The Front Desk Review

Kobo · Updated June 2026

Kobo Clara BW: price, specs & release date

Kobo Clara BW, released 2024-04. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.

Source: en.wikipedia.org verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger

SilverDeskmark78/100#6 of 19 in class

The Kobo Clara BW is listed at $129.99 on en.wikipedia.org as of 2026-06-27, #2 cheapest of 17 e readers (median $239.99); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Silver Deskmark — 78/100 pay-blind standing, #6 of 19 in class.

Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below

Cheapest e readers: Kindle (2024) — $109.99

See Kobo Clara BW on Amazon Live price at the store — may differ from the dated listed price above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Kobo Clara BW — Kobo
Image: en.wikipedia.org (© Kobo)

Is the Kobo Clara BW a good buy?

At $130, the Kobo Clara BW is #2 cheapest of the 16 e readers we track, where the median is $235. On the spec sheet, its screen of 6 in is the lowest of the 19, its ppi bw of 300 is the highest of the 19, and its storage of 16 GB is the lowest of the 19.

Evidence of Record

Our data
Independent labsmeasured it
1
Physical metricsrecorded
1
Outlets on record1 tested · 1 mention-only
2

One independent lab measured this product across 1 physical metric — battery. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far; 1 other outlet has it on record by mention only.

A coverage record, not a rating. How we count

Review consensus · sourced & dated

What reviewers say about the Kobo Clara BW

Both whitelisted sources reviewed this exact model, the Kobo Clara BW: TechRadar (Sharmishta Sarkar, 29 May 2024) with lab-style measured battery and charge figures, and Digital Trends (Mark Jansen, 15 March 2025) as a hands-on comparison against the Clara Colour. Both praise the crisp, sharp display and reading experience, iFixit repairability, the compact waterproof build with weeks of battery, and the low price. Both flag the carried-over 16GB/1GHz internals, the lack of Google Drive/Dropbox cloud transfer, and the plain plastic design. They split on the verdict: TechRadar recommends it as the best entry-level ereader screen, while Digital Trends says the ~$20-pricier Clara Colour makes it impossible to recommend.

Based on 2 reviews · 1 lab-tested · 2024-05-29–2025-03-15

Tested by TechRadar, Digital Trends

Consistently praised

  • Crisp, sharp, clear display and an excellent reading experience · 2 sources
  • Repairable with iFixit parts and step-by-step guides · 2 sources
  • Compact, lightweight, waterproof (IPX8) with weeks of battery life · 2 sources
  • Affordable / good price · 2 sources
  • Best grayscale contrast the reviewer has tested on a 6-inch ereader, thanks to the new E Ink Carta 1300 panel

Commonly flagged

  • No cloud file transfer (Google Drive / Dropbox) · 2 sources
  • Dated, plain plastic design (Digital Trends adds slippery and boring) · 2 sources
  • Aging internals carried over — 16GB storage and a 1GHz processor · 2 sources
  • Value undercut by the color-screen Clara Colour, which adds a faster CPU for only about $20 more

Where reviewers disagree Overall verdict splits cleanly. TechRadar calls the Clara BW easy to recommend, with the best grayscale screen and reading experience in an entry-level ereader. Digital Trends concludes you should not buy it: the Clara Colour costs only about $20 more (~$140 vs ~$160) yet adds a color display and a faster dual 2.0GHz processor, so 'it's impossible to recommend' the BW at its current price.

The sources (2)

TechRadar lab-tested ·

battery life, reading ~2 hrs/day at 15% brightness: 35 days · charge time, 19% to full: 57 minutes

Better contrast and response times makes this a much improved reading device over any other 6-inch ereader available
Hands down the best reading experience I've had on an entry-level ereader.
It's also a shame that Kobo hasn't improved the battery life or increased the storage from 16GB.

Digital Trends hands-on ·

The 6-inch display is clear and crisp, with a 300 pixels per inch (ppi) resolution that means even small details are easily legible.
It's built from stout black plastic, and slipperiness aside, I love it.
The Clara BW is an excellent e-reader, but when the price difference between it and the Clara Colour is so low, it's impossible to recommend.

Specifications

Price (US)$129.99 US launch price April 2024. Price increased ~$10 globally in Feb 2025.
BrandKobo
Released2024-04
Screen (in)6
Ppi bw300
Storage (GB)16
Color displayNo
Warm lightYes
WaterproofYes
Page turn buttonsNo
Battery weeks7
Stylus includedNo

Source: en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by goodereader.com. 6", 300 ppi (E Ink Carta 1300 HD), 16 GB, IPX8, ComfortLight PRO, no page-turn buttons, $129.99 launch from Wikipedia; battery 1500 mAh, 174 g. Kobo officially rates the Clara BW at up to 53 days (30 min/day, light 10%, wireless off) per the Rakuten Kobo store, i.e. ~7.5 weeks; recorded as 7 weeks.

Is the Kobo Clara BW worth it vs cheaper e readers?

Kobo Clara BW against its closest cheaper and pricier e readers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 17 ranked

ProductPriceScreen (in)Ppi bwStorage (GB)Color displayWarm light
Kobo Clara BW this$129.99630016NoYes
Kindle (2024)$109.99630016NoNo
Kobo Clara Colour$149.99630016YesYes

Frequently asked questions

What do reviewers say about the Kobo Clara BW?

Both whitelisted sources reviewed this exact model, the Kobo Clara BW: TechRadar (Sharmishta Sarkar, 29 May 2024) with lab-style measured battery and charge figures, and Digital Trends (Mark Jansen, 15 March 2025) as a hands-on comparison against the Clara Colour. Both praise the crisp, sharp display and reading experience, iFixit repairability, the compact waterproof build with weeks of battery, and the low price. Both flag the carried-over 16GB/1GHz internals, the lack of Google Drive/Dropbox cloud transfer, and the plain plastic design. They split on the verdict: TechRadar recommends it as the best entry-level ereader screen, while Digital Trends says the ~$20-pricier Clara Colour makes it impossible to recommend. Praised: Crisp, sharp, clear display and an excellent reading experience; Best grayscale contrast the reviewer has tested on a 6-inch ereader, thanks to the new E Ink Carta 1300 panel; Repairable with iFixit parts and step-by-step guides; Compact, lightweight, waterproof (IPX8) with weeks of battery life; Affordable / good price. Flagged: No cloud file transfer (Google Drive / Dropbox); Dated, plain plastic design (Digital Trends adds slippery and boring); Aging internals carried over — 16GB storage and a 1GHz processor; Value undercut by the color-screen Clara Colour, which adds a faster CPU for only about $20 more; 6-inch screen too small for some readers. (From 2 tester reviews, 1 lab-tested.)

How much does the Kobo Clara BW cost?

The Kobo Clara BW has a US price of $129.99 (US launch price April 2024. Price increased ~$10 globally in Feb 2025.), as of 2026-06-15.

How does the Kobo Clara BW compare on price?

At $130, the Kobo Clara BW is #2 cheapest of the 16 e readers we track, where the median is $235.

When was the Kobo Clara BW released?

The Kobo Clara BW was released 2024-04.

What are the Kobo Clara BW's key specs?

Kobo Clara BW (Kobo): screen in 6, ppi bw 300, storage gb 16, color display No, warm light Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.

Price of record: $129.99 at en.wikipedia.org, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:

See Kobo Clara BW on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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