When Kobo announced the release of their new ereaders back in April, they said replacement parts would be sold for them on the iFixit website, but several months went by and that didn’t happen. Some were starting to question if Kobo was ever going to offer replacement parts like they promised, but now the wait is finally over.
Replacement parts for Kobo’s new ereaders are now available to purchase from the iFixit website.
They sell replacement screens, new motherboards, plastic casings for the front and back of the device, and new batteries. All are currently in stock for all three new Kobo models, except the battery for the Clara BW, but if your device has a battery problem this soon it’s probably still covered by the warranty.
They only sell parts for the new Kobo models, which includes the Kobo Libra Colour, the Kobo Clara Colour, and the Kobo Clara BW. They aren’t going to sell parts for any of the older models, unfortunately.
Replacement motherboards and new batteries are priced at $44.99. The plastic coverings are only $14.99 for the Clara models and $24.99 for the Libra Colour.
I still find it interesting how a replacement screen for the Kobo Clara BW costs the same as a screen for the Kobo Clara Colour. Both are $74.99. So why are ereaders with color screens more expensive? The Clara Colour costs $20 more than the Clara BW.
It’s also interesting how the screen for the Libra Colour only costs $20 more than the screens for the Clara models, and yet the device sells for $90 more than the Clara BW. Who knew adding a couple of page buttons could be so expensive…
Nonetheless, it’s good to see that parts are now available for Kobos latest ereaders for those that need them. Hopefully more companies will start offering replacement parts for their ereaders too like Kobo does, but I still can’t see Amazon ever doing anything like that with Kindles unless some law forces them to.
Sorta cool to be able to replace a scratched screen or cover!
$44 for a battery? Same price as for a motherboard? $44 for a battery sounds a bit pricey to me.
I stepped on and ruined the screen on my Kindle DX. When I first looked to purchase a screen, I could have one for $37. I procrastinated – how long I don’t remember- and the price had gone up to $75, a consequence of DX screen supply going down without any subsequent production for a long-defunct product.
Better late than never which is what I figured was going to happen. For some of those part prices though wouldn’t it be better to spend more and buy a whole new reader with warranty? Or do the replacement parts come with a warranty?
Yeah, the idea sounds good in principle but buying a replacement screen for $75 plus shipping for the Clara BW that was just on sale for $109 with free shipping doesn’t really make a lot of sense.
I never doubted the parts would show up. I think Kobo didn’t realize just how well their new readers were going to sell and supply was an issue. By now, the first buying rush has undoubtedly tailed off somewhat, so it’s not surprising they’ve finally turned some attention to getting these parts into stock.
For one thing, the claim about repairability would be looking quite bad for the Christmas shopping season if they hadn’t had any parts available all year, LOL!
I think it’s a good thing there are parts, but frankly, I suspect it is the kind of a thing where most folks, if they damage the screen, would just get another device, unless they are already reasonably versed in tech repair. I know I wouldn’t want to try to open up a device and replace a screen. My eyesight probably isn’t really up to the task anyway. And if you have to pay someone to do it, then it’s likely to cost nearly as much as a brand new device with brand new warranty.
Still, the battery option is one where, if I really loved a device, I might be willing to try it to extend device life. So kudos to Kobo for making it a possibility.
I replaced a battery on a Nook. It wasn’t difficult. Replacing a battery on an older Kobo was more problematic, as it involved welding, so I passed on replacing. At least Kobo has new made it easier to replace a battery, though $44 is too expensive. Last I looked, e-reader batteries were in the $15-$20 range.