I could comfortably hold the device one-handed for a two-hour train journey – something that isn’t so easy to do with the bulkier Kindle. It’s about as tall as a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone, only a lot wider, and it’s super-light at just 166g. This is one of the most compact e-readers around, and it’s dinky enough to comfortably slip inside my coat pocket. What the Clara HD does have over the Paperwhite is its size. Add an IP rating here and it would instantly offer something that the similarly priced Kindles are lacking. The Clara HD also lacks any sort of waterproofing, which until the latest generation of the Kindle Oasis was one of Kobo’s unique features. It lacks the grip and durability of the rubbery matte plastic of the Paperwhite, or even the cheaper Kindle, and feels like it would pop off if the device were accidentally dropped onto the floor.
#KOBO CLARA HD EREADER PLUS#
It becomes greasy and sweaty on being held for long periods, plus the pattern itself is just odd. The rear is a weird textured plastic that both looks and feels horrible. Flip it over, however, and you’ll see exactly why Kobo shouldn’t have veered from the ‘safe’. On the front, the design is about as generic as you can get. The screen is recessed into the body and there’s a distinct lack of page-turning buttons. This is a fairly standard black plastic rectangle, with a micro-USB port for power and a squishy power button flanking it. The Kobo Clara HD rarely strays from the predictable – except in areas it probably shouldn’t. While pricier e-readers, such as the Kindle’s £249 Oasis, have attempted to be a little more exciting with their designs, the majority have stuck to a fairly generic blueprint. However, its compact build does warrant investigation. The Kobo Clara HD costs the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, which instantly makes it a tough sell. But a few competitors remain, churning out devices that they hope will compete with the Kindle Paperwhite, Oasis and Voyage. Amazon’s position of dominance at the top of the e-reader market is clear to see.
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