Kobo Libra Colour

It ranks #3 of 18 on our e-readers tier list, in A tier. That placement draws on 24 cited sources across 15 outlets.

3 of the 21 sources with a clear view are critical of it: Facebook, GitHub and Tiktok. Kobo's service and support network is smaller than Amazon's.

On our e-readers board, Kobo Libra Colour ranks #3 (A tier) ahead of Amazon Kindle Colorsoft at #16 (F tier). Amazon Kindle Colorsoft: Full-color e-ink device but outclassed by the Paperwhite in brightness and power usage.

On our e-readers board, Kobo Libra Colour ranks #3 (A tier) ahead of Kobo Clara Colour at #6 (B tier). Kobo Clara Colour: A compact, affordable color reader that outperforms the Kindle in color fidelity and still keeps a low price.

Readers who want to stay outside the Amazon ecosystem, and anyone who values page-turn buttons and a device that can be repaired. It is the only current flagship-class reader designed to be repaired, with a replaceable battery and screen through Kobo's iFixit partnership, wide format support and no store lock-in, and the board calls it the best long-term buy for readers outside Amazon. It loses first place only because Kobo's service network is smaller than Amazon's. If you already own a Kindle library or want the widest support network, buy the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024). If you want the Kobo openness in a smaller, cheaper monochrome body, buy the Kobo Clara BW.

Longer than most, because it is built to be fixed. The 2024 design has a replaceable battery and screen with parts and guides through iFixit, so the two components that normally end an e-reader's life can be swapped rather than written off. The one caveat on the board is that the colour layer on current e-ink panels ages less well than monochrome, which is why the Kobo Clara BW gets the board's community-reported four to ten year figures and the Libra Colour does not. Kobo's support network is also smaller than Amazon's, so a warranty claim may take longer.

The Kobo Stylus 2, sold separately, which is the same pen Kobo uses on its note-taking models. It attaches magnetically to the side of the device and lets you write in Kobo's notebooks and mark up books and PDFs. Other makers' styluses may not register, so stick to Kobo's. If handwriting is the main reason you are shopping, a dedicated large-screen note device is the better tool, and the Libra Colour is best thought of as a reader with a pen option.

Hold the power button on the back for a few seconds and choose power off from the menu. A short press only puts it to sleep, which is the normal way to leave it between reading sessions. If it freezes, hold the power button for around thirty seconds until it restarts. A factory reset is under the settings menu, device information, and wipes your books and account, so sign in again afterwards and re-download your library.

Not directly. Books bought from Amazon's Kindle store are locked to Kindle devices and apps, so they will not open on a Kobo. The Kobo Libra Colour reads EPUB, PDF and a wide range of other formats with no store lock-in, borrows library books through OverDrive on the device, and buys from Kobo's own store. If most of your books are already in the Kindle store, that is the strongest reason to buy the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) instead.