Read our review of the Kobo Clara Colour.
You want a cheap, waterproof e-reader: The cheapest waterproof e-reader is the Kobo Clara. The black and white version is $159.99, while the color model is $179.99. It has an IPX8 rating, so you don’t need to fear if it slips into the bath. I wish it had page-turn buttons, but you could also use it with the Kobo Remote if you want to avoid touching the screen.
Having tried my hand at more than a dozen e-readers in all shapes, sizes, and brands, I wasn’t expecting to be so deeply impressed by the Kobo Clara Colour, but it is a wonderful e-reader. With a 6-inch screen, it’s slightly smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite, but its size allows you to hold it comfortably for multiple hours at a time without any wrist or arm fatigue.
In my previous testing with Kobo devices, I’ve really liked them, but one sticking point is that they’re slower than Kindles. Initially, I found that the Kobo Clara kept up with the Paperwhite, but after several months of use, it had a tendency to lag. Compared to Kindles, I had to manually sync the Kobo Clara to get my library books to show up.
Its processing system is otherwise really smart and fixes one of my biggest e-reader pet peeves. When you adjust the font size on a Kindle, the device doesn’t recalculate how many pages are in the book, making it inaccurate, so you don’t know exactly how many pages you have left in a chapter. The Kobo Clara does recalculate page count accurately for a more exact reading experience. Though, one thing to note: Kobo counts the number of digital pages, whereas Kindle page numbers typically match up with physical book copies.
For a lower price than the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Clara offers color displays, something you can’t get in the Kindle lineup unless you’re willing to spend $290. The colors aren’t as bright as you’d experience in a physical book, but they’re still vivid enough to enjoy a graphic novel.
Its Libby (aka Overdrive) integration is seamless, and e-books you borrow on your library card will automatically populate on your account. You can browse and borrow library books directly from the e-reader, instead of having to whip out your phone app. However, for users who use Libby to the max with multiple library cards, be warned: you can only log in to one account at a time.
The Kobo Clara’s biggest downfall is its battery life. It’s supposed to last up to 42 days, although many online users say it averages out at about two weeks. That’s quite pathetic in the face of the Kindle’s 12-week battery life; however, I’d trade in a better reading experience over a couple weeks of battery life any day.
