ConsFirst / E-readers / Compare
Kobo Libra Colour vs Kobo Clara Colour
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Kobo Libra Colour ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on screen, book store & formats. Kobo Clara Colour wins on battery.
The biggest complaint about the Kobo Libra Colour is stylus sold separately; small for notes; for the Kobo Clara Colour it's color costs text clarity. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Kobo Libra Colour | Kobo Clara Colour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in e-readers | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Color e-reader | Color e-reader |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 8% | 8% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Screen | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Battery | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Book store & formats | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Build & durability | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $120 · $$ $120–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Kobo Libra Colour
- Stylus sold separately; small for notes
TechRadar and Engadget note the stylus costs extra ($290 with stylus vs $220 without, per Engadget). TechRadar says the 7-inch screen is too small for heavy note-taking.
- Lag and mixed screen and reliability reports
TechRadar lists a couple of functions that suffer from lag. Amazon's summary says screen quality and reliability are mixed, with some owners reporting visual clarity issues and finding it doesn't meet their needs. Some also find the 7-inch size too small. Wirecutter says the colors look subdued.
- Smaller store, aging design
Engadget's only listed con is that Kobo's store is smaller than Kindle's. TechRadar was initially disappointed by the dated design, notes the model is over two years old, and says Kobo hasn't released new readers in a couple of years.
Kobo Clara Colour
- Color costs text clarity
TechRadar says black-and-white text lacks contrast. Engadget says color adds slight noise to white areas and reduces text clarity. Amazon's summary says some owners find the screen grainy.
- Muted color and slower refresh
Wirecutter says color E Ink brings slower refresh, lower resolution and a limited color range that can look washed out, and all of these apply to this Kaleido 3 screen.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Small screen, grainy plastic
TechRadar says 6 inches may be too small, especially for comics. Engadget says the plastic is grainier and the bezels sit less flush than on rivals.
Who should pick which
Pick the Kobo Libra Colour if
One-handed reading with page-turn buttons
Color comics with room for 32 GB
Margin notes with the optional Kobo Stylus 2
Skip it if: You don't need color (cheaper grayscale readers exist); You'll take lots of notes (7 inches is cramped); You buy mostly from the Kindle store
Pick the Kobo Clara Colour if
A first color e-reader on a budget
Library borrowers (OverDrive built in)
Ad-free, waterproof reading
Skip it if: You mostly read plain text (the Clara BW is sharper); You want a bigger screen for comics; You're invested in Kindle books
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