Kobo Libra Color, Clara Color e-readers launched in India to take on Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

Kobo Libra Color and Clara Color colour e-readers have arrived in India days after Amazon introduced its first colour e-reader, Kindle Colorsoft. Rakuten Kobo says its new e-readers use the company’s e-reading technology, along with eco-conscious materials and water resistance, allowing users to read books, journals, and more on the fly. The company also announced a black-and-white model called Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Plus subscriptions.

“For Kobo, colour is a way of deepening and enriching the reading experience, while keeping the daylight readability and battery longevity that E Ink screens deliver so well,” said Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo. “It’s everything you love about print, with all the benefits of e-reading.”

Kobo Libra Color, Clara Color price in India

The new Libra Color costs Rs 19,999, while the Clara Color is priced at Rs 16,999. On the other hand, the Clara BW will be available for Rs 14,999. All the new models will be available on Flipkart and Amazon . The Kobo Stylus costs Rs 6,899.

Rakuten Kobo has also launched the Notebook SleepCover with Kobo Stylus 2 holder, priced at Rs 3,999 and available in Black and Sand Beige colours. Customers can also choose from magnetic SleepCovers that cost Rs 3,999 and are available in Black, Dusk Blue, and Butter Yellow colours. There is also a Basic SleepCover that costs Rs 2,999 and comes in a single Garden Green colour.

Similarly, the SleepCovers for Kobo Clara Color and Kobo Clara BW will be available separately at Rs 2,999 in Black, Candy Pink, Misty Green, and Cayenne Red colours. The Basic SleepCover options for Kobo Clara Color and Kobo Clara BW cost Rs 2,399 and come in Cobalt Blue and a Clear Case option that customers can personalise with stickers and photos.

Kobo Libra Colour, Clara Colour specifications

The Kobo Libra Color and Kobo Clara Color use the E-Ink Kaleido 3 display, which the company claims offers a “subtle” palette while retaining the benefits of E Ink technology.

The Kobo Libra Color has a 7-inch display that supports Kobo Stylus 2, allowing users to annotate, organise, journal, and highlight lines in colour. It has 32GB of onboard memory that can store up to 24,000 eBooks or 150 audiobooks, while its battery can last “for weeks.” Rakuten Kobo claims that a single charge will allow a runtime of 40 days, based on 30 minutes of daily reading with the screen’s brightness set at 30 per cent and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off.

On the other hand, the Kobo Clara Color has a 6-inch E Ink colour display, while the Clara BW features a black-and-white 6-inch display. Both models have 16GB of storage that can store up to 12,000 eBooks or 75 Kobo audiobooks. Their battery can last up to 53 days with controlled usage of 30 minutes per day.

Kobo Plus subscription

Kobo Libra Color, Kobo Clara Color, and Kobo Clara BW users can subscribe to Kobo Plus to access eBooks and audiobooks. The Kobo Plus Read subscription allows unlimited eBooks, while the Kobo Plus Listen subscription offers unlimited audiobooks – both at Rs 149 each monthly. The Kobo Plus Read and Listen subscription, offering users access to both eBooks and audiobooks, costs Rs 299 monthly.