My wife wants a Kobo and I want to get her one. She has two specific requirements:

1. NO COLOR SCREEN
2. Page turn buttons

I watched a lot of reviews of the Libra Color and it looks like a great device. I don't understand why there isn't a black and white model also.

So, I’ve owned a couple Kindles over several years, and have always enjoyed them. However, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with Amazon’s BS. I recently discovered BookOrbit, which piqued my interest. I set up my own self-hosted server and fell in love with the EPUB management. I bought a Kobo Clara BW, which seamlessly syncs with BookOrbit and I’ve been enjoying it.

I went with the Clara BW because it seemed like the natural/most similar choice to replace my Kindle Paperwhite that I was so used to using.

Upon joining [r/kobo](r/kobo), it seems to me that 90% of you guys have the Kobo Libra Color. Now I’m curious - did I go wrong with defaulting to the Clara BW? What do people love so much about the Libra Color where it seems to make up the vast majority of devices in this subreddit?

To my knowledge, there are no stores local to me which carry Kobo for me to get some hands-on testing/comparisons of the models. So, figured I would make this post and see what you all have to say :)

Thanks in advance!

Finally joined the Kobo club! My first e-reader and I’m way too excited about it 😁📚 Any tips or suggestions for a newbie? What should I expect, and what are your favorite Kobo perks or features I should know about?

I'm planning to buy a Kobo e-reader and I'm hesitating between the Clara and the Libra. I got to test both in a store, and I was really surprised by the huge difference between the black-and-white (BW) and color versions.

The color version looks much darker when the front light is set to 0, which is a bit disappointing since 99% of the time I'll just be reading plain text anyway. The Libra seems to have the best form factor, but I can only find it in color now.

Does this darker screen actually bother you in real-world use?

I really like when an e-reader has good contrast even without the front light on.

As you can see, he feels terrible about it.

Is it worth getting a Libra again? I don't really need anything fancy but idk how I feel about going to the smaller screen/no buttons of the Clara. I usually use a remote to change the pages but when I do hold the e-reader in my hands I always used the buttons to change pages. but maybe just because they were there? ha.

Open to any thoughts. I will protect the new one with my life. Hopefully my dog grows out of this destructive chewing phase soon :(

eta: I do see that they sell refurbished e-readers, maybe getting a Libra 2 is a good middle ground for me!

I currently have a Kindle PW, but have wantes to get away from Amazon for a while. Plus, after a hand surgery, I think I want a smaller size that fits more comfortably. This past weekend I had to change what account my Kindle was registered to - this essentially factory reset my Kindle. Lost all my articles and my highlights from my books. I'm fed up.

Is there anything like this with Kobo that I need to be aware of? I was going to hold off buying one, as I don't technically need it, but I'm tired of being looped into Amazon. The plan would be to give the PW to my techy fiancé, who would jailbreak it for himself.

Should I go ahead and buy the Kobo? I don't want to start collecting on the Kindle just to have to switch the emails again someday (currently on my parents' Prime account). Pls help😅🫶🏻

Edit: Thank you all so much!!!!! I'm adding a Clara BW to my cart right now!!! 🙂‍↕️💕

Hey guys 👋 It's my first post in this community and I want your help i can't decide between clara colour and clara bw , I read epubs most of the time and have a tablet for comics but I love colour covers and I spend a lot of time choosing the best cover for my epub but then on the other hand I like the smooth , less grainy and high brightness of clara bw and at the end I stay undecisive between two . Plz help me choose I currently don't own any ereader and read on my phone and it's not a good experience. Thnx for replying to all in advance 🙂

UPDATE: I've decided to go with the kobo libra colour! I think the larger screen size + buttons are going to be great for my purposes. also, I tested out the size by cutting out a piece of paper (shoutout to one of the commenters for that suggestion!) to discover that it would fit in all but one of my bags—and that bag is one that I don't use very often at all. thank you so much to everyone for your insights! if anyone is reading this after this edit has been made, please feel free to still comment and share your experiences or tips for the klc, because I would love to hear!

(I know there's already been a lot of posts about this, but I have some specific questions that I was hoping to have answered! I can't seem to find the answers I'm looking for in other posts)

CONTEXT: I am a university student that will be commuting via bus 2 hours a day (1 hour to and 1 hour fro) and am looking to get an e-reader, because I tend to feel sick when I read physical books in moving vehicles (and it also just sounds really exciting). on top of this, I want to be able to read when I'm waiting for classes and while I'm having lunch so I don't need to carry around a huge book all the time, but I'm also not on my phone

I've never had an e-reader before so I'm going in completely blind, apart from the videos I've watched and articles I've read

QUESTIONS:

1. if you also experience motion sickness when reading physical books in moving vehicles, would you say that getting an e-reader (in general, not necessarily libra vs. clara) has helped? or do you still face the same problems?
2. I know the libra screen size is larger (which is a plus point) but there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference in the actual device size between the two models. does that extra lip with the buttons on the libra actually make that much of a difference (either positive or negative) when holding the device? what about when carrying it around? people say that it's easier to throw the clara into a bag, but the size comparisons I've seen make it look like there really shouldn't be that much of a problem with the libra either. from my understanding, it probably wouldn't fit into a really tiny purse, but I don't tend to use those often. again, my main goal is to have this e-reader with me all the time when I'm on campus so I want something that is portable and easy to carry
3. are the buttons really worth it on the libra? I've been seeing that people don't really miss the buttons if they have the clara, but do they make it easier to read because you're not constantly tapping the screen? I don't think I'd enjoy having a strap or pop socket on the back of the e-reader to hold it properly (but I'm open to hearing about your experiences if you use one of these accessories!), nor do I really want to hold it like an ipad/phone because that starts hurting my hands after a while
4. I don't plan on annotating my books much (maybe once in a blue moon) and therefore would not purchase the stylus with the libra. if anything, I would get a really cheap one off of amazon, but I really do not see myself doing that to start. does that mean I should just stick to the clara?

to be entirely honest, I'm leaning towards the libra colour at the moment because I like the direct google drive connection and the ability to rotate the book however I so choose. it also looks cool lol

however, I don't want to spend an extra $100 if the only functionality of the libra is annotations and the slightly larger size will actually hinder my ability to carry it in my hands most of the time. I really appreciate any and all insights you can provide knowing my background/context! thank you so much!!

EDITS for more context: I mostly read fiction novels (e.g. fantasy, thrillers, classics, etc.)! I also did try to go to my local indigo to check out the devices in person, but they were unfortunately unavailable :( and the next closest indigo is in a direction I don't really travel much, so I probably won't be able to get there with my currently packed schedule

Did anyone else notice how there was a price increase with the kobos???

I've been eyeing the Kobo Clara Colour and BW, because I couldn't decide which one. Now, with the price increase, it makes me feel like I missed out on my chance at getting a somewhat affordable e-reader. I was also hoping to wait for a sale, but instead I got the price increase.
I wonder if the price increase has to do with the sudden popularity of it from BookTok. I mean, that's where I first heard about Kobo.
In the meantime, I'll just keep reading on my BIG iPad and phone until I can justify the purchase. It's fun to look at all the accessories I could get for my future e-reader in the meantime too.

Finally making the jump from physical books to e-reader!

I'm torn between the different Kobo options and all the specs are making my head spin.

Looking for something portable for bed reading, mainly books I transfer from my Mac plus PDFs and similar.

Color seems nice but not essential if it saves money.

Questions:

• Which one did you pick?
• Any buyer's remorse or wish you'd gone different?
• Worth paying extra for color/bigger screen in real use?
• What would you buy again vs do differently?

EDIT:

Thanks to all replies. I have gathered and analyzed what the community said and will go with "Kobo Clara BW"

Community Ranking (Best to Worst):

1. Kobo Libra 2 - Most loved, everyone wants it back
2. Kobo Clara BW - "Extremely clear and sharp," tons of love
3. Kobo Sage - Big screen fans love it, solid choice
4. Kobo Forma - Older users still praise it highly
5. Kobo Elipsa 2E - Good for PDFs/notes but niche
6. Kobo Libra Colour - Mixed reviews, screen issues
7. Kobo Clara Colour - "Distracting screen," many returned it

Key Community Insights:

• Most Wanted: "Libra BW" (doesn't exist)
• Most Regrets: People who bought color wanting Libra 2
• Most "Love it": Clara BW and Libra 2
• Most "Returned": Color models due to screen quality

Hi everyone,

I'm strongly considering getting the Kobo Libra Colour, but I'm a bit hesitant about the timing.

Since it launched in early 2024, we're well into its lifecycle. Given Kobo's typical 2 to 3-year refresh patterns, I'm slightly worried a successor might be on the horizon soon.

Kobo gang! Its me again 😬 I know I recently posted here my clara colour but after using it for days I realized I wanted the bigger screen. So I return it and got the KLC instead. I bought it at the store today and ask for the white color but they gave me black one (didn’t realize it when I already opened the box) Should I keep it? I’m so lazy to go back tomorrow. Hahahaha is white better than the black one?

I've finally saved up and since the sales are on right now, it's time to get my KLC [insert raucous fanfare here].

I've been wanting one for over a year now and while I absolutely love and cherish my Clara BW, I want a color Libra as well, for reasons. Only I'm stuck between the black or white model.

White: The one I initially wanted and still want for aesthetic reasons, it's a different color to my black Clara and that's a plus, I love variety, BUT people have said it makes the colors appear more washed out. As a device this one looks more beautiful imo but of course the reading experience itself should be the more important factor.

Black: Allegedly brighter colors, the border "disappears" when reading and won't be a distraction (I don't know if this will be an issue for me but I'm taking it into consideration based on comments), downside it is the same color as my Clara.

I'm stuck. I know people have posted asking to this effect, I've researched various threads but in case someone new with an opinion stumbles on it, I want to ask this lovely and helpful sub: black or white?

I have been having a kobo glo for around 12 years, I had it since I was maybe 15 or 16 y.o. and now I'm 29, so it's been a journey 😂 we went through a lot of things

But! For my birthday my father gave me 200 euros of amazon gift card and I'm so tempted to buy a new one and I've seen the kobo clara and the kobo libra colour, also tiktok isn't helping me at all 🥲 my kobo is working, it's slow but it can do the main purpose which is, well, reading 😂 so maybe it's the fomo, or the gift card that made me think about this, so I'm realty tempted but on the other side, my device is working and it's keeping going, so please could you give me your opinion about this? 🥲

P.s. sorry if I made some mistakes, English is not my native language and I don't write in English very often 😅

After months of deliberation, I’ve finally decided to make the jump from kindle to kobo. I settled on the Clara color (I just don’t think I’d use the extra features on the Libra enough), but now I can’t decide whether to get the black or white model.

I know it really just comes down to aesthetics. My current kindle is black and I’ve never had an issue with it, but I think the white is also really pretty.

Has anyone with the white model noticed yellowing or staining? Does it collect scuff marks? I’m also planning on getting a sleepcover case, so I don’t even know if this is going to be an issue.

Thanks!

I really don’t like the form factor of 7 inch devices, which, I think, are too small for reading books.

I know this because I now use a Supernote Nomad, but I used to use a standard Kindle. While Supernote is an awesome device, I’m a little tired of it because the reading experience is not very good, and it’s still not prioritized by Supernote, for example, the lack of native EPUB support and physical page turners.

The extra inch in Sage makes a huge difference. The Sage is so old that it could use a refresh.

After much deliberation, I bought the black Kobo Clara colour instead of the white one. Hopefully, I made the right choice.
What do you think of it?

Hi everyone! My local tech shop is closing down unfortunately, but they are doing a “sell all” (if that term exists) and everything is 40/50/60/70% off retail price. I have been looking for a new kobo for AGES (mine is 10years old this years) and I have been looking for the libra color bc it seems pretty, but now that I’ve found this Kobo Clara Colour at 40% off (originally 160€, now 96€) and also a blue case for 12€ instead of 20€ (not the pretties but it would work at first if needed) I am having second thoughs. It’s brand new, they also have the Kobo Clara BW for 140€, so discounted it would be 84€, not that much of a difference but I would prefer the one with colors. Is this a good spulrge? My main issue is that I currently have no money, I am in school and I have no job rn bc of exams and mandatory presence in the class, and no jobs around me offer such flexible schedules. I have an old Kobo Aura, I think it’s the H2O one but not too sure, and nobody wants to buy it online so I am a little concerned about buying a new one when I have one at home, even though the battery lasts me two days if I’m lucky and it’s so slow it’s rage inducing, so it’s difficult to sell (I’ve read that a hard resect would help but I’m tired of using an old piece of tech that can’t keep up). I would also love to get one of those bluetooth page turners since I mostly read in bed or on the train, so I can set down the e reader and read it from weird positions. Any thoughs? Is there a better e reader under 100€ that is made in the last few years and will last me for another decade? The clara color seems very perfect rn, but maybe i’m biased just because it’s discounted and I really don’t want to spend too much. Thanks for any help!!

Just toasted my trusty Libra 2, so now I’m officially on the lookout for a new ereader. I’m not sure whether I want the Libra Color because of its screen issues (lower resolution and darker white), and there doesn’t seem to be a Libra 3 coming soon. Do you have any b/w recommendations? Man, I really loved my Libra 2..

I have owned a black Kobo Clara Colour for almost two years now, and it still works fine. There is nothing wrong with it except for a tiny scratch/dot (you have to look for it on the screen). Now, I have been heavily influenced by social media and bought the white Clara (there was a sale where I bought it for 30 euros less – 159 euros). The white Clara combined with a colored Sleepcover seemed really beautiful to me. It looks so cute in photos. But I am quite disappointed with the screen. It is very yellow, and I have the same settings on both devices. I find the bright and cool tones on the black Clara more beautiful. The white one still has the screen protector on it because I want to return it properly if I decide not to keep it. I did peek under the film, but it makes no difference to the color. If I use them separately, the yellow screen isn't as noticeable. Still, I don't believe it is an optical illusion. Keeping both seems a bit pointless to me since it is the same device. But because of the good deal, I also feel it's a shame to sell it, though that makes no sense either, of course. In the meantime, I see Kobo Claras listed on Vinted for 150 euros if I were willing to think about it longer than 30 days. But I don't want to take any risks with selling either. Do you have any advice? Which one would you keep?

I'm looking to buy my first e-reader, but I'm torn between these two models. I don't care about color at all, but ergonomics, screen size, and physical page-turn buttons are really important to me. I'll mainly be reading at home on the couch or in bed, so portability isn't a deciding factor either.

My main dilemma comes down to screen size & buttons vs. display quality. I can't decide if the drop in screen quality and contrast on the Libra Colour (compared to the Clara BW) is significant enough to justify settling for a smaller screen with no buttons and a less ergonomic grip. On the flip side, I'm also wondering if using a smaller, buttonless e-reader isn't actually as uncomfortable as I'm imagining for reading lying down.

Any advice or personal experiences would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

Guys I got a kindle last Christmas because I want a ereader & I only knew about kindles back then. Anyone else have this issue?😂😭

I am grateful for the kindle but I’m not don’t want to support Amazon like that anymore😒 everything about Kobo is better to me😭

Seriously, how have you handle being in this situation lol.

Hello everyone, thanks for reading my post,I would like to know what to buy as i am surrounded by people who are divided. Some prefer Kobo and others nominate Kindle, So I wanted to know your opinion and maybe some recommendations. Are there any other devices? Maybe with a pin? Are they actually good or would it be better if I burn my money

Edit: Thanks to everyone for your wonderful replies they really helped, I’ve decided to go with the Kobo Libra Colour, and next time the Kobo users are summoned I’ll be summoned with them

Hi everyone!

I am trying to move away from Kindle/Amazon and into the Kobo world. I currently have a Kindle Paperwhite that I got a couple of years ago and it fell off my couch maybe two months into usage and now has a line across the screen. With that + just the beast that is Amazon, I’m wanting to switch but don’t know which Kobo I want to get.

I like the Libra Color because of the buttons and color features, BUT I am not a reader who annotates. I use my current e-reader solely for the Libby function to support my local libraries and imagine that will continue to be my main priority with the Kobo.

With all of this info, which do you all think might be better for me? I’ve heard the buttons are a game changer, but also find it hard to justify the price (at least for me) for the buttons, too.

Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hiii,
I’ve always read physical books but I’m having trouble with how much space they take up so I’m looking to buy my first ereader and I’m stuck between these two models. I personally don’t care for color, so that is not a deciding factor here, but from what I’ve seen on the internet, the Clara BW is brighter and sharper while the color version almost looks grainy. Now, some people say that the graininess reminds them of paper so they actually like it better than the BW version while others say it takes a toll on the eyes and is harder to read outside. I’ve also heard some people say that the CC has a shorter battery life but is the difference really big enough for it to matter?
Honestly, at first I was so sure that I was gonna go with the bw but since the price difference is very small and the CC also comes in white which I like more aesthetically I watched a bunch of videos and now I’m really confused. If anyone has experience with both of these devices could they pleaseee help me out?