With the release of the color e-ink e-reader Kobo Libra Color, it's interesting to see how it compares with the older Kobo Libra 2 to determine if you should upgrade your e-reader.
As you know, e-readers are very durable devices if taken good care of, lasting a long time. Unlike smartphones, you don’t need to replace them regularly.
Therefore, it's wise to compare models to make the right choice and see if a newer e-reader would be beneficial.
In all the pictures, the Kobo Libra 2 is on the left, while the Libra Color is on the right.
Kobo Libra Color vs Kobo Libra 2: Screen
The first notable difference is the type of e-ink on the 7-inch screens. Both Kobo e-readers have identical screen sizes, but the Kobo Libra Color can display colors.
If you want to enjoy colors in your ebooks or manga, the Libra Color is the way to go. However, the Kobo Libra 2, with its black and white screen, offers better contrast for ebook texts (novels, essays, with no illustrations). It remains very relevant if you only read novels, for example.
Kobo Libra Color vs Kobo Libra 2: Handling
Although it may not be very noticeable in the photos, the Kobo Libra Color has a slightly different housing with more rounded corners, offering a better grip in my opinion.
The difference is not significant and rather minimal. For me, it doesn’t justify buying the Kobo Libra Color just for a better grip.
Kobo Libra Color vs Kobo Libra 2: Features
Both e-readers share the same reading functionalities:
- Ebook reading
- Supported file formats
- Kobo audiobooks playback
- Integration with Cloud services and Pocket
- Kobo software for library management or ebook customization (font type, size, dictionary, etc.)
- Touch screen with lighting and blue light filter
However, the Kobo Libra Color introduces a few new features:
- The ability to take notes with the Kobo stylus
- Highlight text passages in different colors
Here the comparison table:
| Kobo Libra Colour | Kobo Libra 2 | |
| Image |  |  |
| Screen size | 7" | 7" |
| Resolution | 150 PPI for Color / 300 PPI for B&W | 1680 x 1264 pixels |
| Color | Yes | No |
| Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | IPX8 | Yes |
| Storage | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Pen / Stylus | Yes (optional) | No |
| SD card | No | No |
| Ebook formats | EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR | EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR |
| Blue light filter | Yes | Yes |
| Other | Kaleido 3 color screen, Bluetooth, Kobo audio Books | |
| Review | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very good eReader, a must if you want a bigger screen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Link (where to buy?) | Check on Amazon.com - Official website Kobo.com | Check the price on amazon.com - Official website Kobo.com |
Conclusion: Should You Upgrade to the Kobo Libra Color?
It seems clear that the color screen on the Kobo Libra Color offers interesting advantages compared to the Kobo Libra 2.
With a price that's fairly close (just a few dozen euros more for the color version), buying a Kobo Libra 2 doesn’t seem justified today if you're choosing between the two.
However, if you already own a Kobo Libra 2 and primarily read novels or essays, replacing it with the color version doesn’t seem worthwhile. You can continue to enjoy your Libra 2 without needing to purchase a new e-reader.
