2/26/2024 0 Comments Kobo ereader dealText and monochrome images appear at a crisp, readable 300ppi and while the default font size is rather small, adapting it is as easy as tapping the top of the screen, pressing the ‘Aa’ icon and moving a slider to your liking. The Kobo Clara 2E is just as good as any member of Amazon’s Kindle range, in this respect – better, in fact, because you don’t have to pay extra to remove lock-screen ads. And that’s before you get on to the fact that, like books, there are no flashing adverts, no other distracting tabs and no tempting YouTube videos: just you and the words, as it should be. E-ink is a good approximation of paper, being far easier on the eyes than even the most natural-looking OLED screen. Like any ebook reader made in the last 15 years, the actual reading experience is far nicer than your smartphone’s screen. The magic is in book-style text, and here the Kobo really shines. After all, the ability to play audiobooks on an ebook reader is nice, but unessential, given the experience is pretty much the same as via your phone, laptop or smart speaker. There is no headphone jack, which is a bit of a pity given its ability to play audiobooks, but if that’s the price of waterproofing then it’s one worth paying. Power is provided by USB-C – something Amazon only managed with the Paperwhite last year – and it can be switched on or sent to sleep via a big, friendly, round power button in the top right-hand corner of the back. I would personally say it feels a bit cheaper in its construction, with the textured hard casing not exactly feeling high-end, but then who buys an e-reader for style points? Add to the fact that Kobo has constructed this using 85% recycled plastic and you forgive a little flimsiness in its build. It’s a good size, capable of slipping into the pocket of my jeans with little resistance. Sizewise, it sits somewhere in the middle, incorporating the same 6in screen of the 2018 model, but the thinner bezels of the 2021 version. It’s notably lighter than the other two, tipping the scales at just 171g compared to 213g and 182g respectively. Having reviewed the last two generations of Kindle Paperwhite, I was able to dig both out and compare the Kobo Clara 2E side by side with both. It feels almost hollow when you pick it up, without the density of other devices I’m more used to carrying about my person such as my smartphone and tablet. Lightweight isn’t exactly a new thing in ebook readers, given the modest internals and minimal power draw, but somehow the Kobo surprised me more than most. The first thing I noticed about the Kobo Clara 2E was how light it is. And at this point, you’re probably seeing a pattern forming, so let’s get on with the review. The luxury end of the spectrum is represented by the Kobo Forma ( £200) and the Kindle Oasis ( £230). Kobo’s entry-level reader, meanwhile, is the Kobo Nia which comes in at £90. The basic Kindle is about to be refreshed, and we should have a review soon, but the latest model will set you back £85. If you want to go cheaper there are options from both brands. That awkwardly puts it head to head with the £130 Kindle Paperwhite, a very capable ebook reader with a similar feature set that also benefits from Amazon’s power to cut prices at will, which expect to see around Prime Day or Black Friday. READ NEXT: Our full round-up of the best eBook readers Kobo Clara 2E review: Price and competitionĪll of this will set you back £130. It’s also IPX8 waterproof protected, meaning it can be dunked in two metres of water for up to an hour, and it features Comfort Light Pro – a system that lets you adjust the brightness and temperature to ensure you’re not left buzzing from blue light when you want some shut-eye. There’s 16GB of storage, which is enough for thousands of books. It supports audiobooks, but only ones bought via Kobo’s own store in a homage to Amazon’s worst qualities.
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