Kobo Libra Colour Review

Who should buy

• Color E-Ink Kaleido 3 display significantly enhances graphically rich content like comics, magazines, and textbooks.
• Compatible with the Kobo Stylus 2 (sold separately) for marking up ebooks and documents with colored highlights and handwritten notes.
• Asymmetric design with physical page-turn buttons allows for comfortable one-handed use during extended reading sessions.

Who should skip

• The Kobo Stylus 2, essential for note-taking and colored markup, is sold separately for $69.99.
• Color content displays at a lower 150 ppi resolution compared to the 300 ppi for black-and-white content, limiting the sharpness of fine color details.
• Kobo audiobook playback requires separate wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker as there is no built-in speaker.

Overview

The Rakuten Kobo Libra Colour is a new entrant in the e-reader market that brings a color E-Ink display to a popular and established form factor. Positioned as an evolution of the Libra line, this device targets readers who want to see book covers, illustrations, and their own highlights in color, without sacrificing the benefits of an E-Ink screen. It also introduces compatibility with the Kobo Stylus 2, adding note-taking and markup capabilities, though the stylus is sold separately.

Key Features

Color E-Ink Display

The most significant feature of the Kobo Libra Colour is its color screen. This allows for book covers, charts, and internal graphics to be displayed in color, a notable step up from the monochrome screens that have dominated the e-reader market for years. This feature is aimed at enhancing the reading experience for graphically rich content like comics, magazines, and textbooks.

Kobo Stylus 2 Compatibility

The Libra Colour is compatible with the Kobo Stylus 2, an accessory sold separately for $69.99. This transforms the e-reader into a digital notebook. Users can mark up ebooks and documents with colored highlights and handwritten notes. The addition of stylus support suggests Kobo is targeting not just leisure readers, but also students and professionals who need to interact with their digital texts more deeply. The stylus itself appears to attach to the device for easy transport.

If you plan to use the note-taking features extensively, purchasing the Kobo Stylus 2 is essential, as it is not included with the e-reader. Consider bundling it with your purchase.

Expansive Accessory Ecosystem

Rakuten Kobo is offering a wide range of accessories for the Libra Colour at launch. These include multiple types of cases like the standard SleepCover, a Basic SleepCover, a Clear Case, and a Stylus Case designed to hold the Kobo Stylus 2. There are also limited-edition "Collector Cases" with unique designs. This extensive lineup allows for a high degree of personalization and protection right from the start.

Specifications

The following table includes all available details derived from the product page.

Buyers should seek out a full spec sheet before making a purchase decision.

Design & Build

Based on the product images, the Kobo Libra Colour retains the asymmetric design of its predecessors. It features a wider bezel on one side with physical page-turn buttons, designed for comfortable one-handed use. The rear of the device has a textured pattern, likely to improve grip. The device is shown in both Black and White colorways. A USB port, presumably for charging and data transfer, is visible on the side profile. Without official dimensions or weight, its portability is hard to judge, but the form factor appears consistent with other 7-inch e-readers.

Who It's For

The Kobo Libra Colour is for avid readers who have been waiting to upgrade from a monochrome e-reader to a color one. It’s particularly well-suited for those who read content with color illustrations, such as graphic novels, cookbooks, and children's books. The ability to highlight in different colors makes it a strong candidate for students and researchers who need to annotate texts and PDFs.

However, the additional cost of the stylus means it will primarily appeal to those who see a clear benefit in handwritten notes. Casual readers who only consume novels might not find the color or stylus features to be essential, but those who want a more dynamic and interactive reading experience are the core audience for this device.

To make full use of the device, you will need a Rakuten Kobo account. The device is also compatible with Kobo Audiobooks, though you'll need to connect to a wireless speaker or headphones as there's no built-in speaker mentioned.

Pros

• Color E-Ink display enhances graphically rich content
• Compatibility with Kobo Stylus 2 for note-taking and highlighting
• Ergonomic design with physical page-turn buttons
• Available in multiple colors (Black and White)

Cons

• Kobo Stylus 2 required for note-taking is an additional purchase ($69.99)
• The price is higher than many monochrome e-readers

FAQ

No, the Kobo Stylus 2 is sold separately for $69.99. You will need to purchase it to use the highlighting and note-taking features.

The device is available in two base colors: Black and White.

Yes, while its main feature is the color screen, it functions as a standard e-reader for all types of ebooks. Traditional black-and-white text will be displayed as on any other e-reader.

Yes, Rakuten Kobo offers a wide variety of cases, including SleepCovers, a clear case, and special cases designed to also hold the Kobo Stylus 2.

It is rated IPX8 for immersion in up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) of water for up to 60 minutes.

Kobo rates it for up to 40 days with 30 minutes of reading per day, the front light at 30%, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off.

Yes. It supports Kobo audiobooks through Bluetooth, with wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker required. Kobo audiobook availability varies by country.

Related Reads

• Kobo brand page

Pros

• Color E-Ink Kaleido 3 display significantly enhances graphically rich content like comics, magazines, and textbooks.
• Compatible with the Kobo Stylus 2 (sold separately) for marking up ebooks and documents with colored highlights and handwritten notes.
• Asymmetric design with physical page-turn buttons allows for comfortable one-handed use during extended reading sessions.
• Features ComfortLight PRO for adjustable brightness and color temperature of the front light.
• Offers 32GB of internal storage, accommodating a large library of books and documents.
• IPX8 water resistance allows for up to 60 minutes of use in 6.6 ft (2 m) of water, providing peace of mind near pools or bathtubs.
• The device is designed to allow replacement of key components, suggesting potential for longer-term repairability.
• Features a USB-C connector for modern and convenient charging and data transfer.

Cons

• The Kobo Stylus 2, essential for note-taking and colored markup, is sold separately for $69.99.
• Color content displays at a lower 150 ppi resolution compared to the 300 ppi for black-and-white content, limiting the sharpness of fine color details.
• Kobo audiobook playback requires separate wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker as there is no built-in speaker.
• The price of $259.99 is higher than many monochrome e-readers, making it a less accessible option for budget-conscious readers.
• While compatible with numerous file formats, native support is not explicitly stated for all common formats without conversion.

Verdict

Based on its specifications, the Kobo Libra Colour is a strong fit for readers who want color illustrations, physical page-turn buttons, and optional handwritten notes in a waterproof e-reader. Its 32GB storage and adjustable warm front light strengthen the package, but readers who do not need handwriting support should also consider the less expensive Kobo Clara Colour.