Kobo’s $179.99 Libra 2 is the latest device in its lineup of ebook readers with physical page-turn buttons. The Libra 2’s improvements over its predecessor, the Libra H2O, aren’t groundbreaking, but a better handgrip, an updated display, and USB-C charging are all welcome changes. As with other Kobo readers we’ve reviewed, we like how the Libra 2 supports more formats and works more seamlessly with public libraries than Amazon’s Kindles. We’d like to see Kobo open up the device’s Bluetooth features, however, with support for audiobooks outside of the company’s own selection. If you’re looking for a non-Kindle ebook reader, the Libra 2 is definitely the one to get. But for everyone else, the $139.99 Kindle Paperwhite is our Editors’ Choice winner.
A Refined Grip and Performance
Ebook reader owners tend to like the restfulness and physicality of books, but less expensive models have been paring away at the physical buttons that bind them to their physical counterparts and moving toward touch screens. Despite this trend, Kobo’s Libra 2 still builds in physical page-turn buttons and an area to grip the device, thus evoking a more book-like experience.
With the Libra, Kobo takes a very different design philosophy than Amazon does with its Kindles. For example, models up to and including the Kindle Paperwhite tend to be almost all display and rely on a touch screen for navigation. This design can make it a little difficult to know where to put your hand when you’re reading. The Libra, on the other hand, has a real grip area on the side, with physical page-turn buttons. The Libra 2’s grip is more softly curved than the Libra H2O’s more angled design.
Balance is very important for an ebook reader, especially for models like the Libra 2 that are meant to be held by the edge. The Libra 2 and the Kindle Oasis have the right balance; the Kobo Forma and Sage don’t. Those larger models feel a bit overbalanced toward the top of the device.
At 5.7 by 6.4 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and 7.6 ounces, the Libra 2 is a bit heavier than its predecessor (5.7 by 6.3 by 0.3 inches, 6.8 ounces), but is still comfortable to hold in one hand by its dedicated grip area. It uses a 7-inch, 300ppi E Ink Carta 1200 screen, the same new panel as on Kobo’s 10-inch Elipsa and the latest Kindle Paperwhite. Pages turn noticeably quicker than on the Libra H2O when you compare them side by side; the Libra 2 should hold the same performance advantage against Kobo’s Clara HD and Nia.
The Libra’s color-changing light goes from blue to yellow and can change automatically based on a clock, which makes for the ideal reading experience based on the time of day. It doesn’t automatically dim based on ambient light like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, however.
The reader’s 7-inch screen is still recessed, whereas Amazon’s Paperwhite now has a flat-front screen. With Kobo, you have to pay for the much pricier Forma or Sage models for that feature. I prefer flat fronts because they’re less likely to attract dirt and sand than recessed screens. The Libra 2 is waterproof, though, so you don’t have to worry about reading in the tub.
Like the Kobo Sage, the Libra 2 charges via USB-C, so you can finally get rid of those old micro USB cables you were using just for ebook readers. For an extra $39.99, you can get one of four snug, leathery SleepCovers from Kobo to protect it.
All of these E Ink readers can handle about two books’ worth of reading before recharging, or about a week’s worth of use. There isn’t much of a difference between the units themselves; the big difference is how much you use the lights and Wi-Fi.
A Format Whiz
Amazon’s Kindles work best with Kindle books. There are ways to send PDFs and convert ePubs for Kindles, but they often lose formatting along the way. Kobo ebook readers, on the other hand, let you buy books from Kobo; support CBR/CBZ comics, ePubs, and PDFs natively; sync articles from Pocket; and can integrate your public library’s Overdrive system as a native store in parallel with Kobo’s own store.
That native Overdrive support, which means you don’t need to go to your phone or PC to browse for library books, makes Kobo’s lineup the best ebook readers for library goers. I just wish you could log into two library systems at once, something helpful for people who belong to multiple libraries.
The reading experience is basic and satisfying. You choose between 11 fonts and a range of text sizes. The interface lets you scrub through pages and jump to chapters. There are dictionary and highlighting options too, but not the X-Ray or Goodreads integration you find on Kindles.
The 7-inch screen is excellent for books that are mostly text or have some graphics. Small-form-factor manga volumes also read well on the device. The Libra 2 may work for American comics and PDFs, depending on the complexity of their graphics. For example, while a PDF of a news article read fine in testing, a PDF of an FCC government decision required very sharp eyes. A larger ebook reader, such as Kobo’s Elipsa or the Onyx Boox Note Air, is better for larger-format textbooks, academic PDFs, and legal documents.
The Libra 2’s biggest upgrade is a little frustrating. The ebook reader now supports Bluetooth headphones, but only to play Kobo audiobooks. That limitation goes against Kobo’s claims about the openness of the ebook reader; Overdrive lends audiobooks in MP3 format or through its own streaming player, neither of which work on the Libra 2.
I’m not sold on audiobooks on ebook readers, anyway. The phones or wearables that most people now have are more portable and flexible devices for listening to audio content. The only thing that would win me over is something like Amazon’s Immersion Reading mode for its Fire tablets, which tracks a voice along with highlighting words of text. Unfortunately, that feature isn’t available on any ebook reader, not even Kindles.
Which Kobo Is the Best?
The Kobo Libra 2 scores slightly lower than its predecessor because of the intense competition from the Kindle Paperwhite, but it’s still a worthwhile upgrade from older models. It’s a very significant step up from the $119.99 Clara HD, for instance, as the Clara isn’t waterproof, it uses a previous generation E Ink panel, and it doesn’t have the grip area or physical buttons. The $259.99 Kobo Sage, an 8-inch model with pen annotation capabilities, probably isn’t worth it for most people; unless you’re reading PDFs or need to underline with Kobo’s stylus, the Sage is just a slightly awkward size. If you want to read and annotate large documents, you should all the way up to an Elipsa. For casual readers, meanwhile, Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite offers the best blend of features and performance for the price, earning it our Editors’ Choice award.
