Kobo Libra Colour Display lottery : from awfull to decent
The first one I got 6 monthes ago was terrible but the new one is a very decent e-reader.
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| Top : my Kobo Libra Colour and a friend’s one Bottom : my old Libra Colour 6 monthes ago |
Some monthes ago I shared a paper showing how bad is the Kobo Libra Colour display. I had ordered one at launch, hoping for a decent color device. Alas it was in fact quite atrocious.
- Colors were extremely muted, much more than on other Kaleido 3 readers
- The integrated light color was awfull, very pinkish, it was impossible to get something even remotely neutral. You gradually switched between blueish to pinkish without never reaching white.
- Even worse, the light system, even at low brightness, washed out every dark tone in an unusual way. Some washing out is to be expected but not as strong.
Since then, a software update added a hidden setting to choose between some various color profiles.
And recently, a friend of mine showed me his Libra Colour …
What a surprise !
His light system was clearly different from what I got at launch.
- Not so pinkish it ranges from blueish to amber instead of dirty pink, allowing for neutral settings.
- It doesn’t specially washes out dark tones, at least not much than other e-readers.
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| Blacks are much better on my new one when the light is on. |
So I got one again, 6 monthes later.
The new one has a much better light and makes a very decent color e-reader, thanks to the color profiles too.
- Colors can be much better with a simple trick (but the color profiles still need some optimization)
- Integrated light is normal and quite good
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| Default color profile and S9 |
So, if you buy a Kobo Libra Colour, be aware that display quality may be very inconsistent. Maybe they have 2 different factories and use different components for the light. Maybe it was a first batch they sold despite quality issues.
If you get one, just check the light in a not too bright room. It must range from very cold blueish light to amber and not pink. And you must be able to be close to a neutral white, choosing an appropriate setting.
Note that there are still small differences between devices. My friend’s Libra Colour integrated light goes a bit lower than mine at minimal setting, and mine can go higher at maximal setting.