Kobo has reinstated the original $229.99 price for its Libra Colour e-reader across multiple retailers, effectively reversing a recent price increase that had raised the device to $259.99. The deal is available directly from Kobo, as well as from Best Buy and Target, making it one of the most attractive opportunities to purchase this Kindle alternative.
Key Features and Comparison with Kindle Colorsoft
The Kobo Libra Colour is positioned as a strong competitor to Amazon's $249.99 Kindle Colorsoft. It features a seven-inch color E Ink Kaleido 3 display that delivers vibrant book covers, comics, and highlights, though with slightly less saturation than the color Kindle. The device is waterproof, includes adjustable warm lighting for comfortable nighttime reading, and supports EPUB along with a wider range of file formats than Amazon's e-reader.
Storage capacity is double that of the Colorsoft at 32GB. Physical page-turning buttons are included, which many users find more intuitive than touch-only navigation. The Libra Colour also supports Kobo's optional Stylus 2, enabling annotation of ebooks, handwritten notes, use of built-in notebook templates, and handwriting-to-text conversion. While not ideal as a dedicated digital notebook due to its size—compared to larger devices like the Kobo Elipsa 2E or Kindle Scribe—it is practical for quick notes. Integration with Instapaper allows saving web articles for offline reading.
Pricing and Availability
The $229.99 price is available from Kobo's official store, Best Buy, and Target as part of broader sales events. This temporary reduction effectively nullifies the recent price hike, offering a $30 saving. The deal is expected to be available for a limited time, though exact end dates have not been announced.
Market Context and Recommendation
For readers not heavily invested in Amazon's ecosystem, the Kobo Libra Colour is considered a better buy than the Kindle Colorsoft due to its physical buttons, broader file format support, larger storage, and stylus compatibility. The device has been reviewed positively, with our full review available for further details.
