The new e-reader is also the first of a Rakuten-owned company to use more than 85 percent recycled plastic, including 10 percent ocean plastic, Kobo said. The changes are part of Kobo’s goal to offset 100% of the carbon emissions associated with shipping e-readers to customers. Made from FSC certified recycled paper and printed with soy ink, its non-magnetic packaging should also be more environmentally friendly.
In terms of features, the new e-reader also differs from its predecessor, the Clara HD, in that it supports Bluetooth so you can listen to audiobooks. It also has 16GB of onboard storage, twice as much as the Clara HD. However, like the Clara HD, it has a 6-inch display that should produce no glare on paper, while also reducing blue light exposure when you read late at night.
Compared with the direct competitor Kindle Paperwhite, the highlight of the Kobo Clara 2E is that it is waterproof, supports Bluetooth and has a larger storage space. Both are waterproof, but the ad-supported Kindle Paperwhite is pricier at $139.99 and only comes with 8GB of storage.
By contrast, Kobo says its e-reader doesn’t come with ads, and the Kobo Clara 2E, as mentioned, comes with 16GB of storage. Additionally, the Kindle Paperwhite offers a larger 6.8-inch display, which might not be a good thing depending on your preference. However, the Kindle Paperwhite still has months of battery life, and Kobo says the new Clare 2E can last “weeks.”