Frantic 2D Metroidvania Cookie Cutter finally gets Nintendo Switch releaseCookie Monster.Image credit: Subcult Joint / Rogue Games News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on March 2, 2025 Subcult Joint's frantic 2D Metroidvania, Cookie Cutter, is finally coming to Nintendo Switch.As well as the base game, in which players "punch, stab, slice, and maul enemies as Cherry, a take-no-prisoners fembot trying to survive a twisted planet on the brink of destruction", the Switch Overkill Edition boasts three updates and upgrades, including fully voiced dialogue for every character, new map features, and brand-new special moves and upgrades for Cherry.Cookie Cutter - Launch Trailer | PS5 Games.Watch on YouTubeOther new features include new cinematics to "add more style and background to the story", "tons" of gameplay tweaks and progression balancing, and a handful of special Nintendo Switch-flavoured easter eggs, too.There's also now a new feature that helps you "gauge completion status"."Love turns to rage and chainsaws in Cookie Cutter, a bold new take on the Metroidvania sub-genre," teases the blurb. "Cookie Cutter features gorgeous hand-drawn animation, an enormous dystopian world to explore, epic boss fights, gruesome carnage, and so much more."As yet there's no firm release date, but publisher Rogue Games hints it'll be "this spring"/Q2. Players on PC via Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S don't have to wait, of course - Cherry's already waiting for you.

No, Space Marines 2 is not going to become a live-service gameDeveloper apologises after following "cold feedback" on community events.Image credit: Saber Interactive News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on March 2, 2025 Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 developer and publisher Saber and Focus has acknowledged fans' "cold" response to recent changes, stressing to players they were "not looking to transform Space Marine 2 into a full live service game".After introducing a new way for players to unlock cosmetic items, the team acknowledged player "FOMO" but assured the community that the items would be available "for everyone" "later", expecting only "the most dedicated players" able to unlock items early.Eurogamer's Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Review in video form.Watch on YouTube"We have noted that the Community Events have received cold feedback since we introduced them as an additional way to unlock cosmetic items," the teams at Saber and Focus wrote in a joint update."We saw that many of you mentioned FOMO generated by the events. Rest assured, we are not looking to transform Space Marine 2 into a full live service game. The items available through events WILL be available later, for everyone. We want Community Events to be a way to unlock the items in advance, for the most dedicated players, and not to be a source of frustration and stress for everyone."However, that means we must provide a smooth experience in unlocking said items, which has not been the case so far," the statement added. "We deeply apologise for the trouble, and are currently working on a simplified process to unlock the items, to make the experience less constraining."Elsewhere in the update, Focus confirmed there's still "a bit of a wait" for Patch 7, but 6.0 Datavault Update released earlier this month ushers in new free and season pass content, as well as new packs, maps, perks, and QoL improvements.Space Marine 2 recently topped five million players.

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Guns of Fury!Basically Metal Slug as a Metroidvania. It doesn't revolutionize the genre or do anything special, but I've been having a lot of fun with it and it's got a good price!and Urban Myth Dissolution Center!A fun adventure game similar to Phoenix Wright with a great pixel art style, though might be a little slow paced for some.These two were up there with Momodora for me this month. Surprised these two weren't given a mention, lol

One of the finest houses in New Haven is this stately residence, the Aaron Skinner Mansion on Hillhouse Avenue. The mansion was built in 1832 for Aaron Nichols Skinner (1800-1858) from plans by architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Skinner was a Mayor of New Haven (1850-1854), and for a short time, ran a boys boarding school out of this house. Skinner was also a CT State Representative, serving two terms. The house was originally built as a three-bay, two-story house with one-story side wings and a rear ell. After his death, the house was purchased by Judge William W. Boardman, who in 1859, modernized the property hiring architect, Henry Austin, who filled in the side wings and added Italianate window mouldings. The monumental portico supported by fluted, Ionic columns, creates such a stately presence for the early house on the street. In the early 20th century, the mansion was owned by Rutherford Trowbridge, who renovated the house for his own use. The house remained in the Trowbridge family until the death of his last daughter, Miss C. Rachel Trowbridge, when the estate became the property of Yale University.

ZDNET's key takeaways The new Xiaomi 15 Ultra sees improvements in almost all the right places, with a 200MP periscope lens and a more durable design. The camera configuration is still one of the most competitive ones on the market. If you're in the US, you'll have to pay to play, with conversions nearing $1,555. View now at Mi The moment I unboxed the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, I knew I was in trouble. While the flagship had launched in China just days ago, its global debut today at Mobile World Congress (MWC) should raise some flags among its Android competitors -- and perhaps Apple, too.Also: What to expect at MWC 2025: Best phones I'm anticipating from Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung, moreI've been testing the phone for a little less than a month now, having swapped my SIM over from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and as each day goes by, it's gotten tougher for me to switch back. I partly have T-Mobile to thank for that, as most international phones like the Xiaomi support just enough GSM-based cellular bands to make calling, messaging, and browsing on LTE work here in the US.Other reasons range from the new 200MP periscope camera (that's more than just a marketing gimmick) to the industrial design and surprisingly smooth software experience. In other words, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra may be the best all-rounder phone I've tested so far. But even then, the reasons to upgrade to it are just as clear as those to look elsewhere. Here's the breakdown. details View at Xiaomi With the 15 Ultra, you don't have to look far to understand how Xiaomi wants to sell you on it. The absolute island of a camera bump demands attention, whether you're staring directly at it or feeling the weight of it when holding the phone.Also: This 5-year tech industry forecast predicts some surprising winners - and losersBut don't let that distract you from the rest of the hardware, which Xiaomi says has become much more durable than last year's model, from the Shield Glass 2.0 for better drop protection to the high-strength Gorilla Glass 7i layering that protects the rear cameras. The subtle grooves on the power button are a nice touch.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is also heavier than its predecessor -- a rather surprising twist considering recent trends to slim-down devices -- likely due to the updated camera stack and larger battery capacity. At 226 grams, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is still lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max but noticeably heavier than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218g). Even then, the curved dimensions make the phone much more manageable than Samsung's boxier aesthetic. Kerry Wan/ZDNETPowering this year's model is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which, when paired with 16GB of RAM and a rather well-optimized HyperOS skin over Android, delivers a snappy, near-burdenless software experience. I'll still knock on Xiaomi for the excessive bloatware, including pre-loaded apps like WPS Office and AliExpress. But beyond that, the device almost never stutters or drops frames, even when I use it after running benchmarks. It's that optimized.Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025For charging, you're looking at 90W wired and 80W wireless ratings, which aren't record-breaking at a global scale but essentially twice as fast as the best phones in the US (sansOnePlus.) You'll need the proper charging brick to achieve faster charging speeds, but the efficiency is well worth it. It's just unfortunate that Xiaomi downsized its battery to a 5,400mAh capacity when the China version of the 15 Ultra has a 6,000mAh size. Xiaomi 15 Ultra (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right) Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETNow, for the elephant in the room: Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. I'm kidding. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra's quad-camera setup is one of the most competent that I've tested, and I say "one of" because its domestic rivals, like the Vivo X200 Pro, are just as good.While Xiaomi has kept most of the camera hardware the same this year, including the Leica-partnered and branded optics, it's made subtle but meaningful upgrades across the board. The main 50MP lens still captures subjects with a level of dynamic range and depth that only a one-inch sensor can achieve, and I'm a big fan of the Ultra RAW image capturing, which preserves details for when I'm editing in Lightroom, but the new 200MP periscope lens has become my default shooting tool. A range of shots captured with the 200MP sensor, with no adjustments or edits. Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt's a big spec bump from last year's 50MP sensor, and the added pixels help when you capture photos in low-light environments or want to crop in after the fact. Just know that the optical zoom has been shortened to 4.4x from 5x, which may take some getting used to if you're coming from an iPhone or Samsung with 5x.Also: Oppo's new foldable phone is one of the thinnest I've seen - and I hope OnePlus and Samsung follow suitI've been testing the 200MP camera for portraits, landscape shots, and recording cinematic video in Pro mode, and the results made me consider retiring my $3,500 Sony A7S III. While the phone can take a few extra seconds to fully render and process images, meaning you won't see the final shot right after you capture it, the results have just the right amount of natural color, sharpness, and contrast to my liking. The streets of Barcelona, captured with the 50MP ultra-wide camera. Kerry Wan/ZDNETThat's to say, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a phone that would make sense to have a dedicated camera/shutter button. Putting one beneath the power button would also encourage users to stabilize the phone (and top-heavy camera bump) with their index finger, possibly resulting in a more comfortable and reliable capturing experience.ZDNET's buying adviceAs is the case with all global variants of phones (read: ones that aren't officially sold in the US), you'll have to export the Xiaomi 15 Ultra to use one. It currently retails for 1499 EUR, which roughly converts to $1,555 USD. That's not counting the impending upcharges due to recent US tariffs. So if you want one of the best phones on the market, you'll have to pay to play.Fortunately, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of the easier phones for me to recommend to power users and tech enthusiasts, thanks to its capable camera system and onslaught of specs. At this point, I might even go about the rest of my MWC week using just the phone to capture product shots and videos instead of my bulkier Sony camera.Featured reviews

Running PointNetflixIt can be hard out here for a new Netflix show to secure a second season after its debut, and after blazing through its short string of 10, thirty minute episodes, no doubt viewers are wondering if and when more are coming, and if season 2 of Running Point is on its way.No, Netflix did not do an instant season 2 renewal for Running Point, or a two-for-one before its premiere. But all signs are pointing up, and we have some comments from cast about the prospect, in addition to what we can gather about its performance.Right around its premiere, there was an ET interview that talked about the future of the show, which no, is not labeled as a miniseries, and like Mindy Kalings other projects, wants to run for multiple seasons. But will its A-list star be down to stick around?"I had so much fun doing this. I just want to keep doing it," said Kate HudsonAnd Mindy spoke to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos directly: "We love making the show, if you want to just pick us up for five more seasons."Ive been doing this a while and the golden triangle (well, sort of a square) is viewership versus cost versus reception versus how many people finish the whole season.Viewership Stellar so far. Instant debut at #1 and it seems unlikely to leave that spot. We will have more exact hour/viewer data from Netflix directly in the coming week.Cost We dont know, but this is a half hour comedy with essentially five total hours of runtime. Kate Hudson is a big star, Kaling is a big showrunner, so this comedy might cost more than most, but far from the VFX-laden series Netflix also produces.Reception Really solid. An 82% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes with a few dozen reviews in. Fewer audience scores so far, but an excellent 95% so far. And my wife loves it, so theres that.Finishing the Season Only Netflix ever has access to this data, but again, this is sort of the perfect binge series you can get through in a day or three given its breezy episode length and relatively low total.The question about Running Point getting a season 2 is not really an if, but a when. And then another when about when it may return to Netflix, given the 1.5-2+ year gap between almost every show on the service in terms of season breaks, and even a comedy like this may not be able to escape that modern day streaming timetable. But were getting ahead of ourselves a bit. Still, expect an announcement in the not-too-distant future.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

Germanys election was won by the CDU and Friedrich Merz is likely to form a coalition government with the elections big loser SDP. What does this mean for the climate? Mattias Goldmann describes the likely development in five points.1. No German increased climate action nor rollback Germanys previous coalition government could not agree on necessary measures to achieve the binding national 2030 climate targets and a number of political issuesenvironment & climate only ranked fifth with 13% support compared to 22% in the 2021 election. A reduced climate focus can be seen as an explanation for the Greens' regression in the election, but the success of the right-wing populist AfD was not linked to their climate-skeptical agenda, and the German liberals in the FDP failed in their attempt to gain voter support for an agenda of reduced climatic ambitions. Essentially, the election results support a continuation of the established climate policies, with CDU emphasizing that the goal of climate neutrality by 2045 remains, as well as the sub-goal of a 65% emissions reduction by 2030. The Climate Policy Council states that Germany is about to miss both national goals and the EU 2030 requirements, which means that new policies must be implemented quickly. A key priority for CDU is to increase carbon taxes, while SDP focuses on stimulating the transformation of the heating sector and transport expect a mix of both.2. Transport sector in focus but scant industry support It was almost irresistible for CDU to blame the German car industry's serious problems on the previous government, but Merz has not been particularly accommodating to the car industry's desire for increased long-term support for the transition. The CDU essentially wants to let the market prevail and rather stimulate e-fuels than reintroduce the abolished bonus for electric car despite the strong popular support it would enjoy. A major investment in the railway also has strong popular support, including making permanent the Deutschland Ticket, which is currently decided year by year. But it is expensive, the treasury is in poor shape and the CDU has not raised this in its election manifesto.3. Energy market: Promises of lower prices but how?Expensive electricity and gas for companies and households became an important election issue. CDU has promised that part of todays climate support will go to reducing electricity costs, which, together with reduced electricity taxes and network charges, is to reduce the price to 0.05 euro per kWh. CDU is also expected to tear up the requirements that new heating must be comprised of at least 65% renewable energy, and that new heat pumps must be "hydrogen-ready", in favor of more flexible and cheaper solutions. General stimulus instead of targeted investments is at the core of the CDUs industrial policy, which is worrying for frontrunners such as Germany's steel giant Thyssenkrupp's plans for fossil-free steel, whose start date of 2027 is now postponed because of political ambiguities.CDU wants to keep Germanys ban on Russian fossil gas (which e.g. Sweden continues to allow), and to reduce the cost burden by accelerating the transition to green hydrogen exactly how remains to be clarified. Germany, which uses the most coal of all EU countries, is to phase out coal power by 2038, which the CDU supports, but the policy on new energy sources is more unclear. Merz has called wind power a "transitional technology" and suggested that wind turbines should be phased out gradually because they do not look attractive; whether this will be government policy is unclear. Nuclear power can get a boost, with proposals from the CDU for small modular reactors but also the assessment that shut down reactors will not be restarted. 4. Climate adaptation who will foot the bill?Germany has been hit hard by climate-related floods, with deaths and enormous damage. The previous government introduced the first legally binding climate adaptation law and a strategy to protect people and infrastructure against increasingly severe weather events. But the issues of financing and responsibility were left for the new government to solve, with Germanys federal structure promising difficult discussions ahead. 5. EU and global policies: Leadership opportunitiesCDU's EU policy focuses in better aligning climate and industrial policy, in line with EUs Draghi Report, Green Deal and the new Clean Industrial Deal. However, CDU wants to tear up EU's 2035 ban on new cars with internal combustion engines and further postpone the introduction of CSRD and other accountability requirements. Under CDU, Germany may take advantage of the fact that relatively small countries will now be presiding over EU; first Denmark, then Cyprus, Ireland and Lithuania. This gives Germany the opportunity to step forward, for example in connection with the UNs COP30 in Brazil, where a counterweight to the US government under Trump would be welcomed (the US will leave the Paris agreement but has not yet formally done so). At COP29, Germany was central to Summary: German climate & energy policies largely remainThe German Bundestag must open no later than 30 days after the elections, on March 24. The uncertain international situation and Germany's internal problems both put pressure on CDU and SDP to formalize a government by then. In the area of climate mitigation and adaptation, it would likely mean policies as described here; essentially a continuation of the path taken in recent years but with more focus on cost-effectiveness and general policy instruments than specific incentives.Germany's climate work under Merz and CDU won't backslide Getty Images / Forbes Mattias Goldmann

In brief: As the dominant gateway to online information, Google's search engine has shaped how people access and discover content. However, search results sometimes expose personal data, raising privacy concerns. A recent update introduces a tool that gives users more control over what appears in search results. Google updated a search engine tool called "Results About You" that it initially rolled out in 2022. Developers have made it more user-friendly and directly integrated its most helpful features into search results, including the ability to remove your personal data from them.Users must first take a somewhat counterintuitive step to use the tool: inputting their personal information into the system. While potentially alarming for those aiming to protect their privacy, this process is necessary for the tool to identify and manage specific data in search results. However, regardless of whether it appears in search results, Google likely already possesses this information anyway.One of the most significant improvements in this update is the integration of its key features directly into search results. While not prominently displayed, users can access Results About You through the three-dot menu next to each search result. This menu includes options to remove results containing personal information.When requesting the removal of personal information, Google prompts users for additional details, a process that typically takes only a few seconds. The interface also accommodates non-personal removal requests, such as reporting illegal content. All requests are logged in the "Results About You" tool for later review. It's crucial to note that Google can only remove content from its search results, not the web pages containing it.The redesigned hub allows users to monitor the status of their removal requests and offers additional features. For instance, users can request a data refresh if a search result contains inaccurate information. This option is useful when a website has removed personal data, but the search results haven't updated.It is not the first Google has overhauled the tool. In 2023, it introduced a suite of features that made it more proactive, actively scanning search results for users' data. Developers added an expanded dashboard, giving users a more comprehensive view of their personal information in Search. It also added the ability to request the removal of nonconsensual explicit images from search results.Google recommends regularly checking the Results About You hub. The tool automatically identifies new instances of previously highlighted personal data, allowing users to request removals quickly. Additionally, users can receive notifications via phone or email when new personal information emerges in search results. // Related Stories

Kobo Clara Colour review: Why would you buy a Kindle?MSRP$160.00 Score Details The Kobo Clara Colour shows the company's long pedigree, delivering an excellent color e-reader at an exceptional price.ProsExcellent priceMade to be repairableGreat reading experienceWeeks of battery lifeSimple and solid softwareCrisp color screenStrong price guarantee from Kobo storeConsBoring designSlippery to holdDrop in performance for big color filesOnly 16GB of storageLimited ways to transfer ebook filesTable of ContentsTable of ContentsKobo Clara Colour specsKobo Clara Colour: designKobo Clara Colour: displayKobo Clara Colour: performance and batteryKobo Clara Colour: reading experienceKobo Clara Colour: softwareKobo Clara Colour: Kobo storeKobo Clara Colour: price and availabilityMoving from Kindle to KoboShould you buy the Kobo Clara Colour?What do you want in an e-reader? If youre anything like me, a long-lasting battery life is important, and so is an easily portable design. These days, you might throw a color display into the mix as well. If that sounds good to you, then let me tell you about the Kobo Clara Colour. Kobo is one of the veterans of the e-reader industry, having been in the business since 2010, and its long pedigree shows. The Clara Colour is its latest e-reader, and at first glance, it has everything you want in an e-reader. Its small, with enough power to keep going for weeks, and, importantly, a full color display with a sharp resolution.Recommended VideosBut its up against some serious competition in this space, not least the Kindle Colorsoft. Amazons first ever color Kindle is most peoples first thought when it comes to picking a new e-reader, but Kobo will be looking to change that. A pricetag a full $100 less than the Colorsoft is an excellent start, but does the Kobo Clara Colour really have what it takes to dethrone the king? Read on to find out.RelatedSize112 x 160 x 9.2mmWeight174 gramsDisplay6-inch300ppi (black and white)150ppi (color)Storage16GBBattery lifeUp to 42 daysChargingUSB-C, speed not listedDurabilityIPX8ColorsBlack1 of 2Mark Jansen / Digital Trends Mark Jansen / Digital Trends E-reader design is poles apart from smartphone and tablet design, and you might think youve dropped through some sort of time portal when you compare the two. Instead of sleek glass and metal builds, even the most premium e-reader devices are made from stout plastic. The Kobo Clara Colour is no different. Its clad in black recycled plastic, with a textured rear panel with a recessed power button. It feels tough and substantial despite the material, and it has a pleasing heft that helps it to avoid feeling cheap. The recessed power button is also a positive, as its easy to find, and much better at warding off accidental presses than the button on the bottom of most Kindles.Thick bezels surround the 6-inch e-ink display, meaning its not much to look at but that gives you plenty of area to grip while reading. But my word youre going to need that grip, because the Clara Colour is a very slippery device. The plastic is slick and hard to keep hold of, and even the textured back panel doesnt provide much in the way of grip. Its fine if youre using it curled up on the sofa, or sitting upright, but take the device to bed and hold it above your face, and you start to feel as if youre dicing with death. Its pleasing heft becomes somewhat threatening when its hovering above your face. I was sent one of the official fold cases along with the Clara Colour, and it became a very welcome addition.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsThis lack of grip is a problem Ive noticed with a lot of e-readers lately. I have a 2024 Kindle that suffers from the same issue, and its puzzling to me. Its not a problem my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite suffers from, with its soft-touch back coating, and it feels like e-readers have gone backwards where grip is concerned. Sure, its easily solved with a case, but a cynical part of me wonders if case sales are exactly the reason for the switch.Moving on to durability, the Clara Colour has an IPX8 rating for water-resistance, which means it can survive for up to 60 minutes in up to two meters of fresh water. Its a great device for reading in the bath or by the pool, though we wouldnt purposefully take it under the water if you dont have to. Notably, it has no rating for dust-resistance (signified by the X), so keep it away from dusty or gritty environments.Theres another element of the Clara Colours durability to note here, as well its been built be repairable. Kobo has partnered with iFixit to offer parts and repair guides, so that even if your device is outside of the warranty period, you can have a go at fixing it yourself. Thats a major point in its favor, and not one often seen in any device.Theres not much to write home about where the Clara Colours design is concerned. Its safe and does its job well, but its hard to describe it as anything other than boring. Yes it feels reassuringly tough and solid, but its too slippery, and I wish it came in a color other than standard black.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsThe Kobo Clara Colour has a 6-inch e-ink Kaleido 3 colour touchscreen, with a 1448 x 1072 resolution at 300 pixels-per-inch (ppi) for black and white content. Like the Kindle Colorsoft, color content will drop the resolution down to 150 ppi, but the drop isnt noticeable on such a small screen. And it is a small screen at just 6-inches, its the same size as the standard Kindle, and a full inch smaller than the 7-inch displays that have become standard for the Kindle Paperwhite and the Colorsoft. It makes the device pocketable and easily transported in a way that larger devices arent, but on the flip side, it also means those who prefer a larger screen will find themselves leaning towards the Kindle Colorsoft, or a Kobo Libra Colour.Black and white e-books are pinpoint sharp, with even the smallest credit text being easily visible.Size aside, its clearly a great screen. Kobos long experience shows with the Clara Colour, as the display looks great. Black and white e-books are pinpoint sharp, with even the smallest credit text being easily visible. Color content does have a 150 ppi downgrade, but its not noticeable, and the slightly washed out colors mean pictures tend to look like attractive watercolors. Its not the bold and bright color youd get from a tablet, but its similar to that offered by the Colorsoft, and what weve come to expect from color e-readers.I did have some ghosting issues, more than Ive come to expect from a comparative Kindle, but those were few and far-between, and not something that should put you off the device. If youre finding your device ghosting more than youd like, you can change the settings to force the display to refresh more often, washing the ghosts away more effectively than Dan Ackroyd. After a few weeks with the device, I stopped noticing them altogether.The smaller size may put some people off, but ultimately, the Clara Colours excellent display belies a strong pedigree. This is an excellent e-ink screen.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsI doubt anyone is expecting the Clara Colour to be a powerhouse on the level of, well, any modern smartphone, and youd be right to doubt. Theres a positively tiny little dual 2.0GHz processor tucked inside the Clara Colours plastic shell, and while thats clearly an underpowered chip by most standards, its worth pointing out that there isnt all that much for it to do here.Performance is, on the whole, fast and snappy. The Clara Colour isnt a buttery-smooth swiper like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, or really, any smartphone. But it does well with what it has, and there arent many moments when youre left wondering if a touch registered or not. That is, as long as youre reading in black and white. Performance does slow down when color content comes into play, with the increased file sizes and requirement for processing power being the likely reason behind the drop. Color PDFs tended to be the slowest, with a whole second of lag between swiping and the page actually turning. Your mileage will vary on this, depending on how large the files you browse are, but expect some slowdown if youre browsing large color PDFs.Storage comes in a single 16GB flavor, half the size of the Kindle Colorsofts 32GB. This is a bit of a letdown. Standard ebooks will be just fine with this amount of storage, but audiobook lovers and anyone whose ebooks contain a lot of color pictures will start feeling the pinch once theyve started piling in the titles.Im personally an e-book reader, and leave audiobooks on my phone, where I can choose to use either a speaker or headphones, but those who use an e-reader for their audiobooks may wish to look elsewhere, or simply pare down their downloaded titles. I also have a few large reference books with lots of pictures in ebook formats, but the Clara Colours screen is too small to really engage with these titles, so it gets a pass on not really having the file space for a lot of these.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsAs ever with e-readers, the battery life is measured in weeks, not days, and as such, its often a less important metric to judge a device on. The Kobo Clara Colour is as impressive as its kin, with Kobo claiming a battery life of 42 days. That judgement includes 30 minutes of reading per day, so your experience will vary depending on how much you use it. In my time with it, Ive only had to charge it once after fully charging when it arrived, which puts it around Kobos estimations. But even if you read an awful lot more than I do, I dont think youll have any issues with the Clara Colours battery life.As befits a device youll charge every few weeks, Kobo doesnt make much of the Clara Colours charging speed. It has a USB-C port at the bottom, and while its not going to be as fast to charge as your smartphone, its so efficient that even ten minutes of charging the 1,500mAh cell is likely to give you enough power for the day. Since it most likely uses the same charger as your phone, you dont even need to pack another charger for weekends away.Minor issues around the storage aside, Im more than happy with the Kobo Clara Colours performance and battery life. Yes, it slows down a touch when dealing with heavy files, but thats a common issue for e-readers of all stripes, and not something to really worry about.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsEnough about the ancilliary stuff; how is it to actually read on? As youd hope, its pretty darn good at it.Everything weve mentioned in the previous sections really comes into play here; the sharp display means text is crisp and clear, and the strong performance means theres little lag when youre moving between pages. While youre reading a book, you swipe to turn the page, or you can tap on the left or right to turn the page that way. Tap in the middle of the page to pull up the interface, which allows you to jump forwards in the book, change the brightness, font options, and gives access to your reading stats and other settings.Open the settings and you can customize a large amount of how this works. You can enlarge the tap-to-turn area for both right and left page turns, instead of having equal amounts of screen time for either, and change where to tap to trigger the interface. There are other small changes you can make, but the one I really like is the option to change the brightness by sliding up and down the left edge of the screen.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsYou can listen to audiobooks too. Youll need Bluetooth headphones or a speaker to listen though, as theres no headphone jack or built-in speaker. Thats standard for these sorts of e-readers, though it may be disappointing to those who have used larger e-ink tablets with their own speakers.The audiobook experience is fairly standard. There are controls to speed up or slow down the narration, and the skip buttons go forwards and backwards by 30 seconds. Its a little basic, and it lacks the ability to change how far the skip buttons go. The time dilation options also only increase by 0.25 increments, and only go as low as 0.75-times the initial speed, which is a little lacking for those who like to fine tune their listening experience. Still, it works well enough, and it has the same stats button as the reading interface, showing you how long you have left in the book, and even which chapters are the longest.The volume option is a little annoying. Theres no hardware button to control the volume, so you can only control it using a slider on the screen. I would have loved to have seen an option to have the volume slider work in a similar manner to the brightness, perhaps by sliding along the right edge. Audiobooks dont seem like a focus here though, which explains the lack of polish.The audiobook experience is a little limited, but the Kobo Clara Colour really shines when you load it up with e-books.1 of 2Mark Jansen / Digital Trends Mark Jansen / Digital Trends Kobo uses its own proprietary software on the Clara Colour, and its functional, if nothing special. The main Home page shows you a selection of books or audiobooks from your library, links to the Kobo Store, and an advert for Kobo Plus, Kobos premium subscription. Along the bottom, you can access My Books, the Discover page, which is basically just the store in all but name, and a More option. More opens access to the settings, optional Beta Features, your Activity page, the Wishlist, and other extra stuff. It works, but theres nothing special. There are a couple of interesting Beta Features, like adding web browser, large print mode, and a sketch pad option, but otherwise, its a fairly bare operating system. Dont get me wrong, it works well at what it needs to do, but dont go in expecting anything groundbreaking.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsOne area Kobo needs to do better is in importing new books. You can buy new books from the Kobo store, sign up to your public library using OverDrive, or you can hook a USB-C cable to your computer and manually transfer your books. I have a wealth of e-books and PDFs on my computer, and frankly, needing to dig behind it to plug in a cable and run it to the Clara Colour is unforgiveably primitive. The worst part is Kobo knows better; the Kobo Elipsa 2E links with Google Drive, so you can add files simply by putting them in a specific folder in your Google Drive. Its quick, easy, and should be on the Clara Colour so why isnt it? Even Amazon has an upload tool to wirelessly send e-books to your Kindle, so Kobo insisting on a wired connection feels bad.Ultimately, the Kobo Clara Colours software is nothing special, but outside of the lack of wireless e-book transmission, it doesnt need to be. Its quick and easy to get into a book, and I rarely felt lost while using it. Its simple and effective.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsKobo runs its own store, and thats where youll likely buy most of your new ebooks. The Kobo store used to play second fiddle to the Kindle store, and while thats still somewhat true theres nowhere quite like the Kindle store for self-published books and content the Kobo store now has a massive range of ebooks, magazines, manga, and more.The Kindle store also has an advantage in sheer volume of deals, but Kobo has a card up its sleeve to help deal with that. If you find an ebook anywhere else for cheaper than the Kobo store, Kobo will give you the difference back, plus 10% on top. Thats a great guarantee, and while it can be a faff to submit a claim each time theres a Kindle sale on, it helps to sugar the pill significantly.If you read multiple books a month, or even week, then theres also the Kobo Plus subscription service to consider. Its similar to the Kindle Unlimited subscription, in that it offers a wide range of books, comics, and audiobooks starting from just $8 a month.While the Kindle store remains the undisputed king, the Kobo store is far more than a pale imitation now. Its easy to use, and it was rare I failed to find something I wanted.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsThe Kobo Clara Colour is currently available for purchase, and it costs $160. Theres only one variant, and it comes with 16GB of storage. It comes in just one colorway, black but you can buy the SleepCovers in a number of different colors including Misty Green, Candy Pink, Cayenne Red, and plain black. You can order the Kobo Clara Colour from the Kobo store, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other stores that sell e-readers.The Kobo Clara Colour exists in an odd position where its not competition for any specific Kindle e-reader, its actually competition for a bunchof them. It has a color display, like the Kindle Colorsoft, its the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, and if youre looking at a smaller e-reader, well its the same size as the basic Kindle. The Clara Colour is a good alternative to each of the three Kindle e-readers. About the only Kindle it cant compare with is the Kindle Scribe and thats where its big brother, the Kobo Elipsa 2E, steps into the ring.When you consider what you get for your money, theres no hardware reason to buy anything other than a Kobo e-reader.When you consider what you get for your money, theres no hardware reason to buy anything other than a Kobo e-reader. The only real reason to buy a Kindle is because of the Amazon store its attached to, and any existing library you might have. Theres no webstore quite like Amazon, and its a genuine reason to think twice about stepping away from a Kindle e-reader. But if youre willing to give it up, or youve long avoided Amazon, then you should buy the Kobo Clara Colour.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsSome people may be upgrading from a previous Kobo e-reader, or will be looking at buying their first e-reader, but many will be looking at swapping over from the Amazon Kindle. So, how easy is to move from a Kindle to Kobo? While buying a new e-reader is easy, its very likely youll need to leave your Amazon books behind.This was always, legally, going to be the case. Its important to note that, as far as Amazon is concerned, the ebooks you buy are essentially leased from them, and you have bought the right to view them for as long as Amazon wants to let you. Amazon can, at any time, remove your ebooks without notice, or make edits to them.There used to be a loophole in this where, if you owned a physical Kindle device, you could download your ebook files from Amazons website, in order to transfer them over to your device through USB connection. Once the files were on your computer, Amazons DRM could be removed, and the files converted and moved to an e-reader of your choice. However, Amazon removed this support from the most recent Kindles, and, as of February 26, 2025, has removed the ability to download your ebooks at all. So, unless you downloaded your ebook files before February 26, your ebooks are now locked to your Kindle, and cant be moved over to a Kobo device at all.So the unwelcome news is youre, legally speaking, going to have to leave whatever you bought on Kindle behind when you move to Kobo.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsIts a yes. An emphatic yes, in fact.It isnt much to look at, but Kobos Clara Colour has got it where it counts. Its an excellent e-reader, and reflects Kobos strong lineage and long experience with exactly these types of devices. The display is excellent, the smaller size means it fits into pockets and bags with ease, and the weeks of battery life means you can forget about battery anxiety. The software is simple but effective, and while I wish it had more storage and an easier way to send them to the device, these arent dealbreakers by any means. If a color e-ink screen is a must, then this is absolutely the e-reader to buy. It can go blow-for-blow with the Kindle Colorsoft, and saves you $100 you can spend on e-books instead.If youre looking for a bigger screen, then there are better options, like the Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa 2E. But if youre looking for a great color e-reader to read or listen to books, then there arent many reasons not to buy the Clara Colour. If the Kobo Clara Colour had been closer to the Kindle Colorsoft in price, then this would be a harder recommendation. But, as it is, the Kobo Clara Colour offers everything that makes the Colorsoft great, at a significantly lower price. This is the e-reader you should buy in 2025.Editors Recommendations