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Shade e-readers are the way forward for the e-reader market. Each model is popping out with its personal iterations — Amazon has a complete slew of Kindles now with coloration shows. However in the event you’re seeking to keep away from Amazon, look to Kobo. We already know and love the Kobo Libra Color, however what in regards to the smaller, extra inexpensive Kobo Clara Color?
Even after testing dozens of e-readers, I nonetheless stand in awe of the occasional e-reader. The Clara took me unexpectedly, a wonderfully handheld e-reader that is an unbelievable worth contemplating its coloration show. I’ve already put the Kobo Clara Color head-to-head with the Kindle Paperwhite, however in the present day I am specializing in the Kobo Clara Color. Is it value it? And what are the gadget’s downfalls? Here is every thing to know in regards to the Kobo Clara Color.
Kobo Clara Color value and specs

The Kobo Clara Color is similar value because the Kindle Paperwhite.
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The Kobo Clara Color prices $159.99. It is available in two totally different colours, black or white, however let’s get into what’s inside.
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6-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 show
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300 ppi black and white decision and 150 ppi coloration decision
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USB-C charging port with as much as 6 weeks of battery life
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16GB of storage
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IPX8 waterproof score will be absolutely submerged in water for as much as one hour
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Evening mode out there
Why go for a Kobo?
Kindles are by far the preferred e-readers on the market, so why must you swing for a Kobo as a substitute? Kindles are Amazon units, so in the event you’re avoiding purchasing on Amazon, you will have to look elsewhere. Having examined our approach by means of e-readers, we discover Kobos equally nice. They’re simply as quick and user-friendly as Kindles, however they’re freed from Amazon.

Your borrowed Libby books robotically populate on Kobo e-readers.
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One other large perk throughout Kobo units is OverDrive integration. In case you’re utilizing Libby, that is a part of Overdrive’s system. With Kobo’s Overdrive integration, any ebook you borrow by means of Libby will auto-populate in your e-reader. Whereas Kindle additionally has a Libby integration, it isn’t almost as clean as Kobo’s.
Essentially the most inexpensive coloration e-reader
At $159.99, the Kobo Clara Color is essentially the most inexpensive coloration e-reader. It is costlier than the primary Kindle, which prices $109.99, but it surely’s the identical value because the Kindle Paperwhite. Its affordability is essential right here, as coloration e-readers are usually costly, so a value beneath $200 makes it extra budget-friendly.
The Clara Color is, actually, colourful but additionally muted

Count on correct however muted colours on the Kobo Clara Color.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
With coloration e-readers, handle your expectations on simply how vibrant they are often. On the Kobo Clara Color, its colours are correct however muted in comparison with a bodily ebook and even an e-book on a pill. That is the case with most coloration e-readers, since they’ve such low coloration decision. The Kobo’s coloration decision is 150 ppi, half its black-and-white decision. In case you’re studying an ordinary ebook, you will not fault the decrease coloration decision, but it surely may be a bummer for these studying graphic novels.
The right handheld dimension

The Kobo Clara Color is completely palm-sized.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
In testing the Kobo Clara Color, I put away my Kindle Paperwhite for a couple of weeks and was shocked however how a lot I did not miss it. It was refreshing to make use of a smaller e-reader that actually felt handheld. The six-inch display is smaller than the Paperwhite’s, however I did not miss the additional actual property. In actual fact, it was a worthy sacrifice for the way snug it felt to carry.
Slightly than the Kindle Paperwhite’s display that sits flush with the chassis, the Clara’s display is surrounded by a raised edge. This follows the identical design as the essential Kindle. The Clara can also be the identical dimension as the essential Kindle, which, in my evaluate of the Kindle, I famous could be the proper e-reader if it had been waterproof. Effectively, the Kobo Clara delivers a near-identical design and is waterproof.
Appropriate with the Kobo distant

Kobo is the one e-reader model with a distant for his or her units.
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One more reason to like the Kobo Clara Color is its compatibility with the Kobo distant. Kobo is the one e-reader model with a local distant. It connects to the Clara by way of Bluetooth so you may transfer ahead (or backward) within the ebook with simply the press of a button. Simply prop up the Clara on a stand, get out the distant, and put together for the coziest winter studying setup.
It wants higher battery life
The largest difficulty I’ve with the Kobo Clara Color is its battery life. It lasts as much as six weeks, which, in comparison with a telephone or laptop computer, would possibly look like lots. The difficulty is that the bar is excessive for e-reader battery life, with Kindles lasting as much as 12 weeks. Within the months I’ve had the Kobo Clara, I’ve wanted to recharge it twice as typically because the Kindle Paperwhite. If Kobo needs to one-up Kindle, it wants to enhance the gadget’s battery life.
Is the Kobo Clara Color value it?

Need an e-reader however do not need to store at Amazon? Attempt the Kobo Clara Color.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
In case you’re looking for a brand new e-reader and need to keep away from Amazon, go for the Kobo Clara Color. It is an unbelievable worth at $159.99, the identical value because the Kindle Paperwhite, however the Clara comes with coloration shows and a greater handheld dimension. It is a worthy competitor to Amazon’s Kindles, however there’s room for enchancment, particularly round its battery life.

