Kobo Libra vs PocketBook InkPad

Last updated: July 11, 2023
Kobo Libra and PocketBook InkPad are two popular e-reader devices that offer distinct features and functionalities. One of the key differences between the two lies in their design and form factor. Kobo Libra features a compact and lightweight design, making it highly portable and comfortable to hold with one hand. It has a 7-inch E Ink display and physical page-turn buttons, offering a user-friendly reading experience. On the other hand, PocketBook InkPad has a larger form factor with an 8-inch E Ink display, providing a spacious reading area and making it suitable for users who prefer a larger screen size. It also incorporates touch-based page-turning gestures, eliminating the need for physical buttons.

Another significant difference between Kobo Libra and PocketBook InkPad is their software and ecosystem. Kobo Libra is associated with the Kobo ecosystem, offering access to the Kobo Bookstore, which features a wide selection of e-books, magazines, and audiobooks. It provides a seamless reading experience and synchronization across Kobo devices and apps, allowing users to pick up where they left off on different devices. PocketBook InkPad, on the other hand, is not tied to a specific ecosystem and supports a wide range of e-book formats, giving users the flexibility to source e-books from various sources. It also allows users to install third-party applications and customize the reading experience further.

Additionally, Kobo Libra and PocketBook InkPad differ in their additional features and customization options. Kobo Libra offers features such as adjustable font styles and sizes, reading progress tracking, highlighting, and note-taking. It also has built-in Wi-Fi for easy access to the Kobo Bookstore and downloading new content. PocketBook InkPad, on the other hand, provides a more extensive set of features including customizable font sizes, text-to-speech functionality, and even allows users to install additional applications through the PocketBook app store. It also supports advanced note-taking capabilities and offers extensive customization options for the reading interface.
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Kobo Libra
Kobo Libra is the embodiment of your reading style. With more storage, a faster E Ink screen, and Bluetooth wireless technology so you can listen to Kobo Audiobooks, Kobo Libra is an integral part of your rich reading life. Packed with features and personality and storage for all of your eBooks Kobo Libra was made to do more. An ergonomic design keeps your reading life on hand and page turn buttons keep the story going while you sip your coffee, stir your signature pasta sauce, or nurse your newborn so you can read on and on, no matter what.
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PocketBook InkPad
PocketBook InkPad - 8-inch premium E Ink e-reader with LED frontlight for the most comfortable reading day and night long. PocketBook InkPad 8 inches allows to see more information at a single page - you can easily make the font larger and turn pages frequently. PocketBook InkPad - the best choice for reading professional literature, periodicals, work with graphs and tables including PDF and Djvu. PocketBook InkPad is perfect for reading both at the workplace and at home. School and college students will appreciate e-reader of such a format, because the 8-inch screen is the closest to the standard size of most textbooks.
Kobo Libra vs PocketBook InkPad in our news:

2023. Rakuten unveiled Kobo Libra 2



Rakuten Kobo has unveiled the Kobo Libra 2, featuring a 7-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen display with a resolution of 1264 × 1680 pixels or 300 PPI. This e-reader offers color temperature adjustment and Dark Mode, allowing users to customize their reading experience. Powered by a 1 GHz Processor and equipped with 32 GB of onboard storage, the Libra 2 has a distinctive asymmetrical design, with a thicker right spine housing physical page turn buttons. Additionally, it boasts a fully waterproof construction and is available in Black and White variants. Customers can also purchase optional SleepCovers for $50. The Kobo Libra 2 is priced at $250 and is accessible for purchase through Flipkart and various online retailers in India.


2023. Pocketbook unveiled its first e-note - Pocketbook InkPad X Pro



Pocketbook has introduced its first e-note, the Pocketbook InkPad X Pro, specifically crafted for digital note-taking. This innovative product is tailored for note-taking, freehand drawing, and PDF file editing due to its incorporation of a WACOM screen. The package includes a novel jet-black stylus with an eraser, boasting an impressive 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. Nevertheless, the device is also compatible with third-party styluses. The highlight of the device is its 10.3-inch E INK Mobius display, which contributes to its lightweight design. Boasting a resolution of 1404×1872 pixels at 227 PPI, the screen is also capacitive, enabling users to employ finger gestures like pinch-to-zoom, tapping, and page-turning swipes. Convenient manual page-turn buttons, a home button, and settings button are situated at the device's bottom. Notably, this marks the company's first foray into the Android product realm, as all their previous offerings have been based on Linux. Anticipated to be released in late September, the InkPad X Pro will be priced at $420.00.


2023. Dark Mode is now available on new Pocketbook e-readers



Dark mode is now an option on the Pocketbook Era, Pocketbook InkPad 4, and Pocketbook InkPad Color 2. This addition comes with the latest 6.8 firmware update that is accessible today. Along with dark mode, the update includes various other new features and improvements such as customizable control panel settings, additional filter options in the Notes app, a text suggestions feature, and more. In the near future, these enhancements will be made available for other Pocketbook models as well. Utilizing dark mode on your PocketBook device can enhance your reading experience in low-light conditions and during nighttime. This mode adjusts the display settings, showing white text on a dark background, which reduces contrast with the surrounding darkness and minimizes eye strain. Additionally, when reading in dark mode, you have the option to invert book illustrations if desired.


2023. Pocketbook Inkpad 4 gets 7.8-inch screen


Pocketbook announced the release of a new ereader called the Pocketbook Inkpad 4. It has a 7.8-inch E Ink Carta 1200 screen and a frontlight with temperature control. It has 32GB of storage space, built-in speakers for audiobooks and text-to-speech, and it’s waterproof with an IPX8 rating. Other specs for the PocketBook InkPad 4 include a USB-C port, a rotation sensor, a dual-core processor, it has WiFi and Bluetooth, and it has a 2000mAh battery. The overall design of the PocketBook InkPad 4 looks quite nice, though, with similar characteristics to the design of the PocketBook Era, which is actually really nice all except for the horribly washed-out screen. The newer E Ink Carta 1200 screens have better contrast, but it doesn’t matter when they add a cloudy flush front layer over the top of it.


2023. Pocketbook 6.7 firmware update adds audio pronunciation



Pocketbook has recently launched a firmware update for the Inkpad 3, Inkpad Color, and Touch HD 3, bringing along a range of significant new features. Notably, users can now initiate audio pronunciation within the dictionary, enhancing the language learning experience. Additionally, translations can be saved directly to the device and exported for future reference. The update also introduces improved page borders for CBR, CBZ, and PDF documents, enhancing the visual presentation. Furthermore, the new firmware includes enhancements such as an expanded pressure area for more convenient navigation through footnotes in books, more precise page margins in scrollable PDF books, and improved algorithms for sorting the note list.


2021. New PocketBook InkPad Lite 970 has cheap 9.7-inch E Ink Screen



PocketBook has introduced the PocketBook InkPad Lite, a new budget ereader equipped with a 9.7-inch E Ink Carta screen. Set to be released in autumn 2021, the device is expected to be priced at $299, making it the most affordable large-screen ereader on the market by approximately $50. However, the PocketBook InkPad Lite is raising eyebrows due to its peculiar screen choice. PocketBook has opted for the cheapest screen available, featuring a resolution of 1200 x 825, which is the same resolution used by 9.7-inch E Ink screens over a decade ago. This results in a pixel density of only 150 ppi. In comparison, the Likebook P10 offers a superior screen with 200 ppi and is only slightly more expensive. Furthermore, the Likebook P10 boasts an upgraded quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM and runs on a more versatile Android operating system.


2020. Pocketbook Inkpad 3 gets a brand new UI



Pocketbook has recently released a significant update for its popular model, the InkPad 3. The update introduces an enhanced UI design across all applications, including redesigned notifications, control panel, and status bar. Firmware 6.1 brings a reimagined and simplified authorization system, enabling users to log into various services such as PocketBook Cloud, PocketBook Store, Send-to-PocketBook, and ReadRate using a single account. Additionally, users now have the convenience of logging into their personal accounts via the PocketBook app on their smartphones by scanning a QR code. The update also introduces support for new book formats, CBR and CBZ, allowing users to read comics on the device. Furthermore, the new Notes application enables users to view, edit, and add comments to their notes, as well as transfer them to other devices. All records are now consolidated in a single location, streamlining the search process.


2019. Kobo brings the Forma form factor to a cheaper model Kobo Libra



The new Kobo Libra H2O brings the sleek form factor of the Forma e-reader to a 7-inch screen device, retailing at a relatively affordable price of $170. Although it may not be the cheapest option in the e-reader market, it's a positive development to witness some of these advanced features becoming more accessible. The device's form factor is highly functional, allowing users to read in both landscape and portrait orientations, with automatic screen rotation thanks to the built-in accelerometer. Kobo has also made software improvements, enhancing menus, book scrubbing, and previews for a smoother reading experience. Additional convenient features include the ability to adjust front light intensity by swiping the screen's side and the device being waterproofed with an IPX8 rating, ensuring protection against water damage.


2018. Pocketbook e-Readers get gesture controls



Pocketbook has introduced a fresh firmware update for its Aqua 2, InkPad 3, and Touch HD e-readers, incorporating gesture controls for adjusting the brightness and color temperature of the front-lit display. While reading an ebook, you can simply swipe your finger up or down the left side of the screen to increase or decrease the light intensity. This functionality works seamlessly in both portrait and landscape modes. The update also brings enhancements such as improved gesture-based page scaling for books in PDF or DjVu formats, enhanced accuracy when selecting words for note-taking purposes, and the ability to enable or disable the position sensor through the settings menu.


2016. Pocketbook Announces the InkPad 2



Pocketbook InkPad 2 is an exciting new e-reader that was just announced today. This innovative device boasts an 8-inch touchscreen display with an impressive resolution of 1,200 x 1,600 pixels. It features a front-lit display for optimal reading conditions and convenient physical page turn buttons. The InkPad 2 is powered by a 1 GHz processor and equipped with 512 MB ​​RAM. While it offers 4 GB of internal memory, you have the flexibility to expand it up to 32 GB using a Micro SD card. One appealing feature of this e-reader is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to enjoy audiobooks and music. The Pocketbook InkPad 2 is expected to be available in the near future, priced at $199 Euros.


2014. Pocketbook InkPad with Text-to-Speech announced



Pocketbook, a Ukrainian company with a consistent track record in manufacturing e-readers since 2007, has introduced a new device called InkPad that focuses on providing an expansive reading experience with its impressive eight-inch display. Utilizing E Ink Pearl technology, the device boasts the highest screen resolution available for such e-readers, with an impressive 1600×1200 pixel resolution. This high resolution enables users to adjust font sizes without compromising clarity. Equipped with a powerful 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, the InkPad ensures smooth page-turning and stable performance across various applications. With 4GB of internal memory, expandable up to 32GB, users can amass a substantial library that is easily accessible at their fingertips. Additionally, the device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for audiobook or music playback. Notably, Pocketbook has integrated Text to Speech functionality in this model, allowing users to have books read aloud to them.