KoboClara BW | eReader | 6” Glare-Free Touchscreen with ComfortLight PRO | Dark Mode Option | Audiobooks | Waterproof | 16GB of Storage | Black

**The Gist:**This pocket-sized powerhouse nails the basics—crisp text, *insane* portability, and a screen that’s easy on the eyes. Think of it as the Toyota Corolla of e-readers: reliable, efficient, and built to last… but don’t expect a sunroof.---### **What Rocks**✅ **Screen Goals**: The **E Ink Carta 1300 display** is *stupidly sharp*—text pops like it’s printed on paper, and page turns are zippier than older Kobos. Dark mode? Chef’s kiss for late-night binges .✅ **Tiny but Mighty**: At 174g, it’s lighter than your average paperback. Throw it in a fanny pack, coat pocket, or gym bag—no back strain here .✅ **Waterproof AF**: IPX8-rated for bathtub soaks or accidental coffee spills. Just rinse off the saltwater if you’re a beach reader (yes, Kobo says so) .✅ **Eco Warrior Vibes**: 85% recycled plastic body + soy-ink packaging. Bonus: **repairable via iFixit**—swap the battery or screen yourself instead of trashing it .✅ **Library Hack**: Borrow ebooks directly via **OverDrive**—no Amazon lock-in. Sideload EPUBs? Drag-and-drop via USB-C .---### **What Sucks**❌ **RAM Roulette**: Only 512MB RAM means occasional freezes if you’re zooming PDFs or multitasking. Don’t pinch-to-zoom… just don’t .❌ **Design Déjà Vu**: Same chunky bezels since 2018. Feels plasticky next to pricier rivals .❌ **No Cloud Sync**: Want Dropbox? Nope. You’re stuck with USB or third-party apps for sideloaded books .❌ **Audiobook Jail**: Only Kobo Store audiobs work. Library loans? Forget it .---### **Vs. The Competition**- **Kindle (2024)**: $10 cheaper, but no waterproofing or dark mode. Clara BW’s screen smokes it .- **Kobo Clara Colour**: Brighter colors but murkier text. Stick with BW if you’re a novel purist .- **Boox Palma 2**: Android flexibility, but triple the price. Clara’s for *readers*, not app hoarders .---**Verdict:**If you want a fuss-free, eco-friendly reader that *just works*, the Clara BW is a **4.6/5** ⭐️. Docked half a point for the clunky UI and RAM hiccups, but it’s the best $130 you’ll spend on a distraction-free library.**Buy if:** You’re team #Bookstagram, hate Amazon, or need a bath-time buddy.**Skip if:** You crave color comics or need cloud sync like oxygen .

An improved version of the black and white Kobo I've used for years.It's more responsive, waterproof and can access my local library but is no bigger or heavier.It appears well made and I hope lasts as long as its predecessor.

Excellent quality, simple and easy to use and a terrific reading experience.

I have had a number of book readers over many years and so my expectations were based on what I have used already, from the time before any lighting was offered, to that of the most recent models.Please see my included photos of the book reader.Firstly....The overall build quality is adequate. Yes, it is plastic and not, seemingly, the most robust, but nothing that would cause concern. It does not seem to flex or make any noises when the screen is pressed. Happy enough with that, and the grip on the rear of the case.The screen is also recessed a little and not flushed, for me that is great as it offers protection. I do not like a flushed screen unit for that reason.Powering up for the first time and you are invited, not compelled, to create an account with Kobo. Wi-fi connected without issues and updates done.I use Calibre to manage many of my books and that works with no issues with this Clara BW reader, the latest version of Calibre being used.The reader is quick to populate its library and responsive when looking through the list and selecting the book to read.It is also quick and immediately responsive when opening a book and turning the pages.Some of my books have been converted from epub to Kepub, Kobo's native file format, as that provides additional book reading statistics not offered by other formats. Again please see my screenshots. The conversion was done by using the software "Calibre".The screen on my unit has been exceptional. I compared it to my wife's Libra 2 and I also have a previous Kobo reader, the Clara HD. I did not know that it would have been possible but when compared next to each other this Clara BW seems crisp and more "detailed" in how clear and precise the font appears. The white background is evenly lit, using the backlight and natural light (for warmth settings) it works really well.I do very much enjoy a 6" book reader. It fits in my pocket and can be held with one hand in comfort.What I was also impressed about is the fact my Clara HD book cover fitted perfectly on this Clara BW model. It works a treat, both opening and closing the cover will wake the device and also place it in sleep mode.The battery life is very good, having had the device since the 7th May and only charged once when first bought. I understand that is not long, but from noting how much I have used it, including the backlight, I can see that it is going to be very good.Using the reader outside in bright light, no lighting is needed on the device.I would struggle to find and fault with this book reader. It simply does everything that would be reasonable to expect and do that well.The only aspect of this reader that I will probably not make use of is the sketch pad, see screenshot. It works with my finger, do not have a suitable pen, and can be used to draw or add notes that can be saved, they appear on the home page. Perhaps some will make use of that feature, can be found within the beta section of the settings.I do use the dark mode whilst reading in bed at night, that inverts the screen and text colours, see photo.Overall I very much recommend this book reader. It offers exceptional value, great amount of storage space, I do not use audiobooks, and the responsiveness and clarity of screen is exceptional.I do hope that this review helps you.Happy reading :)

I bought this to replace my old kobo after I broke the screen and it is so much better the screen lights up to adjust to the lighting in the bedroom which makes it easier to read and the size is great

I love this ereader. It's lightweight easy to use and a good size even if you have small hands like me. The screen is responsive and very bright. The cost is fair and definitely worth it. I like the second functions that you can download straight to the ereader.

Not the best kobo I have bought actually it’s the 5th one, the batteries seem to give out or the memory’s stop. I always have 2 one in the lounge and leave one in the bedroom. This one is not good ,as I read the pages will not turn nothing works eg:: I cannot bookmark the page, the page will not turn after it’s been read it seems to suspend itself really annoying. Definitely not value for money absolutely useless at times and really frustrating to use