They have been known to take risks with hardware and software, but I doubt they will do a color device in 2022, maybe in 2023. I think if any of the big 3 e-reader companies would do color first, it would be Kobo. This will encourage larger companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo to finally do something with color e-paper, where so far they have resisted. They also need to double or triple the amount of colors that can be displayed. E INK really needs to double the PPI from 100 to 227 or 300 PPI. It is too soon to tell if Kaleido 3 will be a game changer. This makes colors look washed out, but companies have solved this issue with their own software enhancements and tweaks. The technology is not very good yet, since it can only display around 5000 color combinations and the color filter array cannot be turned off. I don’t think that Kobo will issue a color e-reader this year. I believe that we should see announcements occur in the Fall or at the very latest in November. Many industry insiders have told me that the next generation of color e-readers will be released at the end of Q3 or Q4 of 2022. Will Kobo embrace color e-paper? E INK Kaleido 3 is expected to be announced at SID Display Week in early May. The Forma will likely be discontinued, since the Sage has basically replaced it as their flagship model. These devices are already getting a big long in the tooth. So, I believe they will issue a successor of the Nia and Clara HD and add Bluetooth and allow customers to buy and listen to audiobooks. What is Kobo doing to do in 2022? The head of devices told me in an interview that they are bullish about audiobooks and every new device in the feature will have this functionality. The Sage and Elipsa are professional level readers and e-notes, they are designed to compete against the Remarkable 2, Supernote A5X and A6X. There Libra 2 also competes against the same devices, whereas the Forma is designed to compete against the Nook Glowlight 4 and Kindle Oasis. ![]() The Clara HD competes against the Paperwhite, Onyx Boox Nova Air and Pocketbook Touch Lux 5. The Nia is an entry level reader that competes against the Kindle Basic and Pocketbook Basic Lux 4. The sheer number of devices hit all sorts of price points. The Kobo Nia, Clara HD, Libra 2, Forma, Sage and Elipsa. ![]() ![]() Kobo currently has more SKUS in their portfolio than any other time. The Libra 2 was also released last year and was aimed at consumer’s. All of these devices can also buy books from the Kobo bookstore and also listen to audiobooks via Bluetooth headphones. This is an important growth aspect, since businesses and professional users can replace paper in the office, students and customers can also find value. When paired with a stylus, customers can freehand draw, annotate ebooks and PDF documents and solve complex math equations. In 2021 Kobo issued the Elipsa and Sage, two hybrid e-readers and e-notes. Kobo has started to pivot their business towards e-readers that have digital note taking functionality.
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