Sustainability is the buzzword at most product launches at #IFA2022, but the new Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E e-reader has been developed to put words into action.
This article is part of {Tech} for Travel’s coverage of IFA 2022. The biggest tech event in Europe is held annually in Berlin, Germany, where the biggest names in consumer technology attend and launch new products to the world’s media.
Click here to read more on the new travel gadgets news coming out of IFA this year.
Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E e-Reader
The Rakuten Kobo range has e-readers spanning 6,7, 8, and 10.3″ display sizes, offering plenty of variety and specifications based on your needs.
With the Kobo Clara 2E, Rakuten has improved the specifications of the 2018 Clara HD and used recycled and ocean-bound plastics to offer “a more eco-conscious way to read and listen” to your favourite books.
In total, 85% of the new e-reader’s exterior is made from recycled materials and matches the Rakuten commitment to transition over to certified recycled materials wherever feasible and meet technical requirements.
Feautres //Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E
The new Kobo Clara 2E has an upgraded 6″ display, capable of dark mode, and ComfortLight PRO offers less eyestrain when used in the dark. There’s also a blue light reduction option for additional eye health support.
Storage has been increased to 16GB, up from 8GB on the Clara HD, which will hold up to 12,000 eBooks, with 15 different formats supported, or 75 audiobooks with the newly added Bluetooth connectivity.
However, only the Kobo audiobook format is supported on the Clara 2E.
Kobo Clara 2E is about living our values: providing a better reading experience while also taking an important step toward sustainability
Rakuten CEO
Wi-Fi 802.11 is included for downloading from the Kobo eBook Store, and the Clara 2E has a single USB-C port for charging.
The Clara 2E has a 1,500mAh internal battery, but Rakuten hasn’t provided a performance indicator. Only to claim the Clara 2E will provide weeks of use from a single charge depending on the individual’s usage.
Waterproof & Protection
If using an e-Reader by the pool, on the beach, or even in the bath is how you like to use them, the good news is the new Clara 2E is now IPX8 waterproof rated.
This means the e-Reader can spend up to an hour fully submerged in water up to 2m.
To further protect the Kobo Clara 2E, Rakuten will launch a selection of SleepCovers. These all-around cases come in three colours and have a microfibre lining.
And, keeping on track with the sustainability credentials of the Klara 2E, the SleepCover is also engineered from recycled and ocean-bound plastics.
Specifications //Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E
| Dimensions | 112 x 159 x 9mm |
| Weight | 171g |
| Colour Options | Deep Ocean Blue |
| Display | 6″ HD E Ink Carta 1200 glare-free 1448 x 1072 resolution 300 PPI |
| Battery | 1,500mAh |
| Battery Performance | TBC |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi Bluetooth USB-C |
| Supported Formats | eBooks: EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub and MOBI Audiobooks: Kobo Audiobooks only Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP and TIFF Text: TXT, HTML and RTF Comic Books: CBZ and CBR |
| Waterproof Rating | IPX8 |
| In the Box | Clara 2E reader TBC |
| Website | kobobooks.com/clara2e |
Pricing //Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E
The new Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E is $129/£129/€149 at kobobooks.com. SleepCover for the Clara 2E comes in a choice of Sea Glass Green, Coral Reef Orange or Black and will be $29/£24/€29.
Great to see so much of this Kobo has been made using recyclable materials. I’ve never used a Kobo but the spec on this sounds really good and being a bit waterproof is good for when on holiday by the pool! I’ve used a Kindle Paper white for ages now. I like reading books digitally and in print. I also read comics digitally sometimes and hope we see some kind of device that’s dedicated just for the comic book format soon, current apps and devices just don’t make for a very smooth reading experience in comics.
Based on the specs, I think Kobo has been very clever in making the Clara 2E an attractive entry e-reader for vacations/travel. There is comic support on the reader, but sadly I didn’t get a chance to try it out while it was on display at IFA.
I’v read comics on Kindle Fire which was a ok, but it doesn’t work well on a Paper White. Be interesting to know what its like on. a Kobo. I currently read comics on my I Pad, which has been about the best of the bunch, but the interface and some of the sizing of pages – especially on older comics – can look a bit odd.
This article sheds light on the urgent need to address the issue of plastic waste and its impact on our environment. It’s high time we take action and find sustainable solutions that can help us make a positive impact on our planet