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Kobo Clara vs Kobo Forma
Last updated: July 10, 2023
Kobo Clara and Kobo Forma are two eReader devices offered by Kobo, each with its own unique features and design, catering to different reading preferences.
In terms of display, the Kobo Clara features a 6-inch Carta E Ink touchscreen display with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi). It offers crisp and clear text, providing a comfortable reading experience. On the other hand, the Kobo Forma boasts a larger 8-inch Mobius Carta E Ink display with a resolution of 1440 x 1920 pixels. The larger size and higher resolution of the Forma's display result in more immersive reading with sharper text and graphics. Additionally, the Forma offers an adjustable front light with ComfortLight PRO technology, allowing users to customize the lighting for optimal reading conditions.
When it comes to design and ergonomics, the Kobo Clara has a compact and lightweight design, making it highly portable and comfortable to hold for extended reading sessions. It features a slim profile and a flush-front design with a touchscreen interface for easy navigation. The Kobo Forma, on the other hand, offers a larger and more versatile design. It has an asymmetrical shape that tapers to a larger side, providing a more ergonomic grip and enabling users to hold it with one hand or use it in landscape mode. The Forma also includes physical page-turn buttons, giving users more flexibility in navigating through pages.
In terms of features and functionality, both devices offer access to the extensive Kobo eBookstore and a wide range of eBook formats, including EPUB and PDF. They also provide features like customizable fonts, adjustable font sizes, and the ability to make annotations and highlights. However, the Kobo Forma offers additional features such as waterproofing, making it suitable for reading near water or in humid environments. The Forma also has more storage capacity, with options for 8GB or 32GB, allowing users to carry a larger library of books. Additionally, the Kobo Forma's larger display and adjustable front lighting contribute to a more immersive reading experience.
In terms of display, the Kobo Clara features a 6-inch Carta E Ink touchscreen display with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (ppi). It offers crisp and clear text, providing a comfortable reading experience. On the other hand, the Kobo Forma boasts a larger 8-inch Mobius Carta E Ink display with a resolution of 1440 x 1920 pixels. The larger size and higher resolution of the Forma's display result in more immersive reading with sharper text and graphics. Additionally, the Forma offers an adjustable front light with ComfortLight PRO technology, allowing users to customize the lighting for optimal reading conditions.
When it comes to design and ergonomics, the Kobo Clara has a compact and lightweight design, making it highly portable and comfortable to hold for extended reading sessions. It features a slim profile and a flush-front design with a touchscreen interface for easy navigation. The Kobo Forma, on the other hand, offers a larger and more versatile design. It has an asymmetrical shape that tapers to a larger side, providing a more ergonomic grip and enabling users to hold it with one hand or use it in landscape mode. The Forma also includes physical page-turn buttons, giving users more flexibility in navigating through pages.
In terms of features and functionality, both devices offer access to the extensive Kobo eBookstore and a wide range of eBook formats, including EPUB and PDF. They also provide features like customizable fonts, adjustable font sizes, and the ability to make annotations and highlights. However, the Kobo Forma offers additional features such as waterproofing, making it suitable for reading near water or in humid environments. The Forma also has more storage capacity, with options for 8GB or 32GB, allowing users to carry a larger library of books. Additionally, the Kobo Forma's larger display and adjustable front lighting contribute to a more immersive reading experience.
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Kobo Clara always provides the best light for reading day or night with ComfortLight PRO. You can adjust brightness and color temperature to reduce blue light before bedtime. It has a natural, print-like reading experience on its 6" glare-free high-definition 300 PPI screen. Easily customizable features help you read the way you want to.
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To make the reading experience better for ravenous booklovers who read for hours on end, and want a lightweight, portable alternative to heavy print books, we’ve delivered our most comfortable eReader yet with waterproof reliability, the choice of landscape or portrait mode, and the expanded access of book borrowing.
Kobo Clara vs Kobo Forma in our news:
2024. Kobo releases new firmware for Colour e-readers
Kobo has released a new software update for its three latest e-readers, the Clara Colour, Libra Colour, and the Clara BW, known for their superior performance and affordability. While details about the updates are scarce, Kobo has mentioned stability enhancements and bug fixes. However, this attention to the latest models underscores a prolonged period without updates for other Kobo e-readers. The update rollout begins today, promising availability to all users within a few days. Updating is straightforward - simply press the sync button. Alternatively, for those inclined, the latest firmware patches are accessible on our site. Select your model, download the file to your PC or MAC, connect your e-reader via USB-C cable, transfer the file to the root folder, and reboot your device to access the new features and enhancements.
2024. Kobo has introduced the Kobo Clara BW E-reader
Kobo is introducing the Kobo Clara BW, an enhanced black-and-white e-reader designed for an immersive reading experience. With its 6-inch glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD screen and full waterproof protection, reading becomes effortless. Powered by a MediaTek processor MT8113L, the device allows seamless access to Kobo's extensive library of audiobooks and ebooks. Enjoy your favorite titles via Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, compatible with earbuds, headphones, or external speakers. The USB-C port facilitates easy content transfer and charging. With a low-end 1,500 mAh battery, compact dimensions of 112 x 160 x 9.2 mm, and weighing just 174 g, it offers portability without compromise. Priced at $129.99 (USD), the Kobo Clara BW could be your perfect companion for endless reading adventures.
2023. Pocket updates support for Kobo e-readers
News and article reading service Pocket has announced that Kobo e-readers will no longer be supported. The reason is that in order to improve security all Pocket accounts are migrated to Firefox accounts. This news caused great indignation among Kobo users and the developers of Pocket decided to solve the problem anyway. Sarah Vasquez, the Senior Manager, Communication at Mozilla, told Good e-Reader in an exclusive statement, “Kobo is aiming to update the Pocket login on their e-readers to support Firefox accounts. The exact timing is to be determined. However, Pocket’s existing Kobo users will not be affected nor lose access to their accounts.
2022. New Kobo software update added a pinch-zooming gesture
Kobo has released a software update for their entire range of Kobo e-readers, including models dating back to the original Kobo Touch (excluding the Kobo Mini). The update introduces a pinch-zooming gesture to adjust font size and now includes a new gesture that allows users to quickly access the last three books they read by swiping down from the top of the screen. Additionally, two new font options specifically designed for digital reading, Rakuten Sans and Rakuten Serif, have been added. The interface now supports three additional languages: Czech, Polish, and Romanian. A new feature called "Recently Viewed" has also been introduced, which displays recently viewed ebooks in the Kobo store, although users have the option to disable this feature in the settings.
2022. Kobo's new waterproof Clara 2E e-reader takes on Kindle
Kobo is set to release the Kobo Clara 2E, a new waterproof e-reader that poses a strong competition to Amazon's Kindle e-readers. The device boasts an exterior crafted from over 85 percent recycled plastic, with 10 percent of it sourced from ocean-bound materials. Notable features of the Kobo Clara 2E include Bluetooth technology for audiobooks, water resistance for up to two meters for 60 minutes, increased storage capacity of 16GB for eBooks compared to previous Kobo models, a six-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 screen that is glare-free and equipped with dark mode and blue light reduction, and an extended battery life lasting for weeks. Priced at $150, the Kobo Clara 2E falls in a mid-range bracket, being cheaper than the company's previous Forma model but more expensive than the Nia model. Additionally, Kobo's SleepCovers for the device are environmentally friendly, made from recycled polyester with an inner microfiber lining composed of 40 percent recycled plastic water bottles. The SleepCovers are available in various colors such as Black, Deep Ocean Blue, Coral Reef Orange, and Sea Glass Green.
2022. Kobo Clara HD 2 will be available soon
Kobo is set to launch the Kobo Clara 2, a second-generation e-reader, in the coming months. This new model is a successor to their highly popular 300 PPI e-book reader. It will feature a six-inch E INK Carta 1200 display panel, which will significantly improve page turn speed and overall performance. The Kobo Clara 2 will also have a 300 PPI screen, front-lit display, and a candlelight color temperature system. One particularly intriguing aspect of this model is that it will be the world's first e-reader to incorporate the innovative E Ink ComfortGaze technology. This advanced front light technology effectively reduces the amount of blue light emitted, resulting in a reduced Blue Light Ratio (BLR) and Blue Light Toxicity Factor (BLTF) by up to 60% and 24% respectively. The BLR represents the ratio of harmful blue light to the total blue light output, while the BLTF denotes the ratio of brightness to hazardous blue light.
2021. Kobo released Sage and Libra 2 with Bluetooth and stylus support
Kobo has introduced two new e-readers, the Sage and Libra 2, which build upon the company's high-end offerings by incorporating Bluetooth audiobook and stylus support. These devices retain the recognizable asymmetrical design of their larger counterparts. Furthermore, the Sage and Libra 2 are equipped with a new charging cover, allowing users to recharge the device every few months instead of every few weeks. The Sage, an evolution of the Forma, boasts an impressive 8-inch, 300 PPI screen and a color-adjustable screen light, ensuring an exceptional reading experience. Similarly, the Libra 2 serves as the successor to the Libra H2O (sans the H2O branding, although it remains waterproof), featuring a 7-inch display with the same display and lighting characteristics. For those seeking a more compact option, the Clara model remains the ideal choice.
2018. Kobo Forma e-Reader gets first major update
Kobo has recently released a significant update for their Kobo Forma e-reader, addressing various persistent issues such as improving WIFI stability and enhancing manga performance. With this update, readers now have the ability to navigate through pages by pressing dedicated page-turn buttons, enabling them to move forward or backward with ease. Furthermore, by pressing and holding these buttons, users can rapidly flip through multiple pages. Kobo has also ensured that their e-reader is suitable for both left-handed and right-handed individuals. By simply holding the Kobo Forma in either hand, the screen will automatically adjust. Additionally, readers can now enjoy the flexibility of reading in landscape or portrait mode. While reading, users can rotate their device to any orientation they prefer. To lock the screen into portrait or landscape mode, readers can tap the middle of the page to access the menu and then select the rotation icon located in the header (all while maintaining the option to hold the device in either hand).
2018. Kobo Forma - e-Ink reader with IPX8 case
Kobo has unveiled their latest ebook reader, the Kobo Forma, which surpasses the Kindle Oasis in several aspects, making it their most innovative e-reader to date. With a design reminiscent of the Kindle Oasis, featuring page buttons on one side of the screen and a tapered back (without the wedge), the Kobo Forma offers the flexibility to read in both portrait and landscape mode, complete with the option for automatic screen rotation. Boasting a spacious 8-inch screen and waterproof capabilities, this digital eBook reader delivers an immersive reading experience. Moreover, it allows direct borrowing of ebooks from Overdrive, resulting in long-term cost savings. The inclusion of comfortlight technology enables users to dim the bright white screen for comfortable nighttime reading. The adjustable front-light is gentle on the eyes and gradually reduces blue-light exposure, promoting better sleep quality. With an IPX8 rating, the Forma is waterproof for up to 60 minutes, and it even comes pre-installed with the popular library app OneDrive, simplifying the process of connecting your library account to the e-reader.
2018. Kobo's latest e-reader is called the Forma
Kobo has introduced the Forma, their latest addition to the lineup of e-ink e-readers, showcasing a range of enhancements. The Forma is equipped with an 8-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel (1080p) e-ink display, combining high resolution with an immersive reading experience. Its new ergonomic design stands out, featuring a handle on the side that not only provides a fresh aesthetic but also improves the device's grip. Along the right edge, convenient buttons simplify page-turning, offering a more tactile alternative to touchscreen interactions. Weighing just 197g, the Forma is approximately 15 percent lighter than the Kobo Aura One, without compromising durability. Kobo assures that the e-reader can withstand drops from two meters. Furthermore, with its IPX8 rating, the device is water-resistant and capable of enduring submersion in up to two meters of water for around 60 minutes. The Forma is available in an 8GB version starting at $299.99 CAD.
2018. New Kobo Clara HD is an affordable Kindle competitor
Kobo, the Canadian ebook reader manufacturer, has finally unveiled its highly anticipated device, the Kobo Clara HD, after months of speculation. This new addition to their lineup marks their first budget-friendly model in almost three years, yet it boasts an impressive range of features. The Kobo Clara HD boasts a 6-inch Cara E Ink screen with a remarkable 300ppi resolution, ensuring sharp and clear text. With a generous 8GB of storage, users can store approximately 6,000 ebooks, providing ample space for their digital library. Additionally, the device offers exceptional battery life, lasting for several weeks unless extensively used. One standout feature of the Kobo Clara HD is ComfortLight Pro, which sets it apart from other Kobo ebook readers. Unlike traditional illumination methods for E Ink screens, ComfortLight Pro employs orange and red LEDs, reducing exposure to blue light. While this technology has been implemented in previous Kobo models, the Clara HD is the most affordable option currently available in the market.