KOBO Libra Colour

I was using a Kindle 8th Gen for last 8 years and it is still working perfectly, the only issue I had was it did not have a Backlight and so I couldn't read at night time, I was in a dilemma if I should go for another Backlit Kindle then came across Kobo Libra Colour and saw many reviews on YouTube and finally went for it. Pros : The Physical Page change buttons are awesome and you only realize their importance when you start using them, the fingers rest on them by default and you don't have to put any efforts to change the page, only after using it i understood how bad my Kindle UI was as now I don't have to touch my screen every time. Battery Life is excellent and lasts weeks. The Book Cover display in screen when the device is in sleep mode is just amazing and you feel like it's a real book and feel to pick it up to read. Very light weight and doesn't strain the wrist or hand, the Dark Mode is great for Night Reading, the Unpacking experience was also so nice, the Home Page is clean & non intrusive and doesn't push any ads for new books etc. Cons : The Online Book catalogue is small compared to Kindle but I have my own e books collection so it's fine for me and Yes the price is on the higher side. Expectations: Don't buy this device thinking that you can read comics like Tintin, Asterix etc because the screen is small 7 inch and so reading the words is tough, I tried putting in all my comics but then removed them because I didn't want to zoom and read them, also as we all are habituated to see bright Colour popping AMOLED displays in our mobile screens, but it's not the case here so the colours on this E Ink display will feel really washed out but that is expected because it's meant to read mostly books and manga at most, I am reading Dilbert, Calvin and Hobbes in it as they don't have too many words. Verdict: I am really happy with my Kobo Libra Colour, it's an amazing Device highly recommended for people who love to read books, the colour is just Cherry on the Top.

Decided to get this after looking up many reviews on YouTube and various review sites. I previously used to have a regular non backlit kindle (probably a 2nd gen). Got this at a slightly lower than MRP price (~18.6k after bank discounts) but worked out as much as it would if you were buying it from abroad (USD $220 MRP). Here is my unstructured review. Colour display - something new, and comics look nice, although not very easy to read on the smaller screen unless you zoom. The colors are not what you'd expect from an led display like a phone, so keep your expectations in check, the tech for that isn't there yet. However, this was not a big deal for me. Physical buttons - now this was important to me. I like touch screen displays generally, but it just isn't as nice when reading a book. The two buttons make turning pages very simple for the hand. The thumb just rests in a button, and press for the page turn. You can still use touch/swipe on screen, but I don't find myself using that as much. Software setup and UI - Very simple to get it started, and some level of customization for the library, although would have liked to have more freedom with organizing/hiding/folders etc. Epubs work without any conversion. I was able to link my google drive account and transfer books via my phone this way. The settings aren't too complicated to find your way around. Other good things about this that I won't get into - good form factor, waterproof, charges quickly, decent battery life (~20h with backlight 40% and reading book, not tested for comic), power button placement, USB C connectivity. Nice to have, but I've not used these fratures - repairable, can use a stylus (some 3rd party ones too), audio books. Also picked up the official cover, fits well, easy to hold, feels good to touch (faux leather). Only thing I wished for is that this was available at a lower price. But I couldn't wait for a price drop, as I had a huge backlog, and I was wasting precious time in travel not really doing anything productive. The cover wasn't cheap either, but no other 3rd party options available as yet, and I can't let an expensive device like this get scratches in my bag.

I had a Kindle basic from long long back and wanted to update it to newer model, possibly with buttons like Kindle Oasis, however Oasis has been out of commission and it was not renewed in newer line-ups of Amazon kindle. The ones which were updated was not having a good feedback from users. Hence I decided to go for Kobo Libra Color(KLC). Here are my thoughts. PROS:- 1. KLC is a color version with physical buttons and the colors are good enough for e-ink technology and please so not expect the tablet like quality in this. Colors are vivid and comics look as good as you can get with this technology(see images). Also you can get even more vivid colors by switching developer mode on. 2. Battery backup is excellent(a week or two probably) with normal reading(couple of hours a day) and even better if the content is pure black and white(B&W). Color has lower dpi but B&W is excellent. 3. You can use stylus for annotating and drawing directly on the book. It also has notebook feature. 4. If there is a screen door effect(search for this term) then either I don't have that issue or it really doesn't matter because it is not at all noticeable. 5. Like I said physical buttons are a god-send and very handy. 6. You use google drive or Dropbox for very easy file transfer. You can also use applications to make it very easy as well. 7. PDFs work very well so epubs is not the only supported format. While you can annotate on PDF file, you can't highlight on the PDFs like you do on epubs(this is because PDFs are basically like images with no text layer) CONS:- 1. You lose the variety that Amazon kindle offers with its large selection of books and also in half the price that Kobo will offer. Regional books will not be found on Kobo and if it is there there it will more expensive than what Amazon offers. A work around is that you can buy on Amazon and convert it to epubs and use it on Kobo. Amazon has that facility. 2. Kindle unlimited is yet another thing you might miss if you use that(I didn't). 3. I don't know if Kobo has service centers in India so that another thing you might have to keep in mind. Final Verdict: Go for it if it is in your budget, it is worth it. Update: Battery backup is even better than I initially said. With an hour of reading daily it can last for around 20+ days. If you faster drain of battery, check the ebooks for some error in Calibre application. Update (23/10/2025) : Amazon no longer allows you to download the books like earlier (atleast I don't know of any method, easy or not, that works), so you won't be able to buy the books here and read it in Kobo any longer. Since this could be an issue for some, I thought I should update this review.

Quiet good i would say. Weight loss and essy to use. This is worth for manga and comics and books with lots of coloured illustrations. For reading a normal book please go with kindle as the priceses are way cheaper in kindle than kobo. Books and audio books are expensive in kobo store.

I purchased the Kobo Libra Colour from Amazon with high expectations, considering the premium price. Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely disappointing. Within just one month of normal use, the screen started showing issues (visible lines and display defects). For a device in this price range, this is completely unacceptable. The build and display quality do not match the cost at all. What makes this worse is the lack of proper warranty clarity. There is no clearly mentioned warranty on the product page, and only a short replacement window is offered. For such an expensive e-reader, not having a clearly stated manufacturer warranty is shocking. This feels misleading and deceptive from Amazon’s side because buyers naturally assume a premium electronics product comes with proper warranty support. When I tried to seek support, the service experience was also disappointing. No clear guidance, no easy resolution, and no accountability. Very unhappy with this purchase.

Having been a Kindle (basic) user for 6 years, these are my thoughts on this device; 1. Screen is significantly dim when front-light is Off. I almost never used front-lighting on my old device; but on Libra Colour, although I can manage to read without front-lighting while in a moderately lit room, having had come from the Kindle's bright white screen, the lack of contrast is evident. But you do get used to it, fast. However, for those comfortable reading with the front-lighting On, this shouldn't be a problem, as upping the light to around 15% solves the dimming problem in some ways. 2. As expected, the colours are very muted/mild in nature. 3. Larger 7-inch screen with a smooth curved edge is a pleasure to hold and read-on. No issues faced reading for many hours straight. 4. Battery backup is excellent, as was in the Kindle. 5. I haven't had any problems with moderately larger eBooks (approx. 95 MB). If anyone's having any issues on this, please do read about converting epub to kepub format (using Calibre or kepubify website). 6. Page-turn buttons are fantastic to use and make it very easy to get spoiled by their convenience. 7. I like Kobo's interface a lot better than Kindle's - it's a lot more customisable, clean and is so much less intrusive. 8. Since I had always liked the Kindle's "Bookerly" font, sideloading "Bookerly" to Kobo was one of the first thing I did on it. 9. Google drive & Dropbox integration works fine, though Calibre is still my go-to-means for transferring ebooks. 10. As of now, sideloaded ebooks are not synched by Kobo (as opposed to "Send to Kindle" functionality). Bought the device for around Rs.17,600 during a sale and for that price, I feel it offers great value for money.

Nice and compact. It's easy to hold in hand while reading, not too heavy. Colours appear much more muted than a mobile. Features such as dark mode, auto rotate, page turn button etc. are very convenient.

Great device for reading. Worth the price and far better than kindle with less risk of being bricked.

Il Kobo Clara Colour è stato una sorpresa: devo dire che, dopo averlo provato a fondo, ha superato le mie aspettative, rivelandosi un compagno di lettura eccezionale sotto diversi aspetti. Un Software che Fa la Differenza: Il vero cuore pulsante del Kobo Clara Colour è il suo software, che si distingue nettamente dalla concorrenza. Riconoscimento della Scrittura Eccellente: Una delle funzioni che mi ha più colpito è l'incredibile precisione nel riconoscimento della scrittura. Prendere appunti a mano, evidenziare passaggi o disegnare schizzi è un'esperienza fluida e intuitiva, quasi come scrivere su carta. La latenza è praticamente inesistente e la resa grafica è fedele, rendendo questa funzione non un semplice extra, ma un valore aggiunto concreto per lo studio o la lettura analitica. Interfaccia Organizzata e Intuitiva: L'interfaccia utente è un modello di chiarezza e funzionalità. Navigare tra i menu, gestire la libreria o accedere alle impostazioni è un gioco da ragazzi. Ogni elemento è dove ti aspetti che sia, e la logica di organizzazione dei contenuti è impeccabile, permettendoti di trovare rapidamente ciò che cerchi senza distrazioni. Ergonomia e Materiali di Qualità: Fin dal primo contatto, il Kobo Clara Colour trasmette una sensazione di solidità e cura nei dettagli. I materiali utilizzati sono estremamente piacevoli al tatto, conferendo al dispositivo un aspetto premium che si sposa perfettamente con l'ergonomia studiata. È leggero ma robusto, facile da tenere in mano per lunghe sessioni di lettura senza affaticamento. La parte posteriore testurizzata offre un'ottima presa, scongiurando scivolamenti accidentali. Il design compatto e bilanciato contribuisce a un'esperienza d'uso estremamente confortevole, rendendolo l'ideale per la lettura in mobilità o comodamente seduti sul divano. Libertà nell'Approccio ai Contenuti: Uno degli aspetti più apprezzabili del Kobo Clara Colour è la sua filosofia aperta per quanto riguarda l'approvvigionamento dei contenuti. Niente Ecosistemi Chiusi: Non si è costretti a un unico store o formato proprietario. Questa libertà è un enorme vantaggio, permettendoti di caricare facilmente eBook, fumetti o altri documenti da diverse fonti, senza preoccuparti di compatibilità o DRM restrittivi (ove non presenti per legge). Questo apre un mondo di possibilità, ampliando a dismisura la tua libreria digitale. Oltre le Aspettative: Cosa Rende il Kobo Clara Colour Unico Oltre agli aspetti già menzionati, ci sono altri dettagli che arricchiscono l'esperienza d'uso e confermano il Kobo Clara Colour come un eReader di punta. Il Colore: La resa del colore, pur non essendo brillante come un tablet, è sorprendente per un e-ink. Le illustrazioni di fumetti, le copertine dei libri o i grafici in PDF prendono vita con sfumature delicate ma ben distinguibili, aggiungendo una nuova dimensione alla lettura senza compromettere il comfort visivo. Batteria a Lunga Durata: La durata della batteria è eccezionale, una caratteristica fondamentale per un eReader. Puoi portarlo con te per giorni, anche settimane, senza la preoccupazione di doverlo ricaricare frequentemente, il che lo rende perfetto per viaggi o lunghe sessioni di lettura. Resistenza all'Acqua: La certificazione di resistenza all'acqua aggiunge un ulteriore livello di tranquillità. Leggere a bordo piscina, in vasca da bagno o in spiaggia non è più un problema, liberandoti dalla preoccupazione di schizzi accidentali. In sintesi, il Kobo Clara Colour è un eReader che non si limita a promettere, ma mantiene le sue promesse, offrendo un'esperienza di lettura superiore. La combinazione di un software intelligente, un design curato, materiali di qualità e la libertà nell'accesso ai contenuti lo rende uno strumento indispensabile per ogni appassionato lettore. È un investimento che vale la pena fare per chi cerca un dispositivo affidabile, versatile e veramente appagante.

È il mio primo eReader. Perché ho preso proprio questo? Perché: - Volevo uno schermo a colori (occasionalmente mi piace anche leggere qualche fumetto). - Volevo il supporto penna (occasionalmente al lavoro prendo appunti su carta, spero di portarmi dietro questo risparmiandomi il blocco note fisico). - Volevo un oggetto piccolo, leggero, di cui quasi non mi accorgessi di portarmi dietro. - Volevo farmi coccolare dal software, che in questo Kobo è abbastanza ben fatto, veloce, reattivo, con integrazioni interessanti (Dropbox e Google Drive) per inserire file senza dover collegare cavi e cavetti ai PC per passarmi i file: ha il Wi-Fi, si mette il PDF nella cartella di Google Drive e lui vede il file e può scaricarlo ed aprirlo senza alcun problema. - Volevo una gestione intelligente dell'illuminazione del pannello (regolazione automatica della tonalità dello schermo e altre chicche che non vi distruggono le retine), per massimizzare il tempo di lettura. Ha dei difetti? Sì, non è perfetto. - Lo schermo, essendo a colori, è un filo "scuro"; a meno che non sia colpito direttamente da una luce forte avrete sempre la tentazione di accendere l'illuminazione frontale. - La batteria non è eclatante: con Wi-Fi e Bluetooth spenti, la prima carica mi è durata una quindicina di giorni nei quali ho letto circa un migliaio di pagine (un romanzo da 700 e un altro libro da circa 250 pagine). Questo è a causa della retroilluminazione che, per l'appunto, avrete sempre la tentazione di tenere accesa, riducendo di conseguenza la durata della batteria. - A colori dimezza la risoluzione; è un "non problema" in quanto la risoluzione è comunque sufficiente a leggere le linee di dialogo dei fumetti, ma ad alcuni, magari con una vista non proprio perfetta, potrebbe dare fastidio. - Non chiedetegli di fare altro che non sia leggere libri, PDF o prendere appunti: il software è ben fatto ma minimale, il dispositivo non ha un browser (ha un browser ma è sperimentale e non supporta quasi nessuno standard moderno per la visualizzazione delle pagine). Per quello che deve fare sono super soddisfatto.

Très contente de mon achat, la barre sur le coté permet une bonne prise en main, l’utilisation est assez instinctive, l’écran ne fatigue pas les yeux surtout le soir. Je recommande je ne regrette vraiment pas mon achat

I am an avid reader with approximately 500+ physical books… Shhh, I know there’s only 365 days in a year, but I love my books. As an alternative to hauling at least 3 books in my bag, I invested in a Kobo. I say “invested” because this is an e-reader at a slightly higher price point. I would also recommend you spend the extra few $$ and invest in a case and screen protector (plastic one works very well). Even with those expense in mind, this is an investment well worth every hard earned dollar as I find myself reaching for my Kobo Libra Colour at least once every couple of days. This e-reader is the perfect alternative when my hands need a break from holding a book or I’m multitasking reading between several and don’t want to be literally surrounded by scattered books. Battery Life: Absolutely amazing! It charges quickly and drains slowly… even when I doze off and leave the screen on for hours. Accessibility: I can easily; as well as quickly download/integrate my other libraries, PDFs, comics, ebooks via wifi from Google Drive, Libby, Overdrive etc... Layout: Ergonomic and user friendly. I want to especially highlight how much I appreciate the ability to tap the screen OR press PHYSICAL buttons to turn pages. - Navigation and customization is simple even for those who are not tech savvy. - Lightweight enough it can be used handled or with a case that has a stand or handheld strap. I personally use a folio case that has a little kick stand, two handheld straps (for ambidextrous use), cut outs to facilitate charging and an elastic loop for my Kobo Stylus. Storage: Not expandable, but you get a hefty 32GB. However, if you run into storage issues check the “manage my books” options and sort by “file size” to see if you have any unusually large files. Overall, it’s been a little over 6-months and I am still extremely satisfied that I purchased this specific brand of colour e-reader. Main reasons being: exceptional ergonomic design (light weight & physical buttons), premium feel, ease of use and accessibility, & am easily able to integrate my other libraries/files. It has made for a much more dynamic way of to enjoy reading!

Thanks Geekbite for the wonderful service, not to mention well taking care of new Kobo e reader users with essential accessories to start off my reading journey! Will buy again!