TechRadar85
The Kobo Clara BW is an excellent, compact ereader that stands out for its superior E Ink Carta 1300 display, offering best-in-class contrast and responsiveness.
Kobo Clara BW
4 expert reviews#1 in e-readersChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Kobo Clara BW has a critic score of 81 out of 100 from 4 professional reviews, and 3 of them recommend it. It ranks #1 of 3 e-readers we score. Critics praise its picture quality and performance. The most common complaint is missing features.
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Image: KoboSmall, cheap e-reader
Our verdict
4 professional reviewers tested the Kobo Clara BW, and 3 recommend it. Critics praise its picture quality and performance. The most common complaint: missing features.
The catch: No page-turn buttons, and a plain plastic build.
Critic agreement: Medium
Scores run from 74 to 85
Early score: only 4 professional reviews so far. Expect it to move as more reviews come in.
3 of these 4 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Kobo Clara BW?
The Guardian85est.
The Kobo Clara BW is a highly recommended, compact e-reader that offers excellent battery life, effective waterproofing, and convenient library integration, making it a superior choice to the entry-level Kindle despite its slightly bulkier feel.
Good Housekeeping79est.
The Kobo Clara BW is a highly capable, compact, and waterproof e-reader that offers a great alternative to the Kindle ecosystem, though its library selection is more limited.
Digital Trends74est.
The reviewer acknowledges the device is a high-quality e-reader, but questions its necessity and market position given the existing options.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Picture quality3 of 4
Performance2 of 4
Easy to use2 of 4
What critics dislike most
Missing features2 of 4
Alternatives
Not sure about the Kobo Clara BW?
Common questions
Is the Kobo Clara BW worth it?
Most critics think so: 3 of 4 recommend it. No page-turn buttons, and a plain plastic build.
What do critics dislike about the Kobo Clara BW?
Missing features (2 of 4 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Kobo Clara BW?
The Kobo Libra Colour (critic score 81), best overall.