Kobo’s newest ereader has simply been introduced – the Clara 2E is the successor to Kobo’s mid-range Clara HD pill and maintains all its bells and whistles, plus provides some new ones to boost your studying expertise. Its promoting level, nevertheless, is its eco-conscious angle.

For the primary time, Kobo has made an ereader constructed largely out of recycled plastics. The Clara 2E’s chassis is, the corporate guarantees, comprised of 85% recycled plastic, which incorporates 10% of ocean-bound waste. Kobo is eager on doing its half for the planet and we applaud the trouble. 

That’s not all, although. Not solely does it retain the Clara HD’s clear design with a 6-inch display, the show has been up to date to the most recent E Ink Carta 1200 tech. Meaning it’s going to be quicker and extra responsive than its predecessor. It’s the identical show used within the Kobo Libra 2 – our decide of one of the best ereaders round – and will increase distinction by 15% for higher textual content readability and bumps up the display response time by a really vital 20%.

The Clara 2E additionally will get Bluetooth connectivity so you possibly can hearken to audiobooks by way of a set of wi-fi headphones or a transportable speaker, plus doubles the interior storage at 16GB. USB-C charging is now the norm on Kobo ereaders, and the Clara 2E is not any totally different. Most significantly, although, it’s additionally waterproof – one thing the Clara HD was noticeably missing.

Selecting one up will set you again $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.95  making it $10 / £10 / AU$40 dearer than its predecessor. Nevertheless, you are getting a complete array of latest options with this mannequin. You may already preorder one straight from Kobo’s on-line retailer (opens in new tab) in your area, however you’ll have to attend till late September to have it in your fingers.

This additionally means it is nonetheless cheaper than the most recent 11th-gen Kindle Paperwhite within the US and Australia (by $10 / AU$10), although each ereaders are the identical value within the UK (£129.99). You are getting twice the reminiscence with the Clara 2E, so it could possibly be value contemplating when you’ve been trying to seize the Paperwhite, particularly when you’d fairly use that further saving on some new ebooks.

Eco-friendly studying

This will probably be Kobo’s first ereader made beneath its new environmentally acutely aware scheme. As we’ve talked about earlier, the Clara 2E is made from 85% recycled plastic, with 10% of that being ocean-bound waste. That’s issues like water bottles and CDs which have been salvaged and remodeled to create this new gadget. This modifications nothing about its design, because it’ll nonetheless appear to be the Clara HD, nevertheless it’s a pleasant factor for readers who’re in search of extra eco-friendly choices.

This outdoes what Amazon has performed with its newest Kindle Paperwhite fashions (together with the Signature Version). The 11th-generation Paperwhite is a Local weather Pledge Pleasant product too, however solely 60% of its physique is comprised of recycled plastic.

One enchancment we’re actually glad about is the waterproofing. In contrast to the Clara HD, when you drop the Clara 2E within the tub or pool, you’ll don’t have anything to fret about due to its IPX8 score, which is consistent with its competitor, Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite, and different Kobo fashions such because the Sage, Libra 2 and Forma. For many who don’t know what that score means, the Clara 2E can stay submerged in two metres of recent water for as much as an hour with out harm. 

Kobo already presents a incredible vary of supported file codecs, however entry to audiobooks within the Clara 2E is one other welcome addition that was additionally lacking from all of the older fashions previous to the Libra 2. Paired with the a set of wi-fi headphones or a speaker, you’ll be capable of get pleasure from your favorite books on this gadget no matter whether or not you favor to learn or hearken to them. If Kobo hasn’t modified its audiobook coverage but, then the one caveat is that every one audiobooks you possibly can hearken to on the Clara 2E will probably be these bought from the Kobo Retailer – that is the case with the Libra 2 and the Sage.

We’ll be placing the Clara 2E to the check quickly, so test again with us to see if it truly is definitely worth the larger asking value.

• Cannot determine on which in style ereader to purchase? Check out our Kindle vs Kobo shopping for information to assist making a decision.