Libra 2 Kobo Libra 2 first impressions

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Pjama

Both of which mean no new Libra 2 for me! I can’t justify buying something I have three of (Oasis, Libra and Basic white), all of which are excellent in their own way, and which work perfectly.

Yeah, I admire your resolve. I was too weak and bought both of the new Kobos without any reason, excuse or justification (already having 3 perfectly functioning readers). I'm ashamed of myself and my nonexistent willpower.

[omro]

Originally Posted by FireFrog

Does anyone have the official sleepcover for Libra 2? How are you liking it? I'm getting impatient waiting for 3rd party cases.

I have the foldable one. It's fine, it actually makes the Libra 2 easier to hold, as I fold it over and put my fore and middle fingers between the back and cover. That said, it does makes the device much heavier. It's also a bit of a pain in the arse to remove. I feel like I should have bought the non folding one.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It's not only flush vs sunken; the Libra 2 (sunken) and the Sage (flush) have very similar contrast, and both are apparently better than the PW5 (according to comments from another review).

OTOH, going back to the previous generation of eink, the flush Oasis has clearly better contrast than the sunken Libra 1.

So frankly, I have no idea where those differences come from.

But from what I've gathered, the first really even screen Kobo has made is the Libra 2, and it's sunken. I still suspect it is harder/costlier to make the light even with a flush design. Otherwise, previous paperwhite versions would've had a flush design to begin with.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Pjama

The glass screen on the Oasis definitely makes a difference wrt clarity. It is much crisper looking than the PW4 (which my other half has), and, I assume, than the PW5. IMO the plastic top layer prevents the PW5 being a premium device.

My Oasis screen looks almost as good (crisp, clear) as the Voyage I used to have.

My Libra 1 screen also looks great, although the front light is a little uneven, most of the time I can adjust the brightness and add just a hint of amber to make it look balanced.

Both of which mean no new Libra 2 for me! I can’t justify buying something I have three of (Oasis, Libra and Basic white), all of which are excellent in their own way, and which work perfectly.

I wish I had your resolve too. I’ve bought four e-readers (5 if you include the Sage, which is going back if Kobo ever decide to send me a shipping label ) this year and I’m still after a Libra 2

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Barty

But from what I've gathered, the first really even screen Kobo has made is the Libra 2, and it's sunken. I still suspect it is harder/costlier to make the light even with a flush design. Otherwise, previous paperwhite versions would've had a flush design to begin with.

I was speaking about contrast. The light issues are a whole other can of worms.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Unless I have an ebook with large illustrations that benefit from the kepub renderer being able to zoom them, I use epub. But then, typography has been an interest of mine for decades.

I also care about typography, but I still use kepub (though I enable ligatures with a patch). Layout isn't as good as ePub, but if I used ePub I know I would be frustrated about the 'missing' features.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I also care about typography, but I still use kepub (though I enable ligatures with a patch). Layout isn't as good as ePub, but if I used ePub I know I would be frustrated about the 'missing' features.

Yeah, I'm constantly a bit frustrated with either format. Well, not on the Sage, where kepubs don't look so bad. But on anything smaller. i.e. the Libra. I don't care about kerning and ligatures, but those gaps between words bother me. They're more evenly spaced with epubs. (Left-justification and hyphenation bother me more than the gaps, though).

I don't know why Kobo don't just fix their rendering engine. Ofc in their opinion it's probably good enough.

[redlob]

After a few weeks of using the Libra2, coming from an Aura H2O 2nd edition, I must say that I love this upgrade more than I expected.

The sharpness of the fonts, dark mode and especially landscape mode is making it a pleasant device to read books on.

Still in doubt if I'll buy the sleepcover as it will make the reader a bit heavier. Weight is perfect now as it is. Maybe better to look for a pouch or something to put it in when I take it with me.

[Deobulakenyo]

Originally Posted by redlob

After a few weeks of using the Libra2, coming from an Aura H2O 2nd edition, I must say that I love this upgrade more than I expected.

The sharpness of the fonts, dark mode and especially landscape mode is making it a pleasant device to read books on.

Still in doubt if I'll buy the sleepcover as it will make the reader a bit heavier. Weight is perfect now as it is. Maybe better to look for a pouch or something to put it in when I take it with me.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLXz9f0


This type of oasis sleeve/pouch is what i use on my libra h20 and the same kind for my likebook.

It is padded and the inside is so soft that it protrects the device.

[redlob]

Originally Posted by Deobulakenyo

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLXz9f0


This type of oasis sleeve/pouch is what i use on my libra h20 and the same kind for my likebook.

It is padded and the inside is so soft that it protrects the device.

Looks exactly what I need, thanks for the link

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Deobulakenyo

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLXz9f0


This type of oasis sleeve/pouch is what i use on my libra h20 and the same kind for my likebook.

It is padded and the inside is so soft that it protrects the device.

I use the same type of pouch for my Oasis and Libra too.

[Dr. Drib]

I purchased this one (for my Kindle Oasis 3), which I am waiting to have shipped by my sister.

https://www.amazon.com/SixiCat-Sleev...ICE_COVER&th=1

[omro]

Originally Posted by redlob

After a few weeks of using the Libra2, coming from an Aura H2O 2nd edition, I must say that I love this upgrade more than I expected.

The sharpness of the fonts, dark mode and especially landscape mode is making it a pleasant device to read books on.

Still in doubt if I'll buy the sleepcover as it will make the reader a bit heavier. Weight is perfect now as it is. Maybe better to look for a pouch or something to put it in when I take it with me.

After having my Libra2 for a few weeks, the screen is definitely the winner.

I hate to say it, but I really don't like the buttons very much. They are small, stiff and placed too close to the edge to be much use with my thumb where I naturally hold the Kobo. The buttons need to be twice the height and width to be any real use for me. I often end up having to shimmy my thumb to press the button.

I bought the sleep cover with the device, because I travel and want to protect it.

[martinot]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

My Libra 2 arrived today.

First impressions:

• The frontlight is very nice, more even than the Libra 1 and the Sage, also brighter and warmer than the latter (this goes for both the ordinary and the warm light - no weak pissy yellow here, and no greenish tint I could see. I really wish the Sage had a similar frontlight).
  
• The contrast is certainly much better than the Libra 1 and seems very slightly better than the Sage, but it's not easy to notice the difference between the last two. They seem very similar contrast-wise.
  
• The front bezel is matte, not glossy like the Sage. Yay!
  
• The buttons aren't as stiff as the Sage buttons.

Ergonomics are not that different from the Libra 1, the Libra 2 is slightly heavier.

I'm very satisfied with the Libra 2, it's really a very nice reader. I'm not yet sure if I put epubs or kepubs on it. Probably epubs, as kepubs almost certainly won't look so good as they do on a 8'' screen of the Sage (I use fully justified text and disable hyphenation). But I'll have to try both before deciding.

Great review of both + and - with the Libra 2. Thanks!

[redlob]

Originally Posted by omro

After having my Libra2 for a few weeks, the screen is definitely the winner.

I hate to say it, but I really don't like the buttons very much. They are small, stiff and placed too close to the edge to be much use with my thumb where I naturally hold the Kobo. The buttons need to be twice the height and width to be any real use for me. I often end up having to shimmy my thumb to press the button.

I bought the sleep cover with the device, because I travel and want to protect it.

I totally agree with you, the buttons are the weak point of this device. It's not comfortable to use the device one-handed AND operate the buttons in a convenient way.