Okay, so, I’ve been looking at e-readers lately. I wanted to upgrade, you know? I had my eye on two: the PocketBook 743g InkPad 4 and the Kobo Libra 2. They both seemed pretty sweet, so I started digging in to see which one I should get.
First, I did a lot of reading online. Forum posts, reviews, the whole nine yards. I learned that the Kobo Libra 2 came out a while back, in 2021. Seemed like people liked it, especially because it had Bluetooth for audiobooks. You could use a Bluetooth speaker with it, which I thought was a cool feature. I also found out that Kobo is discontinuing it, which is a bummer.
Then I looked into the PocketBook InkPad 4. People were saying it was a good device too. But, it seems like PocketBooks can be tricky to buy, depending on where you live. I saw that some folks were complaining about high shipping costs and stuff.
I started comparing features. Both have 32GB of storage, which is awesome. I mean, who needs more space than that for books? PocketBook also supports audiobooks, which is good.
Here’s what I did next:
- Checked availability: I looked around online to see where I could actually buy these things. Kobo seemed easier to get, especially since there might still be some Libra 2s floating around. As for the PocketBook, it seemed a bit more difficult, and potentially more expensive, as I’d read.
- Compared the screens: People were saying the Kobo Libra 2 had a pretty bright screen. Some reviews mentioned that the Kobo Libra Color (a different model) had better contrast, but the Libra 2 was still good. It was not that different from the PocketBook Era, people claimed.
- Considered the ecosystem: I use the Libby app to borrow ebooks from my library. Kobo works with that, which is a huge plus. Not sure about PocketBook, but I read that it is more customizable.
So, I finally decided to order both, just to see them in person. After playing around with both of them, I found some interesting things. The Libra 2’s screen was indeed brighter. But the PocketBook, while not as bright, felt a bit easier on the eyes. I liked the feel of the PocketBook in my hands a bit more, too.
I was leaning towards the PocketBook because of how it felt to use, but the price and availability were big concerns. In the end, I decided to go with the Kobo Libra 2. It was just more convenient, and I knew it would work with my library app. Plus, it was still a solid device. I heard that if I trade in my old device I could get a nice price, so I ended up doing that. If you are looking for a new e-reader and the Kobo is available to buy in your country, you can give it a try.
It was a tough choice, but I’m happy with my Kobo. Maybe one day I’ll try a PocketBook if they become easier to buy, but for now, the Libra 2 is doing a great job.
