Kobo Clara Colour review: An affordable, perfect-sized e-reader that comes in color

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Color e-readers are the future of the e-reader market. Each brand offers its own iterations – Amazon now offers a whole series of Kindles with color screens. But if you’re looking to avoid Amazon, turn to Kobo. We already know and love the Kobo Libra Color, but what about the smaller, more affordable Kobo Clara Color?

Even after testing dozens of e-readers, I’m still impressed by casual e-readers. The Clara took me by surprise, a perfectly portable e-reader that represents incredible value given its color screen. I’ve already taken on the Kobo Clara Color with the Kindle Paperwhite, but today I’m focusing on the Kobo Clara Color. Is it worth it? And what are the faults of the device? Here’s everything you need to know about the Kobo Clara Color.

Kobo Clara Color Price and Specs

The Kobo Clara Color is the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kobo Clara Color costs $159.99. It comes in two different colors, black or white, but let’s see what’s inside.

• 6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display

• 300 dpi black and white resolution and 150 dpi color resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to 6 weeks of battery life

• 16 GB of storage

• IPX8 waterproof rating can be fully submerged in water for up to an hour

• Night mode available

Why choose a Kobo?

Kindles are by far the most popular e-reader, so why should you opt for a Kobo instead? Kindles are Amazon devices, so if you avoid buying from Amazon, you’ll have to look elsewhere. After testing the e-readers, we find the Kobos just as great. They’re just as fast and user-friendly as Kindles, but they’re free on Amazon.

Your borrowed Libby books automatically appear on Kobo e-readers.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Another huge advantage of Kobo devices is OverDrive integration. If you use Libby, this is part of the Overdrive system. With Kobo’s Overdrive integration, any book you check out through Libby will automatically populate on your e-reader. Although Kindle also has Libby integration, it’s not as smooth as Kobo’s.

The most affordable color e-reader

At $159.99, the Kobo Clara Color is the most affordable color e-reader. It’s more expensive than the base Kindle, which costs $109.99, but it’s the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite. Its affordability is key here, as color e-readers are generally expensive, so pricing under $200 makes them more economical.

The Clara Color is indeed colorful but also muted

Expect accurate but muted colors on the Kobo Clara Color.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

With color e-readers, manage your expectations about their dynamism. On the Kobo Clara Color, its colors are accurate but muted compared to a physical book or even an e-book on a tablet. This is the case with most color e-readers because they have very low color resolution. The Kobo’s color resolution is 150 ppi, half of its black and white resolution. If you’re reading a standard book, you won’t miss the lower color resolution, but it might be disappointing for those reading graphic novels.

The ideal size for a handheld computer

The Kobo Clara Color is perfectly palm-sized.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While testing the Kobo Clara Color, I put my Kindle Paperwhite away for a few weeks and was surprised but how much I didn’t miss it. It was refreshing to use a smaller e-reader that felt truly portable. The six-inch screen is smaller than the Paperwhite’s, but I didn’t miss the extra space. In fact, it was a worthy sacrifice for the comfort of the outfit.

Rather than the Kindle Paperwhite’s screen being flush with the chassis, the Clara’s screen is surrounded by a raised edge. This follows the same design as the base Kindle. The Clara is also the same size as the base Kindle, which in my review of the Kindle I noted would be the perfect e-reader if it were waterproof. Well, the Kobo Clara offers an almost identical design and is waterproof.

Compatible with Kobo remote

Kobo is the only e-reader brand with a remote control for its devices.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Another reason to love the Kobo Clara Color is its compatibility with the Kobo Remote. Kobo is the only e-reader brand with a native remote control. It connects to the Clara via Bluetooth so you can move forward (or backward) in the book with the press of a button. Simply place the Clara on a stand, pull out the remote, and get ready for the most comfortable winter reading setup.

It needs better battery life

The biggest issue I have with the Kobo Clara Color is the battery life. It lasts up to six weeks, which, compared to a phone or laptop, might seem like enough time. The problem is that the bar is high for battery life for e-readers, with Kindles lasting up to 12 weeks. In the months I’ve had the Kobo Clara, I’ve had to charge it twice as often as the Kindle Paperwhite. If Kobo wants to outperform the Kindle, it needs to improve the device’s battery life.

Is the Kobo Clara Color worth it?

Want an e-reader but don’t want to shop on Amazon? Try the Kobo Clara color.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you’re in the market for a new e-reader and want to avoid Amazon, go with the Kobo Clara Color. It’s an incredible value at $159.99, the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, but the Clara comes with color screens and a better handheld size. It’s a worthy competitor to Amazon’s Kindles, but there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to battery life.