Boox Go Color 7 Vs Kobo Libra Color : Which 7 Inch Color eReader Is Right For You?
Confused between Boox Go Color 7 and Kobo Libra Color? Not sure which one to buy? Well both devices have 7" Kaleido 3 Color e ink screen but they have many differences. This guide is here to help. I have given a detailed comparison of Boox Go Color 7 and Kobo Libra Color to clear all your confusion. So, lets jump in.
Boox Go Color 7 Vs Kobo Libra Color
Design
Both the Boox Go Color 7 and Kobo Libra Color has a 7" inch Kaleido 3 color displays and has a square, asymmetrical design which is Kind of clean and aesthetically pleasing. Both devices have page turn buttons on the front right side, which makes them identical in design language.
The Boox Go Color 7 is slightly smaller and slimmer than the Kobo Libra Color . Here are their dimensions in millimeters -
- Boox Go Color 7 - 156 x 137 x 6.4 mm
- Kobo Libra Color - 144.6 x 161 x 8.3 mm
But the hardware and software in them are very different, let me explain it in detail.
Specs Comparison
| Model | Boox Go Color 7 | Kobo Libra Color |
|---|
| Display | 7"
Kaleido 3 Color
300 PPI - BW
150 PPI - Color
| 7"
Kaleido 3 Color
300PPI - BW
150 PPI - Color |
| Frontlight | Yes | Yes |
Color
Temperature | Yes | Yes |
| CPU | Octa core
2.4 GHz✅ | Dual Core
2.0GHz |
| RAM | 8GB✅ | 1 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB✅ | 32 GB |
| OS | Android 12 | Linux based |
| Battery | 2300 mAh | 2050 mAh |
| Audio | No | No |
| USB | Type C | Type C |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD | Yes✅ | No |
| Stylus | No | Yes✅ |
| Waterproof | No | Yes, ipx8✅ |
| Dimension | 156 x 137 x 6.4 mm | 144.6 x 161 x 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 195g ✅ | 199.5g |
Page Turn
Buttons | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $250 | $220✅ |
Reading experience
Both devices have the same 7" Kaliedo 3 Color e-Ink displays, which are great on both. They produce similar color and black levels. The reading experience is quite similar and the inbuilt reader is pretty good on both. The page turn buttons are clicky, work really well on both. But page turns are slightly faster on the Boox Go Color 7 as it has a more powerful CPU and runs on Android compared to the Kobo, but its not much of a difference. Kobo gives you a more book like experience.
Stylus support
The Kobo Libra Color supports stylus pen. It allows you to write on it, highlight text using a Kobo Pen. You can buy a Kobo stylus for around 80 dollars. It also has an eraser on the tip of its back. You can easily erase your writings on the Kobo. It's pretty good for students as they can take notes and highlight directly on eBooks.
On the other hand, The Boox Go Color 7 doesn't support a stylus but you can try 3rd party stylus to write on documents.
Software and UI experience
The Boox Go Color 7 runs on Android, and has more customization and app options like an Android tablet. On the other hand, the Kobo Libra Color runs on a Linux based OS, which is specifically designed for readers and productivity. UI is more refined on the Kobo as it targets readers. Meanwhile, The Boox has an android like UI with an ereader touch. The interface of Kobo is simple and better for a reader in my opinion.
The big advantage Boox Go Color 7 is that it runs on Android and you can install almost any app from the PlayStore. It's like an Android Tablet with with an e-ink screen. You can install Kindle and Kobo apps on the Boox tab and read books on it. Pretty cool right? You can also watch Youtube and other streaming apps.
Storage
One more difference is that the Boox Go Color 7 has 64GB of storage and the Kobo Libra Color has 32GB of storage. The Boox has an advantage here. Also in the Boox you can expand the storage through microSD card. If you need to store a lot of ebooks , comics and manga files then having a larger storage is beneficial for you.
Battery life
The Boox Go Color 7 has a 2300 mAh battery while the Kobo Libra Color has a 2050 mAh battery. The battery life on the Kobo libra Color is better than the Boox. The battery life of the Boox is good, easily lasts a week but the Kobo is better. Mainly because of the Android system, it takes more battery than the Linux based OS on the Kobo Libra Color.
Ghosting: How they handle it
With e-ink screen, you might notice some ghosting on the screen, ghosting is afterimages of the previous screen remaining on display. On the Boox tab you can do a full screen refresh to remove any residual image. You can also customize one of the page turn buttons to do a full refresh when pressed for 0.5 seconds. So, that you can easily refresh the screen.
On the Kobo, if you see ghosting issues, you can go to Reading Settings and set the screen to refresh every 1 to 10 pages or after a chapter. That means, if you set it to 2 pages, the screen will perform a full refresh after every 2 pages in any book you read.
Waterproof
The Kobo Libra Color is actually waterproof and Boox says the Boox Go Color 7 is splash proof. So, if you are someone who enjoys reading by the pool or in the bathtub. The Kobo will be better for you.
Verdict - Which one should you buy?
Both are fantastic e-ink device with Color displays. The Kobo is priced at $220 and the Boox Go Color 7 is $250 and it comes with a case. So, the question is which one is better for you. That depends on how you plan to use the device. If you are someone who likes to read or maybe a student who needs to take notes. (Everyone got a phone for other apps needs) so for reading and productivity focused device I would go for the Kobo Libra color. On the other hand, if you want android on your ereader, more app options such as manga and comic apps like ShonenJump or VizComics and customizations, the Boox Go color 7 would be better choice for you.
I hope you liked this comparison and found it helpful. Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section and I'll see you in another one.
