Kobo Clara BW review: It's impressive, but I'm unsure of its purpose.

      Kobo Clara BW Review: It's Impressive, but I'm Unclear on Its Purpose

      MSRP: $140.00

      Pros:

      - Affordable price

      - Repairable

      - Excellent reading experience

      - Lasts weeks on a single charge

      - Clear and sharp display

      - Simple yet robust software

      - Great price guarantee in the Kobo Store

      Cons:

      - Lacks value compared to the Clara Colour

      - Slippery plastic construction

      - Plain appearance

      - Limited to 16GB of storage

      - No Dropbox integration

      Mark Jansen / Digital Trends

      If you're in the market for one of the top e-readers, consider the Kobo Clara, a mid-sized device available in two versions. I previously reviewed the Kobo Clara Colour and found it to be outstanding. But how does the Clara BW, the monochrome version, stack up? Fortunately, Kobo provided me with both for comparison.

      The Clara BW shares much with the Clara Colour, so I won't delve into every detail as I did previously. If you're curious about feel and software, check my earlier review. In this write-up, I'll focus mainly on the differences between the two models and explain why I'm reluctant to recommend the Clara BW after using the Clara Colour extensively.

      Kobo Clara BW Specs:

      Size: 112 x 160 x 9.2mm

      Weight: 174 grams

      Display: 6 inches, 300ppi (black and white), 150ppi (color)

      Storage: 16GB

      Battery Life: Up to 53 days

      Charging: USB-C (speed not specified)

      Durability: IPX8

      Colors: Black

      The Kobo Clara BW is a high-quality e-reader

      Mark Jansen / Digital Trends

      While the Kobo Clara BW may not be the most visually striking device, it is well-made. The solid black plastic construction feels good in hand, though it can be a bit slippery. Its weight gives it a reassuring heft, and I appreciate the recessed power button on the back. The USB-C port at the bottom allows it to share a charger with your phone. Additionally, it's repairable with guides and parts available from iFixit. The impressive battery life means you won’t have to charge it often, and its compact size makes it more portable compared to larger e-readers like the Kindle Paperwhite. Although its appearance is somewhat dull, you'll quickly forget about that once you dive into your books.

      The six-inch display is sharp and clear, with a 300 pixels per inch (ppi) resolution that makes even fine details easily readable, leading to a great reading experience. The night mode can activate at a designated time, filtering out blue light to help you wind down before bed. The audiobook feature is straightforward; it performs well, but those who prefer extensive options and customization may find it lacking. It works well for casual listeners, and you can connect via Bluetooth to wireless earbuds, headphones, or speakers.

      This is a fabulous e-reader, yet something has been bothering me while using it — I can't quite grasp the purpose of this model.

      It’s Too Similar to the Clara Colour

      Mark Jansen / Digital Trends

      The Clara BW is overshadowed by the Clara Colour.

      While the Clara BW is an excellent device, so is the Clara Colour — and in many respects, the BW’s merits stem from the Color’s strengths.

      These two devices are practically identical. They are the same size, run the same software, and share the same look and feel. The Clara BW has a longer estimated battery life, likely due to the absence of power-intensive color rendering, and, of course, there’s a difference in the display technology. I actually prefer the display on the Clara BW; although I had no issues with the Clara Colour's screen, the BW somehow feels better, even with both having the same resolution and specs. Would I have noticed had I not used them consecutively? Not at all, and that shouldn't be a reason to favor the BW. On the other hand, the BW is equipped with a 1.0 GHz processor, which pales in comparison to the Colour's dual 2.0 GHz processor.

      Mark Jansen / Digital Trends

      The Clara Colour indeed outshines the Clara BW — but does that really matter? After all, the Kindle Colorsoft eclipses the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and both are similar devices. Why shouldn't the same be true for the two Clara versions? The difference lies in pricing: The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition costs $200, while the Colorsoft is priced at $280, resulting in an $80 gap. However, the gap between the Clara Colour and Clara BW is only $20.

      This situation makes the Clara Colour an appealing option, casting doubt on the value of the Clara BW. Although the Clara BW is a high-quality e-reader, the Clara Colour offers a more powerful processor and a color display for just $20 more, making the BW seemingly less desirable