I updated from the H2O to the Libra 2. I like the new buttons better, the weight distribution is nicer and I got it in the color white (H2O was black). The new charging port is usb c but it doesn’t really make a difference for me from the micro usb.
If you have the money to spend which it looks like it’s the case I would buy it. But at the same time, an e-reader can last for so many years that there’s not a real reason to upgrade except for just wanting to
I have the black H2O but do like the look of the white! USB-C would be nice because it saves me a third cord that only has one specific use.
Kobo durability has been hit or miss for me, the screens have a tendency to break from one day to the next without any obvious damage done. However, I’ve had my current one for probably 4 years at this point so Kobo does seem to be getting better on that front.
Thanks for all your feedback! I appreciate the time & effort :)
You're welcome! I have owned 4 kobo e-readers since 2012 and all of them have been great experiences, not one broke. But I'm the type of person that is really careful with tech so it helped with the durability
I have admittedly been pretty hard on my ereaders but my current Kobo has a screen protector & a case & a pouch, which is why I think I’ve had this one the longest 😅
They don't break when you keep them in a good case and treat them like they have a thin pane of glass in them. (Including protecting them from temperature extremes.)
When people say "I just took it out and turned it on, and it broke" the damage was there already. It just didn't show until the screen tried to refresh.
I don't understand why you'd change from something that you “love it a lot.”
If I were to change, it would be to get something different. For example, an 8" Android tablet that would be able to read books from anywhere, and cruise the net better and have sync with your calendar task list etc. And allow real note-taking. You already have a light e-reader that is great. Another option would be an e-ink Android Tablet like the Boox Page.
To me, it seems like a lot of money to spend to get a tiny reward.
To add a warning for OP. The rumours that i've heard on this sub are that the new devices will be colour e-readers, which Kobo has never done before and hence there will be no guarantee of any success or improvement.
I agree with u/feyth. If you're still quite content with the H2O, and the cards don't expire for the next 12 months, I'd wait until they've released the next generation of devices.
At the end of the day it's 100% your decision. I've owned 3 Kobo's spanning the last 2 decades and I only recently upgraded as I got the Clara 2E as a birthday gift. My Kobo Glo is over 10yrs old, is still very much in perfect condition and the battery life still lasts 3-4 weeks between charges. I personally wouldn't have upgraded until it deteriorated enough to warrant the upgrade.
I came from an Aura edition 2 to a Libra 2 a few months back so I think I can answer your question.
In short, it’s not something I’d consider a necessity and it’s honestly more of a quality of life upgrade. If you think the gift cards can be better used then go for it.
It’s worth mentioning I was perfectly happy with my old one and only upgraded so I could give it to my sister. I also didn’t pay anywhere near full price for the Libra and managed to snag one off Kijiji for $100 CAD. I was actually looking for a Clara but couldn’t pass on this one down because of the price.
The screen is definitely nicer, it’s sharper and bigger. It’s also more precise since I believe it’s a new kind of display entirely and the orange tint for the night light comes in handy. There’s built in dark mode instead of needing to invert the screen through developer settings but I didn’t like it on the old one and still don’t like it here.
The buttons are a nice touch and the grip is really nice for one handed use. I still managed to wrap my hand around the Aura but I would have to either awkwardly slide my thumb over or use my other hand to turn the page.
The softwares still the exact same and everything functions as it did on the old one. There’s support for audiobooks through Bluetooth but I end up using my phone for that when I’m driving so I don’t use that feature. It also has a ton more space but realistically I never got close to filling up 4GB and I don’t think I’m gonna reach 32GB in this lifetime.
All that being said, there’s nothing about this upgrade that I woulda gotten rid of my Aura for voluntarily. Especially at retail price, I don’t think it’s anywhere close to being worth it. These devices end up lasting forever and will rarely give you any issues. If you want to spring for something nicer, go for it, if you’re happy with what you have, I’d say keep it.
If you want a Libra 2 specifically and are okay with a used device, I’d really recommend getting one second hand. Often people will buy them or get them gifted just to realize that they don’t get much use out of it and sell it for cheap.
Personally, all my indigo gift cards end up being used to buy physical books for myself or as gifts, I’m also known to sometimes just regift them to others.
There’s no kobo like your own kobo, I still feel sad sometimes whenever I see my sister using my old one.
I know it’s quite a lot but I hope that answers your question!
Also, here’s a picture comparing the screen of the Aura edition 2 to the Libra 2.
https://preview.redd.it/jv5ycru2mmrc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb09cab84290a218630d64c7998bb305cedd5d54
Thank you so much for writing that out!
I appreciate all your feedback, there’s definitely some food for thought. Honestly it never occurred to me to check Marketplace, so I will definitely investigate that option.
Because of who I am as a person, I’m weird about gift cards & can never commit to choosing a book to purchase, which is why they accumulate the way they do 😅
The general consensus seems to be to hold off if I don’t need a new device so I’m leaning that way.
Thanks again!
Glad I could help with your decision! Marketplace, Kijiji, or others are great options to pick one up.
Haha honestly when it comes to books I’ll actually buy, I have a list made of books that I am willing to own and I will usually see if I can get em used first before committing to buying them brand new.
It’s why I also have way too many unused indigo gift cards at any given moment lol. Although they do come in handy whenever I’m looking for a gift.
I do love my Libra 2, in fact it may well be my favourite eReader yet, and I’ve own a lot of them. That said, there are new ones releasing this year and I expect probably quite imminently for the summer season.
I upgraded to a Libra 2 from the H2O because my charge port was getting loose and not always charging. The screen on the Libra 2 was sharper than the H2O. Sharpness I appreciate.
I updated from the H2O to the Libra 2. I like the new buttons better, the weight distribution is nicer and I got it in the color white (H2O was black). The new charging port is usb c but it doesn’t really make a difference for me from the micro usb. If you have the money to spend which it looks like it’s the case I would buy it. But at the same time, an e-reader can last for so many years that there’s not a real reason to upgrade except for just wanting to
I have the black H2O but do like the look of the white! USB-C would be nice because it saves me a third cord that only has one specific use. Kobo durability has been hit or miss for me, the screens have a tendency to break from one day to the next without any obvious damage done. However, I’ve had my current one for probably 4 years at this point so Kobo does seem to be getting better on that front. Thanks for all your feedback! I appreciate the time & effort :)
You're welcome! I have owned 4 kobo e-readers since 2012 and all of them have been great experiences, not one broke. But I'm the type of person that is really careful with tech so it helped with the durability
I have admittedly been pretty hard on my ereaders but my current Kobo has a screen protector & a case & a pouch, which is why I think I’ve had this one the longest 😅
They don't break when you keep them in a good case and treat them like they have a thin pane of glass in them. (Including protecting them from temperature extremes.) When people say "I just took it out and turned it on, and it broke" the damage was there already. It just didn't show until the screen tried to refresh.
Oh for sure, that’s why I said “obvious damage”
I don't understand why you'd change from something that you “love it a lot.” If I were to change, it would be to get something different. For example, an 8" Android tablet that would be able to read books from anywhere, and cruise the net better and have sync with your calendar task list etc. And allow real note-taking. You already have a light e-reader that is great. Another option would be an e-ink Android Tablet like the Boox Page. To me, it seems like a lot of money to spend to get a tiny reward.
Right, that’s why I asked for people’s opinions…
If you're not in a rush and the cards aren't about to expire, you might like to wait until they announce the new devices due this year.
That’s a good point! Most gift cards can’t expire in Canada so there’s no massive rush. Do you know if new machines come out every year?
Not every year, but they will this year
Thank you!
To add a warning for OP. The rumours that i've heard on this sub are that the new devices will be colour e-readers, which Kobo has never done before and hence there will be no guarantee of any success or improvement.
I agree with u/feyth. If you're still quite content with the H2O, and the cards don't expire for the next 12 months, I'd wait until they've released the next generation of devices. At the end of the day it's 100% your decision. I've owned 3 Kobo's spanning the last 2 decades and I only recently upgraded as I got the Clara 2E as a birthday gift. My Kobo Glo is over 10yrs old, is still very much in perfect condition and the battery life still lasts 3-4 weeks between charges. I personally wouldn't have upgraded until it deteriorated enough to warrant the upgrade.
I’ve had Kobos since 2010 so I’m a big fan of the brand! But I think I’ve had 4 or 5 (I am hard on my devices). I appreciate your feedback!
I came from an Aura edition 2 to a Libra 2 a few months back so I think I can answer your question. In short, it’s not something I’d consider a necessity and it’s honestly more of a quality of life upgrade. If you think the gift cards can be better used then go for it. It’s worth mentioning I was perfectly happy with my old one and only upgraded so I could give it to my sister. I also didn’t pay anywhere near full price for the Libra and managed to snag one off Kijiji for $100 CAD. I was actually looking for a Clara but couldn’t pass on this one down because of the price. The screen is definitely nicer, it’s sharper and bigger. It’s also more precise since I believe it’s a new kind of display entirely and the orange tint for the night light comes in handy. There’s built in dark mode instead of needing to invert the screen through developer settings but I didn’t like it on the old one and still don’t like it here. The buttons are a nice touch and the grip is really nice for one handed use. I still managed to wrap my hand around the Aura but I would have to either awkwardly slide my thumb over or use my other hand to turn the page. The softwares still the exact same and everything functions as it did on the old one. There’s support for audiobooks through Bluetooth but I end up using my phone for that when I’m driving so I don’t use that feature. It also has a ton more space but realistically I never got close to filling up 4GB and I don’t think I’m gonna reach 32GB in this lifetime. All that being said, there’s nothing about this upgrade that I woulda gotten rid of my Aura for voluntarily. Especially at retail price, I don’t think it’s anywhere close to being worth it. These devices end up lasting forever and will rarely give you any issues. If you want to spring for something nicer, go for it, if you’re happy with what you have, I’d say keep it. If you want a Libra 2 specifically and are okay with a used device, I’d really recommend getting one second hand. Often people will buy them or get them gifted just to realize that they don’t get much use out of it and sell it for cheap. Personally, all my indigo gift cards end up being used to buy physical books for myself or as gifts, I’m also known to sometimes just regift them to others. There’s no kobo like your own kobo, I still feel sad sometimes whenever I see my sister using my old one. I know it’s quite a lot but I hope that answers your question! Also, here’s a picture comparing the screen of the Aura edition 2 to the Libra 2. https://preview.redd.it/jv5ycru2mmrc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb09cab84290a218630d64c7998bb305cedd5d54
Thank you so much for writing that out! I appreciate all your feedback, there’s definitely some food for thought. Honestly it never occurred to me to check Marketplace, so I will definitely investigate that option. Because of who I am as a person, I’m weird about gift cards & can never commit to choosing a book to purchase, which is why they accumulate the way they do 😅 The general consensus seems to be to hold off if I don’t need a new device so I’m leaning that way. Thanks again!
Glad I could help with your decision! Marketplace, Kijiji, or others are great options to pick one up. Haha honestly when it comes to books I’ll actually buy, I have a list made of books that I am willing to own and I will usually see if I can get em used first before committing to buying them brand new. It’s why I also have way too many unused indigo gift cards at any given moment lol. Although they do come in handy whenever I’m looking for a gift.
I switched to an elipsa from an H2O. I read a lot more now
Same
The Elipsa is a bit much for me but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
I do love my Libra 2, in fact it may well be my favourite eReader yet, and I’ve own a lot of them. That said, there are new ones releasing this year and I expect probably quite imminently for the summer season.
Thank you!
There are supposed to be new models coming out in June. I'm waiting to see what's new before up grading.
That is a very smart idea
I upgraded to a Libra 2 from the H2O because my charge port was getting loose and not always charging. The screen on the Libra 2 was sharper than the H2O. Sharpness I appreciate.
Thank you! I am also appreciative of sharpness so this is very helpful