Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4 32GB/Black
Score: 73/100
Kobo Clara BW
Score: 71/100Rankings
The Nook GlowLight 4 provides a crisp 300 ppi 6-inch display with Ambient GlowLight and 32 GB of storage, lasting about three weeks per charge. Its small size and lack of waterproofing may deter power users. It suits Barnes & Noble fans who want a compact, button-controlled e-reader.
The Kobo Clara BW is a compact 6-inch black-and-white eReader featuring a sharp 300 PPI display, ComfortLight PRO and IPX8 waterproofing. Its limitations include the absence of physical navigation buttons and modest RAM that can affect heavy PDF use. It's ideal for readers who want a lightweight, waterproof device with excellent readability in bright light.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
6 inchesbest | 6 inchesbest | |
504 hoursbest | 336 hours | |
— | 1,552,256 pixelsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 174 gbest |
300 ppibest | 300 ppibest | |
32 GBbest | 16 GB | |
— | 0.512 GBbest | |
— | 1,500 mAhbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 504 hours | 336 hours |
Display(2) | ||
Panel Type | E Ink | E Ink Carta 1300 HD |
Front Light Type | Ambient GlowLight | ComfortLight PRO |
Storage(1) | ||
Internal Storage (GB) | 32 GB | 16 GB |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 7.6×121.9×157.5 mm mm | 160x112x9.2 mm mm |
Waterproof | false | true |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the GlowLight 4 for its crisp 300 ppi display, advanced Ambient GlowLight with auto temperature adjustment, and the inclusion of physical page-turn buttons that improve ergonomics. They also note faster performance over previous models. However, they criticize the modest 6-inch screen for limiting on-screen content and describe the overall experience as underwhelming compared to larger, feature-rich competitors like the Kindle Paperwhite.
Everyday users consistently highlight the sharp display, even lighting, comfortable grip, long battery life, and fast Wi-Fi downloads as major strengths. Recurring complaints focus on the cramped 6-inch screen, which many feel makes the device feel outdated or too small for immersive reading, and the absence of waterproofing.
“experience described as "meh"”
“better lights, auto temperature adjustment, speed improvements, and page-turn buttons as solid features”
Professional reviewers commend the Clara BW for its sharp, high-contrast 300 PPI E Ink screen, lightweight build, and seamless OverDrive and Bluetooth audiobook integration, noting it delivers a solid black-and-white reading experience. However, they point out the lack of physical page-turn buttons, modest battery life under heavy use, and slightly lower brightness compared to earlier models.
Everyday users praise the device's compact, lightweight feel, glare-free screen readability in bright light, long battery life, and waterproof capability, describing it as an easy entry point for new e-readers. Recurring complaints focus on the missing tactile page-turn buttons, reduced battery endurance with intensive lighting or audio, and the small size being less comfortable for larger hands.
