Screen size: 6” | Display type: Black/white and color E Ink | Resolution: 300 dpi black & white, 150 dpi color | Capacity: 16GB| Battery life: Weeks | Waterproof rating: IPX8 (submergible to 6 feet for 60 minutes) | Warm light: Yes | Lock screen ads: No

Read our complete Kobo Clara Colour review

The previous model, the Kobo Clara 2E, was a standout device with its sharp display, soothing warm glow, and intuitive touch controls, all wrapped in a waterproof design that felt exceptionally premium. When Rakuten announced the update to the Clara line, I was concerned that we might see unnecessary enhancements that would lead to a price hike. Fortunately, this was not the case. The Kobo Clara Colour not only introduces vibrant color and a faster processor but does so at just a $10 increase over its predecessor.

This eReader brings color to your reading experience, making book covers, graphs, and even comic panels more visually appealing. The technology utilized is the E Ink Kaleido 3 module, which integrates a color filter layer on top of the traditional black-and-white microcapsule layer. This setup allows for two different resolutions on a single screen: 150 dpi for color and 300 dpi for text.

The full-color pages evoke memories of comic book illustrations from the ‘60s, with a muted yet vibrant quality. This enhancement makes book covers more captivating and introduces a hint of variety to headings and tables in non-fiction works. While the color feature isn’t essential, it undeniably adds a fun and vibrant touch to the reading experience.

There is a minor trade-off in clarity between the color and non-color versions of the Clara. Upon closer inspection, some noise may be visible in the white areas of the page, attributed to the color filter layer. This is not distracting under normal reading conditions and is only noticeable when comparing the two generations side by side. However, if your primary objective is absolute clarity, you might prefer a non-color eReader.

One of the most significant upgrades in this model is the dual 2GHz processor, which is an improvement over the Clara 2E’s 1GHz CPU. This results in a noticeable enhancement in page-turn speeds, and navigating between the menu and content is now almost instantaneous. Similar to the 2E, the Colour model accurately distinguishes between swipe and tap gestures, ensuring a seamless reading experience.

The adjustable warm front light remains a key feature (now even warmer in the Colour), providing a comfortable reading experience at night. The operating system remains user-friendly, offering easy access to the Kobo store, your personal library, and titles available through local libraries via Overdrive. Customizing your reading settings is straightforward, with options for font, size, line spacing, and margins. While you cannot save multiple display settings like on the Kindle, the current customization options suffice to tailor your reading experience to your liking.

The Colour retains the same shape and premium feel as the 2E, although the plastic finish is slightly grainier. The bezels are now less flush with the screen, but this does not compromise overall reading enjoyment.

At a price of $150, the Kobo Clara Colour is $40 more than the base model Kindle. However, its waterproof design, warm front light, responsive controls, and absence of ads (which incur a $20 fee to remove on Amazon’s devices) justify the price difference. Additionally, it is designed for ease of repair post-warranty through a partnership with iFixit, which is excellent news for those concerned about sustainability.

Rakuten continues to offer the Kobo Clara BW, which is nearly identical to our previous “best overall” recommendation. While it does not experience the slight clarity reduction associated with the color overlay, it also features the older processor.

If you own a substantial library of Kindle books, you may prefer to remain within Amazon’s ecosystem. In that case, your best option is the latest Kindle model. Priced at $160, it has been recently updated with a more powerful processor and new E Ink technology, which enhances speed and text contrast. The warm light feature is excellent, and the flush front screen conveys a premium quality. Amazon has also introduced its own color model, the Kindle Colorsoft, priced at $280, which significantly exceeds the cost of both the Clara Colour and the Paperwhite Signature Edition.

Screen size: 6” | Display type: Black/white E Ink | Resolution: 300dpi | Capacity: 16GB | Battery life: 6 weeks | Waterproof rating: None | Warm light: No | Lock screen ads: Yes

If your primary goal is simply to read books and you don’t require the additional features offered by more advanced eReaders (such as color displays, waterproofing, or warm light), then the base model Kindle is an excellent choice for you. This compact six-inch device features a non-flush display encased in a textured plastic housing that, while not as premium-feeling as the Paperwhite or the two Kobo models on our list, still provides a durable and travel-friendly experience.

It’s worth noting that the 2024 model has seen a slight price increase of $10 compared to the 2022 version, yet it remains the most affordable eReader among major manufacturers. Given Amazon’s penchant for sales, it’s likely you could find it at a discount during events like Prime Day or Black Friday.

The Kindle serves as a no-frills entry point into the vast world of books offered by Amazon, featuring an extensive selection of titles from established authors and emerging self-published writers alike. The Kindle Unlimited subscription service offers the broadest selection of any reading service available, encompassing both audiobooks and eBooks, with many exclusive titles that can only be accessed through a Kindle device or the Amazon app.

For those who enjoy alternating between audiobooks and eBooks, the Kindle experience excels. When you purchase both versions of a title, not only do you receive a discount, but the Whispersync feature seamlessly syncs your progress between the audio and eBook formats. For instance, if you listen for an hour and then switch to reading, the synchronization allows you to continue from where you left off, although it’s important to note that simultaneous listening and reading on the same device is not possible.

Page turns on the new model are noticeably faster, but I find it disappointing that there is still no option to customize the touch gesture zones like is available on both Kobo and Boox devices. Kindles have a narrow strip on the left designated for going back a page, and I often find myself missing that area and accidentally advancing instead. Overall, however, swiping actions generally function well.

A significant drawback of the standard Kindle is the absence of warm light. Compared to models that offer this feature, the screen can appear harsh and bluish, although it is still far less straining on the eyes than a conventional phone or tablet display. You also have ample customization options for font, size, and margins. You can even save your settings as a theme, allowing for easy adjustment of your reading environment.

Some users may not mind the lock screen ads that come pre-installed on this Kindle (which you can remove for a $20 fee). These ads primarily promote Kindle book deals and specific titles, rather than unrelated products. Personally, I appreciate the option to set the sleep screen to display the current book cover, but if your main goal is simply to have an accessible way to read books at the lowest price, this is a minor consideration.