For people who just want to read a digital book, this is the product you should choose.
Theres a wider piece of plastic on the Libra 2 made for holding.
I especially loved the ever-so-slight curvature that allowed the plastic to rest gently in the palm of my hand.
Joe Robinson / How-To Geek
It works for left- or right-handers.
The screen auto-rotates the text for each of those positions.
On the back is a small power button that puts the rig to sleep quickly or wakes it up.
Kobo Libra 2 features 32GB of storage, a fast E-Ink screen, and Bluetooth to listen to Kobo Audiobooks wirelessly—plus it’s waterproof.
On the side is a USB-C charging port.
I noticed the back plastic panel creaking occasionally as I held it in my hand reading.
The sound was infrequent and low, but I usually became acutely aware of it in a quiet room.
Kobo Libra 2 features 32GB of storage, a fast E-Ink screen, and Bluetooth to listen to Kobo Audiobooks wirelessly—plus it’s waterproof.
Despite the minor annoyance, I would still take a lighter plastic back and occasional creakiness over something heavier.
The main questions will revolve around whether people notice and if they care.
Where Are the Ebooks?
Joe Robinson / How-To Geek
The reason to buy a Kindle eReader is not for the hardware but for Amazons bookstore.
If a book is being sold, its almost certainly available through Amazon.
You might assume thats the case for Kobos digital bookstore too, but its not.
Joe Robinson / How-To Geek
Just because youre willing to pay for an ebook doesnt mean its accessible everywhere.
Kobo has books available to buy through its own digital store, just not as many as Amazon.
Probably more significant is the native integration with OverDrive.
Joe Robinson / How-To Geek
I have waited more than a month to borrow a book before.
The service is free, however, and, from all appearances, just part of the Libra 2.
It was an outstanding feature to use.
Joe Robinson / How-To Geek
I didn’t feel the need to use them regularly, but they worked fine.
It was minimal in my hand and simplified to just the essentials.
Plus, I didn’t notice any distracting ghosting effects on the E-Ink screen.
Beyond those basics, one feature I was particularly excited about was the IPX8 waterproofing.
Physical books arent particularly waterproof, so this is a tangible way the digital experience can be better.
I thought this meant not having to put a book down while showering, but that wasnt the case.
The water blurred the text enough that it was hard to concentrate on the content fully.
Additionally, water splashes made the touchscreen jump around, randomly turning pages and bringing up menus.
In this case, the waterproofing is really to protect the machine from accidents when reading near water.
Just don’t expect to read a book underwater.
Price and Availability
The Kobo Libra 2 is available now and retails for $189.99.
Theres only one (32GB) storage tier, but that will hold a lot of 2MB ebooks.
The Libra 2 comes in either black or white colors.
In terms of specs, design, and price, the Libra 2 model currently hits a sweet spot.
TheKobo Sagehas a larger screen and stylus support but also costs $80 more.
At the high end, theKobo Elipsa 2Egoes to the max.
Should You Buy the Kobo Libra 2 EReader?
TheKobo Libra 2facilitated reading better than any e-paper gadget Ive tried before.
Pocket support adds the ability to read web articles.
Otherwise, an excellent piece of hardware could be left wasted by a lack of easy-to-access reading material.
