I used the Kindle Oasis for the higher a part of the final 5 years, however I used to be annoyed with the shortage of a brand new mannequin with USB-C charging. That is why I switched to Kobo’s Libra Color firstly of 2025; the e-reader options the newest E Ink Kaleido 3 tech, has a light-weight design that makes it comfy to carry, and you may simply learn comics on it because of the colour E Ink panel.
Better of all, it has bodily web page flip buttons — vital on any good e-reader — and it expenses by way of USB-C. I learn dozens of books on the Libra Color during the last six months, and it’s the splendid improve to the Kindle Oasis. The e-reader normally prices $249, however it’s now right down to $209 on Amazon, making it a terrific cut price.
✅Beneficial if: You want a high-end e-reader with a improbable E Ink panel, bodily web page flip buttons, adjustable heat mild, standout battery life, Bluetooth connectivity to take heed to audiobooks, and USB-C charging. The Libra Color has all of it, and with IPX8 water resistance, you need to use it within the tub.
❌Skip this deal if: You desire a monochrome e-reader on a price range, and also you want the Kindle Retailer.
The Libra Color has a plastic chassis, but it surely does not really feel like a price range e-reader within the least — Kobo did a great job with the general design. The white model I am utilizing seems to be elegant, and it is usually out there in a black mannequin. It feels good to carry and use, and is not uncomfortable even throughout marathon studying periods.
It has the 2 options I want essentially the most in an e-reader: bodily web page flip buttons and adjustable heat mild. The buttons had been a little bit stiff once I acquired began with the Libra Color, however they’ve good tactility now. You intensive configurability relating to adjusting the depth of the LEDs, and similar to the Kindle Oasis, you get a heat mild that reduces eye pressure.
A neat addition is the 7-inch shade E Ink panel; it unlocks completely new use instances, and it holds up whereas studying comics on the gadget. It’s also possible to use the Libra Color as a journal, and it has stylus integration (there is not one included within the bundle). The E Ink panel has 300ppi pixel density, and it’s simply nearly as good because the one on the Kindle Oasis — with the added versatility of a shade panel.
It has IPX8 ingress safety, so you need to use the e-reader within the tub or close to the pool. One other welcome addition is USB-C charging; it lasts two weeks between expenses even when you learn every day, and USB-C simply makes it much less of a trouble when it’s essential cost it. Kobo’s e book retailer is not anyplace as intensive as Amazon’s providing, however on the plus facet, the Libra Color is not locked down in the identical manner, so you possibly can simply deliver your Kindle ebooks over to the gadget with none points.
Total, I did not assume I would really like the Libra Color as a lot as I did, and it’s the Kindle Oasis improve I’ve at all times needed. Coming in at $209, now’s the time to modify to the e-reader when you’re nonetheless utilizing a Kindle.
