in up to two metres of water for up to 60 bit . It ’s perfectly suited to poolside and bathtime reading .
I prefer the Clara 2E ’s big businessman button to Amazon ’s approach . It ’s set high and recessed into the back of the gimmick rather than being exposed on the bottom edge , and is a tumid , tactual , clicky button .
Ultimately , this stand for that you only press the Clara 2E ’s power / sleep button when you intend to .
The Kobo Clare 2E utilize the same high - timber Carta 1200 E Ink display as you ’ll retrieve in Amazon ’s classier Kindles , such as the Paperwhite , though in a smaller 6 - column inch form factor . With a 300 PPI resolution , text really pops here , yet it ’s much warm than the icy - cool Kindle ( 2022 ) , with inkier disgraceful text .
All in all , it ’s just plain well-heeled to take on the Kobo than it is on the cheaper Kindle , and will probably be less tiring on the oculus .
The front lighting is well - spaced and even , direct to a staring picture even in lesser firing . It ’s a ignominy there ’s no motorcar - brightness function , but it ’s a small matter of adjust it manually , and you should only need to do so if you ’re a nighttime reader .
Talking of which , there ’s also a slider that lets you turn the quality of the Kobo Clara 2E ’s screen from cool to extremely ardent , which lessens the blue light yield that can cut off your eternal sleep patterns .
Performance and software
carrying out with the Kobo Clara 2E is acceptable for a modern eReader , but that ’s as far as I ’d go . It ’s reasonably fluent when flicking between the page of an eBook , but somewhat less wily when navigating through the UI and between menus . Do n’t go expectingsmartphone - levelsnappiness from this set - up , which includes a 1GHz central processing unit and 512 megabyte of RAM .
There ’s an copious 16 GB of internal storage on board , though , which should prove more than sufficient for storing dozens of books and audiobooks . It would have been dainty to have further storage option , but it ’s not too much of an outlet .
Kobo will only commit to a rather dim ‘ weeks ’ of battery life promise . There ’s really nothing to concern about though . I fail to get anywhere close to running it down during the two weeks or so I had it on test . It ’s sure competitive with the Kindle ( 2022 ) , broadly speaking speaking , as you might anticipate give the similar hardware .
Just like previous Kobo eReaders , the Clara 2E offers wide access to 15 filing cabinet formats , including the unremarkably used EPUB . Just about the only substantial eBook formatting it lack is Amazon ’s proprietary AZW formatting , which will close out you from quick Kindle books on it . No surprise there .
Unlike the Clara HD , you also get audiobook musical accompaniment , with Bluetooth connectivity enabling you to lift up a hardening of wireless headphones . Kobo ’s audiobook offering is n’t the friction match of Amazon ’s Audible avail yet , though .
Accessing all these disparate single file formats is made fairly easy , but not as easy as with the more expensive framework . You ’re forced to utilize the bundled lead to connect up to your information processing system and transfer the files that way .
For some reason , Kobo has opt not to admit Dropbox compatibility to pull file in wirelessly , as you could on the like of theKobo Elipsa 2E. Those more agiotage Kobo eReaders are also localize to benefit Google Drive support , making them much unspoilt equipment if your eBook library is scattered far and across-the-board .
Of naturally , the easiest and most lineal fashion to get something to read on the Kobo Clara 2E is to purchase it through Kobo ’s well - stocked storefront , which generally works as well as ever – though I ’m not 100 % sold on the in - build hunting function , which seems a little flaky .
Then there ’s Kobo ’s newfangled ( to the UK and US at least ) Kobo Plus service , which is a monthly subscription offering that ’s consanguineous to Kindle Unlimited . The selection is slightly limited , but there ’s a whole heap of classic on there if you seek for them ( again , using that outre search arrangement ) .
Kobo ’s more open approach gives the Clara 2E a couple of peachy advantages over any Kindle . First , there ’s Pocket backup , which allow you record entanglement articles you ’ve pull through for by and by on your phone .
Perhaps coolest of all , however , is OverDrive , which lets you get at your local library ’s digital horde and fundamentally adopt eBooks .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
- : Kobo supports all the main filing cabinet type , and have it well-off to import them .
Just about the only major eBook data formatting the Kobo does n’t support is Amazon ’s AZW .
Final Thoughts
Kobo has offered a much - improved eReader package compared to the original Clara HD . Its E Ink exhibit is better , audiobook support has been gained , and the supplying of IPX8 certification make it much good accommodate to poolside and bathtime reading .
The brand ’s documentation for services outside of its own subroutine library continues to mark it apart from Amazon , with Pocket and OneDrive assist to broaden out your recitation source . The comer of Kobo Plus and that audiobook support further increase your options . It ’s just a disgrace Kobo did n’t institute Dropbox swarm support across from the more exchange premium models .
Meanwhile , iffy performance and a more or less flaky UI continue to haunt the Kobo Clara 2E as it has late Kobo eReaders , which is perhaps the big sphere the brand needs to handle .
All in all , though , the Kobo Clara 2E is the most telling Kindle contender we ’ve check for a while .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try out every e - lector we review thoroughly . We use the twist over the review menses . We ’ll always distinguish you what we find and we never , ever , live with money to review a intersection .
FAQs
No , it only number with a USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate cable length , so you ’ll ask to provide your own brick .
Kobo volunteer the SleepCover for £ 24.99 , which allow all - circular protective cover and a ready to hand meter reading viewpoint .
