You want Libra 3 .. I agree.. I also want a libra 3. But I also want a Libra 3 + .. give me the libra, black and white only 8" ffs. And I cannot imagine it's that much more expensive to have slightly better ram and a faster cpu in these things. They are expensive af for decade old mobile chips paired with a screen and a lam
Great review. Considering 99% of the time I won’t be using color, I’d say the Clarity, sharpness and brightness of the Libra 2 wins hands down. Color is nice, but that screen is way too dark.
From seeing the reviews I always agreed with this but you have to consider the fact that it can be straining on your eyes when you're actually reading a book for a long period of time. Lots of people have complained about this.
I really enjoy colour of history books and the interface. While the screen is clearly greyer, I think pays off even compared to previous Sage. At least in my mileage. I don't want to go back!
Very good review. Solid. I went for the Libra Colour. I wanted a snappier device and the latest tech in my hand. I also read with the dark mode so the darker screen does not impact me at all. I think for those who already have the Libra 2 the Colour is not worth the upgrade.
Do you still like the Libra Colour? I'm torn because I also like the idea of the latest tech but I am only going to use it to read novels. I kind of like the graininess of the Libra Colour from what I can see in the video - reminds me more of a real book. Is it distracting?
@@xar007 Very good question. To be honest with you I realised there is a new colour e-ink gadget almost every 2 months so I have not followed up on the latest releases. At the end of the day what I was looking for was a gadget that was able to: 1) Sideload books 2) Reading. Does Libra Colour does its job? Totally. Do you have already the previous Kobo LIbra 2? Then its not worth the update. The colors are not that good. You would need to set up some brightness which means this will eat up some battery. So my conclusion is: If you have Libra 2 then it is not worth the upgrade. If you are like me, without any e reading tool so far then yes. At the end of the day its very solid device, battery is okay and it looks very good. I noticed the screen its fragile and I had to replace it once actually. Regarding grainess I think its just a nerd detail that does not impact your reading experience. I think what will impact the reading experience is: Darker colours or colours that...are not that "appealing". If you care about reading books then I would say its solid device unless you have already the Libra 2. I hope this answer your question!
This is a great comparison. Seems to me that the Colour would be better for reading at night in bed due to the warmer orange-y light; whereas the Libra 2 would be better if you’re reading outdoors because of the whiter screen. Would you say that is accurate?? I would mostly use the device while reading in bed total darkness so I’m thinking the Colour would be a better option?
My exact sentiments. When he dimmed the lights in the room, both screens were practically identical. Although I'd want the option to read a book outdoors, most of my reading will be inside.
Yes, the warmer amber light is easier on the eyes when reading in bed in total darkness. I stopped reading on my old Kindle PW because the blue light is just horrible in the dead of night. You'd probably be fine with either since both are amber, but the Libra Colour is definitely more dark friendly.
Having some concerns with the 150dpi and colour filter that seems to darken the screen I ended up buying a Clara BW reader. It is wonderful, so clear and responsive. Then again I have been most pleasantly surprised how much I enjoy using the smaller sized reader. As yet the technology used seems to offer muted pastel colours, with compromise.
Color is super nice, but for an ereader, unless you read a lot of color comics etc, 1000% go with black and white for now. The color filter adds a bit of fuzziness and makes everything darker, which makes it harder to use without the light. And if you do read a lot of Comics, you're probably better off with a tablet or a larger color ereader. With 7" you will often have text that is tiny I imagine. I tried reading Berserk on my first gen Libre. And a lot of the images and texts was too small, having to zoom in which is kinda clunky, then move around is super annoying. You're better off getting something larger. 7" is fantastic for reading. I do wish there was a libre that was 8" .. I really enjoy the design etc. I just kinda want it to be the size of a larger hardcover book
One of my biggest complaints with my Kindle Paperwhite is that the lettering just isn't dark enough. With any sort of built in light on, it looks more gray than black. From what I can see in this video, the Libra Colour has slightly darker lettering. Can anyone here confirm that the lettering is slightly darker?
Excellent video and exactly what I was looking for. I'm finally replacing a 2016 Kindle Paperwhite and can't decide between the Libra 2 and Libra Colour. I was originally looking at the Oasis because I want the physical buttons, but I'm considering giving Kobo another try (I had the original and did not like it) I will read almost exclusively novels. I'm leaning towards theLibra Colour - I like the thought of the latest tech and slightly nicer form factor. From your video I kind of like/don't mind the graininess when reading in black & white - reminds me more of physical books. I might even end up using dark mode as that's what I primarily use on my computer. Price is substantially higher so trying to make sure it's what I want.
It’s 2024 and there isn’t even a color Kindle eBook Reader available. Going from iPad to Kindle felt like going back in time of ancient housing without plumbing. Kobo is taking the right steps, without abandoning black-and-white e-ink fans
@@Synthwave89 I'm aware they are different devices with different purposes. I have both an iPad and a Kindle. What I'm saying about my experience is that it felt like going back in time when I switched to a Kindle. I use my Kindle everyday, but I really want a more modern and updated Kindle. Amazon hasn't added color yet. Kobo is taking the right steps
At @1:20 and other places you really can see a screendoor effect on color version (diagonal lines) but granted looking at this zoomed in on larger screen at 4K. I assume barely visibly if at all with a real device.
Yeah, it's not as noticeable in person but you can see it if you look for it, provided there's enough ambient light. When reading in the evening I can't see it at all.
Most readers don't need color, so do I. I would appreciate the continuation of BW-Readers but I fear the manufacturers will focus on Color-Readers. I stick with my Libra 2 and will not "upgrade" - for me it would be more a downgrade.
Now the Libra 2 is discontinued what would be a comparable reader? I don't need the colour version and from what I can see it's getting a lot of bad reviews due to loss in clarity and the screen being much darker. I can still buy a a non colour Libra 2 online from some places but not sure how I feel about buying a product that's just been discontinued.
Kobo is still updating the software on their devices from over a decade ago so I wouldn't worry about that, and ereaders evolve at such a slow pace you aren't missing out on anything by getting an older model. I still often use a Kindle Voyage from 2014 because it's still the nicest Kindle screen-wise that Amazon has released.
@@TheeBookReader Thanks for the help. I settled on the Kobo Clara BW in the end. It does the job for me so far and I think I prefer the smaller size for portability.
Which one would be worth for the first time ereader, the sage or one of these 2? I’m thorn between the sage and libra 2 since I dont need the color. Heard some bad things about the battery of the sage (i read about 2h a day) Let me know!
Just got a Libra 2, but found that the official sleepcovers are not sold anymore. Would the case for the libra colour fit? They seem the same size and have the on/off button in the same place?
Strange that the official ones aren't being sold anymore. Last I checked I even saw them for the Libra 1. Why not buy a non official one. I have a non official one because it was 1/4th the price. And it works great. Although I don't always keep it in the cover since it seems to drain more battery when in standby. Man I want a libra 2 .. but I also want to wait for the Libra 3 (but it took them ages to release libra 2). And I also kinda want an ereader that is as large as a hardcover book
For a first time e reader owner, should I go for the Libra 2 or Libra colour? I read mainly text books, but I'm worried if the system on the Libra 2 is already super outdated
Libra 2 is not outdated, it was barely released in 2021. E-Ink doesn’t evolve that quickly and for normal reading, you don’t need the fastest processor. The most important aspect of your e-reader is the lighting, clarity, and sharpness of the screen. And in that aspect, the Libra 2 has probably the best screen out of any eReader right now. The contrast is rich, the blacks are deep, and the screen lighting is uniform and evenly lit. To put things into context, I’m still using the Kindle PW3 from 2015 because it has the indented bezel, which makes the text much better and works perfectly fine for normal reading. Unfortunately Amazon has abandoned indented screens aside from the cheap basic Kindle. In my opinion, Color eReader are a gimmick in the sense that 99% of the time they won’t be utilized or needed. If you’re heavy into comics or manga then yes. But understand that you will sacrifice sharpness and clarity in exchange for Color.
Kobo is still updating devices from over a decade ago so their ereaders stay useful for a really long time, and the hardware barely changes over the years. I think the Libra 2 is best for reading ebooks, but I like the Libra Colour more than I thought I would.
I'm going to post a video of the Carta 1300 screen on the Clara BW today. Needless to say it's doesn't have better clarity or sharpness, and it doesn't look better than the Clara 2E and Libra 2 with Carta 1200, but the Clara BW is a bit faster.
@@ov3rkillI have the Clara BW and the Carta 1300 is inferior to my Libra 2 by a mile. The text isn’t as sharp and the contrast is weaker. Page turns are faster though.
kobo likes their buttons, but i wish they would move them to the bottom instead of the sides. a vertically rectangle device is more comfortable to hold than a square.
Something you can try is flipping the Libra 180 degrees so the buttons are on your left hand, then set the lower button to change page forwards (if it doesn't do it automatically, I assume it should). This way you are still holding the device from the bottom as normal and your thumb should reach the button no problem. If you switch hands you just flip it. It's probably why it has automatic screen flip.
This comparison is moot insofar as the Libra 2 is no longer available on their website (Canada). Any idea if it's coming back the same or with stylus functionality? Though the idea of colour is slightly appealing, I would prefer the crisper text of b & w for reading. I also like the Google drive integration and ability to fix device.
Wow I can't believe the Libra 2 is out of stock while the colour is available everywhere!! What the hell are they doing, give me the real deal, I want to read a book not some comics for christ sake.
Colour e-ink baffles me - why pay so much more for lower quality pictures with lower quality colour than a tablet? You arent watching videos or playing games. If you're an adult, you probably aren't reading illustrated novellas. If its just for coloured covera, you're a sucker.
it's 2024 ans i still don't understand the purpose for color reader books are texte in white/black even the illustration..only the cover is in color... and reader are too small for comics...and too slow to load a page
You could say this about a lot of devices tbh. I personally enjoy seeing my covers in color, but I mainly enjoy it for the colorful annotations I can create.
Okay let me say it loudly:
Kobo, I want Libra 2 with new CPU and RAM 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
You want Libra 3 .. I agree.. I also want a libra 3. But I also want a Libra 3 + .. give me the libra, black and white only 8" ffs. And I cannot imagine it's that much more expensive to have slightly better ram and a faster cpu in these things. They are expensive af for decade old mobile chips paired with a screen and a lam
Great review. Considering 99% of the time I won’t be using color, I’d say the Clarity, sharpness and brightness of the Libra 2 wins hands down. Color is nice, but that screen is way too dark.
Agreed, just decided to return mine
Agreed！
Hagrid!
From seeing the reviews I always agreed with this but you have to consider the fact that it can be straining on your eyes when you're actually reading a book for a long period of time. Lots of people have complained about this.
I really enjoy colour of history books and the interface. While the screen is clearly greyer, I think pays off even compared to previous Sage. At least in my mileage. I don't want to go back!
I hope Kobo will give the Libra 2 google drive access.
Very good review. Solid. I went for the Libra Colour. I wanted a snappier device and the latest tech in my hand. I also read with the dark mode so the darker screen does not impact me at all. I think for those who already have the Libra 2 the Colour is not worth the upgrade.
Do you still like the Libra Colour? I'm torn because I also like the idea of the latest tech but I am only going to use it to read novels. I kind of like the graininess of the Libra Colour from what I can see in the video - reminds me more of a real book. Is it distracting?
@@xar007 Very good question. To be honest with you I realised there is a new colour e-ink gadget almost every 2 months so I have not followed up on the latest releases. At the end of the day what I was looking for was a gadget that was able to: 1) Sideload books 2) Reading. Does Libra Colour does its job? Totally. Do you have already the previous Kobo LIbra 2? Then its not worth the update. The colors are not that good. You would need to set up some brightness which means this will eat up some battery. So my conclusion is: If you have Libra 2 then it is not worth the upgrade. If you are like me, without any e reading tool so far then yes. At the end of the day its very solid device, battery is okay and it looks very good. I noticed the screen its fragile and I had to replace it once actually. Regarding grainess I think its just a nerd detail that does not impact your reading experience. I think what will impact the reading experience is: Darker colours or colours that...are not that "appealing". If you care about reading books then I would say its solid device unless you have already the Libra 2. I hope this answer your question!
This is a great comparison. Seems to me that the Colour would be better for reading at night in bed due to the warmer orange-y light; whereas the Libra 2 would be better if you’re reading outdoors because of the whiter screen.
Would you say that is accurate??
I would mostly use the device while reading in bed total darkness so I’m thinking the Colour would be a better option?
My exact sentiments. When he dimmed the lights in the room, both screens were practically identical. Although I'd want the option to read a book outdoors, most of my reading will be inside.
Yes, the warmer amber light is easier on the eyes when reading in bed in total darkness. I stopped reading on my old Kindle PW because the blue light is just horrible in the dead of night. You'd probably be fine with either since both are amber, but the Libra Colour is definitely more dark friendly.
Having some concerns with the 150dpi and colour filter that seems to darken the screen I ended up buying a Clara BW reader. It is wonderful, so clear and responsive.
Then again I have been most pleasantly surprised how much I enjoy using the smaller sized reader.
As yet the technology used seems to offer muted pastel colours, with compromise.
Color is super nice, but for an ereader, unless you read a lot of color comics etc, 1000% go with black and white for now. The color filter adds a bit of fuzziness and makes everything darker, which makes it harder to use without the light. And if you do read a lot of Comics, you're probably better off with a tablet or a larger color ereader. With 7" you will often have text that is tiny I imagine. I tried reading Berserk on my first gen Libre. And a lot of the images and texts was too small, having to zoom in which is kinda clunky, then move around is super annoying. You're better off getting something larger. 7" is fantastic for reading. I do wish there was a libre that was 8" .. I really enjoy the design etc. I just kinda want it to be the size of a larger hardcover book
One of my biggest complaints with my Kindle Paperwhite is that the lettering just isn't dark enough. With any sort of built in light on, it looks more gray than black. From what I can see in this video, the Libra Colour has slightly darker lettering. Can anyone here confirm that the lettering is slightly darker?
Yeah I’ve noticed that on my pw which is weird because my kindle 3 has darker lettering even though the resolution isn’t quite as good
Can I read all my Kindle books in Kobo Device? 🤔
no
stick with the older one
Why?
Excellent video and exactly what I was looking for. I'm finally replacing a 2016 Kindle Paperwhite and can't decide between the Libra 2 and Libra Colour. I was originally looking at the Oasis because I want the physical buttons, but I'm considering giving Kobo another try (I had the original and did not like it) I will read almost exclusively novels.
I'm leaning towards theLibra Colour - I like the thought of the latest tech and slightly nicer form factor. From your video I kind of like/don't mind the graininess when reading in black & white - reminds me more of physical books. I might even end up using dark mode as that's what I primarily use on my computer.
Price is substantially higher so trying to make sure it's what I want.
Does the Kobo Libra Colour case fit the Kobo Libra 2?
It’s 2024 and there isn’t even a color Kindle eBook Reader available. Going from iPad to Kindle felt like going back in time of ancient housing without plumbing. Kobo is taking the right steps, without abandoning black-and-white e-ink fans
iPads are awful devices for reading. Can’t compare that to an e reader
Yeah the fact you compare an ipad to an e reader says a lot. They are not remotely comparable and have very different purposes.
@@Synthwave89 I'm aware they are different devices with different purposes. I have both an iPad and a Kindle. What I'm saying about my experience is that it felt like going back in time when I switched to a Kindle. I use my Kindle everyday, but I really want a more modern and updated Kindle. Amazon hasn't added color yet. Kobo is taking the right steps
@@Synthwave89 Big BS here. iPads and tablets are GREAT for reading. E-readers are just better overall for reading a book. But I read on both, so....
At @1:20 and other places you really can see a screendoor effect on color version (diagonal lines) but granted looking at this zoomed in on larger screen at 4K. I assume barely visibly if at all with a real device.
Yeah, it's not as noticeable in person but you can see it if you look for it, provided there's enough ambient light. When reading in the evening I can't see it at all.
Love that the Colour looks warmer!
Thank you for the review, appreciate the effort.
Most readers don't need color, so do I. I would appreciate the continuation of BW-Readers but I fear the manufacturers will focus on Color-Readers. I stick with my Libra 2 and will not "upgrade" - for me it would be more a downgrade.
I almost never use the front light on my Libra 2. I take it if I got a Libra Color, I'd need to start using the front light?
Without a doubt, unless you like bad contrast
Now the Libra 2 is discontinued what would be a comparable reader? I don't need the colour version and from what I can see it's getting a lot of bad reviews due to loss in clarity and the screen being much darker. I can still buy a a non colour Libra 2 online from some places but not sure how I feel about buying a product that's just been discontinued.
Kobo is still updating the software on their devices from over a decade ago so I wouldn't worry about that, and ereaders evolve at such a slow pace you aren't missing out on anything by getting an older model. I still often use a Kindle Voyage from 2014 because it's still the nicest Kindle screen-wise that Amazon has released.
@@TheeBookReader Thanks for the help. I settled on the Kobo Clara BW in the end. It does the job for me so far and I think I prefer the smaller size for portability.
Honestly, I don't like the colour model. Screen is too dark for me. Gives the appearance it's covered in soot or something.
Which one would be worth for the first time ereader, the sage or one of these 2?
I’m thorn between the sage and libra 2 since I dont need the color. Heard some bad things about the battery of the sage (i read about 2h a day)
Let me know!
Does the resolution still decrease when the Libra Colour has only black and white on the page?
Black is always 300 ppi.
From personal experience, yes
Of course. There is a physical layer on top of the b&w layer. It's always there.
keep light at 40% and looks great and battery life not much worse
Excellent review
Just got a Libra 2, but found that the official sleepcovers are not sold anymore. Would the case for the libra colour fit? They seem the same size and have the on/off button in the same place?
Strange that the official ones aren't being sold anymore. Last I checked I even saw them for the Libra 1. Why not buy a non official one. I have a non official one because it was 1/4th the price. And it works great. Although I don't always keep it in the cover since it seems to drain more battery when in standby. Man I want a libra 2 .. but I also want to wait for the Libra 3 (but it took them ages to release libra 2). And I also kinda want an ereader that is as large as a hardcover book
What are the screen dimensions in cm?
Thank you for helping me make the decision on whether to keep holt of my Clara HD or buy the colour. It was just about the screen comparison for me.
the banding on the colour is so evident on the cover
For a first time e reader owner, should I go for the Libra 2 or Libra colour? I read mainly text books, but I'm worried if the system on the Libra 2 is already super outdated
Libra 2 is not outdated, it was barely released in 2021. E-Ink doesn’t evolve that quickly and for normal reading, you don’t need the fastest processor. The most important aspect of your e-reader is the lighting, clarity, and sharpness of the screen. And in that aspect, the Libra 2 has probably the best screen out of any eReader right now. The contrast is rich, the blacks are deep, and the screen lighting is uniform and evenly lit. To put things into context, I’m still using the Kindle PW3 from 2015 because it has the indented bezel, which makes the text much better and works perfectly fine for normal reading. Unfortunately Amazon has abandoned indented screens aside from the cheap basic Kindle.
In my opinion, Color eReader are a gimmick in the sense that 99% of the time they won’t be utilized or needed. If you’re heavy into comics or manga then yes. But understand that you will sacrifice sharpness and clarity in exchange for Color.
Kobo Clara BW would be a better choice for just reading since it uses the latest e ink carta 1300. sharper and better clarity.
Kobo is still updating devices from over a decade ago so their ereaders stay useful for a really long time, and the hardware barely changes over the years. I think the Libra 2 is best for reading ebooks, but I like the Libra Colour more than I thought I would.
I'm going to post a video of the Carta 1300 screen on the Clara BW today. Needless to say it's doesn't have better clarity or sharpness, and it doesn't look better than the Clara 2E and Libra 2 with Carta 1200, but the Clara BW is a bit faster.
@@ov3rkillI have the Clara BW and the Carta 1300 is inferior to my Libra 2 by a mile. The text isn’t as sharp and the contrast is weaker. Page turns are faster though.
kobo likes their buttons, but i wish they would move them to the bottom instead of the sides. a vertically rectangle device is more comfortable to hold than a square.
Something you can try is flipping the Libra 180 degrees so the buttons are on your left hand, then set the lower button to change page forwards (if it doesn't do it automatically, I assume it should). This way you are still holding the device from the bottom as normal and your thumb should reach the button no problem. If you switch hands you just flip it. It's probably why it has automatic screen flip.
This comparison is moot insofar as the Libra 2 is no longer available on their website (Canada). Any idea if it's coming back the same or with stylus functionality?
Though the idea of colour is slightly appealing, I would prefer the crisper text of b & w for reading. I also like the Google drive integration and ability to fix device.
US Kobo store also doesn't have it in stock. Very likely they will be discontinued, hopefully they release a Libra BW with Carta 1300.
Wow I can't believe the Libra 2 is out of stock while the colour is available everywhere!! What the hell are they doing, give me the real deal, I want to read a book not some comics for christ sake.
Can we upgrade the black and white libra 2 for a colour one software wise?
What do you think? Do you think a software update will make a Black and white device colorful?
Colour e-ink baffles me - why pay so much more for lower quality pictures with lower quality colour than a tablet? You arent watching videos or playing games. If you're an adult, you probably aren't reading illustrated novellas. If its just for coloured covera, you're a sucker.
it's 2024 ans i still don't understand the purpose for color reader
books are texte in white/black even the illustration..only the cover is in color...
and reader are too small for comics...and too slow to load a page
You could say this about a lot of devices tbh. I personally enjoy seeing my covers in color, but I mainly enjoy it for the colorful annotations I can create.