I’ve used a Kindle since 2018. Before this review, I’d never touched a Kobo. Here’s what happened when I swapped my Paperwhite for a Libra Colour.

The thing I didn’t expect to care about: buttons

I thought physical page-turn buttons were a gimmick. They’re not. After two days, I couldn’t go back to swiping the screen. Your thumb rests naturally on the button, and turning a page becomes muscle memory — no smudging, no accidental taps. The asymmetrical design puts the weight in your palm, and the screen auto-rotates when you switch hands. At night, reading in bed sideways, the buttons make the device feel like it disappears.

Is this worth $60 over a touch-only reader? For me, yes. For you, maybe not. But don’t dismiss it until you’ve held one.

Color E Ink: when it matters, when it doesn’t

The 7-inch Kaleido 3 screen renders book covers beautifully. Seeing your library in color — covers you recognize from bookstores, not just grayscale thumbnails — makes browsing feel less like a spreadsheet.

For comics and graphic novels, the color is pleasant but not transformative. Muted hues, visible dithering on large color blocks. An iPad is better for comics; the Libra Colour is better for novels that happen to have some illustrations. I read through half of “Saga” on it and enjoyed the experience, but at 150 ppi in color mode, small text in speech bubbles can get fuzzy.

For pure novel readers, skip the color and get a Clara BW. Same sharpness, $60 cheaper.

Library borrowing that actually works

This is Kobo’s killer feature and it’s embarrassing for Amazon that they haven’t matched it. Open the Kobo, go to the Discover tab, search your local library. Borrow “Dune.” Two seconds later, it’s on your home screen. No phone app, no “Send to Kindle,” no emailing files. It just works.

I borrowed 14 books from my library in one month. At $14.99 each on Amazon, that’s $210 of content for free. If you’re a heavy library user, the Libra Colour pays for itself in months.

The stuff Kobo doesn’t tell you

The screen is slightly more reflective than a Kindle Paperwhite. In direct sunlight, you notice it.
Kobo’s store has all the major publishers, but indie selection is thinner than Amazon’s. If you read niche self-published romance or sci-fi, you might miss titles.
The battery with color on (mixed comics + novels) gave me about 18 days, not the “weeks” Kobo advertises. Still good, just not quite as good as my Paperwhite.
Sideloading EPUBs via USB is seamless. Calibre makes metadata management easy. No format lock-in feels liberating.

I’m keeping the Libra Colour. The buttons, the library integration, and the open format support have won me over. My Paperwhite is now my travel backup.