Kobo Finally Has a Worthy Budget Challenger to the Kindle Paperwhite 5

The $100 Kobo Nia is likely one of the most cost-effective ad-free e-readers for digitizing your studying library, but it surely lacks many options that may drastically enhance your studying expertise. For simply $30 extra, the brand new Kobo Clara 2E brings higher display screen lighting that’s simpler on the eyes, plus two essential upgrades that ought to put a dent in the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 5‘s dominance.

Although the $120 Kobo Clara HD provides extra display screen decision with crisper textual content than the $100 Kobo Nia, in addition to the power to shift its display screen lighting to hotter tones that’s simpler on the eyes and supposedly extra conducive to falling asleep at night time, the Clara HD was launched again in 2018 and is 4 years outdated at this level. Feature for function, it’s now properly behind the Kindle Paperwhite 5 that Amazon launched final October. With the brand new Clara 2E, Kobo is lastly enjoying catchup, and kind of matching the Kindle Paperwhite 5’s finest options, particularly now that Amazon has restricted e-book downloads to a wifi connection solely.

The Clara 2E is Kobo’s first six-inch e-reader to be utterly waterproof, permitting it for use on the seashore, subsequent to the pool, or within the bathtub with out the danger of a tumble into the water inflicting any severe harm. Kobo claims the Clara 2E can survive as much as 60 minutes submerged to a depth of as much as two meters, so whereas studying belowwater within the pool is completely believable (in the event you get bored whereas practising your snorkeling, I suppose), you continue to gained’t wish to deliver it alongside on a deep sea dive.

The different main improve for the Kobo Clara 2E is the addition of Bluetooth, permitting wi-fi headphones, a wi-fi speaker, or a wi-fi connection to a automotive’s stereo for use for having fun with audiobook content material, which may be downloaded proper to the e-reader itself from Kobo’s on-line retailer.

One purpose to nonetheless go for the Kindle Paperwhite 5 is that Amazon’s squeezed a bigger 6.8-inch 300 PPI show into it by shrinking the e-reader’s bezels, the placeas the brand new Kobo Clara 2E sticks with a 6-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 show as a substitute. It’s not an enormous distinction, and the Kobo arguably makes up for it by together with 16GB of onboard storage as a substitute of the Kindle’s 8GB. That’s greater than sufficient storage for a lifetime of e-books, however for these utilizing audiobooks, that storage bump can be welcome.

Kobo additionally factors out that the brand new Clara 2E’s housing is produced from greater than 85 p.c recycled plastic; 10% of which is (was?) ocean-bound plastic. Devices like this nonetheless don’t have user-serviceable rechargeable batteries, although, which limits their lifespans and means they could simply discover themselves getting tossed again into the used plastic pile once more later. If firms like Kobo actually wished to do one thing helpful to assist the setting, they’d begin designing merchandise that may make the most of new options and performance by upgraded parts, as a substitute of encouraging us to utterly substitute gadgets that already work simply advantageous however are a bit outdated.

The Kobo Clara 2E is obtainable for pre-order now for $130, with official availability beginning on September 22. Also accessible is a $30 SleepCover produced from 97% recycled plastic. That one can remodel right into a stand, however there’s additionally a $20 Basic SleepCover in the event you simply wish to maintain your e book whilst you learn it.