MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Does Anyone Have both a Forma and a Libra?

rogerinnyc · 10-01-2020, 07:34 PM

Apologies -- I never came back to report. I ended up ordering the Libra, but ultimately returned it. TL;DR -- both the Libra and the Forma are excellent, and I think it comes down to personal preference about different features. I ended up sticking with Forma primarily because I valued the extra screen size, but I so hate its stiff power button that I almost kept the Libra solely for that reason (it has a great button on the rear, like the Aura One, except round).

Oh, right. Screen appearance. If I didn't put them both side by side, each was excellent. In direct comparison, the Forma gets brighter at lower percentages, i.e., 60% lighting on Forma is about 80% on Libra. Disregarding the comfort light, the Libra appeared to me to be slightly yellower/warmer vs. a slightly bluer/colder look for the Forma. I liked both and wouldn't have noticed it without the side-by-side.

I thought the Forma type was slightly sharper/cleaner, but without the comparison I thought the Libra type was superb too. At times, I thought I preferred it. Call it a toss-up.

I thought the Libra's recessed screen would bug me. It didn't.

I found the Forma fit my hand a bit better. My thumb naturally fell on the top page turn button (which, thanks to Geek101's hacks, I can have both the top button and the bottom button advance the page forward). With the Libra, my thumb fell a bit higher and needed to move down to hit the button.

I did not hear any clicks with the Libra page turn, but the button seems a touch firmer than the Forma, which has a bit more give to it.

I like how the Forma tapers to a thinner edge on the side away from the buttons. The Libra is more uniform in width. The result is that even though the Forma is larger, it sort of feels lighter (though both are very light and pretty close in actual weight).

I didn't compare battery lives in any measured fashion, but the Libra seemed very good.

In all, the Libra is a delightful device. If it's the screen size you prefer, I wouldn't hesitate recommending it.

10-01-2020, 07:34 PM	#12
rogerinnyc Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 944808 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Forma and Aura One; Kindle Voyage; Galaxy Note 10	Apologies -- I never came back to report. I ended up ordering the Libra, but ultimately returned it. TL;DR -- both the Libra and the Forma are excellent, and I think it comes down to personal preference about different features. I ended up sticking with Forma primarily because I valued the extra screen size, but I so hate its stiff power button that I almost kept the Libra solely for that reason (it has a great button on the rear, like the Aura One, except round). Oh, right. Screen appearance. If I didn't put them both side by side, each was excellent. In direct comparison, the Forma gets brighter at lower percentages, i.e., 60% lighting on Forma is about 80% on Libra. Disregarding the comfort light, the Libra appeared to me to be slightly yellower/warmer vs. a slightly bluer/colder look for the Forma. I liked both and wouldn't have noticed it without the side-by-side. I thought the Forma type was slightly sharper/cleaner, but without the comparison I thought the Libra type was superb too. At times, I thought I preferred it. Call it a toss-up. I thought the Libra's recessed screen would bug me. It didn't. I found the Forma fit my hand a bit better. My thumb naturally fell on the top page turn button (which, thanks to Geek101's hacks, I can have both the top button and the bottom button advance the page forward). With the Libra, my thumb fell a bit higher and needed to move down to hit the button. I did not hear any clicks with the Libra page turn, but the button seems a touch firmer than the Forma, which has a bit more give to it. I like how the Forma tapers to a thinner edge on the side away from the buttons. The Libra is more uniform in width. The result is that even though the Forma is larger, it sort of feels lighter (though both are very light and pretty close in actual weight). I didn't compare battery lives in any measured fashion, but the Libra seemed very good. In all, the Libra is a delightful device. If it's the screen size you prefer, I wouldn't hesitate recommending it.