In-depth Analysis: Kobo Clara HD Digital Book Reader

In-depth Analysis: Kobo Clara HD Digital Book Reader

The Kobo Clara HD is a brand new six-inch e-Reader, serving as the successor to the Kobo Aura Edition 2 and the Kobo Glo HD. This device boasts a front-lit display, perfect for reading in low-light conditions, and employs the same Comfortlight PRO orange LED system found in the Kobo Aura One. Boasting a sharp 300 PPI screen, cover art and text appear razor-sharp thanks to new firmware. Affordability makes the Clara HD an excellent entry-level digital reader.

Hardware:

The Clara HD features an E-Ink Carta HD display with a 300 PPI display. The screen isn't flush with the bezel, but there's a small dip. A USB port and power button reside on the bottom, with the rest of the sides bare. The back of the Clara sports a neat perforated design, providing a solid grip. Underneath the hood, a 1GHz Freescale Solo Lite processor, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage power the device. Unfortunately, Kobo suspended expandable storage a few years ago, so there's no Micro SD on the Clara HD. To conserve memory, you can opt for automatic deletion of books once finished reading or Pocket articles. Speaking of Pocket, the Clara HD now boasts Pocket integration, allowing you to save articles directly on the e-reader.

The Clara HD's front-lit display might be one of Kobo's best yet, boasting even light distribution thanks to eight white LEDs and seven orange LEDs powered by the Comfortlight PRO system. Activating both the front-lit display and Comfortlight PRO results in a brilliant and vibrant reading experience. The comfortlight offers an automatic setting that doesn't rely on an ambient light sensor, instead relying on the time of day and your time zone to configure itself. Auto-brightness is optional and can be turned off if you prefer.

Software:

Kobo runs a customized version of Linux instead of Google Android, allowing for a more tailored user experience optimized for a 300 PPI screen. The Clara HD's software experience differs slightly from Kobo's other e-readers. High DPI cover art and text appear sharp and polished, while the Kobo Aura Edition 2 and Glo HD seem somewhat antiquated in comparison. The home screen displays the last few books you've opened or purchased, with the rest dedicated to similar titles and Kobo online store links. The settings menu features a more condensed main navigation bar with smaller, streamlined text compared to Kobo's other e-readers.

The library menu is where you'll spend the bulk of your time. Two main options—list and cover view—allow you to display your content by providing full author names and titles or showcasing ebook cover art, respectively. You can sort by author, date added, or publisher, create your own collections, and add books of your choice. Upon reading a book, you have the option to leave a review and delete the book from your device to conserve memory. A new option in the library allows you to browse similar titles, potentially improving the recommendation engine over time by flagging your interest level in a specific author or genre.

Kobo has an exclusive arrangement with Pocket that lets you push website and blog articles directly to your e-Reader. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the Pocket browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari, logging into the service, and pushing out the stories you'd like to read later. These articles will include links, pictures, or text but will truncate short code and ads. There's also a new Pocket plugin for the Kobo beta internet browser that allows you to send blog articles directly to the Article menu. You can opt to automatically delete all Pocket articles upon finishing reading on your Clara.

Some Fun Facts:

1. The Kobo Clara HD was designed to excel at reading popular electronic book formats like PDF and EPUB while also supporting manga, graphic novels, and comic books in CBR or CBZ formats.
2. The Clara HD offers a rapid page turn engine which you can adjust to turn pages by tapping or swiping or swiping only, maximizing reading speed.
3. Kobo recently made Overdrive library books accessible on all their current generation e-readers, allowing users to browse, check out, and read books right on their device.
4. Kobo also offers a PIN lock system for added security, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot access your e-Reader or make unauthorized purchases.
5. With the Clara HD's new firmware updates, e-book reading on the device offers a sharp and polished experience, especially with high DPI cover art and text.
6. The Clara HD's digital reading experience is enhanced by several gadgets, including reading apps such as Pocket, which allows users to save articles directly on the e-reader for offline reading.
7. The Kobo Clara HD, equipped with e-ink technology, boasts versatility in supporting various popular electronic book formats, such as PDF and EPUB, as well as manga, graphic novels, and comic books in CBR or CBZ formats.

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