We return with the analysis of the latest Rakuten product Kobo has launched on the market, a well-resolved electronic book or eReader. The manufacturer has decided to bet on a product that they wanted to call "eco-conscious", capable of offering the same characteristics as the rest of the devices in the range, but with the least possible impact on the environment.
Discover with us the new Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E, a versatile reader with a multitude of capacities and designed for the most demanding. We analyze in depth all the features of this new Kobo product, the reinvention of its legendary Clara 2 model.
As on other occasions, we have worked on this review with the colleagues at Actualidad Gadget, therefore, you will be able to simultaneously enjoy a unboxing with in-depth analysis on the YouTube channel. Let us know if you like this type of content and help us grow by subscribing.
Materials and design
In this aspect, insisting a lot on the reason for this device, Kobo has decided to bet on the most “eco-conscious” way of reading and listening, since we can also play audiobooks with the Kobo Clara 2E. In our interview with Fabián Gumucio, responsible for communication of the brand, we reach the most sincere conclusions in this regard:
Discover the Kobo Clara 2E, an eco-conscious eReader with the environment and big improvements in a small format. The Kobo Clara 2E is our first eReader made with recycled plastic and plastic recovered before it had ended up in the oceans.
Thus, we find a device with dimensions of 112*159*8,6 millimetres, quite compact and inevitably reminiscent of the previous Kobo Clara 2. It is accompanied by a total weight of 171 grams, something more than usual for the brand, but it is still supremely light.
In this aspect, the eReader continues to maintain a feeling of lightness, resistance and comfort in long periods of reading, so we have ended up quite happy with its performance.
As with other Kobo products, and this one could not be less, despite being built with recycled and recovered plastics, we find a water resistance of IPX8 certification, so you won't have moisture problems in depths of up to two meters for a maximum of sixty minutes.
display features
At the screen level, perhaps the most relevant aspect of an electronic book, Kobo has opted for an old acquaintance of the company, we have the touch screen E-Ink Carta 1200 which offers a good resolution of 1448×1072 pixels, thus resulting in a density of 300 pixels per inch for its six inches of total size.
In this aspect, the Kobo Clara 2E is seen with sufficient resolution and clarity to offer us a comfortable reading adapted to our needs. All this is improved with two fundamental points: We have a dark mode that will allow us to relax our eyes in certain situations, something that makes lovers of this technology happy; At the same time, we have a CmfortLight Pro lighting system, which, as you well know, allows us not only to adjust different brightness levels, but also the warmth of the color of the LED light emission.
In this aspect, the Kobo Clara 2E allows us to read with comfort in all possible scenarios, from the beach to the bed. This is very relevant, since it makes it an extremely versatile product, as we have been able to verify in our own analysis.
Thus, the screen together with the software work hand in hand to offer us the well-known Kobo TypeGenius, that is, up to 12 different fonts to choose from, accompanied by more than 50 styles in total, because not everything in life was going to be "Arial" or "Calibri".
Technical characteristics and connectivity
In terms of hardware, the Kobo Clara 2E bets on a much more humble 1 GHz processor whose specific specifications we do not know. You will be accompanied by 16GB of storage memory and a RAM memory that at the moment we also do not know.
- Endurance: Depending on the typical user, between 9 and 12 days of daily use for our tests
The important thing at the end of the day is the performance of the device and its fluidity, something with which we are quite satisfied. At this point the Kobo Clara 2E (as you can see in the video) moves smoothly through the Rakuten platforms and between the different files to select: PUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR
As you know, Kobo audiobooks are available via easy-sync Bluetooth connectivity. In this aspect we can take advantage of our headphones to enjoy. The playback system in our tests has worked smoothly and comfortably, but let's be honest, the audiobook is an addition demanded by the public but it makes no real sense in an eReader, taking into account that the concept of audiobook is easily consumable from other devices that we use on a daily basis such as our smartphone.
Accessories and covers
As on other occasions, we have received to analyze the SleepCover. This time in orange, although as you well know you will be able to acquire it from €29,99 on the Rakuten Kobo website in any of its available colors: Orange, green and black.
As with the Kobo Clara 2E, This case is made from 97% recycled plastic, as well as its microfiber lining, which is made up of recycled materials up to 40% of the total. The "origami" folding system allows you to read without using your hands, and how could it be otherwise, the Kobo Clara 2E locks and enters standby mode when you close the cover.
A light cover, which provides extra peace of mind due to its resistance. Without a doubt, the covers become an almost obligatory purchase.
Editor's opinion
Thus, we find ourselves in the Kobo Clara 2E, an "eco-conscious" product that does not renounce any of the technologies available by Rakuten Kobo on the market, at a demolition price of only 149,99 euros, which points squarely at rivals like the Kindle Paperwhite.
With the support of Rakuten Behind it, we find a round product, which has allowed us to enjoy a quality and comfortable reading experience.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Quality and versatile screen
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Very competitive price
Cons
- The cover is purchased separately
- A single color of the device to choose