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Kindle vs Kobo: which is the best eReader of 2024 for reading on the go?
The best eReaders are smaller than paperbacks and able to store hundreds of books, but should you buy a Kindle or a Kobo?
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Once denounced by bookish types who feared their popularity meant the end of the paperback, eReaders are now commonplace. But two in particular rule the roost: Kindle and Kobo. Several other big name companies have tried and failed to make their eReaders stick, all falling short of the two dominant names. So, which is the best eReader?
To make that decision, it helps to consider what you should look for in an eReader. Personally, I look for portability, a clear screen that doesn’t tire your eyes, decent battery life and storage. But what exactly are the differences between Kindle and Kobo?
Below, I’ve put together a guide choosing between Amazon Kindles and Rakuten Kobos. I looked at how they compete in the aforementioned key categories as well as bluetooth, style and water resistance. Further down, you can find some more in-depth reviews about my favourite Kindle and Kobo devices.
How we tested the best eReaders
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I’ve spent weeks testing these eReaders at home, on the tube and train and at any spare opportunity I can. I also roped in special assistant Cooper (above) to test out the Kindle Kids. I was looking for portability, style and clever design including the size of the screen. I also considered value for money, storage, water resistance, the quality of the ebook storefronts and any additional features, like Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.
Kindle vs Kobo
Kindle vs Kobo: overview
You’ll find a greater range in Amazon’s Kindle line-up than with the more streamlined Rakuten Kobos, a Canadian company under the Japanese conglomerate Rakuten.
Amazon’s range contains three standard eReaders, namely the Kindle (£84.99), Kindle Paperwhite (£159.99) and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (£179.99), each with more features than the last. Kobo’s standard eReaders include the Kobo Nia (£94.99) and Kobo Clara 2E (£129).
A step up from the standard ranges, you’ll find the Kindle Oasis (£229.99), Kobo Libra 2 (£169) and Kobo Sage (£259.99), all of which have larger screens and page turning buttons on one edge. The brands’ top of the range and most expensive eReaders are the Kindle Scribe (£409.99) and Kobo Elipsa 2E (£376.06), both of which can be written on with a stylus.
Kindle has an additional device, the Kindle Kids (£104.99), which does what it says on the tin. It has a parent dashboard which allows you to add books, view reading progress, adjust the age filter and set a device bedtime.
After hours of testing, my favourite devices are the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Libra 2, both of which I think offer the best value for money in terms of design, screen quality, storage and battery life. Read on for a more in depth evaluation of how Kindles and Kobos compare in different categories.
Kindle vs Kobo: screen, style and design
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Kobos and Kindles are almost indistinguishable when it comes to style and design, with all models sporting a slim black body and black and white screen. Each model is front-lit, meaning you’re seeing light reflected onto the screen rather than LEDs shining directly into your eyes (as is the case with your mobile phone). Every model released since 2021 also uses E Ink Carta 1200 display technology, which means the text is pin-sharp.
In terms of screen resolution, every Kindle and the majority of Kobo machines use 300 PPI (pixels per inch). The exception is the Kobo Nia, which has a PPI of 212. The difference to the naked eye is slight, but noticeable side by side. The rest of Kobo’s range, which includes the Clara 2E, Elipsa 2E, Libra 2 and Sage all operate at 300 PPI.
Another thing you’ll want for comfortable reading is a decent screen size - the average paperback is nine inches diagonally. You can comfortably read on any eReader larger than six inches, which all Kindles and Kobos are.
One area where the two differ is in materials used. While all Kobos are made from plastic, a couple of the more premium Kindle models (Oasis and Scribe) use aluminium and glass for the screen. The result is a glare-free, scratch-resistant and frankly nicer looking screen. The Kobo Elipsa 2E does use magnesium alloy as well as plastic.
Another design area which might sway a buying decision is waterproofness. You’ll want something with a waterproof rating of IPX8, which is the highest rating you can get. It means the device can be fully submerged, so you can use it in the bath or in a swimming pool. You’ll find that all Kindle and Kobo eReaders except the Kindle, Kindle Scribe, Kobo Nia and Kobo Elipsa are IPX8.
A final feature, which is a nice to have rather than an essential, is page-turning buttons. It might seem a small thing, but it’s noticeably more comfortable, especially if you have joint issues. The Kindle Oasis has this, as does the Kobo Libra 2 and Kobo Sage, but the Oasis also has an aluminium backing and a micro-etched glass screen, making it a winner on the style front.
Winner: Kindle
Kindle vs Kobo: software, storage and bluetooth
eReaders are designed to replicate the experience of reading from paper, so each page takes noticeably longer to load than you would find on a smartphone screen. The Kindles I tried were probably marginally quicker than the Kobos, but there’s very little in it. I found particularly quick response times in the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and the Kindle Oasis, and the Kobo Libra 2.
As for storage, it really depends on the model, rather than whether you buy a Kindle or a Kobo. While books can be stored in the cloud on both devices without taking up internal storage, you’ll want a decent storage in order to build up a library on your device.
The devices with the best storage are the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 32GB, the Kindle Oasis, 32GB, Kobo Libra 2, 32GB and the Kobo Elipsa, 32GB. However, it’s worth noting that the average Kindle book is only 2-3MB, so even an 8GB device will hold thousands of books.
Winner: it’s a tie
Kindle vs Kobo: audiobooks
Another piece of software you might want to consider is Bluetooth connectivity, although this is only important if you’re an audiobook listener. If you already have an Amazon Audible account, consider buying any new Kindle. Once you’ve connected your Amazon account, your audiobooks will appear in your library alongside your ebooks. All new Kobos also have bluetooth connectivity, bar the Kobo Nia.
That said, Kobo audiobooks are rather expensive. An Amazon Audible account will cost you £7.99 a month which includes one free audiobook a month. You can also bank credits if you don’t use them each month. In contrast, Kobo’s audiobooks can only be bought individually. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a 223 page book, costs £14.99.
Neither brand has compatibility for other types of audiobooks. For this reason, I’d recommend Kindles for audiobooks. You’ll want one with decent storage, like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.
Winner: Kindle
Kindle vs Kobo: storefronts
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As with all competitors, Kindles and Kobos do not allow you to use each other’s systems. Kindles are far more rigid, only allowing Kindle ebooks and library loans on their devices.
Kobos, on the other hand, allow epubs from everywhere on the web, as well as from their own online store and library loans. This means you can shop around for a cheaper price across websites like ebooks.com and Google Play Books. The full list of Kobo-compatible ebook formats is: EPUB, HTML, MOBI, PDF, RTF and TXT.
But as to the ease of downloading new books, Kindle takes the win for me. It’s so simple to flick onto the storefront, have a scroll, and download a new book. With Kobos, you can either scan a QR code to pay by your phone or you can add your card details to your account to check out on the device. It’s not too much hassle, but on a direct comparison I do find the Kindle process to be more streamlined.
It’s also worth noting that both Amazon and Rakuten Kobo run their own monthly subscriptions. Kindle Unlimited costs £7.99, while Kobo Plus costs £11.99 (or £8.99, if you only want books). With Amazon Prime Unlimited, you have access to ebooks, audiobooks and magazines, while Kobo Plus is just ebooks and magazines.
The problem I have with both is that new releases or bestsellers are often outside of the deal. For example, the current number one bestselling book is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, according to The Bookseller. It’s not available on Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus. Neither are any of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series along with several other notable omissions.
But for the range of ebooks available to download, I’m giving the best in class for this category to my favourite Kobo device, the Kobo Libra 2.
Winner: Kobo
Kindle vs Kobo: portability and battery life
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Part of the charm of an ebook is the ability to throw it in the pack and not worry about weight, creased pages or only having one spare hand if you’re on the tube or tram. For this to be true, you need a compact, sturdy, lightweight device with a good battery life.
My favourite eReader to travel to and from work with during my testing was the Kindle Oasis. This is because it’s lightweight, weighing just 188g and has a ridge on the back which makes it easy to grip. The page turning buttons make it easy to flip pages and it’s one of the few devices with a glass screen which is completely glare-resistant.
But I wouldn’t take it on holiday and that’s because it lacks battery longevity compared to every other eReader I tried. If you read for a few hours a day, it’ll only last you four or so days whereas even my 10 plus year old first generation Kindle Paperwhite lasts for weeks on end. Instead, I like the Kobo Libra 2 which still has page turning buttons and can also be gripped in one hand.
Weight-wise, eReaders are all much of a muchness, although avoid the higher-end devices designed to rival tablets (Kindle Scribe and Kobo Elipsa), which are heavier. It’s a close-fought battle but for the best combination of lightweight, good battery life and ease of use, I think Kobos just take the edge.
Winner: Kobo
Kindle vs Kobo, which is best?
For portability, style, storage and ease of use, Kindles are better than Kobos. But if you want greater versatility in where you can buy ebooks, consider buying a Kobo. If, however, you’re already signed up to the Amazon ecosystem, buying a Kindle seems the obvious addition.
The best eReaders
Now you know how the brands compare, here are more detailed reviews of their best eReaders to help you make a decision about which one to buy.
1. Kindle Paperwhite (2021 version)
Best eReader overall
We like: one charge lasts for weeks
We don’t like: you’re still reliant on the Amazon store
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- 6.8in, 300 PPI display
- 16 GB storage
- Totally waterproof (IPX8)
- 205g weight
- Up to 10 weeks battery life
Unlike phones, eReaders don’t require regular updates, simply because books don’t demand super-fast cutting edge technology. That’s why the most recent Kindle Paperwhite is from 2021 (previous versions having been released in 2012, 2015 and 2018). There’s not a whole lot of change. Even the 2012 Kindle Paperwhite, of which I am a proud owner, is a compact e-ink device that can fit in a handbag, with weeks of battery and storage for thousands of books.
It still works fine for me today. If you have one, I wouldn’t recommend buying the newest Kindle Paperwhite as an upgrade. Rather, it’s the best option for a newcomer to the world of eReaders.
It’s the second Paperwhite to have an IPX8 waterproof rating, making it a good choice for reading in the bath or poolside on holiday, and it has the longest battery life, claiming 10 weeks compared to the previous model’s six weeks. Bear in mind that this is based on half an hour of reading per day. Personally, I read for between one and two hours, although I’ve always found six weeks of battery life in previous models to be more than enough. But if you do want the creme de la creme, here it is.
The screen is slightly larger than previous models at 6.8 inches compared to six inches, all the while getting closer to the nine inches of an average paperback. It also has warmer colour tones for reading at night, which is far better on the eyes.
The processor is also 20 per cent faster than previous models. Granted, the speed of the processor still isn’t going to break any records, but the pages turn slightly faster and the Amazon storefront loads that little bit quicker. Speaking of which, the obvious downside to any Kindle is that you can only buy ebooks from Amazon. That’s absolutely fine if you’re already wrapped up in the Amazon ecosystem, but you have more flexibility with Rakuten Kobos.
2. Kindle (2022 version)
Best value eReader
We like: comparable performance to the Paperwhite above, for a much cheaper price
We don’t like: it’s not waterproof
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- 6in, 300 PPI display
- 16 GB storage
- Not waterproof
- 158g weight
- Up to six weeks battery life
Amazon’s entry-level Kindle is my best value option because it costs almost half the price of the Amazon Paperwhite above, yet matches it on so many qualities. It definitely shouldn’t be dismissed as Amazon’s cheap option. It feels premium in the hand, especially when matched with a Fabric Cover (£29.99).
To focus on the premium aspects first, the Kindle has a 300 PPI screen, the same resolution as the Paperwhite, 16 GB of storage and up to six weeks of battery life, charged via a USB-C. The screen is six inches, slightly smaller than the Paperwhite but still a completely adequate size to comfortably read.
In fact, the smaller screen and the fact this Kindle only weighs 158g makes it a perfect eReader to travel with. It can fit into a pocket or the smallest of handbags. 16 GB of storage is enough to store up to five thousand books, depending on their sizes. Add onto the fact that you can move books into the Kindle Cloud to free up storage and you’ll realise a massive storage really isn’t a priority.
The biggest drawback to the Kindle is that it isn’t waterproof, although that’s only an issue if you’re a bath or poolside reader. Let’s be honest, we rarely get the weather in Britain to be the latter. If you can overlook the lack of waterproofing, it’s a very solid value option.
3. Kobo Libra 2
Best eReader for travel
We like: the page-turning buttons mean you can use it one-handed
We don’t like: the battery life isn’t quite as good as other eReaders
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- 7in, 300 PPI display
- 32 GB storage
- Totally waterproof (IPX8)
- 215g weight
- Up to 54 hours of battery life
When looking for a Kindle for travel, I wanted one that I could easily pull out and read anywhere, one-handed if necessary. This Kobo Libra 2 by Rakuten matches that description, thanks to the page- turning buttons. The display is still touchscreen, but I find it far easier to grab one end and use the buttons. It means I can hold onto a handle on the tube in my other hand. The text also flips depending on which way up you’re holding the eReader - including horizontally.
The Libra 2 is also waterproof, which is really a must for travelling, whether you’re reading on the beach, risk being caught in a rainstorm or carrying your eReader in the same rucksack as your water bottle.
The seven inch screen makes the reading easy on your eyes and Bluetooth connectivity also means you can listen to audiobooks. However, Kobos are only compatible with audiobooks bought from the Rakuten Kobo store and they’re rather expensive, many hitting the £20 mark (compare this to an Amazon Audible subscription costing £7.99 a month, which includes a monthly complementary audiobook).
However, as mentioned further up, you have much more freedom about where to buy books (as opposed to audiobooks) with a Kobo. You can buy them from anywhere selling e-publications except the Amazon Kindle Store. That means you can shop around for cheaper prices.
My only complaint is that the battery isn’t quite up to scratch. It still lasts around three weeks but that falls far below the standard of the newer Kindles - an issue, if you’re travelling for weeks at a time.
4. Kindle Kids (2022 version)
Best eReader for kids
We like: it comes with a protective case
We don’t like: it’s not waterproof, which seems risky (thankfully it comes with a two year guarantee)
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- 6in, 300 PPI display
- 16 GB storage
- Not waterproof
- 256g weight (including cover)
- Up to six weeks battery life
Despite being for children, the Kindle Kids is no smaller than the regular Kindle above and the only visible difference is a range of cute covers – ocean explorer, space whale, unicorn valley and so on. The real contrast is in the content.
On purchase, you get a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving your child access to thousands of books from Harry Potter to Horrible Histories. But that’s all your child can access. There’s a Parent Dashboard to further limit their downloads to books appropriate to their age. It also lets you set a bedtime shut-off. Really, the whole point of the Kindle Kids is what they can’t do.
There are no apps, videos or games and everything is in black and white. This is quite a hard sell to a Minecraft-obsessed seven year-old but, if you have enough parental authority (good luck with that), it has some nice features like Vocabulary Builder and Word Wise to ‘game-ify’ reading and make it more fun. One nice touch is the option to use the OpenDyslexic font, which is better for kids with reading difficulties.
I downloaded some comics for my nephew, who discovered a clever feature where you can read them frame-by-frame rather than page-by-page. In fact he was much quicker to get to grips with all the controls than I was, which I suppose I should have expected. He seems to feel much more comfortable holding a device than holding a book. Thay may be the killer app of the Kindle Kids: your last hope of getting them to enjoy reading before being sucked into a world of zombie-like scrolling.
5. Kobo Elipsa 2E
Best eReader for writing
We like: you can annotate directly onto ebooks
We don’t like: bizarrely, the screen is lower resolution than lower budget models
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- 10.3in, 227 PPI display
- 32 GB storage
- Not waterproof
- 391g weight
- Up to three weeks battery life
When it comes to choosing an eReader for notetaking, there are only two options: the Kindle Scribe (£409.99) and the Kobo Elipsa 2E, pictured above. Both are the most expensive models from their respective brands, though the Kobo Elipsa 2 comes in slightly cheaper. I prefer the Kobo for the simple reason that you can write directly onto the page, whereas the Kindle only allows you to add digital sticky notes.
The stylus is slim and rechargeable, and magnetically sticks to the top of the Elipsa so you don’t have to worry about losing it. Much like a regular pencil, the top end of the stylus works as a digital eraser which is handier than you’d think. It saves you messing around with settings whenever you make a mistake.
Nothing will quite replace putting pen to paper but I’m impressed by how natural the writing feels on the screen, even if the handwriting does look a little digitalised - perhaps a result of the lower resolution screen. It’ll be perfect for anyone studying English Literature whose novels are usually clad in annotations and sticky notes, I only wish I’d had one at university. There are also notebooks available for scribbling notes, one of which converts handwriting to text.
There is a web browser, but it’s not quick enough to replace Googling a quick answer on your phone. If all you’re after a simple ebook reader, this certainly isn’t the model for you. But if you’re a serial annotator and tired of graffitiing every book you own beyond repair, it’s perfect.
6. Kobo Nia
Best budget eReader
We like: it’s surprisingly compact
We don’t like: it’s quite basic considering it costs more than the cheapest Kindle
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- 6in, 212 PPI display
- 8 GB storage
- Not waterproof
- 172g weight
- Up to four weeks battery life
I stand by my opinion that Amazon’s basic Kindle is the best entry-level eReader. But if you’re after something with more choice when purchasing ebooks, you might consider the Kobo’s cheapest model, the Nia. It’s not too different in appearance, but it has a slightly lower-resolution screen at 212 PPI.
The Nia is unexpectedly small. Although the screen size is six inches, like so many other eReaders, the bezel is much thinner so it’s easy to hold in one hand. A new, faster processor and simple interface makes it a convincing alternative to Kindle. Like the Kindle, it’s also lacking waterproofing which may be a dealbreaker for some, although it’s not for me.
It’s a perfectly good eReader that’s easy to use, has a good battery life and allows you to store thousands of books. It just doesn’t excite me, lacking the polished look of others I tried. It’s definitely a little sturdier, making it a good option for travel. The Kobo Nia is just a good budget eReader without the bells and whistles.
eReader FAQ
What’s the best eReader screen type?
A six or seven inch screen, with a resolution of 300 PPI (pixels per inch) is the best eReader screen type. You also want to avoid a back-lit screen which can tire your eyes. Both Kindles and Kobos use front-lit displays, which means LED lights shine onto the screen instead of shining from the back, directly into your eyes, as is the case with your mobile phone.
Is a Kindle the same as an eReader?
A Kindle is Amazon’s own brand of eReader, whereas Kobo is Rakuten’s brand. As things stand, Kindles and Kobos are really the only two eReader brands you can buy in the UK.
What is the difference between an eReader and a tablet?
An eReader tends to be front lit, meaning the LED lights shine onto the screen and you see the light reflected, whereas tablets are backlit, meaning LED light is shining directly into your eyes. But most importantly, eReaders only hold books, meaning you can read without distractions. Tablets run videos, apps, games and enable fast web browsing, which all make it harder to read without distraction.