Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Kobo has again raised the prices of e-readers such as the Libra Color and Clara range.
- The devices cost $40 more than when they went on sale after multiple price increases since 2024.
- Buyers are increasingly asking whether the Kobo offers the same value advantage over the Kindle.
Rakuten Kobo’s e-readers are among the easiest recommendations for readers frustrated with Amazon’s increasingly restrictive implementation. Kindle ecosystem. The big reason for this recommendation has always been value. Unfortunately, this gap is narrowing.
As noted by users eReaders ForumKobo has raised prices again on several e-readers, including the Kobo Libra Color and the Kobo Clara Color. Increases vary by region, but some devices in the US now cost significantly more than they did at launch.
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The Kobo Libra Color debuted at $219.99 and is now on sale for $259.99. The Clara BW went from $129.99 to $159.99, and the Clara Color went to $179.99 from $149.99. Before this latest increase, all three devices had already received smaller price increases of less than $10, meaning Kobo has now doubled prices on the same hardware introduced in 2024. Kobo has not publicly disclosed the latest increases.
Reddit reactions shows that buyers are taking notice. Some users describe seeing the change in Kobo’s Amazon storefront and rushing to Kobo’s official website to grab the devices before the updated prices roll out to retailers. Less fortunate contributors said they had recently delayed purchases in the hope of discounts and instead faced worse prices. Some are now pinning their hopes on potential future sales, such as a Mother’s Day promotion. The general consensus is that the new prices are quite disappointing and make the devices difficult to justify.
To be clear, Kobo e-readers are still worth considering. The Libra Color is one of the more thoughtful e-readers around, especially for readers who still care about things like page-turning buttons and sideloading support. But as prices continue to rise, Kobo risks losing the faint appeal that helped build its loyal fan base in the first place.
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