Is your private library full of annotated pages? Your each thought scribed on the margins of your favourite books? If that is the case, you then’ve most likely thought that e-readers aren’t for you, however e-readers that permit for annotation are rising in recognition. Amazon has its Kindle Scribe, and Kobo has a number of e-readers with writing capabilities, our favourite of which is the Kobo Libra Color.
Having used each the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color for a number of months, we have seen what each e-readers supply, and there is a clear winner for us.
Here is every little thing it’s good to know in regards to the Kindle Scribe versus the Kobo Libra Color.
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: Specs and value
Evaluating the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
For the reason that Scribe and Libra come from completely different manufacturers, it is no shock that they’ve such completely different appears to be like. The Scribe is so much bigger than the Libra and comes with extra storage. However the Kobo has shade shows. Here is a complete rundown of all of the specs for every machine.
Dimensions
Storage
Decision
Waterproof ranking
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Kindle Scribe: None
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Kobo Libra Color: IPX8
Adjustable entrance and heat gentle
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Kindle Scribe: Sure
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Kobo Libra Coloration: Sure
Stylus included?
Worth
Wanting over the entire specs on the Kindle Scribe versus the Kobo Libra Color, the Kindle Scribe has the higher hand when it comes to measurement. It includes a considerably bigger 10.2-inch show, making it splendid for these looking for an e-reader that resembles a pocket book. Nevertheless, the Kobo Libra affords far more than that. Sure, it has a smaller 7-inch show, nevertheless it options page-turning buttons (a pleasant bonus) and a shade show for many who wish to annotate and spotlight in particular colours.
Each units have an adjustable entrance gentle, a heat gentle, and 300ppi decision when utilized in black and white. The place the Kobo Libra Color excels is with its waterproof ranking. The Kobo Libra Color has an IPX8 ranking, permitting it to be absolutely submerged in water, whereas the Kindle Scribe has no waterproof ranking; that alone makes the Libra a winner in our e book.
However the value variations additionally separate the 2 units. The Kindle Scribe begins at $399.99 for a 16GB mannequin. On the very least, it does include a stylus. Nevertheless, the Kobo Libra is much extra reasonably priced. The 32GB mannequin prices $229.99, however sadly does not embody the stylus. For those who add it on for $69.99, it is nonetheless cheaper than the most affordable Kindle Scribe.
Winner: Kobo Libra Color
Store Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: Battery life
Having examined quite a few e-readers, I’ve discovered one common fact: Kindles are king in the case of battery life. No different e-reader can compete with the battery life. Amazon claims the Kindle Scribe has 12 weeks of battery life, whereas the Kobo Libra Color has between 5 and 6 weeks of battery life.
Anecdotally, I’ve discovered this to be true, needing to incessantly cost the Kobo Libra Color, whereas I can go months with out charging the Kindle Scribe.
Winner: Kindle Scribe
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: Person expertise
The Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color have comparable person interfaces, however the ergonomics of the Kobo make it higher for long-term use.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Usually, the person expertise on the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color is comparatively comparable. Every has a primary library and a separate pocket book part. Our evaluation of the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color is similar to the one we had in our evaluate of the Kindle Paperwhite versus Kobo Clara Color — besides the Kindle Scribe runs slower than most different Kindle e-readers, that means the Kobo Libra is simply as speedy.
Kobo has the last word OverDrive integration constructed into all of its units, that means any e-book you borrow out of your library will auto-populate in your Kobo. To entry library e-books in your Kindle, you may have to take just a few further steps. First, you may want to make use of the Libby app to browse books after which ship them to your Kindle library. A characteristic that units the Kindle aside is its Goodreads integration, which allows you to hyperlink your account to your Kindle.
The place the units differ most importantly is within the studying expertise. The Kindle Scribe is a big e-reader, making it uncomfortable to carry for prolonged intervals. The Kobo Libra Color, however, is the image of good ergonomics. It includes a pronounced edge with two page-turning buttons, making it comfy to carry and simple to show the web page.
Winner: Kobo Libra Color
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: Writing expertise
The Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color are actually a showdown of the e-reader with writing capabilities, so which is best?
The Kindle Scribe’s measurement is its downfall in the case of studying; nonetheless, it is a huge boon for writing. The ten.2-inch show is similar measurement as a spiral-bound pocket book. It offers ample house for taking notes, scribbling, and drawing. Plus, you’ll be able to ship your notes to your e-mail to view them on a pc.
Kobo has comparable capabilities. Once you begin a brand new pocket book, you’ll be able to choose its kind. One kind is fundamental, permitting you to attract and write as you’d anticipate. In distinction, one other pocket book kind converts your handwriting into textual content as you go, making it extraordinarily handy for digitizing notes.
Whereas the Scribe has the big display measurement, the writing capabilities are the identical on each e-readers.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
For stylus choices, every machine has its personal native possibility. The Kindle Scribe comes with the “premium pen” that’s constructed into the e-reader and magnetically attaches to the facet, so you do not lose observe of it. It features a button for adjusting the settings, whereas the tip of the stylus erases.
The Kobo Libra Color does not include a stylus, however an possibility is offered. Kobo has the Stylus 2, which prices $69.99 and should be bought individually from the Kobo Libra. Just like the Scribe’s premium pen, it may erase and has a button for adjusting its writing choices.
Every machine writes easily, the anti-glare display offering a paper-like really feel. The expertise is remarkably comparable on each units, essentially the most important distinction being the Kindle Scribe’s bigger display.
Each the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Color have Google Drive integrations, making notice storage and add even simpler.
The place each units endure is on the problem of ghosting, which is when earlier show pages seem to linger underneath the brand new web page. Often, that is shortly fastened by refreshing the web page on each units.
Winner: Tie
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: Do you want shade?
The Kobo Libra Color has a major benefit over the Kindle Scribe: shade. As of October 2025, the Kindle Scribe does not have shade but. At a Sept. 30, 2025, occasion, Amazon introduced that the Kindle Colorsoft is coming; nonetheless, no launch date has been offered.
Which means that in the intervening time, solely the Kobo Libra Color has shade writing and annotation capabilities. For e-readers, we often suppose that shade is pointless, however with writing and annotating, it is a main benefit. It lets you illustrate in shade, whereas additionally protecting your notes color-coded. So, for proper now, the Kobo Libra Color’s color show makes it the higher machine.
Winner: Kobo Libra Color
Kindle Scribe vs. Kobo Libra Color: The winner
The Kobo Libra Color is the higher e-reader. It has writing capabilities, permitting you to take notes. Regardless that it is digital, the stylus and display really feel like writing with a pen and paper. Moreover, the bonus of a shade show makes it splendid for avid notetakers preferring to color-code notes and annotations.
The Kindle has a bigger display, which, whereas nice for notetaking, generally is a hindrance for studying. That being mentioned, we want the Libra had the Scribe’s battery life.
It is also a problem of worth. The Kobo Libra Color is sort of $200 cheaper than the Scribe for a similar performance, so we’ll decide it over the Scribe each time.
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