Kobo Clara BW Review: The Best Kindle Alternative
The Kobo Clara BW is the best reason not to buy a Kindle — a sharp 6-inch e-ink screen with built-in library borrowing.
Overview
The Kobo Clara BW is Kobo’s compact e-reader, and its killer feature is built-in OverDrive: borrow ebooks from your local library directly on the device, no sideloading. If you read from the library, this is the one to get.
Library borrowing
The OverDrive integration is the differentiator — browse and borrow library books right on the device. Kindle has library support too, but it’s clunkier and US-only. Kobo makes it seamless.
Who it’s for
The Kobo Clara is for library readers and anyone who wants a great e-reader outside the Amazon ecosystem. It’s also a strong choice if you want EPUB support without conversion.
Verdict
Pros
- Built-in library borrowing
- Sharp 6-inch screen
- Waterproof
- EPUB support
Cons
- Smaller screen than Paperwhite
- No warm light on the base model
- Less accessory choice
The Kobo Clara BW is the best Kindle alternative — especially if you borrow library books.
What to buy
The Clara and the accessories worth having.
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