which e-reader is right for you?

Kobo has announced two new e-readers, the Kobo Sage and the Libra 2. In this comparison you will find out which e-reader is right for you.

Kobo Sage and Kobo Libra 2

I’m really glad I got to test these two Kobo e-readers. Lately I’ve been busy doing assignments and reading books for my school. I was able to make good use of the e-readers, for example to make book reports. It is nice that as a student you can just take a device with you, instead of dragging all the books with you separately. The e-reader comes in handy here, especially because the screen of the e-readers looks a lot like a book. Not only are these e-readers suitable for people who like to read, but also for people who work or study.

In this comparison, I’ll go through the pros and cons of both the Kobo Sage and the Kobo Libra 2 with you. This is followed by the conclusion with my advice for both e-readers.

All specifications at a glance

Kobo Sage: The Pros

1. Display

The Kobo Sage’s screen is very large, making it about the size of a tablet. The image is very nice and clear, which makes it a great way to read for those who use the e-reader. The brightness is easily adjustable and the e-reader also includes a natural light option, which makes the brightness very nice. Your bedtime can be set on the e-reader, so that the device ensures that the light color is adjusted so that you can also read in a natural way at night. The screen is also very responsive and looks like a real book through the E Ink screen.

2. Nice and light

The Kobo Sage is very nice to hold in the hand. Compared to the Kobo Libra 2, the Kobo Sage is a lot lighter, while the screen is much larger. Due to the light weight, the device is very nice to take with you, because it does not take much weight in, for example, a bag.

3. Works with a stylus

The Kobo Sage is compatible with the Kobo Stylus. With this you can easily take notes while reading or you can make notes in the special program on the e-reader ‘My Notepads’. This is certainly useful for people who have to write down a lot or, for example, for people who do homework using the e-reader.

4. Nice and fast

The e-reader started up very quickly. To be exact, that is even in 7 seconds. Compared to a very old e-reader I have this is very fast. Due to the fast start-up time, I would also switch it off faster than in sleep mode, so that the e-reader will also use less power.

Kobo Sage: The Negatives

1. AAAA battery?

The battery that must be in the styles is an AAAA battery. I had never heard of this type of battery and therefore not at home. So I had to buy this specifically for the pen. In short, if you buy the stylus with it, you have to take into account that you will also have to buy AAAA batteries.

2. Purchase price

The price of the Kobo Sage is considerable for an e-reader. The SleepCover and also the stylus are available separately and therefore ensure that the e-reader becomes even more expensive. This will deter people who read little and they will just stick with books instead of buying a new Kobo e-reader.

3. Vulnerable

The screen of the Kobo Sage is very large, so you will really need the SleepCover with the e-reader. The device is also very light, so you can easily damage the e-reader if the protective cover is not around it. If you accidentally drop the e-reader, the damage to the device will be considerable.

Kobo Libra 2: The Pros

1. Compact

The Kobo Libra 2 is very nice to take with you in your bag thanks to the SleepCover. Due to its size, the e-reader will not take up much space. This also ensures that, if you are on the road, you can quickly grab your e-reader to read something. The size is large enough for reading books, which makes reading on this device a good reading experience.

2. Screen

Reading on this device is very nice and that is due to the beautiful screen of the device. The brightness of the device is good and also ensures that the book was easy to read. As with the Kobo Sage, brightness is easily adjustable and the e-reader also includes a natural light option, making the brightness very nice. Your bedtime can be set on the e-reader, so that the device ensures that the light color is adjusted. This also allows you to read books in a natural way when it is dark. The screen is also very responsive and looks like a real book through the E Ink screen.

3. Blue Light Filtering

As evening falls and you have also set your bedtime, the screen changes the light color automatically. With the Kobo Libra 2 you immediately see that the device really filters the blue light in the night. You notice, if you want to use the device in the evening, that the screen is not tiring for your eyes. That is very nice, because you can simply read a book on the e-reader in the evening without being unable to sleep because of the blue light.

Kobo Libra 2: The Negatives

1. Horizontal Mode

When reading, the horizontal mode from sleep mode does not always work well. This causes some problems when switching. And if you want to rotate to horizontal mode via auto-rotate while reading, you will also run into problems. In the end it usually works, but it would be nice if this bug was fixed as soon as possible via an update.

Joint advantages

1. Dropbox and Pocket Integration

With the help of the Dropbox and Pocket support it is very easy to sync articles. With the Dropbox integration, you can easily sync your notes and documents via the cloud. With the Pocket integration it is possible to read stories, articles and news and to synchronize web pages with your e-reader so that you can learn them there. Dropbox integration only applies to the Kobo Sage, Pocket has them both.

2. Buttons at the bottom

Something I have not seen with other e-readers is the presence of two buttons on the bottom. That’s very nice, because you don’t have to tap the screen every time you want to turn the page. By pressing the buttons in horizontal mode you can go to the next page or to the previous one. This makes it a bit more like reading a real book. Very handy!

3. Sleep cover

You can use the SleepCover with both e-readers. This is very handy, because it provides good protection for your e-reader and it works well with the e-reader itself. When you close the cover, the e-reader will automatically go into sleep mode and vice versa. When you open the cover, the e-reader will switch on automatically from sleep mode. You can also fold the cover in such a way that you can place the e-reader properly on, for example, a table.

4. Audiobooks!

On these e-readers it is also possible to listen to audio books, which I have never actually seen with an e-reader. It is possible to connect a sound device to the e-reader via Bluetooth, because the e-reader itself does not contain speakers. It is a handy feature for people who want to listen to audiobooks in addition to reading.

Common Negatives

1. Horizontal screen

It is very nice that you can read in horizontal mode and also use the buttons to turn the pages. Unfortunately, if you start the e-reader from sleep mode, you will see the home screen. And then you cannot use the e-reader in horizontal mode. So you first have to turn the e-reader again when you are in the home screen and when you start reading you can put it horizontal again. I would prefer it if the home screen would also work in horizontal mode, so that you don’t have to switch anything every time.

Conclusion

The Kobo Sage is a real high-end e-reader with the latest features, and where nothing is missing. The large screen makes reading very easy and everything is clear and legible. The speed is very nice if you want to use your e-reader quickly, because it starts up in a few seconds. Being able to use a special stylus is a nice addition. As a result, the Kobo Sage is more suitable for the people who, in addition to reading books, also want to use the e-reader for taking notes, annotations and markings. The Kobo Sage is a luxury product, by the way. This is due to the high purchase price and the price of the stylus and the case also ensure that the e-reader becomes even more expensive.

The Kobo Libra 2 is also very nice in daily use. The somewhat smaller e-reader was very handy to take with you quickly, for example to read on the train. The screen brightness is fine and so is the ease of use, except for the bug. Even though the system was slower than that of the Kobo Sage, the speed is sufficient. As for the price, the Kobo Libra 2 is more suitable for people who read occasionally and don’t feel like carrying around books every time. The price of the Libra 2 is a bit more friendly, but on the other hand, it does not have support for the Kobo Stylus. So there is no possibility to take notes. The Kobo Libra 2 is a better alternative for people who just want to read occasionally, and don’t use the device for taking notes.

Buy Kobo Sage or Kobo Libra 2

The Kobo Sage has a suggested retail price of 289.99 euros and the Kobo Libra 2 costs 189.99 euros. The Sage is available in black, and the Libra 2 also comes in a white model. In addition, different colorful covers are available for both.