Ive used both (not the colorsoft but the paperwhite and the scribe) and I'd go with the kobo. For me, the closed ecosystem cancels out most of the positives of the kindle. I hate wearing golden handcuffs.
Comparison
Home Entertainment
Kobo Libra Colour
Best Canadian E-Reader
The Kobo Libra Colour is a 7-inch color E-ink e-reader with stylus support, OverDrive library borrowing, and open ePub format support — the best e-reader for Canadians who use public library e-books.
8 mentions · 7 threadslast mention Feb 20267.6/ 10
ClearPick Score
Decent
Score informed by 8 owner mentions across 7 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
4 positive0 mixed4 negative
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Best Canadian E-Reader
Kobo Libra Colour
~$219 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
View on Amazon.ca →Opens Amazon.ca · Affiliate link✅ Ships to Canada
✅ Prime eligible (most orders)
✅ 30-day Amazon returns
✅ No extra cost to you
Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
Page turn buttons were a big factor for me. I also like the open ecosystem of the Kobo. I also had both and I returned the Kindle Color.
Praise
Kobo does have buttons and is $60 cheaper, which makes it the better choice imo
Comparison
For me the colour display doesn't justify the trade-off. I would stick with a regular BW model or a Paperwhite. I like that it's fast, lightweight, the buttons, and the fact that I can use different colors to highlight text. That being said, I use it to read and the reading experience is worse than a BW model, because of the contrast, brightness and the screen door effect caused by the color layer. The screen is also too small for comics.
Complaint
i've been here before and honestly if the screen grain bothers you now it's not gonna stop bothering you. for novels that crisp paperwhite screen is just easier on the eyes over time. the buttons are nice but you can get a case with a grip or a popsocket to mimic that feel. sounds like you're more attached to the kindle anyway and the kobo features you're not using. maybe sell the kobo cases and put that toward something else.
Complaint
I have my Libra Colour by now, and you truly do not notice that pattern the same way you do on the close-up. From a normal reading distance, it looks like textured paper if anything. I'd have to pay attention to the pattern itself and not what I am reading in order to notice it.
Praise
Yo my fear is that during the day in direct sunlight, an e-reader is normally awesome because there's no glare and it super easy to read/bright enough without the glowlight, but with this Libra Colour, it'll actually be the opposite, you'd normally have the glowlight on to make it appear less dark, and then as you take it out into the sun it overrides that s*** making it seem dark again and you have to turn it up even brighter to make a difference.
Complaint
Colored E-ink displays are really cool, but I personally have no practical use for one to justify the premium price.
Complaint
✅ What Works
- Open ecosystem preferred over Kindle's closed system by multiple owners
- Physical page-turn buttons frequently cited as a deciding factor
- At normal reading distance, the color screen texture is barely noticeable, per one owner
- Cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft while offering buttons, per some comparisons
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- Color layer creates a screen-door effect and reduced contrast versus black-and-white e-readers, per several owners
- Glowlight behavior in direct sunlight can make the screen appear darker rather than clearer
- Some owners say the color premium isn't justified for typical novel-reading use
- Screen size criticized as too small for comics by at least one owner
ClearPick Verdict
Owner sentiment on the Libra Colour splits evenly: of 8 mentions, 4 positive and 4 negative, no mixed. The recurring negative theme is the color display itself — several owners say the added color layer creates a screen-door effect and worse contrast than a black-and-white model, and that in direct sunlight the glowlight behavior can make the screen look darker rather than clearer. Others say the color premium simply isn't justified for their reading habits. Fans, meanwhile, praise the open ecosystem versus Kindle, physical page-turn buttons, and say the color pattern is barely noticeable at normal reading distance. This is a display where opinions diverge based on how much color actually adds to your reading — not a build-quality or reliability problem. Good for buyers who want an open ecosystem and physical buttons and will actually use color (comics, highlighting); if you mainly read novels, a black-and-white Kobo may serve you better.
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