It’s been a while since we wrote about Kobo and the Kobo Reader, but here’s some exciting news — Kobo Rakuten has unveiled the Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara Colour eReaders. These devices mark Kobo’s debut into color E Ink technology, departing from the traditional black-and-white digital reading experience that most, if not all, of us are used to on our eReaders.
Kobo Libra Colour
The Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara Colour use Kobo-optimized color E Ink Kaleido 3 displays, which add subtle colors to your reading experience while retaining all of the signature benefits of E Ink technology.
Kobo Clara Colour
With these new displays, you can expect a vibrant reading experience reminiscent of the hues found in life and literature.
We are pleased to be the first global ebook platform to offer affordable colour eReaders, bringing both your books and our bookstore to life with a beautiful spectrum of gentle hues. It’s everything you love about print, with all the benefits of ereading.
For Kobo, colour is a way of deepening and enriching the reading experience, while keeping the daylight readability and battery longevity that E Ink screens deliver so well.” – Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo
The new 32GB, 7″ Kobo Libra Colour and the 16GB, 6″ Kobo Clara Colour eReaders are perfect for avid readers; they offer plenty of storage, extended battery life lasting weeks on a single charge, and seamless integration with Kobo’s expansive bookstore through 24/7 access to the Kobo site.
You can easily borrow library books with OverDrive integration at the Kobo site and listen to Kobo Audiobooks through your eReader’s Bluetooth connection.
One standout feature is the Kobo Libra Colour’s compatibility with the optional $69.99 Kobo Stylus 2, transforming it into Kobo’s most affordable stylus-enabled eReader. This addition allows for color handwriting, highlighting, and note-taking directly on the screen — perfect for journaling and engaging with the text. The Libra Colour is also Kobo’s first 7″ device to support Dropbox and Google Drive.
To build the most enriched reading experience for our customers, we worked tirelessly to optimize the Kaleido 3 display to ensure the best representation of colour.
We introduced collimated front lighting technology to our 6″ and 7″ size eReaders to provide better colour performance, and have further engineered our software to automate the regulation of colours so they always look their best, no matter the content being displayed.” — Ramesh Mantha, SVP of Product at Rakuten Kobo
In line with Kobo’s commitment to sustainability, the new Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara Colour eReaders feature eco-conscious materials, such as recycled and ocean-bound plastics, and include repairability features like easier battery replacement.
I must admit that this feature impressed me, as I had to completely replace my out-of-warranty Kindle when the battery stopped holding a charge!
The Kobo SleepCovers, available in various colors, are also crafted with fully recycled materials. They offer both style and eco-friendly construction.
These new Rakuten Kobo eReaders are poised to transform your reading experience by blending technology, sustainability, and user-friendly design to enhance book lovers’ engagement with their favorite stories.
For those who prefer a classic black-and-white reading experience, Kobo is also introducing the Kobo Clara BW, an upgraded version of their classic 6″ eReader.
The Kobo Libra Colour is priced at $219.99, the Kobo Clara Colour at $149.99, and the Kobo Clara BW at $129.99.
If you like to read at the beach or by the pool, you’ll appreciate that all three eReaders have an IPX8 dust and waterproof rating; they can last up to one hour in up to 6′ of water!
And if you are worried about being able to read until you’re ready to fall asleep, you’ll appreciate that all three eReaders have ComfortLight PRO, which can be set to reduce blue light throughout the day automatically.
The front light technology directs the light at the page and not at your eyes, so you’ll have a comfortable reading experience. There’s even an optional Dark Mode for those who prefer it.
All three eReaders are available for pre-order starting today and will be available in stores and online on April 30, 2024, in Canada, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Turkey.