My favorite e-reader is at its lowest price ever for Black Friday | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.My favorite e-reader is at its lowest price ever for Black FridayComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerge ShoppingCloseVerge ShoppingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Verge ShoppingMy favorite e-reader is at its lowest price ever for Black FridayThe Kobo Libra Colour comes with stylus support and built-in notebooks, so you can use it as a small note-taking device.The Kobo Libra Colour comes with stylus support and built-in notebooks, so you can use it as a small note-taking device.by Sheena VasaniCloseSheena VasaniCommerce WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sheena VasaniNov 27, 2025, 1:00 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The color e-reader is $30 off for Black Friday. Image: Rakuten KoboPart OfThe Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025see all Sheena VasaniCloseSheena VasaniPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sheena Vasani writes about tech news, reviews gadgets, and helps readers save money by highlighting deals and product recommendations for The Verge.Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition might be heavily discounted for Black Friday, but we’d argue that the Kobo Libra Colour is actually the better option for those not already embedded in the Amazon ecosystem. It offers more features for slightly less — and right now, the color e-reader has returned to its all-time low of $199.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Target, and Kobo’s online storefront.Kobo Libra Colour$200$22913% off$200$200 at Amazon$200 at Target$200 at Rakuten KoboIf I didn’t own so many Kindle books, the Libra Colour would be my go-to e-reader. In fact, of all the dozens I’ve tested, it’s my favorite. Like the Colorsoft, it features a 7-inch, 300ppi e-ink display that drops to 150ppi when viewing color. The colors aren’t quite as vivid as they are on Amazon’s e-reader, but the graphics still look warm and bright, and the adjustable natural light slider helps. It’s also waterproof — so you don’t have to worry if it starts raining or you’re reading in the bath — and you get 32GB of storage, which is plenty for books and audiobooks.RelatedThe best e-reader to buy right nowThe best Black Friday deals we’ve found on TVs, laptops, and moreHow to send books to your Kindle — even if they’re not from AmazonSomewhat surprisingly, the Kobo Libra Color offers some genuinely helpful features you won’t find on the Colorsoft. The color ebook reader features intuitive, physical page-turn buttons and compatibility with the Kobo Stylus 2, so you can jot down notes while reading. It also includes built-in notebook templates for journaling and can even convert handwriting to typed text (or solve math equations), meaning you can use it as both an e-reader and a small notebook.The e-reader also supports a much wider range of file formats than the Colorsoft, including EPUB files, and you can save articles offline with Instapaper. The only real downside is that it doesn’t natively support Kindle books. If you’re willing to put in a little extra time, though, it is possible to convert your Kindle library.Read our Kobo Libra Colour review.Verge DealsSign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we’ve tested sent to your inbox weekly.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sheena VasaniCloseSheena VasaniCommerce WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sheena VasaniBlack FridayCloseBlack FridayPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Black FridayDealsCloseDealsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All DealsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVerge ShoppingCloseVerge ShoppingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Verge ShoppingMore In The Verge’s guide to Black Friday 2025See allThe best Black Friday deals we’ve found on TVs, laptops, and moreBrandon Russell and Sheena Vasani1:19 AM UTCBattlefield 6 is already 24 percent off for Black FridayBrandon RussellNov 26Microsoft’s latest 13-inch Surface Laptop is down to $549.99, a new record low priceSheena VasaniNov 26Most PopularMost PopularWyze’s new security camera watches your yard from inside your homeYou can play classic Nintendo games on these custom SNES-inspired Nike sneakersI’m officially done with YouTube KidsYou’re buying a Frame TV? 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The Kobo Libra Colour e-reader is currently experiencing a significant price reduction for Black Friday, offering a compelling alternative to Amazon’s offerings, particularly for users not deeply entrenched within the Kindle ecosystem. At an all-time low price of $199.99 – a $30 discount – the device presents a strong value proposition. While the Kobo Libra Colour shares similarities with Amazon’s Colorsoft Signature Edition, boasting a 7-inch, 300ppi e-ink display, it distinguishes itself through a suite of additional features that enhance its utility beyond traditional e-reading. The color display itself, though slightly less vivid than the Colorsoft, delivers warm and bright graphics, and the adjustable natural light slider contributes to a comfortable reading experience. The device’s IPX8 water resistance provides peace of mind, eliminating concerns about accidental splashes or reading in a damp environment, and the 32GB of storage offers ample space for a substantial collection of books and audiobooks.

A key differentiator lies in the Libra Colour’s enhanced functionality. Unlike the Colorsoft, which lacks physical page-turn buttons, the Libra Colour features intuitive, physical buttons, offering a tactile reading experience favored by many users. Furthermore, the device’s compatibility with the Kobo Stylus 2 allows for note-taking directly within the e-reader, enabling users to annotate and highlight passages, effectively transforming the device into a portable notebook. The inclusion of built-in notebook templates and the capability to convert handwriting to typed text – even solving mathematical equations – further broaden its applications. The device supports a wider range of file formats, including EPUB files, and integrates with Instapaper for offline reading. However, a notable limitation is the lack of native support for Kindle books – requiring conversion through a workaround. Despite this, the Kobo Libra Colour emerges as a carefully considered choice, offering a compelling combination of core e-reading performance and thoughtfully designed supplementary features, solidifying its position as a strong contender in the e-reader market.