# Kobo Clara

38 Hacker News commenters recommended Kobo Clara and 9 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 8 years (4 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its readable screen, small size, long battery life, and open software that runs KOReader well. Critics say page turns are slow and it has no page-turn buttons.

## Why people recommend it

- Open software, feels owned (5 comments): "when I set mine up in 2022 it kind of just felt like they just weren't as good at fucking me over and subverting my intentions as Amazon" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46293580)) "Kobo is better than the Kindle from an... ethical standpoint, if you have the money for one" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46195873)) "They are way more open with the software and I have mine in "sideload" mode" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46326118))
- Good screen for reading (5 comments): "the Clara BW is still my preferred e-reader as I find the larger screen better for longer reading sessions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49600979)) "And the default rendering engine in kobo’s firmware does actually typeset the text: no ragged edges!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48538460)) "It's largely the exact device that I want my book reader to be" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48310913))
- Fits in a pocket (3 comments): "the kobo can fit in my jeans pocket and is about the size of a normal paperback page" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49606185)) "having my whole library in a small form factor is really wonderful" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48663493)) "I _much_ prefer the Clara because I can slip it in a pocket" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48254534))
- Runs KOReader well (4 comments): "Even my Kobo Clara BW with Koreader, which is still quite portable, has way better UX." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49601055)) "I've had my Kobo Clara HD for almost 8 years and I still use it daily with KOReader." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47562274)) "KOReader works just as easily, and just as well, on my much newer Kobo Clara BW." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47567247))

## What people warn about

- Slow page turns and lag (3 comments): "it's on the slow side, even just when switching pages on the stock app" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49392247)) "the experience is bad, as there is a subtantial delay after each keypress and any keys pressed during it are dropped" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49393670)) "it really struggles with graphic heavy pdfs - slow page changing etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49513763))
- Freezes and screen refresh glitches (3 comments): "I encounter freezes mostly when I enable Bluetooth/wifi" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49392202)) "it was failing to properly clear and update the screen" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47572504)) "mine takes a while to connect to wifi too" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49392240))
- No page-turn buttons (2 comments): "For whatever reason I find swipe gestures on e-ink annoying. I currently use a Kobo Clara BW and miss dedicated page-turning buttons." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48953507)) "don't like swipe gestures, or any gestures whatsoever" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48959227))
- Screen too small for some (2 comments): "two unfortunately sized B&W readers (the tiny 6" Clara and giant 10" Elipsa)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49393693)) "I'd buy a Kobo if they had a 7" screen (Clara) since that's easier to get KOReader on" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49924148))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Kobo e-reader](https://hackerapproved.com/p/kobo-e-reader.md): 154 recommend
- [Onyx Boox e-reader](https://hackerapproved.com/p/boox-e-reader.md): 48 recommend
- [Kindle Paperwhite](https://hackerapproved.com/p/kindle-paperwhite.md): 34 recommend
- [Kobo Libra Color](https://hackerapproved.com/p/kobo-libra-colour.md): 26 recommend
- [Kindle Oasis](https://hackerapproved.com/p/kindle-oasis.md): 23 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Kobo+Clara+BW+e-reader&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ereaders/kobo-clara-bw)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Kobo Clara", https://hackerapproved.com/p/kobo-clara-bw/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).