Right after Apple didn’t announce an iPad mini with a better display, three of the latest e-readers from Kobo landed in Malaysia. Since I was in the market for one, I picked up the Kobo Libra Colour. Its details can be found here. 

The Kobo Libra Colour changed my reading habits. Like any e-reader that uses an e-ink display, reading on this device is easier on the eyes compared to a tablet. The broader book-like display ratio makes it a better experience than reading on a phone. Add to that its portability and the result is I read a lot more. 

I like the slightly large 7-inch display; the size is just night for a book. The adjustable backlight on the Kobo Libra Colour means I can read in any lighting conditions. Still, I feel an 8-inch display would be a better option for someone looking to read more manga than novels.

The other two Kobo e-readers that landed alongside the Libra Colour are the smaller and more affordable 6-inch Clara B&W and Clara Colour.

All three devices can connect to Wi-Fi and sync with Pocket—a service that lets you save online articles to read later. However, Libra Colour could also sync with DropBox and Google Drive, which makes loading books much more effortless.

When held like a book, the two Claras are symmetrical, while the Libre Colour has a broader bezel with buttons on one side. I find the extra gripping space on the side and the page-flipping buttons practical when reading with only one hand. Because it can detect which way it is held, it is also ambidextrous.

If you want to start a reading habit or reinforce an existing one, as I did, I recommend picking up one of Kobo’s latest readers.

Here are my thoughts on each device:

• The RM699 Kobo Clara B&W is an excellent place to start for most readers. 
• The colour display on the RM799 Kobo Clara Colour is novel but too small for coloured content, in my opinion.
• The RM1,099 Kobo Libra Colour is the one for those ready to dive in. Add the optional RM319 Kobo Stylus 2, and it will also turn into a notebook. A very expensive one.

If you are going to get your. own Kobo, my advice is to get it from one of its official sellers, you can find the list of them here.