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It looks like Kobo has quietly raised prices on several of its ereaders again. The Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Clara Colour, and Kobo Libra Colour are now $10 more expensive than they were just yesterday. This marks the second time Kobo has done this in recent years—back in 2023, they raised prices across the board by $10 as well.
Notably, older models like the Kobo Sage and Kobo Elipsa 2E haven’t seen a price increase—at least not yet. But with the newer models creeping up in price, it wouldn’t be surprising if Kobo eventually raises those as well.
A possible reason for this change? BlueProton, Kobo’s official US retailer, has been selling the new models for $10 over retail since launch, so it seems Kobo decided to make that price bump permanent. It’ll be interesting to see if BlueProton raises their prices even further now.
While a $10 increase on Kobo’s color models isn’t a huge deal given their competitive pricing, the Kobo Clara BW jumping to $140 is a questionable move. It’s now $30 more than the basic Kindle and only $20 less than the Kindle Paperwhite, which frequently goes on sale—making it a better value. The Clara BW’s build quality doesn’t really justify the new price either.
Kobo’s black-and-white lineup is looking increasingly weak. The Sage is three years old, has poor battery life, and costs a steep $270. The Elipsa 2E is still using an outdated, lower-resolution screen compared to other eNotes. If Kobo wants to stay competitive, they really need to refresh their BW lineup—and raising the price of the Clara BW isn’t doing them any favors.
Source: Kobo Just Raised the Prices of Their eReaders by $10 Each
