Last month after Kobo announced their new ereaders for 2024, they revealed that they would sell repair kits for the new models, giving customers the option to repair them when they break.
Details were sparse at first, but now Kobo has updated their reparability page to explain how everything works, and there’s also now a Kobo Repair Hub on the iFixit website with parts and directions on how to repair broken Kobos.
First off, they’re only going to sell repair kits for the new models, which includes the Kobo Libra Colour, the Kobo Clara Colour, and the Kobo Clara BW.
It turns out the parts that can be replaced include the motherboard, the E Ink screen, the battery, and the front and back covers.
They have parts lists for each new model on the Kobo Repair Hub, with prices for each part.
In some cases, the prices don’t make a lot of sense. For example, the Kobo Clara BW sells for $129.99 new. If you need to replace the screen it’s going to cost $89.99 plus shipping, and you might need to buy a tool kit as well to take it apart. At that point you’re probably just better off waiting for it to go on sale and buying a new one.
There also must be an error with the motherboard pricing because it’s listed at $89.99 for the BW model, but it’s only $29.99 for the color model.
New batteries are $39.99 for the Clara models and $44.99 for the Libra Colour. A new screen for the Libra Colour costs $129.99. Considering the device sells for $219.99 new, it seems more reasonable to pay for a replacment than the Clara BW.
What I find interesting is the color screen for the Clara is the same price as the black and white screen. If that’s the case, they why are they charging $20-$30 more for the color models?
Either way, it’s nice to see Kobo offering the option to repair their devices. I can’t see Amazon ever doing anything like this with Kindles unless some new law forces them to.
The law that obliges you to do so is that of the European Community (EU) which will come into force shortly and which provides for the right to repair products. In particular, there is the possibility of replacing the battery (alternatively long-lasting guarantee). Soon manufacturers will have to adapt.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/IMCO/AG/2024/02-22/1296871EN.pdf
At least the EU is making laws that benefit customers. In the US, they only care about laws that benefit corporations and billionaires so they can keep making the most amount of money possible.
Wasn’t part of the proposed EU tech law being that companies must provide repairs for 10 years? It included tablets but I have no idea if it was voted on yet.
I wonder if this is to address that.
The law was approved by the European Commission. Now national governments will have two years to implement it.
By the guide the battery replacement still looks like a nightmare. Not sure if the waterproof feature is useful compared to an easily replaceable battery.
I noticed the identical screen price for the Clara BW and Colour versions too! That’s odd…but on the other hand, it may make me more likely to go for Clara Colour because I’ll worry less about “what if this expensive screen breaks?”
(In reality, I’m thinking of waiting it out till e-ink colour tech improves a bit and then maybe go for a Libra).
I wish they’d made the repair process a bit easier, but I’m glad that at least spare parts are available. My Kobo Nia is lying with a broken screen, and I’m wondering whether to try for a third-party replacement (just so that it doesn’t go waste), but the only screens are on AliExpress and due to the whole trade war thing the shipping cost to India is as much as the price of the screen itself >.<