It’s loopy how usually you continue to see individuals complaining on-line about not with the ability to purchase a Kobo Libra 2, so I assumed I’d put collectively a listing of alternate options.
Kobo discountinued the Kobo Libra 2 over a 12 months in the past after they launched the Kobo Libra Color. The Libra Color is nearly precisely the identical because the Libra 2, besides it has a shade E Ink display screen as a substitute of a daily black and white E Ink display screen.
Lots of people don’t like shade E Ink screens due to their darker and grainer look. Coloration is sweet for covers, comics, and highlighting and such, however shade E Ink is a noticeable step down from black and white E Ink by way of total readability and distinction of standard textual content.
For some purpose Kobo determined to not launch a BW model of the Libra once they launched the colour mannequin, regardless of providing a BW model of the smaller Clara mannequin along with the colour mannequin.
I personally assume the Kobo Libra 2 had the finest display screen of any Kobo ever launched, and the very fact they discontinued it with out providing a direct substitute is severely disappointing.
Some persons are nonetheless holding out hope for a BW Libra in 2025, however the truth is there are zero indicators of that taking place. Normally Kobo’s ereaders present up on FCC listings for approval a number of months earlier than launch, and to this point that hasn’t occurred.
Kobo Libra 2 Options
Boox Go 7 BW – The brand new Boox Go 7 BW might be the perfect various to the Libra 2 if you need one thing with an analogous design and web page buttons with a 7″ BW display screen. The general design of the Go 7 is kind of a bit nicer than the Libra, and it has some {hardware} upgrades, together with a reminiscence card slot, and the Android OS is much more versatile. It additionally helps USI 2.0 styluses and can be utilized as a mini eNote.
Pocketbook Period – The PB Period is one other 7″ BW ereader with related capabilities because the Libra 2. The button placement is nearer to the sting, nevertheless it has a extra premium design that appears and feels nicer than Kobo’s Libra fashions. It provides some further options as effectively, like text-to-speech. However the flush display screen doesn’t look pretty much as good because the Libra 2’s display screen.
Kindle Paperwhite – The newest Kindle Paperwhite has a 7″ display screen just like the Libra, however clearly it has a special design and lacks web page buttons. Amazon did not too long ago add the choice to show pages by double tapping the again and sides of the gadget to type of mimic having buttons, however that’s solely accessible on the dearer Signature Version mannequin, which remains to be significantly cheaper than each fashions listed above. The benefit with the Paperwhite is it’s quicker than the units above, and it has a better-looking display screen and frontlight.
Kobo Sage?
Usually I’d suggest the Kobo Sage as a substitute for the Kobo Libra 2. It has a a nicer design and a bigger 8″ display screen, however in some methods it’s a downgrade. It has worse battery life and the display screen isn’t fairly as sharp with the added flush layer, and the one I had had an apparent and annoying frontlight gradient.
These aren’t deal breakers, in fact, however what it’s the truth that it seems that Kobo is within the strategy of discontinuing the Sage mannequin as effectively, which is sensible contemplating it was launched almost 4 years in the past now. They stopped promoting it within the US a couple of month in the past, nevertheless it’s nonetheless accessible in some places.
