But it also isn’t a waste.
I wouldn’t want to give up color gracing the front of the Libra line of eReaders.
It also packs the latest display tech in the color E Ink space.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Price and Availability
The Kobo Libra Colour eReader retails for $219.99 and is available now.
It has the same ethos as theLibra 2eReader which I loved.
Its color screen really does make it more enjoyable to browse books and makes it possible to take notes.
The Kobo Libra Colour shines as a color eReader with its easy-to-use interface, excellent repairability, and ergonomic design. It also packs the latest display tech in the color E Ink space.
It doesnt fundamentally change anything about the reading experience.
(Look at theBoox Palmafor something different.)
The Libra Colour uses an E Ink Kaleido 3 display with FastGLR and Dark Mode.
The Kobo Libra Colour shines as a color eReader with its easy-to-use interface, excellent repairability, and ergonomic design. It also packs the latest display tech in the color E Ink space.
It features a 1,264 x 1,680 resolution.
Its waterproof, submergible for up to 60 minutes, with an IPX8 rating.
It comes with 32GB of storage and it weighs a mere 199.5 grams (0.43lbs).
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
I think a 7-inch screen makes a huge difference over a 6-inch one.
Thats still true for the Libra Colour.
Instead of going tall and narrow, the Libra Colour goes wider.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
One side of the gadget extends out for one-handed holding and two physical buttons.
I find this design extremely comfortable and versatile.
The curvature of the side lip provides just enough leverage to keep it from slipping.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
I didnt find an orientation that didnt work.
Unlike the Libra 2, I didnt notice any creaking with the back plastic piece on the Libra Colour.
Do You Need Color E Ink?
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Color images look familiar, but not like they would on an iPad or mobile phone.
So why a color display if its not amazing?
It does make browsing books in the Kobo store and your library easier and nicer.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Sometimes monochrome images are just harder to decipher than color ones.
Books with images benefit too.
A color display also makes highlighting text and drawing notes more practical (or possible).
You cant really highlight words without color.
Thats possible here when using the Kobo Stylus 2.
Unfortunately, I never did find myself wanting to take notes or highlight passages.
I need them in too many other places to put notes and tasks on the Libra Colour.
Some book formats don’t allow marking them up too, so it’s not a universal capability.
There are bigger color E Ink tablets that are much better suited for that purposeboth from Rakuten and Boox.
For people uninterested in going the library route, theres Rakutens unlimited service Kobo Plus.
You wont find nearly any mainstream, popular titles available.
As for Google Drive, its integration is simple, easy, and quick.
I wish native Google Doc files were supported though.
It’s easy enough to convert files within Google Drive on a computer, but it’s another step.
Ill keep this comparison short with a single distinction.
The Libra Colour is more tailored to opinionated readers.
Should You Buy the Rakuten Kobo Libra Colour?
TheRakuten Kobo Libra Colouris a fantastic eReader because it gets all the basics right.
The physical buttons are well-placed.
Its dimensions are compact, yet sizeable.
It’s a good rig to read a novel on.
I found it to only enhance certain areas of reading, the occasional times I truly noticed it.
