The Kobo Libra H2O outperforms its mid-range price by seamlessly integrating premium features into a cost-effective and attractive packaging. With the exception of its recessed screen, we had a hard time finding any significant drawbacks to this inexpensive ebook monster. The Libra H2O is essentially faultless other from that minor issue.
Design
The Libra H2O borrows a lot of design cues from Kobo’s 8-inch, $280 Forma, which I think is both overly large and pricey. This one can be used with one hand and is the ideal size. It is made of matte plastic in black or white and is 6.3 by 5.7 by 0.3 inches (HWD). It is broader than the Kindle Paperwhite and Clara HD (6.3 by 4.3 by 0.3 inches), but not higher (6.6 by 4.6 by 0.3 inches).
With a front light that changes color from blue to yellow, the 7-inch screen is the same 300ppi E Ink Carta display as other premium ebook readers. The texture on the back is nicely stippled. There are actual page-turn buttons on one bezel, which is significantly larger and angled than the others. The buttons are smooth to push, similar to those on the Kindle Oasis, as opposed to being rigid like those on the Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 3. Because of this, it is even more comfortable to grip than the Kindle Oasis. It can be used right- or left-handed because it is reversible. For $25 to $39, Kobo offers a variety of covers that double as stands.
Price and Availability of the Kobo Libra H2O
Just a few months after Amazon announced the second-generation Kindle Oasis, the Kobo Libra H2O was originally introduced in the US and Canada in September 2019. Later that year, it was made available in other territories.
Given that it has many of the same high-end features as the Forma and Oasis, its pricing is possibly its best selling point. When it first came out, the Libra H2O cost $169, £149, or $249 when purchased from major stores and the Kobo Store directly. While the Kobo Forma costs $279 / £239.99 / AU$429.95, it is no longer offered in the US. In contrast, the 2019 version of the Kindle Oasis costs $249 / £229 / AU$399, while the Kobo Forma is available for $279 / £239.99 / AU$429.95.
You may occasionally be able to purchase the Kindle Oasis for less money from Amazon, but it will be difficult to find any Kobo e-readers on sale.
As of February 2023, Rakuten Kobo will only sell the Kobo Libra H2O in Australia; the worldwide and UK stores will no longer carry this 2019 ereader. It is now available for AU$269.95 after a slight price rise of AU$20.
Display Kobo Libra H2O
Clean, clear, and welcoming to owls throughout the night.
The Kobo Libra H2O will not dissatisfy those who appreciate large, exquisite displays. Its 7-inch size makes it larger than the more affordable Koobos and Kindles, comparable to the top-tier Kindle Oasis, and an inch smaller than the enormous Kobo Forma. The Libra’s 300 ppi screen resolution makes it incredibly crisp and clear, whether you’re reading small text or examining intricate diagrams.
The brightness of the backlight can be adjusted anywhere between 1% and 100%, or it can be totally disabled (for simple, glare-free reading in strong daylight). The Kobo ComfortLight Pro, another feature of the Libra, can automatically adjust the lighting to become warmer as the night draws in, lessening eye strain and exposure to blue light.
I also adored the Libra’s adaptability and ability to change direction. This device is capable of being held in either the left or right hand, as well as in landscape mode.
zKobo Libra H2O content
the convenience of choosing.
The ability to read a variety of file formats has always given Kobo the advantage over the Kindle. While Kobo owners have the option of choice, Kindle customers are essentially obliged to use the Kindle Store or subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. Why? These two factors make Kobo the sole manufacturer to support.epub files, which are widely used and simple to access.
Although Kobo has a fantastic store of its own, you do not have to use it. In contrast to Kindle, which prefers the more common.azw and.mobi file formats, Kobo accepts the more widely used.epub file format. As a result, you may purchase ebooks from a number of online merchants, such as Booktopia, Dymocks, and other sites that sell Adobe DRM-protected ebooks. Even books can be checked out from the library because they are typically Adobe DRM-protected.
