Replacement eBook Reader for Broken Kobo Libra 2?

SaberX on 10/04/2025 - 17:09
Last edited 10/04/2025 - 17:10

Just wondering if anyone has found something similar that's decent priced to replace their Kobo Libra 2?

I got it for christmas 2022 but swear i've only read 5-7 books on it (busy with younglings) - but have loved it in terms of the backlight , the button press, and have paired it with their sleep cover. I don't need colour, internet to download books or anything fancy, as I just sideload via USB all my ebooks. The thing just bricked suddenly? It was flat once (surprising as it never does) and after charging it and carrying it a few times on lunch breaks (but never using it) when i finally went to use it, it was dead/flat. After trying to charge it never turns on now. Indicator light flashes, sometimes a "soft" and "hard" reset will have the screen flash to black or white, but it will stall on a white or sometimes black screen… indicator light for charging either flashing or not present. I'm not sure if it's the battery or screen, but i've hardly used the thing despite being x'mas 2022's present. So a bit disappointing quality wise.

The reading stats were fun and tracking but if i lost them in order to get a functionally (physically and screen/reading quality wise) i wouldn't care, provided costs were affordable.

I've only just realised it's been discontinued. Any suggestions on what I can replace it with? Is there any aliexpress aka china style competitors that do a decent job with the screen reading quality and backlight similar to the libra 2? Just thought i can get an affordable "quickie" in, as i need one for a start of may hospital surgery asap (bad timing. coffee machine grinder also bloody broke).

Everything from boox seems expensive. Kindles are reliably ok but i really don't want to go down to calibre for converting books. I've found getting epubs and just loading them directly one of the main reasons I went the libra route (owned a kindle 4th or 5th gen previously). Whereas converting via calibre gave me sometimes sketchy outputs in terms of formatting and book usability. Appreciate any recommendations. I heard the new libra colour replacement isn't great?

Electrical & Electronics eBook Reader

Comments

  • jv on 10/04/2025 - 17:13
    -1

    Kobo Libra 3

  • 87percent on 10/04/2025 - 17:44

    Kobo Clara is decent. Got one for my daughter and you can transfer books to it over wifi

  • askbargain on 10/04/2025 - 18:29
    +1

    If you decide Kindle: https://epub.se

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:05

      Thanks, i didn't know an online link worked. That said i had calibre, i just found that downloading an Epub to be more reliable as converting books i would get errors either converting, or when viewing the pages woudl be out of whack. no issues with Epub native files when choosing those formats.

  • IndigoHarlequin on 10/04/2025 - 20:10

    Love my Clara. Had the original b&w, used it for years until the battery life was shot, upgraded to the colour. It' still great, but I feel the battery life isn't as great as the previous model. So easy to use, you can't go wrong with either.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:05

      is the form factor and size/functionality pretty same to the libra 2? the size is good enough for me (not too small, but also not too huge) and easy to slip into a backpack as thin. THe side panel with buttons made for holding one handed and page turning (without using the on screen touch screen) a breeze.

      • IndigoHarlequin on 13/04/2025 - 10:08

        Honestly, I'm not sure, sorry. I don't know the size of the Libra to compare.

  • trustnoone on 10/04/2025 - 22:01

    I think you have the assessment down packed already IMO. Kindle is popular as people get placed into their ecosystem and don't want to leave and lose their books. But as you largely sideload its not a great option. That basically leaves the Kobo and Boox and IMO boox are quite pricey. Also my boox actually turns off after some time (you can change it) so its not as pick up and go compared to my kindle.

    I just feel the Kobo does kind of fit your need. Maybe you can get a cheaper one second hand? The only other one I know is the Bigme B751C which I see on sale on Temu a few times. Apparently people like to jailbreak kindles to read other file types as well if you go a kindle second hand route?

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:08

      Thanks, i haven't heard of bigme but i'll take a look online to see if it's a "china cheapie" substitute.

      Kobo does seem the best, if i can get another libra 2, but i dont like my chances of a decent quality second hand one popping up. I haven't look at what is "available" For sale from Kobo, but it seems the colour replacement of a libra 2 hasn't got flash reviews.

      My biggest worry is while it worked great when it worked, that it died so quickly and after not much physical use (although noting i got it christmas 2022, so time flew by - but i still read less than 10 books). It has me scared for longevity like how fitbit does - thankfully my current versa 2 (fitbit) has lasted longer than all the other fitbit models that have a habit of dying regularly. biggest worry is if it isn't an once off unlucky thing and kobos die regularly.

      I hardly used my kindle 4th gen but it lasted from 2008-10 until i sold it in 2022 when i got this one (i never used it, but the battery or screen never died like now).

  • impoze on 11/04/2025 - 07:41

    Recently jailbroke my kindle paperwhite, very easy and KOreader is much better to use.

    I would go for a Kobo now though

    • Potatohead82 on 11/04/2025 - 09:00

      I've read about people doing this, I found very random info when I googled this. Have you got good tutorial you would recommend I can follow? Thanks.

      • impoze on 11/04/2025 - 09:10

        Hopefully yours didn't autoupdate this week though

        https://kindlemodding.org/ - literally guides you step by step

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtk7ERwlIAk

        • Potatohead82 on 11/04/2025 - 09:11

          Perfect mate, thank you :)

      • SaberX on 22/04/2025 - 14:46

        I went instore to try the Kobo libra colours and because my kobo is dead i can't compare, but something about the screen just stands out to me, like the fact that itss colour when you stare at the screen it has this look to the words. like the texture of the "paper". it also glares alot more in the light of jb hi fi overhead, which i dont remember my normal kobo doing.

        The kindles nearby the word is much blacker and "clear" despite the glare, like it cuts through it. Abit disappointing if the kobo libra colour range screens aren't as clear/good as the black and white OGs.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:09

      which Kobo would you recommend given the libra 2 form factor worked well? The viewing and light worked well enough for me when combined with the holding side panel for one handed button operation.

  • impoze on 11/04/2025 - 07:42

    Also calibre and epub isnt really an issue as you can send direct to kindle over wifi.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:14

      It isn't the sending that's an issue. Just the fact that i haven't found converting to epub reliable for some books formatting wise. I've had no issues downloading epubs direct as epubs, but the times i converted my books from epub to kindle format i just ran into issues on my kindle. SO i prefer just getting epub and using it direct - the other reason is quite often i could find an epub for less mainstream books but not a kindle version, so it wasn't just a choice of "choosing the kindle format" if i have a kindle …otherwise no complaints on the kindle quality (noting mine was one of the more OG 4th generation kindles though) which ironically i got via ozbargain deal when woolies were clearing them for like $80 back in pre 2010.

  • seefu on 11/04/2025 - 08:19

    Onyx Boox, Meebook, Bigme are the Chinese competitors online.

    I am looking at a Bigme 751C for myself personally.

    • impoze on 11/04/2025 - 08:23

      maybe with the next Temu 40% cashback

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:12

      oh i didn't know boox was a chinese brand.

      Haven't heard of meebook and bigme, which one is considered a decent quality chinese competitor in terms of middle range and better build ?

  • Potatohead82 on 11/04/2025 - 08:48

    No exactly what you are asking for, but I found the app PocketBook, it lets me sync my ebooks across Android, ios, mac and windows. All for free. It is amazing.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:12

      i know of pocketbook, but yeah unfortunately i dont have an issue with content or getting books or syncing, it's just the actual device to read it with.

  • apu on 11/04/2025 - 09:10
    +1

    I don't know about your specific model OP, but my daughter has a Clara HD which she uses to death. One day the screen wouldn't turn on/flashed randomly (similar to what you described) but I could still see the device was charging because the indicator light appeared when it was plugged in.

    I did some searching and understand it's a known issue for having poor internal connectors, so what I did was open the device up, clean the contacts/internal connectors, then close it back carefully. It's been working fine ever since (touch wood). If you are handy/confident you may wish to give this a try.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:10

      do you need anything to fix a connector? I dont know how to solder or anything, but i can open it up if it helps.

      Recently ive been leaving it charged to the laptop at work and while i still get the flashing screen, the screen now sometimes goes black rather than white, and occasionally it will "screen refresh" like when you turn a page. Can't work out if it's the battery coming on/off discharge and reacharge tthat wakes the screen, or a dodgy screen.

  • sam-1966 on 11/04/2025 - 16:09

    Is it worth replacing with a iPad or similar? Just so you have other things to use - especially when in hospital. Games/news/music/tv/movies?

    My daughters downloaded favourite tv shows (movies would have been too long!) and set up play lists on spotify for me on my iPad when they brought it in for me.

    • SaberX on 11/04/2025 - 18:11

      not for me. i have a phone already for normal "stuff" per se, the ereader was for a reading alternative with long life, and "book friendly" screens i.e. no eye strain from a phone. Otherwise i would just read on a mobile.

      Essentially just trying to read a book, albeit 100 of them carried in an easy format.

  • ShaggyMoose on 09/05/2025 - 08:32

    I have been looking also… Pocketbook would probably be my pick, but the decent models are not sold in Australia. Similarly I don't want to order from AliExpress or Temu, which rules out most of the Chinese brands. Boox has local stock, but only through one supplier and they are not selling the Page. I am reluctant to get the Kobo Libra Colour for the same reasons as the OP; I don't need colour and the clarity of the screen is compromised. Probably just going to wait for a few months and see if any new models arrive in 2025.

    https://arstechnica.com/civis/threads/ereader-recommendation…

    • SaberX on 26/05/2025 - 03:31

      I ended up buying the Kindle paperwhite on sale for $230 at JB hi fi (and other places too) circa before mothers day.

      Like you I would wait for a kobo libra 2 black and white to return. But in the meantime i figured i would get the kindle as I don't know when they kobo will release a non colour screen that isn't compromised with the clarity/vision that you can see when you view the libra 2 colour.

      Loved my libra 2 form factor, just a shame it wont turn on now prematurely. Still praying it's a charging issue or software and one day it'll kick back to life.

      Any reasons your avoiding the chinese brands from those websites? you dont' want to hand over your details?

      • ShaggyMoose on 26/05/2025 - 11:53

        Maybe just an excess of caution; I assume that Australian consumer protections are basically meaningless with AliExpress.

        I actually ended up ordering a Pocketbook Verse Pro from a "reputable" retailer in Spain for AUD $280 including shipping, so still exposed to similar problems, but hopefully everything works out. Now I have done this, I assume a new Kobo B&W announcement will be coming within a week…

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