I bought the Kobo Clara BW because I wanted a simple e-reader that supported all the major file types. I didn't want to be stuck in one ecosystem. It also needed to be lightweight, compact, with a long battery life and have the ability to be useful in direct sunlight. I can happily say that it certainly excels at all of that.
Out of the box the setup, updating and activation processes were straightforward and relatively easy. I was using the device in a matter of minutes.
Reading for an hour or two a day at lower brightness levels is purported to allow several weeks of use between charges. Speaking of charging, it maybe takes an hour and a half to top up from a low battery level.
Bonus points for the company being eco-conscious in their design philosophy. The reader is made from ocean-harvested recycled plastic and is highly repairable (you can even order specific repair kits from Kobo's website to install yourself, if you like to tinker). There's nothing fancy about the form factor here, just competent design and wise materials usage.
Loading it up with books was as simple as plugging it into my PC and copying a folder from it to the reader. It connects with a USB-C adapter cable, which is fast becoming the standard for most electronic devices these days. As well, you can buy and download books through the built-in Kobo bookstore app.
With 16gb of storage, you can put more books on this thing than you can ever possibly hope to read in a lifetime. Kobo-specific audiobooks are also supported and downloadable from their app store. To listen to them, you simply connect a bluetooth device to the reader.
There aren't a huge array of settings or options, which I actually appreciate. I wanted it for reading, not endless menu diving. That said, there are some thoughtful options available, such as choosing between tapping and/or swiping to turn pages and using 'dark mode' to save battery life--where the screen is black and the words are white. There's even a mode to automatically reduce blue light when reading at night so it doesn't mess with your circadian rhythm.
Other standard features include the ability to: highlight text, look up words with the built-in dictionary, set bookmarks by tapping the upper right corner of the screen and make notes.
There's a rudimentary web browser if that means anything to you and a simple drawing app (not supported by any of the Kobo styluses), but they seem more like afterthoughts since they are buried in the 'beta features' section.
The e-ink carta 1300 screen is very clear with good contrast. It's super easy to adjust on the fly regarding brightness level and font size. Speaking of fonts, there are plenty to choose from and you can import more if the onboard ones aren't to your liking. There's even an option for making everything display as large print for those with vision impairment. Page turns are quick without the exceasive flashing and hesitating that some older e-ink readers are prone to.
Book covers do take some time to load and only update as you scroll through your book list. This only has to be done once though and then they remain permanently visible the next time you scroll through. The covers are also very small in the list view, but you have the option to view them full screen when opening a new book to read.
The reader is also waterproof, so there's no fear of it getting wet at the beach or in the tub.
It also tracks your usage and provides some interesting statistics about your reading habits if that interests you.
Finally, with the optional case, you can set it to go into sleep mode when you close the cover and wake up when you open it again. Very convenient.
All in all, this is an excellent choice for those who don't care about fancy color screens or more robust note taking possibilities. This is a reader, first and foremost, and it excels at being that.
| Brand | Kobo |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rakuten Kobo |
| Place of Business | Rakuten Kobo |
| Model | KOBO CLARA BW (BLACK) |
| Model Name | Kobo Clara BW |
| Part Number | N365-KU-BK-K-EP |
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Memory storage capacity | 16 GB |
| Flash memory installed size | 16 GB |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 16 GB |
| Compatible Devices | Kobo ecosystem, OverDrive libraries |
| Mounting Hardware | Kobo Clara BW - Black |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Display Technology | Electronic Ink |
| Standing screen display size | 6 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 600x800 |
| Voltage | 230 |
| Wattage | 110.00 |
| Battery Description | Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Average Life | 2 weeks |
| Batteries included | Yes |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion |
| Connector Type | Bluetooth |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
| Does it contain liquid? | No |
| Includes rechargable battery | Yes |
| Has night vision | No |
| Supports Bluetooth Technology | Yes |
| Manufacturer | Rakuten Kobo |
| Item model number | KOBO CLARA BW (BLACK) |
| Product Dimensions | 16 x 0.9 x 11.2 cm; 160 g |
| ASIN | B0CZXYV8GT |
