Kobo Clara 2E is my absolute favorite eReader not just from Kobo, but from any eReader maker such as Amazon, Boox, or Remarkable. It's small, but it's the perfect size, and it has very high text to background contrast while it reads anything you throw at it. Battery life? You can go over a month without every having to worry about recharging. But Kobo discontinued it because they just switched manufacturing of the Clara from Taiwan to China. So if you see one, grab one, you won't regret it.
I totally agree with this entire review. That's rare. My Kobo Clara 2e is a bloody brilliant ereader and is a welcome addition to the Kobo lineup. I still use my Kobo Mini (new battery installed) and my Sony PRS 350 daily but the Clara 2e is my choice for bedtime reading. Thanks for the in-depth critique lad. Much appreciated as this review directly feeds into my confirmation bias when it comes to Kobo vs Kindle vs Nook. 😉👍
i've been wanting to get a new ereader for a long time (my old one was a kindle from 2016... a veritable fossil). i didn't know where to start but then i found your channel. your videos are so thorough and helpful, and i appreciate that you get straight to the point without any clickbait or sensationalist stuff. just ordered a kobo clara 2e and i'm excited to try it out. keep up the good work!
I'm really interested in the Kobo, however i was wondering if the online shop works in germany? Like will i be able to buy digital books from kobo if I'm in germany?
It's very interesting to see reviews and news of e-readers, even if I have no intention of switching from Kindle to other brands. Kobo seems to me to be the best option for those who don't want to be tied to Amazon, they bring useful new features, but the increments between one generation and another really aren't worth an upgrade. PS: you speak with a really cool accent, cheers o/
Excellent review! I have both the PaperWhite 11 and Clara 2E. I really hate the texture of the Clara's material, it feels so cheap. I also find highlighting is problematic on the Clara 2E, and much much faster on my Kindle. Do you think the highlighting/responsiveness will be fixed on the Clara 2E with an update, or it is just a limitation of its software? "its browser has been in beta for 10 years, they should think about finishing the development at some point" LMAOOO
Thank you for a great Review! Can you tell more about taking notes with Kobo Clara 2E compared with the kindle? Im choosing between the two. Need the best performance with note taking, note viewing and note uploading to an other devices. and keep on with a such high qulity videos! =)
Thank you :) I'd say the Kindle is better for note taking. The basic functions are pretty much the same on both devices, but the Kindle is more responsive, which is very obvious when using the virtual QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard on the Kindle also has a text-suggestion-function, which can be useful (but tbh I never actively used it). I'd pick the Kindle for note taking.
@@ChalidRaqami Thank you for the detailed answer! I saw on you channel a video about boox poke 4. What do you think about it, when comparing it to kindle for thaking notes and highlightings?
In a nutshell: Pick the Kobo Clara 2E if you want the best screen, choose the PocketBook Era if you're more interested in a wider feature set and better ergonomics. Both are great ereaders and you can't really go wrong with both. Check out my PocketBook Era review as well, if you haven't done so already.
No, unfortunately, the account during the initial setup is always needed when doing it the official way. Either directly on the device or by using your computer. The only way to use a Kobo ereader without an account is to do a small hack with an SQL script: jacobalbano.com/2021/06/24/setting-up-a-kobo-without-logging-in/ The author of that blog post also turned it into an automated script, but I haven't tried that though.
No, that's not possible unfortunately. For that you'd need an ereader with an open Android-system, like the Oynx Boox Poke 4 Lite for example: ruclips.net/video/6QNqvNifgI4/видео.html But you can also convert your ebooks with Calibre (free software) to read them on any regular ereader from Kobo, Kindle and B&N as well.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you so much. I had an old Kobo tablet and they used to allow it but I can't seem to find anything other than an android system now.
Help! When I transfer epub files from laptop to my Kobo, will they be also uploaded to Kobo Cloud? Will my bookmarks, highlights, and notes be also synced? Remember I prefer to ebooks from my laptop, not those that I purchased from Kobo store. Pls someone answer.
No, only books you bought through Kobo are saved in the cloud. Dropbox can be used with some Kobo device, but that doesn't sync bookmars, highlights etc. either.
Do you mean tiny, bright dots? Than no, that's not normal, but I've seen it from time to time on some front lights. I'd try to get it replaced, if that's what you're seeing. Subtle halos on the bottom edge of the screen are normal, but shouldn't be really noticeable. The Clara 2E's frontlight is pretty even all in all.
I appreciated your review on Kobo Clara 2e. BUT can you tell us how to download ebooks to Kobo device from book store or other resources? prefer step-by-step, Thanks so much.
The setting up and updating through an Internet connection and Kobo account is what destroyed my Kobo Mini. It's now a brick since I cannot update it! 🙈💦
I know it’s a year later but just so you know, you can actually still update it by plugging it into a pc. I had the same issue as you but googled the fix. Hope you didn’t throw it out!
In short: This one. Although the Kindle is a very good ereader, I'd always pick the one with a dual-tone frontlight. And the Clara 2E's frontlight also has a great quality.
Kobo Clara 2E is my absolute favorite eReader not just from Kobo, but from any eReader maker such as Amazon, Boox, or Remarkable. It's small, but it's the perfect size, and it has very high text to background contrast while it reads anything you throw at it. Battery life? You can go over a month without every having to worry about recharging. But Kobo discontinued it because they just switched manufacturing of the Clara from Taiwan to China. So if you see one, grab one, you won't regret it.
I totally agree with this entire review. That's rare. My Kobo Clara 2e is a bloody brilliant ereader and is a welcome addition to the Kobo lineup. I still use my Kobo Mini (new battery installed) and my Sony PRS 350 daily but the Clara 2e is my choice for bedtime reading.
Thanks for the in-depth critique lad. Much appreciated as this review directly feeds into my confirmation bias when it comes to Kobo vs Kindle vs Nook. 😉👍
i've been wanting to get a new ereader for a long time (my old one was a kindle from 2016... a veritable fossil). i didn't know where to start but then i found your channel. your videos are so thorough and helpful, and i appreciate that you get straight to the point without any clickbait or sensationalist stuff. just ordered a kobo clara 2e and i'm excited to try it out. keep up the good work!
How do you like it?
Really? An e-reader held up from 2016 all the way till 2024? How bad was the battery in 2024?
Very high quality content, wish you the best in your video-making journey!
Thank you very much! :)
I'm really interested in the Kobo, however i was wondering if the online shop works in germany? Like will i be able to buy digital books from kobo if I'm in germany?
Try it in the app
It's very interesting to see reviews and news of e-readers, even if I have no intention of switching from Kindle to other brands.
Kobo seems to me to be the best option for those who don't want to be tied to Amazon, they bring useful new features, but the increments between one generation and another really aren't worth an upgrade.
PS: you speak with a really cool accent, cheers o/
Excellent review! I have both the PaperWhite 11 and Clara 2E. I really hate the texture of the Clara's material, it feels so cheap. I also find highlighting is problematic on the Clara 2E, and much much faster on my Kindle. Do you think the highlighting/responsiveness will be fixed on the Clara 2E with an update, or it is just a limitation of its software?
"its browser has been in beta for 10 years, they should think about finishing the development at some point" LMAOOO
Can I read books in landscape on Clara 2E like I do on my Kindle? I don't want auto rotate.
Excellent review/ demonstration of this device. You considered many aspects. Thank you
Thank you for a great Review! Can you tell more about taking notes with Kobo Clara 2E compared with the kindle? Im choosing between the two. Need the best performance with note taking, note viewing and note uploading to an other devices. and keep on with a such high qulity videos! =)
Thank you :)
I'd say the Kindle is better for note taking. The basic functions are pretty much the same on both devices, but the Kindle is more responsive, which is very obvious when using the virtual QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard on the Kindle also has a text-suggestion-function, which can be useful (but tbh I never actively used it).
I'd pick the Kindle for note taking.
@@ChalidRaqami Thank you for the detailed answer! I saw on you channel a video about boox poke 4. What do you think about it, when comparing it to kindle for thaking notes and highlightings?
no mention of the sketch/drawing/note feature.......
Thanks for your videos ! I hesitate between the Kobo Clara 2e and the Pocketbook era... What's your advice ?
In a nutshell: Pick the Kobo Clara 2E if you want the best screen, choose the PocketBook Era if you're more interested in a wider feature set and better ergonomics.
Both are great ereaders and you can't really go wrong with both. Check out my PocketBook Era review as well, if you haven't done so already.
With the addition of sideload mode, the need for an account during setup that you mentioned, is no longer necessary right?
No, unfortunately, the account during the initial setup is always needed when doing it the official way. Either directly on the device or by using your computer.
The only way to use a Kobo ereader without an account is to do a small hack with an SQL script: jacobalbano.com/2021/06/24/setting-up-a-kobo-without-logging-in/
The author of that blog post also turned it into an automated script, but I haven't tried that though.
Can you upload other reading apps on this eReader? I have Nook, Kobo and Kindle books and I'd like to be able to read them all on the same device
No, that's not possible unfortunately. For that you'd need an ereader with an open Android-system, like the Oynx Boox Poke 4 Lite for example: ruclips.net/video/6QNqvNifgI4/видео.html
But you can also convert your ebooks with Calibre (free software) to read them on any regular ereader from Kobo, Kindle and B&N as well.
@@ChalidRaqami thank you so much. I had an old Kobo tablet and they used to allow it but I can't seem to find anything other than an android system now.
What you are looking for is a Boox e-reader 🤔🧐
@@bitteralmonds666 I opted for a small android tablet. I didn't like the specs on the android e readers. That market needs improvement
Help! When I transfer epub files from laptop to my Kobo, will they be also uploaded to Kobo Cloud? Will my bookmarks, highlights, and notes be also synced? Remember I prefer to ebooks from my laptop, not those that I purchased from Kobo store. Pls someone answer.
No, only books you bought through Kobo are saved in the cloud. Dropbox can be used with some Kobo device, but that doesn't sync bookmars, highlights etc. either.
@@ChalidRaqami Thank you for answering! Is there any workaround? Like any modd for KOreader or anything else?
Mine has bright spots when the display is illuminated on the edges., is this normal?
Do you mean tiny, bright dots? Than no, that's not normal, but I've seen it from time to time on some front lights. I'd try to get it replaced, if that's what you're seeing.
Subtle halos on the bottom edge of the screen are normal, but shouldn't be really noticeable. The Clara 2E's frontlight is pretty even all in all.
I appreciated your review on Kobo Clara 2e. BUT can you tell us how to download ebooks to Kobo device from book store or other resources? prefer step-by-step, Thanks so much.
Will see what I can do for a future video.
The setting up and updating through an Internet connection and Kobo account is what destroyed my Kobo Mini. It's now a brick since I cannot update it! 🙈💦
I know it’s a year later but just so you know, you can actually still update it by plugging it into a pc. I had the same issue as you but googled the fix. Hope you didn’t throw it out!
Thank you ...great review! btw... I wish I had your hair.
this or the new kindle 2022 ?
In short: This one.
Although the Kindle is a very good ereader, I'd always pick the one with a dual-tone frontlight. And the Clara 2E's frontlight also has a great quality.
What language are you speaking? Great video!
Thanks - usually German... ;-)
Obviously english but with a German accent 😅
@@LilliumGrrrl10Austrian German ;)