Now that Kobo has released the Kobo Libra Colour, it looks like they’re phasing out the Kobo Libra 2, which would be a big disappointment.
The Libra 2 is now listed as “Sold Out” on Kobo’s website, and that includes their US, UK, and Canadian stores so it’s not just a localized stock shortage.
The Kobo Libra 2 is still available to purchase at Amazon, and the black one is still $20 off the list price from the last sale, but the white one is no longer available new, unless you’re willing to pay over $300 for it from a questionable seller.
The black version is also sold out on Walmart’s website; the white one is still available but it’s $60 over the regular list price.
The Kobo Libra 2 has the best screen of any ereader on the current market so it’s sad to see it go without a direct replacement. Color E Ink screens are darker and have less contrast so the new color model won’t come close to matching it.
The weird thing is Kobo released a new black and white version of the Kobo Clara alongside the new color model, but they didn’t release a black and white version of the Kobo Libra, and now they’re going to discontinue the Libra 2?
That seems like a seriously questionable move on their part. Now there’s nothing to fill the void left by the Libra 2 for those that prefer better contrast over color E Ink, and want a larger screen with page buttons. Sure, there’s the Kobo Sage, but it costs $80 more than the Libra 2 and it has worse battery life and the screen and frontlight aren’t quite as good with the added flush layer, and it will also be 3 years old in a few months.
Kobo has a history of replacing popular models with inferior new versions so I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise, but it would’ve been great if they released a Libra BW with a Carta 1300 screen like the Clara BW. Adding color is great for some things, but going backwards on screen clarity and contrast is going to seriously tick off some people, especially those that don’t care about color and just want the best screen for reading text.
Discontinuing the Libra 2 makes absolutely zero sense without a replacement. I sincerely hope color doesn’t eventually replace BW for all those reasons you mentioned. As much as I love my Libra 2, I keep hearing that Clara BW is even better with screen clarity and contrast. I was ready to purchase the Libra color, but was put off by all the negative reviews regarding the darker screen and just purchased a new Clara BW instead.
Even the Clara 2E has a better screen than the Libra 2.
I have both and don’t agree with that. The frontlight on the Libra 2 is more even between my two units, and both have the same Carta 1200 screen with no added flush layer, but E Ink screens are weird and can sometimes look different on two of the exact same models so you never know.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/1cfzj0y/kobo_clara_colour_brief_screen_review_brightness/
This is a photo of the Clara Colour with 0% backlight. It’s better than I expected, and the grey is about the same as the old Pearl or early Carta screens had.
If the Libra is the same, I’m not too worried. But the OP notes the screen door effect is annoying, but that seems to vary depending on the reader.
Although not the best source of information someone messaged a Kobo rep and were told that it’s still in production.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/1ce825i/apparently_libra_2_bw_is_not_discontinued_for_all/
Unfortunately Kobo reps know absolutely nothing outside of telling people to do factory resets so you can’t put any stock in anything they say. Maybe they’re just trying to push people into buying the Libra Colour now and they’ll bring back the Libra 2 later, but it’s almost 3 years old so that seems pretty unlikely. The Clara HD hung around for 4 years but that was kind of an exception. What we need is a Libra BW but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen, at least not this year.
Yeah, it’s definitely not the best source of information but I still lean more towards that being the case and that Kobo is just prioritizing the new devices. In addition to that, if you look at the battery used in both newer Clara ereaders you’ll see that it’s the PR-284983N which is the same battery used in the Kobo Libra 2 which doesn’t make things easier.
iFixIt: https://www.ifixit.com/products/kobo-clara-colour-and-bw-battery-genuine
It could be Kobo is just pushing for stock on the Colour, and when the first flush of orders are filled, they’ll get the Libra 2 back in stock.
Honestly, I think it would be stupid to discontinue it, as the Colour is not finding favor with *all* buyers/potential buyers. Seems to me, they’d not want to leave themselves open to the Kindle Paperwhite/Libra Colour sharpness/contrast/brightness comparisons that will inevitably happen without having a solid BW device available. That said, they could be stupid enough to discontinue it, but they haven’t SAID it’s discontinued yet.
And if they are phasing Libra 2 out, there’s always the possibility that a Libra BW might be in the works for next year.
Me, I’d like a Sage BW with the Carta 1300 screen. But I’d probably give a Sage Colour a try if they went that way instead.
I just hope reader manufacturers don’t ditch the BW devices, especially the premium BW devices just yet. My eyes need good sharp, text. Most books I read DON’T have color.
I agree with what you said, except Kobo never says when they’re going to discontinue something. They just stop selling it. And they’re still selling the Clara 2E, and it’s almost exactly the same as the new BW, so it doesn’t really make sense for them to stop selling the Libra 2 temporarily to prioritize the Libra Colour.
I guess it’s wait and see then. But they haven’t removed the listing from their website.
I suppose they might feel that this could push those who want a stellar BW reader to go Sage instead of Libra 2.
I’m disappointed to hear this and was hoping there would be a “Libra BW” or that we’ll see the Libra 2 get more stock. I was just looking at the Libra 2, saw the colour, decided I didn’t want my high end prose ereader needed that feature, and then all the white ones seem to have vanished online in the last couple days or went up $100.
Odd that it seems like the next best option I have that fits my needs, from Kobo anyways, is buying an old used Kobo Libra H20. I was hoping for the Libra 2 to be my first Kobo moving away from a Kindle. It is starting to look like I might end up with a Boox Page instead.