For years, Amazon’s Kindle has been synonymous in the ebook reader market, often regarded as the default choice for readers across budgets. Yet, competition is stirring, with brands like Kobo stepping up to challenge the status quo. Rakuten-owned Kobo has launched two ebook readers in India including the Libra Colour. Priced at Rs 19,999, it offers a vibrant alternative to Kindle’s monochromatic dominance.

Featuring a 7-inch display, the ebook reader offers a ‘subtle’ palette while retaining the benefits of E Ink technology.
We spent time immersing ourselves in the

Kobo Libra Colour

’s features, turning virtual pages to evaluate its strengths and shortcomings. Is it the fresh competitor the ebook reader market needs, or just another attempt to dethrone the Kindle? Here’s our detailed take.

Kobo Libra Colour offers a functional and user-friendly design. It features a 7-inch display with a wider bezel on the right side, making it comfortable to hold with one hand. The device includes two physical page-turning buttons, which are spaced far enough apart to prevent accidental presses and provide a satisfying click. Although you can also navigate using the touchscreen, which supports taps and swipes for page turns. However, unlike some competitors, the buttons can only be used for turning pages and cannot be customized for other functions.

Measuring 144.6 x 161 x 8.3 mm and weighing 199.5 g, the Libra Colour is compact yet sturdy. Unlike modern Kindle models, the screen is slightly recessed, which some readers might find nostalgic. The device is made of plastic and has a textured, petal-like pattern on the back that resists fingerprints and dust. Available in black and white, the Libra Colour opts for simplicity.
The box doesn’t include extras like a stylus or protective case, which are sold separately. The absence of a speaker or headphone jack means you’ll need Bluetooth headphones for audiobooks. Also, Kobo has not specified the Bluetooth version on the device.
On the plus side, the Libra Colour boasts an IPX8 rating, making it waterproof for up to an hour in 2 meters of water. This sets it apart from many competitors, ensuring peace of mind for poolside or beachside reading.
The USB-C port on the right side handles charging and data transfer, while the power button is conveniently located on the back. Despite its limitations, the overall design is practical and reader-focused, catering to both casual readers and comic book enthusiasts alike.

Kobo Libra Colour's display leverages the E Ink Kaleido 3 color technology, offering a unique reading experience that sets it apart from traditional monochrome e-readers. The colors on the screen are vibrant with a slightly muted tone, resembling a printed newspaper. This subtle coloration adds a paper-like quality to the display, making it particularly enjoyable for reading graphic novels and comics.

While the screen doesn’t match the brightness of a traditional LCD, it performs admirably in various lighting conditions. Whether reading in direct sunlight or a dark room, the Libra Colour adapts well, with its E Ink technology ensuring readability and minimal strain on the eyes. Some glare may occur in bright environments, but adjusting the lighting easily mitigates this issue. The display gets sufficiently bright for most situations, although it falls short of the uniform lighting offered by the Kindle Paperwhite.

Kobo Libra Colour is powered by a dual-core 2.0GHz processor, with 32GB of non-expandable storage. The ebook reader performs smoothly, handling page flips and book navigation effortlessly. However, the lack of an app store or versatile multimedia capabilities limits its functionality.
The Libra Colour runs on Kobo’s proprietary operating system. Key features include a Home section for recent reads and recommendations, My Books for all titles, and My Notebooks for note-taking. The More section provides access to Dropbox, Google Drive, Pocket, and other utilities.

The reading experience is customizable, offering advanced font, margin, and spacing controls that surpass Kindle’s options. Accessing library books is effortless—simply enter your library card details to borrow titles instantly. Additionally, Kobo’s ebook store features a subscription service, Kobo Plus, comparable to Kindle Unlimited.
The eBook reader works with the Kobo Stylus 2, which you can buy separately. It lets you take notes directly in Kobo books and makes note-taking and highlighting easier. However, we didn’t get the Stylus with our review unit.
Blacked by a 2,050mAh battery, the Kobo Libra Colour offers a good battery life. During our testing, the battery dropped around 20% after four days of reading.

Kobo Libra Colour emerges as a compelling alternative to Amazon’s Kindle, especially for readers who crave color in their e-reading experience. Its 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display brings a fresh dimension to graphic novels, comics, and illustrated books, offering vibrant, paper-like visuals that traditional e-readers lack. Priced at Rs 19,999, the Libra Colour is not without its compromises—lack of a stylus, no speaker or headphone jack. However, its waterproof build, ergonomic design, and focus on reading make it a strong contender for those looking to step away from the Kindle norm.
Our rating- 3.5/5