You've probably seen the cycle. Every few years, gadget lovers start whispering about the "next big thing," and right now, all eyes are on the Kobo Libra Colour 2. Honestly, the first Libra Colour was a bit of a shock to the system. It basically dragged the mainstream e-reader market into the world of color after years of us staring at varying shades of grey.
But it wasn't perfect. Not even close.
If you’re sitting there with a cart open on a retail site, wondering if you should pull the trigger on the current model or wait for the sequel, you’re in the right place. We need to talk about what’s actually happening in the labs at Rakuten Kobo and why the next version might fix the one thing that drives purists crazy: the "screen door" effect.
The Current State of Play
The first Kobo Libra Colour landed in April 2024. It used the Kaleido 3 tech, which is basically a standard black-and-white screen with a thin color filter on top.
It was a massive hit. People loved the ability to see book covers in color and highlight text in actual yellow, pink, and blue. But for the hardcore readers—the ones who grew up on the crisp, paper-white screens of the Kindle Paperwhite or the old Kobo Libra 2—it felt like a step backward in clarity.
Because of that filter, the screen is darker. You have to crank the brightness up to 30% or 40% just to make it look like a regular e-reader. That’s why everyone is obsessed with the Kobo Libra Colour 2. We want the color, but we want our white backgrounds back.
What to Expect from the Kobo Libra Colour 2
If Kobo follows its usual two-year pattern, we are looking at a potential release in the spring of 2026.
It’s a long wait. I know.
However, the hardware usually jumps in specific ways. For the Kobo Libra Colour 2, the big rumor is an updated E Ink panel. While Kaleido 3 was great for 2024, E Ink Holdings has been quietly working on ways to make that color filter thinner.
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Thinner filter = more light hitting the screen.
More light = better contrast.
The Processor and Battery Equation
The first-gen color model already jumped to a dual 2.0 GHz processor. It’s snappy. Like, really snappy. But color rendering and handwriting with the Kobo Stylus 2 still eat through the battery faster than a standard black-and-white reader.
Expect the Kobo Libra Colour 2 to pack a larger cell. The current 2050 mAh battery is decent, but if you’re using the stylus every day, you’re charging it once a week. In the e-reader world, that feels like a chore. We want that "charge once a month" magic back.
Repairability is the New Cool
One thing Kobo did right—and will likely double down on—is the partnership with iFixit. The current Libra is surprisingly easy to open up. You can replace the battery or even the screen if you’re brave enough.
It’s almost certain the Kobo Libra Colour 2 will keep this modular design. In a world of glued-shut iPads, having an e-reader that isn't destined for a landfill after three years is a breath of fresh air.
Why People Are Still Hunting for the Old Libra 2
Here is a weird fact: people are still paying premium prices for the discontinued Kobo Libra 2 (the black and white one).
Why? Because it’s the king of contrast.
The screen on that device is so clear it looks like actual printed ink on a high-end novel. The Libra Colour, by comparison, has a slight "grainy" texture because of the color pixels. For some, it’s a dealbreaker.
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The Kobo Libra Colour 2 needs to bridge this gap. If they can get the black-and-white text to look as sharp as the old Libra 2 while keeping the 150 PPI color support, they’ve won the game.
The "Scribe" Factor
There’s a lot of chatter about whether Kobo will move the Libra line closer to the Elipsa.
Right now, the Libra Colour supports the stylus, but it doesn't come in the box. It’s an add-on. For the Kobo Libra Colour 2, we might see more "notebook" features integrated directly into the software.
Imagine better Google Drive sync or even AI-powered handwriting recognition that actually works in real-time. It’s the logical next step.
Should You Wait or Buy Now?
Look, if you need a reader today because your old one is held together by tape, just buy the current Kobo Libra Colour. It’s a fantastic device. The colors are muted—think 1950s Sunday newspaper—but they add a level of joy to reading that you just don't get with grey.
But if you’re a contrast snob? Wait.
The jump from the first generation of a new tech (color E Ink) to the second generation is usually where the biggest "quality of life" improvements happen.
- Price Point: Expect it to stay around the $229 - $249 range.
- Storage: Likely sticking with 32GB (which holds about 24,000 books).
- Build: Recycled plastics are the standard now, so expect that "eco-friendly" feel.
The Kobo Libra Colour 2 is essentially the "polishing" phase of Kobo's color experiment. It won't reinvent the wheel, but it will likely fix the dimness that made some users return their first-gen units.
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If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on FCC filings starting in early 2026. That’s usually the first real sign that the hardware is finalized and headed to shelves. For now, keep your eyes on the contrast ratios; that’s where the real battle is being fought.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your current reading list: If you read mostly text-heavy novels, the current Libra Colour's slight graininess might annoy you. If you read comics or cookbooks, you'll love it regardless.
- Monitor the secondary market: If you decide to wait for the version 2, watch for price drops on the first-gen Libra Colour around late 2025.
- Test the "Screen Door" effect: Visit a local electronics store and look at a Kaleido 3 screen in person. Some people don't even notice the texture; others can't unsee it. Knowing which camp you fall into will tell you if you need to wait for the Kobo Libra Colour 2.