Kobo Libra 2 availability in EU (DE)?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Tintenfisch

Thank you, I saw it, but 300 EUR for "used like new" was too expensive for me for a 4 year old device.

I now went with the PocketBook Era.
Unfortunately, I am not happy with the display. It is dark and bad contrast. It is a shame, display is the most important thing for me. I don't care if a device "feels" more premium or more plastic or looks more cheap or more luxury laying on the desk. I only care what my eyes read for hours = display.

But all other up-to-date devices either color nowadays or 6". I don't know what to do next.

You could put an advert in the Fleamarket asking if anyone has a Libra 2 for sale. You might get a more reasonable price if so.

[Tintenfisch]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You could put an advert in the Fleamarket asking if anyone has a Libra 2 for sale. You might get a more reasonable price if so.

That is a good idea!

Also there are german used sites for private sellers. However kobo is really rare, since most here use Tolino (same hardware, but software worse & german market optimized). I never found a used Libre 2 in weeks there.

So I will keep an eye for a used Libra 2 and will keep the Era until then. Then I will sell the Era when I found a good used Libra 2.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Tintenfisch

That is a good idea!

Also there are german used sites for private sellers. However kobo is really rare, since most here use Tolino (same hardware, but software worse & german market optimized). I never found a used Libre 2 in weeks there.

So I will keep an eye for a used Libra 2 and will keep the Era until then. Then I will sell the Era when I found a good used Libra 2.

If you find a Libra 2 and then you find that the battery is not all that good, here is a battery that's even better. Someone on Reddit posted about it and I asked if the battery was good and he replied that it was good. It's a 2,000mAh battery.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005043676479.html

[DJUNGELSKOG]

Originally Posted by Tintenfisch

That is a good idea!

Also there are german used sites for private sellers. However kobo is really rare, since most here use Tolino (same hardware, but software worse & german market optimized). I never found a used Libre 2 in weeks there.

So I will keep an eye for a used Libra 2 and will keep the Era until then. Then I will sell the Era when I found a good used Libra 2.

Try markplatats.nl or 2dehands.be , maybe the seller will agree to ship it to Germany with PostNL or Bpost?

https://www.2dehands.be/v/computers-...bra-2-e-reader Someone is selling one on 2dehands right now, maybe it’s worth sending this person a message?

This has worked for me in the past, there was something on leboncoin that I wanted and the seller was happy to send it to Belgium by re-posting the item on Vinted.

[Tintenfisch]

Originally Posted by DJUNGELSKOG

Try markplatats.nl or 2dehands.be , maybe the seller will agree to ship it to Germany with PostNL or Bpost?

https://www.2dehands.be/v/computers-...bra-2-e-reader Someone is selling one on 2dehands right now, maybe it’s worth sending this person a message?

This has worked for me in the past, there was something on leboncoin that I wanted and the seller was happy to send it to Belgium by re-posting the item on Vinted.

Thanks so much, on 2dehands the Libra 2 was already sold, but one day after your reply I found a used Libra 2 on the German used marketplace! It hasn't happened in months, what are the coincidences!

I haven't received it yet, but it looked okay in the photographs of the seller and seems legit. Also 135 EUR was a good price I think, even for used (new it is impossible to get, and other used offers I found for 250-300 EUR in Europe + shipping).

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you find a Libra 2 and then you find that the battery is not all that good, here is a battery that's even better. Someone on Reddit posted about it and I asked if the battery was good and he replied that it was good. It's a 2,000mAh battery.

I hope it will be in good condition as the seller promised when I receive it next week, can't wait

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005043676479.html

Thank you, I actually did find a used Kobo Libra 2 (what are the odds, this happens maybe once a year in whole of Germany)!
Have not received it yet, but will order the battery you linked, since the battery of the used Libra 2 I just bought is 2 years old and regularly used by the seller.

Do you know whether it is difficult to replace the battery for a total technology newbie? (I don't mind voiding the warranty, it's over anyway after 2 years)

[Sirtel]

An ereader is not a tablet or a phone. 2 years of use should not require a change of battery. Ereader batteries have been known to last 6-7 years or even more.

[DJUNGELSKOG]

Originally Posted by Tintenfisch

Have not received it yet, but will order the battery you linked, since the battery of the used Libra 2 I just bought is 2 years old and regularly used by the seller.

Do you know whether it is difficult to replace the battery for a total technology newbie? (I don't mind voiding the warranty, it's over anyway after 2 years)

The battery in a 2 year old e-reader is probably just fine and doesn't need to be replaced

Enjoy your Libra, it's a fantastic device!

[Dirk-71]

@Tintenfisch I would wait for an used offering. Refurbished devices are like new.
Yes, I think, the Kobo Libra 2 has the better display as the PocketBook.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Tintenfisch

Have not received it yet, but will order the battery you linked, since the battery of the used Libra 2 I just bought is 2 years old and regularly used by the seller.

If it was regularly used it should be pretty good - much better than if it had been left on a shelf fully drained for a long time.

[Tintenfisch]

Quick update – I’ve now gotten hold of the following and will keep only one of them:
(this was translated by ChatGPT, so please any mistakes blame on it, just kidding

• PocketBook Era (new)
• kobo Libra 2 (used)

The following comparison is of course highly subjective and will differ for everyone!

Advantages of the Era (compared to the Libra 2):

• more compact form factor (with the same screen size as the Libra 2)
• better build quality "feel" & materials (the plastic feels more premium than on the Libra)
• flush display contributes to a more elegant look
• (German library) Onleihe is easily possible via app on the device (though I rarely use it; on the Libra 2 it’s only possible via Adobe software on Mac or PC)
• well-designed accessories (the protective cover "clicks" into the back, making it slimmer than full-cover cases)

What I like better about the Libra 2:

• the page-turn buttons feel better in my hand (I have rather small hands) and have a better tactile response for me
• more granular font adjustment options
• I like the user interface much more (purely subjective – you rarely even see the UI)
• the screen is brighter/clearer (compared to Era with frontlight off or using the same light settings, see photos)

Which one will it be?

I’m still testing, but I’m leaning toward the Libra 2.
The reason is much more significant than I expected: the display!

I had the PocketBook Era first and was very satisfied with it.
But when the used Libra 2 arrived – what an eye candy (the display)!
Ever since, I notice the darker screen on the Era more and more while reading, and I’ve been reaching almost exclusively for the Libra.
The Era’s screen feels dull and "greyish" in comparison (hard to describe), so I turned up the brightness. But then it loses the "paper look" and starts to "glow" too much for my likings. I should mention that I mostly read indoors, usually in bed with a bedside lamp.

Had I never tried the Libra 2, I probably wouldn’t have noticed – so in my opinion, the difference here isn’t between bad and good, but between good and very good.

I think I’ll part with one of them and sell it used in 2–3 weeks. Until then, I’ll continue testing both thoroughly.

Here are a few comparison photos:
with no light / low light + warm or cold / full light + warm or cold
(the phone camera of course doesn’t capture the lighting & color tones naturally)

[DJUNGELSKOG]

The comparison is very helpful for anyone facing a similar choice!

As someone who has used the KL2 and a Pocketbook, I actually find Pocketbok’s built-in software infuriating, but of course these things are very subjective.

[Quoth]

Bear in mind that the actual eink panels of the same model can vary in quality significantly (sometimes) unlike CRT, LCD, OLED, Plasma etc, even apart from front light variation.

The Era I saw in a shop looked no worse than my Libra 2.

I agree that the only reasonable comparison is with the front light off, otherwise you might as well use Nxtpaper or any similar device (matte OLED/LCD) with comparable running time to an eink reader.

[Anak]

The Era has, as you mentioned flush display design where a plastic or polymer layer is applied over the actual e-ink screen to make it flush.

Because of this, it is not surprising that the display looks slightly faded (more grayish instead of black) or slightly less sharp, because the extra plastic layer has certain light refracting properties (it blocks a bit more light, resulting in a darker look or feel)

The first image (without light) look almost identical to me, the deviation - assuming the e-ink screen is identical - is minimal and presumably fall within tolerance limits. No screen is 100% identical.

Personal preferences and ease of use should be the deciding factors.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Anak

The Era has, as you mentioned flush display design where a plastic or polymer layer is applied over the actual e-ink screen to make it flush.

Because of this, it is not surprising that the display looks slightly faded (more grayish instead of black) or slightly less sharp, because the extra plastic layer has certain light refracting properties (it blocks a bit more light, resulting in a darker look or feel)

The first image (without light) look almost identical to me, the deviation - assuming the e-ink screen is identical - is minimal and presumably fall within tolerance limits. No screen is 100% identical.
Personal preferences and ease of use should be the deciding factors.

Kobo Sage also has a flush screen, but the text doesn't look grayish or faded at all. Pocketbook Era is well known for its subpar contrast.

[JSWolf]

I'm not a fan of flush when it can look better by not being flush. Flush is not at all elegant.