Kobo put out a handful of new e-readers a few weeks again: shade variations of the superb Libra 2 and Clara, in addition to an up to date monochrome model of the latter. But after testing all of them out, I can say that for most customers, there’s no purpose to change.
First, the colour editions. I’ve been ready on shade e-paper screens for what looks as if half my life, and so they have but to attain the extent of vibrancy I’d need to be able to actually get pleasure from comics and web sites on them. That’s nonetheless the case with the Clara Colour and Libra Colour.
These units use E Ink’s newest Kaleido 3 show, and definitely issues have come a methods from what we had been seeing 10 years in the past. But the straightforward reality is the colour replica continues to be not nice. Better than it ever was … however poor in contrast with virtually anything.
It’s unclear to me why you’d need shade in any respect on a 6″ system concerning the dimension of a pulp paperback. I attempted to learn a few comics however the textual content is just too small and zooming and panning too clumsy. And the colours, whereas current, are washed out in each shade. Perhaps a youngsters’s guide?
Now, I need to give credit score the place credit score is due: The display screen shows a wide selection of colours — I studied one panel specifically that had a number of distinct however comparable shades of blue (not the one under), and I used to be in a position to discern them on the reader virtually in addition to my regular LCD display screen. They’re actually desaturated, however they are there.
These criticisms are all equally true of the bigger Libra Colour, the most recent within the line of asymmetrical 7″ units with web page flip buttons. That further inch makes for about as a lot further readability as you’d count on — a bit — however the display screen itself is not any totally different.
You could also be pondering: Why not simply get the colour one so you will have the choice? You can nonetheless learn unusual books, in any case. Yes, however … sadly, the colour layer really makes black and white content material worse.
I in contrast the Clara Colour and BW facet by facet — and for that matter, the year-old Clara 2E I had sitting round. While they are all nominally the identical decision, the Colour seems to be as if there’s a kind of gentle gauze over it, darkening your complete show barely and as a consequence lowering the distinction.
This isn’t just a few minor factor that one solely notices with a microscope. It’s actually apparent. The shade screens are dimmer and more durable to learn. I attempted and didn’t seize it in photographs, however belief me, it’s unquestionably a step down.
As such, I merely can’t advocate the colour variations of those readers to anybody, except you will have a specific use case the place desaturated colours and a barely degraded studying expertise aren’t a large deal.
Now, as for the Clara BW, that is basically the new default suggestion I’ll be giving — not as a result of it considerably outdoes my go-to reader, the Clara 2E, however as a result of it gives modest enhancements for $10 much less.
The new model of this very simple kind issue contains a calmly up to date display screen, the Carta 1300 collection, which boasts barely higher distinction and page-turning speeds. Tested in opposition to the 2E, I discovered it to be noticeably quicker when tapping rapidly by way of pages, however not noticeable in unusual use. And so far as the readability and distinction, they had been about equal to my eye, with a slight benefit going to the new system. My favourite characteristic is that it doesn’t crash once I plug it into my pc half the time, a Clara 2E behavior I’d given up on fixing.
So actually, you get what I believe is the most sensible e-reader in the marketplace for most individuals, just for $130 reasonably than $140. No advertisements, sideload your individual fonts and paperwork, built-in library app, loads of room to mess around and hack. However, for those who personal a Clara 2E, and even a Clara HD, I don’t assume the improve is essentially value it. Type high quality hasn’t improved that a lot in the previous few years.
As earlier than, I like to recommend getting their faux-leather “sleep cover,” which each protects your system from the standard scuffs and folds into a beautiful little stand. I like to recommend the Cayenne Red shade so that you by no means lose it. Believe me, you’ll be glad you spent the $30.