Digital reading has gained popularity so much that ereaders are now one of the most popular tablets people are buying. It's not uncommon to see someone on public transport staring at a Kindle or someone scribbling away on an e-paper tablet at the airport lounge while waiting to catch a flight.
And while the name 'Kindle' is still synonymous with 'ereader', there's a lot of competition coming from one other brand – Kobo. There are currently five Kobo ereader models to choose from, compared to four Kindles, but how exactly do the two differ and does it really matter which one you choose?
Well, both brands have ereaders that are quite similar to each other, but they offer something a little different in terms of features. To help you make the best buying choice possible, we've put together this little guide to help you answer the ereader conundrum of Kindle vs Kobo – which is best.
Kindle, of course, is owned by Amazon, while Japanese company Rakuten owns Kobo. Both make exquisite e-paper tablets to suit all types of readers and budgets, but they are cut from different cloth. There are other players in the ereader market, of course, with the likes of Onyx Boox, Barnes & Noble's Nook ereaders and even PocketBook offering alternatives, but their availability around the world is limited and, even though they can be imported, they could cost you a pretty penny to do so.
That leaves Kindles and Kobos as the main choice, so here’s what you need to know before you buy.
Kindle vs Kobo price and available models
When it comes to the different models, Kobo provides the larger range in most markets as compared to Kindle.
Currently, there are five Kobo ereaders in the range after the brand discontinued the 6-inch Nia and Clara 2E, the 8-inch Forma and the 10.3-inch Elipsa, but added three new models in 2024. The available Kobo ereaders are:
- the 6-inch Kobo Clara BW released in 2024 ($129.99 / £119.99 / AU$239.95)
- the 6-inch Kobo Clara Colour released in 2024 ($149.99 / £139.99 / AU$259.95)
- the 7-inch Kobo Libra Colour released in 2024 ($219.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.95)
- the 8-inch Kobo Sage released in 2021 ($2699.99 / £259.99 / AU$459.95)
- the 10.3-inch Kobo Elipsa 2E released in 2023 ($399.99 / £349.99 / AU$629.95)
As you can probably tell from the names listed above, there two color Kobo ereaders now available, with the Libra Colour also offering stylus support like the Sage and Elipsa 2E.
While there are four main Kindle models, 'Kids' editions of a couple of them are available in the US and UK. The current Kindles are:
- the 6-inch 2022 Kindle Kids ($119.99 / £104.99 – unavailable in Australia)
- the base 6-inch Amazon Kindle released in 2022 ($119.99 / £94.99 / AU$179)
- the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite Kids ($169.99 / £159.99 – unavailable in Australia)
- the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite from 2021 ($139.99 / £139.99 / AU$239)
- the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition ($189 / £179.99 / AU$289)
- the 7-inch Kindle Oasis released in 2019 ($249.99 / £229.99 / AU$399)
- the 10.3-inch Kindle Scribe released in 2022 (from $339.99 / £339.99 / AU$549.99)
As you can tell from the release dates, the Kindle range is a relatively aging family that could do with a refresh soon if it's to keep up with the competition. There's also no color Kindle yet.
It’s also important to note that some of the Kindles are available for a slightly lower price in the UK and the US if you don’t mind seeing adverts on the home screen – all prices listed above are for the no-ads version of the Kindle models.
Kindle vs Kobo design, display and features
When it comes to screen technology, both Kobo and Kindle ereaders are almost the same for the black-and-white models. While most of them use the E Ink Carta 1200 display, the Kobo Clara BW debuted the newer generation of E Ink displays – the Carta 1300. This gives it a slight advantage over the others, making it sharper thanks to better screen contrast, and also a little more responsive in comparison too.
All the current ereaders available from both Amazon and Kobo have a 300ppi screen resolution, with the sole exception of the 10.3-inch Kobo Elipsa 2E, which gets a slightly lower 227ppi resolution. That, however, doesn't diminish how well text and writing appears on the display. However, in terms of design, every Kobo screen is covered in plastic, while Kindle has a couple of models that's topped with glass, giving them a premium look.
When it comes to screen size, though, Kobo has Kindle beat – covering 6 inches all the way to 10 inches, there's even options for 7 and 8 inches. With Amazon, you get 6 inches, 6.8 inches, 7 inches and 10 inches.
IPX8 water resistance is available from both, (except on the 10-inch models from both brands), as are adjustable illuminated displays for reading in the dark. Most of the higher-end models also allow you to change the hue (or temperature) of the light from cold to warmer yellow for nighttime reading. However, only the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has a front light with an ambient light sensor that auto-adjusts its brightness. That device is also capable of wireless charging, which Kobo doesn’t offer at all.
An increasingly popular feature available from both Kobo and Kindle is Bluetooth, great for pairing wireless earphones, primarily for listening to audiobooks. The same goes for page-turn buttons on the models with an asymmetric design, which make it easier to navigate a book while holding an ereader in one hand.
Kindle vs Kobo storage and connectivity
Current ereaders from both Kobo and Kindle go from 16GB through to 64GB (the high-end Kindle Scribe) of onboard storage, with all Kobo models from the Libra Colour and bigger offer 32GB as default. We’re not convinced that internal storage is hugely important unless you intend to cram an insane number of audiobooks onto your ereader as, otherwise, the base 16GB can hold hundreds of ebooks, if not thousands.
Kobo devices offer basic Wi-Fi across the entire range, which will suffice for most users, and that’s true on most Kindles, too, although dual-band Wi-Fi is now available on the newer Paperwhite models.
Amazon used to give Kindle users cellular connectivity for downloading ebooks too (and checking email) while away from Wi-Fi, though that’s now only an option on its aging Kindle Oasis.
Kindle vs Kobo software, side-loading and storefronts
The most important differences between the Kindle and Kobo are in their software. Both devices are slick enough, especially since Kindle revamped its OS in 2021. Since then, it's become very Kobo-like.
Depending on which ereader model you buy from either brand, your home screen setup will appear differently, with the number of tabs at the bottom changing if you have a note-taking ereader. Kobo’s OS is a bit more comprehensive here, with multiple tabs for ebooks, notes and Kobo’s own store. We found that the Kindle's home screen can look comparatively more cluttered than on a Kobo, but it's still easy to navigate.
Both brands offer direct access to their own online stores hosting many millions of ebooks. The major difference between Kindle and Kobo is that the former is locked to the Amazon store and the latter offers a more widely accessible experience. Kindles are best for those happy to download ebooks (and Audible audiobooks) to their device only from Amazon, whether via one-time downloads or while using Kindle Unlimited and/or Amazon Prime Reading.
However, Kindles only support AZW ebook files natively and you need to jump through hoops to get an EPUB (the most common ebook file format) sideloaded. While it’s possible to convert and transfer other document formats onto Kindle (principally by emailing documents for conversion or by using third-party software, like Calibre), it’s time-consuming.
On the other hand, Kobo offers unlimited reading via Kobo Plus in some markets, while its ereaders natively support all kinds of file formats from EPUB and MOBI to PDF and CBZ and CBR Comic Book formats, all of which can be side-loaded. Kobo will also allow you to side-load custom fonts too, including Amazon's own (and rather popular) Bookerly.
In short, Amazon Kindles suit anyone willing to get tied up in a relatively closed ecosystem, while Kobo is more open. The only exception that Kobo makes is audiobooks, which will play on it Bluetooth-enabled models when only purchased from the Kobo Store – no side-loaded audiobooks will work on a Kobo.
Kindle vs Kobo note-taking
It’s not much talked about, but ereaders from Kindle and Kobo allow users to highlight passages of text and type notes by pressing, holding and dragging a finger across text. On a Kindle those notes are fully searchable within an online notebook and accessible via the Kindle app on a smartphone.
However, full-featured note-takers are now gaining popularity. While Amazon has only the Kindle Scribe as its e-paper writing tablet, Kobo gives you stylus support on the Libra Colour, the Sage and the Elipsa 2E. The last model is the only one that ships with the Kobo Stylus 2, but it can be purchased separately for use with the others.
Notes are accessible via the Kindle or Kobo apps, but you can email them to yourself on the Kindle Scribe, or sync to Google Drive or Dropbox on one of the Kobos.
While you can scribble in the margins of ebooks on a Kobo Libra Colour, Sage or Elipsa 2E, you can't do that on the Kindle Scribe where they're more like sticky notes. You can, however, create notes/notebooks of various kinds on note-taking ereaders from both brands, although the pen types and ink shades are far better on a Kobo. Moreover, Kobo's Advanced Notebooks offer a staggering number of tools that include handwriting recognition for converting your notes to text, plus the capability of inserting drawings, diagrams and formulae into your notes.
Borrowing library books
If you live in the US, your options to borrow ebooks from your local public library are much more. Both Kindle and Kobo ereaders will work, with the latter using OverDrive support to do so.
However, if you live outside the US and you wish to borrow library books, then Kobo should be your port of call. Every single Kobo ereader has OverDrive baked in, so you can check with your local library if support is available. After that, you just need a library card to get set up. Kobo is available in select countries, so you will need to check on library support in your local area before deciding to purchase – in Australia, for example, most public libraries now offer OverDrive support.
Takeaway
By virtue of what's available, Kobo is the clear winner, although all the models are a little more expensive than their competing Kindle counterpart.
Moreover, if you really want to tinker with the parameters of the text, bring in ebooks and documents in several different formats and arrange them in custom collections, then you should be looking at a Kobo ereader. That goes double if you live outside the US and are keen on borrowing library books.
However, if you’re a bit less demanding and you’re fine with just downloading books from Amazon, a Kindle is probably going to be the most convenient option for you. Or if you live in the US, where there's wider library support for Kindles.
Either way, both of these brands make excellent ereaders and we've reviewed the lot. Check the links throughout this feature to find learn more on any of the ereaders mentioned, or check our best ereader guide to find the best fit for you from other brands as well.
