Just when I thought e-readers were dead, Rakuten Kobo has come back to India with a series of devices with different price ranges and features to woo the depleting tribe of book lovers. Kobo first entered India in 2013, then a Canadian firm, with four devices. This time it has three eReaders that cater to different types of use cases and users. Kobo Libra 2 The Kobo Libra 2 is clearly the most premium of the three devices and features a large 7-inch HD screen with backlight, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The device is also waterproof, so you can take it to the pool or even read under the drizzle if you are on a vacation in Kerala. The Libra 2 has a more square shape with a side bezel that makes it easy to hold with one hand. There are two large buttons on this side for you to flip pages up and down. Now, the device can change orientation to any side, but I preferred locking it with the bezel to the right, the buttons just next to my thumbs. There is also a power button at the back to wake up the device from sleeping. The USB-C port is on the side of the large bezel. The 7-inch screen has touch, so you can navigate easily on the screen too. The top of the screen has a panel that gives access to controls and settings. You can adjust brightness here and even make the eReader have a natural hue, which again is adjustable. There is an interesting analytics tab that tells you how long the book will take to finish and other data points which can motivate, or deter, you. The settings also give you access to the WiFi settings as well as Bluetooth, which you can use to connect to an earphone in case you are listening to an audiobook. The overall experience of using the Libra 2 was good. The screen is very sharp and it is easy to read under all kinds of lighting. And I loved how this has an easy switch to dark mode in the settings, certainly my preference now across screens. The pages flip smoothly and fast. You can press on a word and get the meaning or even add a note there. You can even search via Google or Wikipedia or inside the book. All these work very well. The Home button gives you a curation of new books and audiobooks, while the discover tab lets you browse through new titles, curated by genres and based on what you have been reading. My Books tab shows the books you have already purchased and downloaded. There are some Beta features out of which I liked the ability to scribble on the touch screen. You can also browse the web directly from the device, though it is tough given the richness we are used to on Internet screens. I would use this more as an emergency feature. Priced at Rs 19,999, the Kobo Libra 2 is not for everyone, but for those who like a larger screen to read while on the move and for those who like to listen to a lot of audiobooks. It is this convenience you are paying the premium for. Kobo Clara 2E The Kobo Clara 2E is a more compact eReader with a 6-inch screen, backlight and Bluetooth connectivity for those who want to listen to audiobooks. Also, the waterproof Clara 2E has been made using recycled plastic, making users feel slightly less guilty. The Clara 2E is also a bit smaller in footprint than the Libra 2 without losing out on many features. Yes, it does not have the 7-inch HD screen nor does it have the buttons that let you flip pages, but this seems a much more value-to-money product given that it is priced at Rs 5,000 less at Rs 14,999. Kobo Nia The Nia is the basic eReader from Kobo with a 6-inch screen and backlight. This does not offer a lot of the features of the other devices, though works pretty well as an eReader, which I think is the only expectation a lot of users have. They are just looking to replace books and this plays that part very well. It offers a good grip and is light enough to be held for hours as you binge on a page-turner. At Rs 10,999, the Nia might be what most users prefer as it ticks most of their requirements. Kobo eReaders: Setup and titles The Kobo eReaders are easy to set up, but you will need an account to buy new titles. There is access to millions of titles, though I did not find a very strong India connection in the curations. It would be better if the homepage showed new and interesting Indian titles, and not books by Kalam and Ruskin Bond that get sold more though it is not what book lovers are looking for. I found some of the pricing a bit odd, especially with the audiobooks. The cheapest audiobook I could find was about Rs 900, and that too some random title. Even some regular books seem to have pricing that has been converted from its Dollar pricing. Kobo will need to think through this aspect if they hope to get more popular. From Kobo’s re-entry into India, I get the sense that eReaders are now catering more to book lovers who are okay with paying a premium and not really gunning for the mass market. This might work as a strategy though Kobo still needs to compete with Kindle, which Indians consider synonymous with eReaders, with better pricing and selection. At the moment, the Kobo eReaders offer viable options for those who are looking beyond the Kindle. Of the three, the Kobo Clara 2E seems to be the best options for those who want to push their reading to the audiobook genre too.
