Two of my favorite color e-book readers are the cheapest they’ve been in months
Recorded: March 24, 2026, 2:26 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
Two of my favorite color e-book readers are the cheapest they’ve been in months | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Two of my favorite color e-book readers are the cheapest they’ve been in monthsComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechTwo of my favorite color e-book readers are the cheapest they’ve been in monthsThe Kindle Colorsoft and Kobo Libra Colour are both great, but the right pick ultimately depends on where you buy your ebooks.The Kindle Colorsoft and Kobo Libra Colour are both great, but the right pick ultimately depends on where you buy your ebooks.by Sheena VasaniCloseSheena VasaniCommerce WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sheena VasaniMar 23, 2026, 7:30 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The Kobo Libra Colour features physical page turning buttons. Image: Rakuten KoboPart OfAmazon’s Big Spring Sale 2026: all of the latest dealssee all updates 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.Color isn’t essential in an e-reader, but let’s be honest, it’s a nice perk that can bring digital books, magazines, comics, cookbooks, and other publications to life. The catch is that color ebook readers tend to be substantially pricier, which makes today’s deals stand out. Right now, the Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) and Kobo Libra Colour are matching their lowest prices to date, with the Amazon e-reader going for $169.99 ($80 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, and the Libra Colour going for $199.99 ($30 off) via Rakuten’s online storefront.Kindle Colorsoft (16GB)$170$25032% off$170$170 at Amazon$170 at Best Buy$170 at TargetKobo Libra Colour$200$23013% off$200$210 at Amazon$200 at Rakuten Kobo$210 at TargetAt their core, both are excellent e-readers with 7-inch, 300ppi E Ink displays, which drop to 150ppi when viewing color. The Colorsoft’s display is slightly more vibrant in most instances, but the difference isn’t dramatic. Each also offers IPX8 water resistance, so you don’t need to worry about spills and can comfortably read in the bath or by the pool.Which one makes more sense for you largely depends on where you buy your books, how much storage you need, and whether you like to take notes. The Colorsoft is great if you’re heavily embedded in Amazon’s ecosystem, as buying and accessing Kindle books is intuitive and doesn’t require any sideloading. As the more affordable option in Amazon’s lineup, the standard Colorsoft delivers a nearly identical reading experience to the Signature Edition, and it supports Amazon’s “Send to Alexa Plus” feature, which lets you send notes or documents to Amazon’s AI-powered assistant for summaries, to-do lists, reminders, and more. The downside is that it lacks wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light — which are standard on the step-up model — and comes with 16GB of storage instead of 32GB.RelatedThe best e-reader to buy right nowI’m not ashamed to admit the Kobo Remote is the best gadget I’ve bought this yearThat said, if I didn’t already own so many Kindle books, the Libra Colour would be my pick. It offers double the storage at 32GB and includes intuitive physical page-turn buttons. You can also write notes while reading, given that it offers stylus support, and it includes built-in notebook templates, as well as the ability to convert handwriting to typed text. It also supports EPUB and a wider range of file formats, and lets you save articles for offline reading with Instapaper. And it also offers adjustable warm lighting, which makes reading at night a little easier on the eyes.Read our full 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 VasaniAmazonCloseAmazonPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AmazonBooksCloseBooksPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All BooksDealsCloseDealsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All DealsEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts 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: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale 2026: all of the latest dealsThe kid-friendly Fitbit Ace is $100, which matches its best priceSheena VasaniMar 23PDP’s wireless guitar controller has returned to its best price to dateCameron FaulknerMar 23The pint-sized Sonos Roam 2 is more than 20 percent off this weekendBrandon WidderMar 22Most PopularMost PopularNvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘I think we’ve achieved AGI’Confronting the CEO of the AI company that impersonated meVideoThe US government just banned consumer routers made outside the USThe improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is hereGemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressiveVerge 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. 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The Verge’s Sheena Vasani details a notable discount event impacting two prominent e-reader models: the Kindle Colorsoft and the Kobo Libra Colour. The central narrative revolves around reduced prices, with both devices reaching their lowest recorded costs simultaneously. The Kindle Colorsoft, retailing at $170 (a 32% reduction from its usual $250 price), and the Kobo Libra Colour, currently offered at $200 ($30 off its standard $230 price), represent attractive options for consumers seeking color e-readers. The summary highlights key features of each device. The Kobo Libra Colour distinguishes itself through physical page-turn buttons and stylus support, alongside increased storage at 32GB, and a wider range of file format compatibility, including EPUB. Additionally, it incorporates adjustable warm lighting for comfortable nighttime reading. Conversely, the Kindle Colorsoft, primarily appealing to Amazon ecosystem users, offers a streamlined experience with access to Kindle’s services including “Send to Alexa Plus.” Though lacking wireless charging and auto-adjusting front light, it boasts a more vibrant display and IPX8 water resistance. Both readers feature 7-inch, 300ppi E Ink displays capable of dropping to 150ppi when rendering color. A crucial factor for consumers is the ecosystem preference – the Colorsoft shines for Amazon users, while the Kobo Libra Colour caters to those utilizing a broader range of ebook formats. The devices both offer IPX8 water resistance, an important safety feature, providing users comfort and freedom when reading in various environments. |