Kobo Clara 2E initial review: Hands-on with the (mostly) recycled eBook reader

Kobo Clara 2E review

Kobo Clara 2E review

Lightweight; Waterproof; Audiobook support; No ads; OverDrive integration;

Slow performance; Display not flush; eBooks can’t sync with audiobooks;

Kobo Clara 2E

Kobo Clara 2E : A solid Kindle Paperwhite alternative

The Kobo Clara 2E offers a comfortable reading experience, but it’s a touch on the slow side.

Extremely light and compact; A comfortable reading experience; Built from recycled plastics;

Quite sluggish in menus; Gaps in the Kobo audiobook library; No access to Kindle ebooks;

Kobo Clara 2E Review

Kobo puts the environment front and center with the Clara 2E ($129.99)—ocean-bound and recycled plastics form the outer shell of the ebook reader, and it ships in recycled packaging. Thankfully, it doesn't set features aside to be good for the planet, as it offers a bright and sharp E Ink touch screen, 16GB of storage, and a waterproof build to match the competition. Slightly sluggish performance keeps it from beating our Editor's Choice winner in this price range, Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite ($139.99), but the Clara 2E is one of the best Paperwhite alternatives to consider, especially if you want broader format support than Amazon offers.A Compact, Vibrant Screen One of our favorite aspects of the Kobo Clara 2E is its size—it's compact enough to put in a pocket. The device measures 6.26 by 4.41 by 0.34 inches (HWD) and is reasonably light at 6.03 ounces, so holding it won't tire your hands and arms during marathon reading sessions. While big-screen ebook readers certainly have the...

The waterproof, environment-friendly Kobo Clara 2E isn't quite as fast as the Kindle Paperwhite, but it offers broader file support and easier access to public library ebooks.

Built-in public library support; Supports many ebook file formats; Bright, high-resolution screen; Waterproof; Compact; Made with recycled materials

Sluggish performance; Only supports Kobo audiobooks