![]() Under The Hood: Something Old, Something New There’s nothing particularly distinguishing about the E Ink Carta display, which is plastic but clean and visible, though I’d still opt for the protective cover. Touch inputs are fast and responsive and pages turn with a quick tap (or physical button press). This translates into incredibly sharp text that scales up nicely and is easy to read at any angle. The Libra H20’s 7” screen is slightly smaller than the Forma’s huge 8” screen with a resolution outputs of 1680 × 1264 resolution at 300 PPI, which is larger and with more pixel density than most stock 6” screens found on Kindles. The most thankful design improvement is the power/standby button, now a small circular button, which has migrated to the back of the unit where it belongs. They can also be inverted if you want or turned off completely. Your mileage with physical buttons will vary, but I found myself using them more often than I’d like to admit. This small change turns out to be a big improvement in both looks and function as I found quick presses and taps more precise and less “mushy” thanks to their smaller footprint. Like the Forma the Libra also features two page-turn buttons unlike the Forma, however, they are totally separate and not one elongated “rocker” layer. Estimates will vary, but during my week-long testing period (to which the Libra was in constant use) I never had to recharge the unit once. That tapered bump hosts the Libra’s 1200 mAh Lithium battery, adding slightly to the weight but adding hours upon hours of reading time. ![]() It also comes in both white and black colors I like it a lot. It feels incredibly comfortable to hold for long periods. The 7” screen is recessed slightly and not flush with the flat body, which is plastic with a speckled texture on the back that helps distinguish it from Amazon’s more industrial look and style. 19″ it’s smaller than the Forma, though at 6.8oz it’s not much lighter – yet somehow still feels lighter. Results will vary, of course, but the Libra’s smaller body does a great job balancing comfort with form factor. ![]() This means the same tapering edge that helps distribute the device’s heft if you prefer one-handed reading. It retains the basic asymmetrical slanted design of the Forma, just in a smaller and more comfy body. The Kobo Libra looks familiar, yet still features several key differences from previous models. And just like our curly-haired heroine yearning for that tasty bowl of perfect porridge, sometimes going with the middle option is just right. I realize that’s a short list, but we single-use device fans know a good thing when we see it.įrom a purely aesthetic and functional standpoint the Libra H20 isn’t just competing against the Forma, but also against Amazon’s trio of killer eReader options, namely the cheaper Kindle, the current champ Kindle Paperwhite, and the considerably more expensive Kindle Oasis. I’ll just come right out and say it: the Libra H20 eReader isn’t just the best and more enjoyable Kobo reader I’ve ever used, it’s one of the best eReaders I’ve ever used – period. With this year’s Libra H20, however, Kobo has hit a real breakthrough, an ideal compromise on price and performance that doesn’t feel like a compromise. They were often downright unpleasant, honestly. Goliath battle against the industry leader Amazon was sacrificed with the Forma and the results weren’t impressive. Just about every advantage an underdog company like Kobo needs to wage a David vs. The screen was too big, the performance sluggish or non-responsive, and that price…yikes. Honestly, I never found the Kobo Forma that comfortable, both in use and design. Last year’s marquee reader, the Kobo Forma, with its bigger screen (and even bigger price-tag) was clearly in the latter. They’ve also been willing to experiment with varying screen sizes, body styles and interactive features sometimes this experimentation pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. They’ve been on the forefront of eReader design from the beginning, helping make now-familiar features like waterproofing, backlighting and digital library compatibility stock long before their competition. Not only has this help set them apart from the pack, it’s kept them alive as nearly every other dedicated eReader company has disappeared from the landscape. Trying to find this level of Goldilocks perfection can be daunting, but few companies are more willing to mess with norms than Rakuten’s Kobo eReaders. It’s strange, but conventional thinking that “bigger is better” or having a device be “feature rich” automatically translate into a better experience doesn’t really work for eReaders.
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