For years, e-readers have been synonymous with black-and-white E Ink screens, celebrated for their ability to mimic the look of ink on paper while consuming minimal power. However, we've reached a point where E Ink technology can display color decently and affordably.
The Kobo Libra Colour aims to change this, introducing color to the e-reading experience. In theory, color adds a new dimension to the e-reader. Highlights can be color coded, and book covers finally appear in full color. This is especially fun when I turn off the reader and a boldly colored book cover, designed for maximum marketing appeal, appears on the device’s screen.
Let's delve into a detailed review of the Kobo Libra Colour and examine whether this colorful addition enhances or detracts from the overall e-reading experience.
A Familiar Design with Subtle Tweaks
Physically, the Libra Colour is almost identical to the Libra 2. It’s a little thicker at the grip edge and there’s a different plastic texture on the back of the case (which I found more pleasant) and it’s a few grams lighter than the previous model. Unfortunately, it’s still got a recessed screen, meaning dust and hair can collect around the edges of the bezel.
That’s a negative, but it makes it easy to find the edge of the display to slide your finger up and down to adjust brightness without fiddling with a more complex user interface.
Read also: Libra 2 E-Reader Review
Like its predecessor, it’s a small (7-inch diagonal) device that’s easy to hold, with physical page turn buttons. It’s a winner. I love e-readers, and for the last few years my e-reader of choice has been the Kobo Libra 2.
The Color E Ink Screen: A Step Forward or a Step Back?
And the ugly truth is that as miraculous as it is that E Ink displays can do color, the Libra Colour’s screen is actually inferior to the screen on the Libra 2. Up close, it’s clear that there’s some sort of visible background texture on the Libra Colour (sort of a yellowish-gray wash) that reduces contrast. But the truth is, most of what I use an e-reader for is text on a page. Color isn’t really part of the equation.
I spent some time reading a color comic book using the Libra Colour, and it worked-but it wasn’t fun.
Color book covers are fine (when they’re in bright light), but is that enough?
Software Enhancements
In terms of software, Kobo has seen fit to enable Dropbox support on the Libra Colour-it was previously only available on higher-end Kobos, not the Libra-and added support for Google Drive as well. This means it’s a lot easier to sideload books, comics, and random PDFs from your collection without having to attach the Kobo via USB-C.
Read also: Kobo Libra Colour: Australian Release
The Price Factor
All for a $40 higher list price-though at least cloud syncing isn’t being withheld from the Libra line anymore. The Libra Colour is not a bad e-reader, but it feels like a misstep by Kobo. Color isn’t really very necessary for reading text, and the color display offers a warmer color temperature and worse contrast.
I wouldn’t mind the move so much-I’m sure some people want to view color comics and PDFs and would be willing to put up with the small screen, and users of the optional Kobo Stylus 2 might enjoy having different ink colors for their markup-if Kobo kept a non-color model around at a lower price.
kobo libra colour unboxing + first impressions 💭📚💗 (compared to kindle + ipad!)
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re a casual reader of eBooks and are barely motivated to buy a dedicated e-reader at all, the $120 base-level Kindle ($20 less if you let Amazon stick ads on it) is probably good enough, though it doesn’t have a flush screen, isn’t waterproof, and has no page-turn buttons, which I consider essential for pleasurable reading. The $130 Kobo Clara BW is similar, and has similar drawbacks. (Reader, I am filled with despair at the current state of e-reader options.
| Feature | Kobo Libra Colour | Kobo Libra 2 | Kindle (Base-level) | Kobo Clara BW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Display | Yes | No | No | No |
| Screen Size | 7-inch | 7-inch | 6-inch | 6-inch |
| Physical Page Turn Buttons | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cloud Syncing | Yes (Dropbox, Google Drive) | Yes | Yes (Amazon Cloud) | Yes |
| Price (USD) | Higher | Lower | $120 (w/ ads: $100) | $130 |
Read also: Color E-Readers Compared: Kobo Libra Colour and Kindle Colorsoft
tags: #kobo #libra #colour #sleepcover