Kobo Clara 2E review: Eco-friendly

If doing away with paper books to save the planet is the objective, then the Kobo Clara 2E makes lots of sense. Made from 100% recycled plastic, this ebook reader is also waterproof, making it great for reading by the pool, or in the bathtub. There's also audiobook support, too.

Quick specs

1GHz processor, 16GB storage
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
12 different fonts and 50 font styles
171g

The Clara 2E's 6-inch screen is neither too big, nor too small. It's also perfect for holding in one hand, or putting it in your pants pocket. Sure, it's not as large as the 7-inch Kobo Libra 2 or the 8-inch Kobo Sage, but it feels just right to me. The 300dpi screen is sharp, with crisp fonts for reading. The built-in illumination supports night reading with a yellow light, which switches to a cooler cast in the day. Battery life is rated in weeks, and it went down to about 50% after a week's use.

As with other Kobo readers, the Clara 2E can read most ebook formats, including EPUB and MOBI. Another advantage is that the reader also has OverDrive, which lets you borrow from public libraries in 12 countries. In Singapore, that's the National Library Board (NLB). It also has audiobook support, but no headphone jack. You can only download audiobooks via the Kobo store, though. I tried borrowing one via OverDrive from NLB, but it would not download. Audiobooks work great, and the sound was clear.

Overall, the Clara 2E's performance is smooth, though I noticed several occasions when I touch the screen to flip the page, and it doesn't work on the first try. You may also want to also pick up the Clara 2E's case, which comes with a foldable stand to prop the reader up. However, I prefer using the reader without, as the case adds a bit of bulk and weight. Plus, the textured back of the 2E makes it really nice to hold.

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At S$219, the Kobo Clara 2E is competitively priced, especially against Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite. Factor in OverDrive support to get free books from the library though, and the Clara 2E seems like the better deal. Get it from Shopee, Lazada, or Amazon.

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