Kobo Clara Vs Kobo Libra 2
Kobo is a renowned brand which is one of the leaders in the E Reader market. Kobo Clara 2E and Kobo Libra 2 stand as commendable choices, each offering distinct advantages catering to varying reading preferences.
Let’s delve into a straightforward comparison of these devices to help readers make an informed decision based on their individual requirements.
Comparison Table Kobo Libra 2 vs Kobo Clara 2e
Aspect of Consideration
- Design
- Display
- Reading
- Hardware & Software
- Battery Life
- Pricing
Design
Kobo Clara 2E: The Clara 2E boasts a sleek and lightweight design made from recycled plastics, offering a comfortable and carefree reading experience. Despite its recycled material, it defies expectations with its well-made feel.
Kobo Libra 2: The Libra 2 impresses with its waterproof design and enhanced build quality. It maintains the Kobo standards, though slightly bulkier compared to its predecessor, offering an ergonomic reading experience.
Kobo Libra 2 excels due to its ergonomic design and premium build quality
Kobo Clara 2E
- Made from recycled plastics, surprisingly well-made
- Sleek, lightweight, and thin profile
- Rounded edges for comfortable holding
- Submersible waterproof feature
Kobo Libra 2
- Comes with Page Turn Buttons
- Predominantly plastic build with enhanced finish
- Seven-inch screen with a refined curvature
- Slightly heavier and chunkier than its predecessor
- Waterproof design, but slightly bulkier compared to previous models
Display
Kobo Clara 2E: The 6” Clara 2E’s display showcases sharpness, excellent contrast, and responsiveness. With a pixel density of 300 PPI and excellent front light uniformity, it provides exceptional readability.
Kobo Libra 2: The Libra 2 comes with a 7” display and the same pixel per inch, Bigger screen size makes it better for reading Manga and PDFs.
Kobo Libra with its bigger screen stands out in this category
Kobo Clara 2E
- 300 PPI pixel density for crispness and image clarity
- Remarkable front light with adjustable warm to cold tones
- Excellent uniformity even at highest settings
Kobo Libra 2
- Enhanced image quality with richer blacks and sharper images
- 7-inch HD E-Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen (300 PPI)
- Dual front light with versatile brightness settings
Reading
Kobo Clara 2E: The Clara 2E provides a decent reading experience with standard Kobo functions, allowing easy access to libraries, purchasing books, and Overdrive access for digital libraries.
The Clara 2E faces considerable challenges in handling PDFs, struggling with responsiveness, crashes, and delays, especially with larger or image-heavy PDFs.
Kobo Libra 2: The Libra 2 facilitates smooth navigation, text marking, notations, and a versatile dual front light. It also includes an expanded “Discover” section with audiobook integration.
While the Libra 2 supports PDFs, its small screen and limited formatting options make it less ideal for extensive PDF use.
Kobo Libra with its bigger size and page turn button is far better when it comes to reading
Kobo Clara 2E
- Standard Kobo functions for library access and audiobooks
- Overdrive access for digital libraries
- Customizable settings for formatting and front light adjustments
- Struggles with PDF handling, sluggish performance, and navigation issues
Kobo Libra 2
- Smooth navigation with text marking and notations
- Limited web browser functionality
- Enhanced Discover section with audiobook integration
- Support for organizing books by authors, series, or collections
Hardware & Software
Kobo Clara 2E
- Tailored OS with limited third-party app support
- Decent hardware support with 16GB internal storage
- Wi-Fi limited to 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth device support for audiobooks
- Waterproof up to 60 minutes in two meters of water
Kobo Libra 2
- Tailored OS without third-party app support
- 32GB internal storage, Wi-Fi limited to 2.4 GHz
- Bluetooth device support for audiobooks, waterproof design
- Battery life with excellent reading hours and standby span
Battery Life
Kobo Clara 2E: The Clara 2E offers promising battery life, consuming under 2% per hour for reading approximately 50+ hours and approximately 6 hours of continuous audiobook playback via Bluetooth.
Kobo Libra 2: The Libra 2 demonstrates excellent battery performance, consuming approximately 1% per hour for reading and extending reading hours from 50 to possibly 100 hours.
Kobo Libra with its bigger battery stands out with its exceptional battery life.
Price
Normally screen size is the deciding factor when it comes to E Ink Readers. If you are on a budget then Kobo Clara 2e is a better choice whereas Kobo Libra 2 is when compared to similar sized E Ink Readers.
Verdict
Overall, the choice between the Kobo Clara 2e & Kobo Libra 2 boils down to personal preferences for design, reading experience, and additional features, considering the differences in handling PDFs, front light quality, and ecosystem support.
