Although I have always been a voracious reader, I was slow to adopt e-reading gadgets. I adore the feel and appearance of a real book, to start. In addition, I frequently check out library books, but when I do purchase one, I make notes and underline every page. However, I couldn’t help myself once e-ink—the technology that simulates ink on paper—became especially compelling and I realized that I could save my whole library on a single device.
I had previously used Koboe readers since they were reasonably priced, but the transfer process became too time-consuming after I began obtaining e-books from my library via the OverDrive Libby app. (I had to manually move the files after connecting the e-reader to my laptop.) I’ve been using a Boox Nova Air2, which is essentially an Android tablet with an e-ink display, that my tech-savvy partner purchased me ever since.
Nevertheless, the new Kobo Libra Color offered an answer to my early concerns about e-readers: With its vibrant e-ink display and note-taking capabilities, it not only replicates a real, physical book but also has OverDrive integrated into it, allowing you to check out e-books from the library. I received a Libra Color from the brand to test out, and after using it for a few weeks, I would suggest it to any serious reader. I’ll talk about my experiences and why I believe it’s worth the money below.
SKIP AHEADIs: Is the Kobo Libra Color on sale for Black Friday? How does the Kobo Libra Color work? How did I try it? What’s the TLDR? Why should I trust NBC Select?
What is the
Kobo Libra Colour
?
Kobo Libra Colour
- Intuitive interface
- Compact & waterproof
- Long battery life
- OverDrive login bug
- Accessories cost extra
An e-reader with a vibrant display is the Kobo Libra Colour ($219.99). The device features a vibrant color palette for book covers and graphics in addition to black-and-white ink that simulates text on paper. Additionally, it may be used with a stylus, which enables you to highlight, doodle, and take colored notes. In addition to supporting 15 file formats and 32GB of storage, the Libra Colour can play Kobo audiobooks when Bluetooth headphones are connected. Similar to the Kindle Scribe, it features a separate notebook space for writing or doodling in addition to page-turning buttons.
There are several options for customization: You can alter the font, line spacing, margins, and screen orientation in addition to changing the screen’s brightness and color temperature for reading outside or at night.
According to the brand, the gadget has an IPX8 rating, which means it can withstand water up to two meters for up to 60 minutes. It is not higher than my Google Pixel 6a smartphone, but it is wider at about 6.3 inches height and 5.7 inches across. (In contrast, the dimensions of a Kindle Paperwhite are 6.9 by 4.9 inches.)
Is the Kobo Libra Colour on sale for Black Friday?
Indeed, there is a Black Friday discount on the Kobo Libra Color right now. It is now available for less than $200, which is the lowest price ever. This is a temporary holiday offer that will probably expire on Cyber Monday or earlier.
How the Kobo Libra Colour works
Home, My Books, My Notebooks, Discover, and More are the five tabs located at the bottom of the main screen of the Kobo Libra Color.
-
Home
: Here, you ll find a combination of books you re currently reading, books you own and recommended titles based on your past reads. -
My Books
: This is where you ll find the books you own or borrowed on your device. You can sort by various filters, scan your list of authors, organize books by series or create your own collections. -
My Notebooks
: This tab lets you create separate documents for doodling and notetaking. Basic notebooks allow you to choose from 20+ page layouts, including blank, ruled, dotted, grid and calligraphy as well as daily, weekly and monthly planners. The advanced notebook option converts your handwriting into text and supports diagrams and math equations. However, to write on your Libra Colour at all, you ll need to purchase theKobo Stylus 2
($69.99) separately; once you do so, you can also change the color of the pen.
-
Discover
: Discover lets you browse e-books and audiobooks from the Kobo Store or borrow e-books from your local library (once you successfully connect your library card). Since Kobo has OverDrive built in, you can take out e-books for free with a few taps inside the Discover tab. -
More
: Here, you can access settings, your wishlist, Dropbox or Google Drive, reading stats, beta features or help. You can also read articles by syncing your e-reader withPocket
.
Tap on a purchased or rented book to begin reading. When a book is open, you can highlight text in yellow, pink, blue, or green, write notes using a touchscreen keyboard, and use your finger to retrieve definitions. You can also write notes and underline on the page if you have a stylus.
How I tried the Kobo Libra Colour
I used it at the airport, on the plane, in two hotel rooms, in an Airbnb, on a balcony (in indirect sunlight), beside the pool (in direct sunshine), and while relaxing in a hot tub on a recent nine-day summer vacation. (I received a courtesy sample from the brand to test.) I spent an average of two hours each day, morning and night, reading on it while on vacation. I brought it to coffee shops and the Venice Beach skatepark because of its small, thin profile, which easily fits in my regular bag. I also read it without hesitation when sitting in the hot tub or by the pool because it’s waterproof.
I used the stylus to highlight and take notes while reading two novels to test this device. I might have made notes in the margins if I had owned the books, but since I checked them out from the library, I valued the feature that let me refer to my notes after the books were returned.
My experience with the Kobo Libra Colour
I was captivated by this device’s elegant look as soon as I opened the box. Its packaging was similar to that of the iPhone: it was simple and easy to use, but instead of Apple’s white logo, the box had pastel watercolor leaves that complemented the screen’s calming color scheme.
All things considered, I was ecstatic about the Libra Color’s mobility, elegant design, and simplicity of use. In all setting, including direct sunshine, the text was readable and the screen was easy on the eyes. I’ll go into further depth about my experience below.
What I like
Well-considered, practical design
To put it simply, I adore the feel of this e-reader in my hands. It has smooth curves, a thin build, and easy-to-use controls. I can comfortably handle it with one hand because the right side is thicker than the left and has an ergonomic thumb depression.
Additionally, hardly many e-readers available on the market have actual page-turn buttons, but the Libra Color has, and I adore it. I can use the touchscreen to navigate the page, but the buttons keep me from inadvertently clicking links or underlining text. Additionally, they are gratifying to press and, in a sense, replicate the sensation of physically turning a page of a book.
Experience with intuitive reading
The Libra Colour is incredibly user-friendly, in contrast to my Boox, which has many complicated apps and options along with its enormous capabilities. I was reading quickly after I found out how to browse, search for, and open books. Even the shortcuts, such squeezing the screen to zoom in or out and moving your finger up and down the left edge to adjust the backlight’s brightness, are simple to learn, in my experience.
Text that is colored
One of the main selling aspects of the gadget is its vibrant UI. I can write and highlight in four different tones, and I can see the book covers in color. The colors are more pastel in nature due to the nature of e-ink technology, particularly at low screen brightness levels. That being said, this tool is undoubtedly useful if you enjoy color-coding notes and information.
extended battery life
According to Kobo, a single charge will provide 40 days of reading. Although I didn’t keep track of my precise consumption, I used my e-reader throughout a nine-day trip and didn’t charge it once. When I arrived home, the battery was still alive.
Taking notes
I prefer underlining when I read rather than taking notes, but because I check out a lot of library books, the notebook feature on Kobo Libra Color allows me to write down important concepts that I can refer to after I return the books. I like the feature that instantly converts my handwriting to text, and the pen writes effortlessly.
Potential drawbacks to keep in mind
Having trouble configuring OverDrive
You must link your OverDrive account if you want to use your Kobo Libra Color to check out e-books from the library. The e-reader itself, however, was operational in a matter of minutes (my pre-existing Kobo account synchronized with the device without any problems, and the initial update went well). It took a long time to set up OverDrive. Since Kobo devices continue to use OverDrive, the syncing process may be glitchy for some users even though the OverDrive app was discontinued in May 2023 and replaced with Libby.
In my experience, the device repeatedly asked me to log into OverDrive, but it refused to recognize my account. I spent an hour or so trying on my own. A customer support agent recommended a manual factory reset after a half-hour wait on hold. (Your e-reader’s settings, device details, and factory reset.) From there, I set up my Kobo again and input my library card information,notmy OverDrive account login. I was then able to borrow library ebooks and haven t had a problem since.
The price of accessories
The brand also sells a $39.99cover(available in black or sand beige) and a $69.99stylusfor note-taking, erasing and easier highlighting. The brand sent me both alongside the e-reader and while the cover is nice to have, the stylus is necessary to experience the full functionality of your e-reader. Without it, you can highlight with your finger, but you can t take notes in the margins or use Kobo s integrated notebooks section.
If you re willing to spend the extra $110, these Kobo accessories expand your Libra Colour s functionality tenfold and make the experience better. The stylus charges via USB-C, comes with replacement tips and has an eraser as well as a shortcut button for highlighting. The case automatically puts the device to sleep when closed and has a magnetic slot to hold the stylus. In my experience, the only thing missing is a finger strap on the case, which would make it easier to grip. (I m under 5 feet tall, so I have very small hands.)
The Amazon Kindle Scribe, a similar note-taking e-reader, includes a stylus but it s also more expensive (models start at $339) and doesn t have a colored display. Another competitor, theBoox Note Air3 C, takes notes and highlights in more colors than Kobo and includes the stylusandcase, though it costs more than twice as much at $500.
Who s the Kobo Libra Colour best for?
Overall, the device packs a punch in terms of colorful design and sleek functionality, especially given its $220 price tag. Even after purchasing the stylus and case separately, it has more features than competing basic e-readers (a colorful display, notetaking capabilities, waterproof durability, and page-turn buttons) for less money. I ll continue to use it both at home and on the go, and I d certainly recommend it to any avid reader.
Why trust NBC Select?
Maria Cassanois a writer, editor and consultant who specializes in e-commerce. She reviews and writes about products for dozens of publications, including Bustle, Elite Daily, Food & Wine and The Daily Beast. For this article, she tried the Kobo Libra Colour, which the brand sent her along with the Kobo Stylus 2 and Notebook SleepCover.
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