Kobo Libra 2 Review
The Kobo Libra 2 is the Libra Colour's sensible older sibling: the same beloved ergonomic body with page-turn buttons and waterproofing, but a plain black-and-white screen and a lower price. In a world rushing toward colour, it is a reminder that most reading is just text, and for pure text this is one of the best-value readers you can buy, especially if you can catch it on sale.
Specifications
| Screen | 7" |
|---|---|
| PPI | 300 |
| Colour | No |
| Frontlight | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Stylus | No |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Weight | 215 g |
| Price | $189 |
Verdict
The Kobo Libra 2 is one of the best mono e-readers you can buy: page-turn buttons, waterproofing, a superb warm-lit screen and Kobo's excellent library support, all without paying for colour. It is not flashy and the Kobo store is smaller than Amazon's, but for a text reader who values buttons and open formats, it hits a sweet spot the Kindle line does not. Grab it on sale and it is a bargain.
What we like
- Physical page-turn buttons and a comfortable one-handed design
- Sharp mono screen with a bright, warm-adjustable frontlight
- Native EPUB and excellent Libby/OverDrive library support
- Waterproof, with strong value especially on sale
Worth noting
- Black and white only, no good for comics
- Kobo store smaller than Amazon's
- Software slightly less polished than a Kindle
- Superseded in some regions by the Libra Colour
Design and Reading
The Libra shape is the draw. A grippy raised edge with two physical page-turn buttons makes one-handed reading effortless, and the 7 inch 300 ppi mono screen is crisp with an even, warm-adjustable frontlight. It is light, waterproof to IPX8, and comfortable for hours. If you have ever wished a Kindle Paperwhite had buttons, this is the answer.
Because it is mono, text looks a touch sharper and the frontlight is brighter than on the colour version. For a reader who never touches comics, that is a genuine advantage, not a downside.
The Open Ecosystem
Like all Kobos it reads EPUB natively, so your own files just open, and OverDrive and Libby library borrowing is built right into the interface in supported regions. For library-heavy readers that alone is a reason to pick Kobo over Kindle. Pocket support lets you send web articles to it too.
The Kobo store is smaller than Amazon's and the software is a hair less polished, but the openness is the trade-off many people actively want.
Price and Who It Is For
At around 189 USD it sits just below the Libra Colour, and it drops nicely on sale. Buy it if you want physical buttons, waterproofing and open formats, and you have no interest in paying for colour e-ink you would rarely use.
Choose the Libra Colour instead if colour or optional note-taking appeals, or a Paperwhite if you are set on Amazon's ecosystem. But as a no-nonsense, button-equipped mono reader, the Libra 2 is hard to beat.
Frequently asked
Does the Kobo Libra 2 have page-turn buttons?
Yes. Its asymmetric body has two physical page-turn buttons on the grip side, making one-handed reading easy, which is a big part of its appeal over a button-less Kindle.
Can it borrow library books?
Yes. OverDrive and Libby borrowing is built into the interface in supported regions, and it reads EPUB natively, both advantages over a Kindle.
Libra 2 or Libra Colour?
Choose the Libra 2 for a sharper, brighter mono screen and a lower price if you only read text. Choose the Libra Colour if you want colour for comics or optional stylus note-taking.
Is it waterproof?
Yes, it is rated IPX8, so it handles accidental immersion and is fine for the bath or poolside.