Theyve been TechRadars pick of thebest ereaderssince then, including theKobo Libra 2from 2021.
The trend continues with the Kobo Libra Colour, which is a double-whammy upgrade over its predecessor.
Whats new, though, is its display.
While not as saturated as you’d see on an LCD screen, the Kobo Libra Colour displays colors well on its e-paper screen
It’s also a lot lighter than its competition.
That, as Ive just mentioned, makes it a lot more affordable than some of its competition.
Long story short, the Kobo Libra Colour, just like its predecessor, is pretty good value.
You can choose to view your library as a list or as a gallery in the My Books tab
Adding to its value is the fact that it can be repaired when the need arises.
Kobo has partnered withiFixit to sell spare parts specifically the battery, screen and the motherboard.
The Stylus 2, on the other hand, charges via USB-C and is, thus, lighter.
Subtle design elements make the Kobo Libra Colour quite ergonomic
What stands out from a design perspective is the screen it can display colors!
This is because on the smaller screen the pixels are packed more tightly together, providing more contrast.
This reduces the amount of blue light hitting your eye closer to bedtime.
A textured rear panel adds to the Kobo Libra Colour’s grip
One issue Ive had previously with some ereaders, particularly with a black chassis, are oily fingerprint smudges.
It only takes minutes to figure your way around if youve never used a Kobo gear before.
That hasnt changed but, for the Libra line, there is one major difference to the interface.
The USB-C port can be used to charge the device or transfer files
There is now the My Notebooks tab smack bang in the center of the bottom navigation bar.
Every time you select a tab from the bottom navigation bar, it changes color from black to brown.
Thats a nice touch that I havent seen in other color ereaders Ive tested.
Kobo’s user interface is very easy to wrap your head around
There are also four image files supported.
True to form, it only inverts the text colors, not any book covers or notes.
Pocket support is also integrated into the Libra Colour.
Writing and drawing on the Kobo Libra Colour feels like the stylus is gliding (or slipping) over very smooth plastic
Auto-rotation is also available, so you’re able to read in either portrait or landscape mode.
So you’re able to lock the orientation to one or the other to prevent this from happening.
Instead of the previous 1GHz CPU, its now 2GHz and that seems to do the trick.
You can highlight passages in color and add handwritten annotations to books on the Kobo Libra Colour
Everything else, though, runs smoothly.
Using the onscreen keyboard is also quite good.
Still, I am impressed.
The Kobo Libra Colour’s smaller size makes colors appear a touch more saturated than on a larger screen like the Onyx Boox Tab Mini C
This got me about 14 hours of use in total.
Id say thats pretty good, considering I was writing, reading and listening to audiobooks via Bluetooth.
So the bigger battery capacity is definitely working in Kobos favor here.
Handwriting recognition on the Kobo Libra Colour is spot on most of the time
Should I buy the Kobo Libra Colour?
This ereader does it all!
At 7 inches, the Libra Colour hits the sweet spot for both portability and usability.
Frames can get cut, which could affect the way you enjoy the book.
It also costs a lot more than the Libra Colour.Read my in-depthOnyx Boox Tab Mini C reviewfor more details.
Im in the process of testing this and will update this article with a link to the review soon.
I even got some colleagues to try the handwriting recognition feature.
Read we test
[First reviewed April 2024]
The Kobo Stylus 2 can stay magnetically secure to the slim edge of the Kobo Libra Colour
