For years, the holy grail of e-readers has been simple: the eye comfort of paper, but in colour. Until recently, you had to choose between the vivid but eyestrain-inducing screen of an iPad or the restful but monochrome existence of a Kindle. The Kobo Clara Colour promises to end that compromise.
Kobo Clara Colour | Colour eReader | 6" Glare-Free Colour and Ink Kaleido 3 Display | Dark Mode Option | Waterproof | Audiobooks | 16GB of Storage (White)
- Revolutionary Colour E Ink: Features a 6-inch Kaleido 3 display that delivers 4,096 colours, bringing comic book covers, illustrations, and highlights to life without the eye strain of a tablet screen.
- Fully Waterproof (IPX8): Rated to withstand immersion in up to 2 metres of fresh water for 60 minutes, making it the perfect worry-free companion for reading in the bath or by the pool.
- Massive Storage Capacity: Comes with 16GB of internal storage, enough to hold approximately 12,000 eBooks or 75 distinct Kobo Audiobooks, ensuring you never run out of reading material on the go.
- Eye-Friendly Lighting: Equipped with ComfortLight PRO, allowing you to adjust both brightness and colour temperature (blue light reduction) for comfortable reading day or night, plus a dedicated Dark Mode.
- UK Library Integration: Offers built-in OverDrive support, enabling British users to browse and borrow eBooks from their local public library directly on the device for free.
According to the spec sheet, this is a 6-inch e-reader packing the latest E Ink Kaleido 3 display technology, full waterproofing, and 16GB of storage, all for a very palatable price. On paper, it looks like the perfect device for comic book fans and anyone tired of black-and-white book covers. But does the addition of colour compromise the crispness we love about e-readers?
The Quick Verdict
The Kobo Clara Colour is a landmark device that finally makes colour e-reading affordable and pocketable. It’s the ultimate upgrade for graphic novel enthusiasts and those who organise their library by spine colour. However, due to the darker screen inherent to colour technology, pure text lovers who read mostly standard novels might still prefer the contrast of the black-and-white Clara BW or a Kindle Paperwhite.
- Rating: 4.2/5
- Best For: Comic readers, OverDrive/Libby library users, and visual learners.
- Top Pro: Kaleido 3 colour makes covers and illustrations pop without eye strain.
- Top Con: The screen is naturally darker than monochrome rivals, requiring higher front-light brightness.
Kobo Clara Colour In Detail: The Promise of Colour
It retains the beloved form factor of the classic Clara 2E – it’s small, lightweight, and plastic-fantastic in a way that feels durable rather than cheap. The headline feature here is strictly the screen. By layering a colour filter array over a standard black-and-white panel, Kobo delivers 4,096 colours.
It’s aggressively priced, undercutting many premium monochrome rivals. It promises to be the “do-everything” pocket library: waterproof for the bath, colour for your comics, and 16GB of space for thousands of books.
Core Feature Analysis
1. The Display: E Ink Kaleido 3
The Claim: A “6-inch Glare-Free Colour and Ink Kaleido 3 Display” that brings covers and illustrations to life.
The Reality: This is the most critical part of the device. The Kaleido 3 tech is a massive leap forward from previous colour e-ink attempts. In bright sunlight (or under a reading lamp), book covers look lovely—pastel-toned and nostalgic, like newsprint comics. However, physics dictates a trade-off: the colour filter layer absorbs some light, making the screen greyer and darker than a standard Kindle.
The Verdict: It delivers on the promise of colour, but requires you to keep the front-light (brightness) turned up higher than you might be used to. It’s excellent for comics, but contrast is slightly lower for plain text.
2. Design & Durability
The Claim: “Waterproof” and compact.
The Reality: The IPX8 waterproofing is a standout feature for the UK market. Whether you’re reading in the bath or caught in a sudden downpour at a bus stop, this device survives. The 6-inch size is truly pocketable—unlike the larger 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite, this fits into a jacket pocket or small handbag with ease.
The Verdict: A robust, travel-friendly build that feels safe to use anywhere.
3. Storage & Audio
The Claim: “16GB of Storage” and “Audiobooks”.
The Reality: 16GB is huge for text (roughly 12,000 books), but if you’re loading it with colour comics and audiobooks, that space fills up faster. The audiobook functionality works via Bluetooth (you’ll need headphones), and the interface is clean and functional.
The Verdict: 16GB is the sweet spot. It’s enough for a massive library of mixed media without pushing the price up.
British Contextualisation
For the British buyer, the Kobo ecosystem offers a distinct advantage over Amazon: OverDrive integration. You can borrow eBooks directly from most UK public libraries right on the device, for free. In a cost-of-living crisis, this feature alone can pay for the device within a year.
Furthermore, the IPX8 waterproofing isn’t just a spec; it’s peace of mind for the British weather. Unlike tablets which glare uncontrollably under rare glimpses of UK sun, the glare-free screen remains perfectly readable in the park or garden.
Kobo Clara Colour vs. The Competition
| Feature | Kobo Clara Colour | Kindle Paperwhite | Kobo Libra Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6″ Kaleido 3 (Colour) | 6.8″ Monochrome | 7″ Kaleido 3 (Colour) |
| Waterproof | Yes (IPX8) | Yes (IPX8) | Yes (IPX8) |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB | 32GB |
| Library Support | Native OverDrive (UK Libraries) | Clunky (via USB mostly) | Native OverDrive |
| Physical Buttons | No | No | Yes |
- Winner for Value: Kobo Clara Colour. It offers colour for less than the price of the monochrome Kindle Paperwhite.
- Winner for Text Purists: Kindle Paperwhite. If you never read comics, the black-and-white screen provides better contrast and battery life.
- Winner for Power Users: Kobo Libra Colour. If you have the budget, the physical page-turn buttons and larger screen are a luxury upgrade.
Our Overall Verdict
The Kobo Clara Colour is a triumphant little device. It breaks the monochrome monopoly without breaking the bank. For not much money, you’re getting a waterproof, colour screen with native UK library borrowing is exceptional value.
It’s ideal for the visual reader—someone who reads cookbooks, travel guides, graphic novels, or just appreciates seeing book covers as the artist intended. It’s less suited to the text purist who demands the starkest, whitest background possible; for them, the Clara BW or a Kindle is still the contrast king.
But for everyone else, this is the most fun you can have with an e-reader today.
Kobo Clara Colour Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Final Rating: 4.2/5
Additional Information
- Manufacturer: Kobo (Rakuten)
- Model Name: Kobo Clara Colour
- Storage: 16GB
- Waterproofing: IPX8
- Display: 6″ E Ink Kaleido 3
For more perspectives on the Kobo Clara Colour, why not check out Avocado Diaries, EFTM, Good e-Reader, or Mashable?