vilagai

✓ 57 sourced quotes

Ranked by evidence

Best e-readers

“The best Kindle and best e-reader I've ever had. And I had most of the Kindles throughout the years. It's the perfect size, super fast, backlight is great, Amazon e- book offerings are still the best.” — YouTube comment · @valueink · 2025-04-28 · on the #1 pick, Kindle Paperwhite

  1. 1 Kindle PaperwhiteBest overall 13 quotes
  2. 2 Kindle (Basic)Best value 9 quotes
  3. 3 Kobo Clara BWBest Kindle alternative 13 quotes
  4. 4 Kindle ScribeBest for notes 11 quotes
  5. 5 Kobo Libra ColourBest colour screen 11 quotes
1
Best overall

Kindle Paperwhite

11th or 12th generation; Signature Edition is larger

Illustration of Kindle Paperwhite Illustration of the product
Kindle Paperwhite — thumbnail of a cited video review ▶ From a video review of this product Check price on Amazon →

affiliate link · goes to an Amazon search for this product

Screen
6.8 inch, 300 ppi, warm light
Waterproof
Yes

Why it ranks here. The Paperwhite is the most-discussed reader there is: waterproof, a flush 6.8-inch screen, a warm light for night, weeks of battery, and owners of every Kindle since 2009 calling it the best. It ranks first for that. It ships with ads unless you pay, it is heavier than the 2018 model, and its store is a locked door.

'The best Kindle and best e-reader I've ever had. And I had most of the Kindles throughout the years'↗, says one owner: 'It's the perfect size, super fast, backlight is great'↗. A new owner has 'only charged it once in the 2 weeks I've had it'↗, reading for hours daily. Coming from 167 dpi, '300 dpi is amazing'↗, and the 'warm light is great compared to the bluish light of my old basic'↗. A Signature Edition owner says 'The battery is insane good'↗ next to a Kindle 9 that 'was unbelievably slow'↗. Then the grumbles: the ad and no-ad versions, 'That is pure evil'↗. One viewer finds the Kobo Clara Colour 'so much lighter than my old 2021 Kindle'↗. And the leavers: 'I switched to Kobo and I'm so glad I did. The whole interface is so much better and friendly. And no ads!'↗.

What owners like

  • 'The best Kindle and best e-reader I've ever had'↗, from an owner of most of them
  • 'only charged it once in the 2 weeks I've had it'↗ with hours of daily reading
  • Waterproof, 300 dpi, and a 'warm light is great compared to the bluish light'↗

What owners complain about

  • Ads on the lock screen unless you pay: 'That is pure evil'↗
  • Heavier than the 2018 model, with no page-turn buttons
  • Amazon's closed store; some owners have left for Kobo, 'And no ads!'↗

“The best Kindle and best e-reader I've ever had. And I had most of the Kindles throughout the years. It's the perfect size, super fast, backlight is great, Amazon e- book offerings are still the best.” — YouTube comment · @valueink · 2025-04-28

9 positive · 2 mixed · 2 negative · 13 voices · ✓ all 13 linked to source

Read all 13 quotes (13 voices)
  • I'd recommend the Paperwhite 2021* for... people who want a similar reading experience to a book when it comes to words per page (larger size) and more page-like color (warm light). Don't get this Kindle if a matte/less reflective screen or ease of holding is most important to you.

    Reddit post · u/reluctantredditor822 · r/kindle · 2022-10-30 · read the original ↗

  • We also have to mention the weird bug 9 or 8 had (don’t know about 10) where even at 0 brightness, the LED lights never turned off. It was such bullshit because I always use my kindle Paperwhite at 0 brightness unless I am forced to turn it up and never above 5.

    Reddit comment · u/DoFuKtV · r/kindle · 2022-10-30 · read the original ↗

  • Hmmm I might get this. I’m sick of my Kindle Oasis battery life.

    Reddit comment · u/ladyambrosia999 · r/kindle · 2021-10-26 · read the original ↗

  • With Kindle, you can carry hundreds of books without even sacrificing the space for one medium-sized paperback... In battery performance also the device performs pretty well and goes up to a week on a single charge with at least two to three hours of reading, sometimes more, everyday with some purchases from the store as well.

    Reddit comment · u/olismismi · r/kindle · 2022-01-07 · read the original ↗

  • I do not have any regrets with my purchase... The battery life is amazing. I think I have only charged it once in the 2 weeks I’ve had it, and that is with using it for hours at a time, every single day.

    Reddit post · u/PS-GAMER- · r/kindle · 2024-12-02 · read the original ↗

  • 300 dpi is amazing coming from 167, especially for graphic novels  battery life is really good  having usb c is amazing, wireless charging is nice but not essential and not a reason to get SE over standard paperwhite  warm light is great compared to the bluish light of my old basic, auto adjust is annoying and I always had to adjust it myself so I turned it off

    Reddit post · u/IlCyborg_ · r/kindle · 2024-01-15 · read the original ↗

  • I'm still happy with my kindle 2 from 2009, 17 years ago lol

    YouTube comment · @JT-Money- · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • The best Kindle and best e-reader I've ever had. And I had most of the Kindles throughout the years. It's the perfect size, super fast, backlight is great, Amazon e- book offerings are still the best.

    YouTube comment · @valueink · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • The screen is so crisp that it almost feels like a tablet. I get that it's what a lot of people want but I'm more impressed with Kobo Clara Color. It's so much lighter than my old 2021 Kindle, it has a more grainy look and it really feels like a book.

    YouTube comment · @timestimesx7535 · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I purchased the new Signature Edition. It has been a great experience so far... The battery is insane good so as the screen and the speed. I had a Kindle 9...it was unbelievably slow.

    YouTube comment · @ducapelli · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I switched to Kobo and I’m so glad I did. The whole interface is so much better and friendly. And no ads!

    YouTube comment · @dexterie · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I just bought a Paperwhite. My kindle from 2014 just broke because an entiere bottle of water in my bag spilled and my kindle was ruined.... I loved it but I am ready for the upgrade !

    YouTube comment · @lincoln7554 · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I had no idea they had add and no add versions. That is pure evil.

    YouTube comment · @spiloFTW · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

2
Best value

Kindle (Basic)

11th or 12th generation

Illustration of Kindle (Basic) Illustration of the product
Kindle (Basic) — thumbnail of a cited video review ▶ From a video review of this product Check price on Amazon →

affiliate link · goes to an Amazon search for this product

Screen
6 inch, 300 ppi, cool light
Waterproof
No

Why it ranks here. The basic Kindle has the Paperwhite's 300 ppi screen and USB-C at $65 to $100, in a body that fits a jacket pocket. It ranks second because some Paperwhite owners went back to it, and below the Paperwhite because its light is cold white only and it is not waterproof.

'I had a Paperwhite, but I went back to the Basic. The Basic is smaller, lighter, and doesn't have a glass layer over the screen. The only thing I miss on the Basic is the warm light'↗, says one owner. Another bought it 'to carry it every single day. It fits my cargo pants pockets, my jackets pockets etc'↗. A 2015 Paperwhite owner picked it as 'the best fit'↗ for the size, storage and USB-C. One reviewer's verdict: 'If this just had the Paperwhites's adjustable warmth then I'd never choose the current Paperwhite over this'↗. One got it 'for $80 USD'↗. On the other side, one screen froze at low battery and Amazon called it 'a hardware fault'↗ and offered 15 percent off a new one. And no waterproofing, officially.

What owners like

  • 'The Basic is smaller, lighter, and doesn't have a glass layer over the screen'↗
  • 'It fits my cargo pants pockets, my jackets pockets etc'↗
  • The Paperwhite's screen and USB-C for about half the price

What owners complain about

  • 'The only thing I miss on the Basic is the warm light'↗; the light is cold white only
  • No waterproofing
  • A frozen unit that Amazon called 'a hardware fault'↗ with 15 percent off as the remedy

“I had a Paperwhite, but I went back to the Basic. The Basic is smaller, lighter, and doesn't have a glass layer over the screen. The only thing I miss on the Basic is the warm light. I downloaded all my ebooks before the change.” — YouTube comment · @Lucas_Filipos · 2025-04-28

4 positive · 4 mixed · 1 neutral · 9 voices · ✓ all 9 linked to source

Read all 9 quotes (9 voices)
  • I am going to upgrade from a Kindle Paperwhite 2015 7th gen. To me, 2022 basic model is the best fit. Equivalent size with a much larger storage and USBC port.

    Reddit comment · u/ennisi · r/kindle · 2022-10-30 · read the original ↗

  • I had a Paperwhite, but I went back to the Basic. The Basic is smaller, lighter, and doesn't have a glass layer over the screen. The only thing I miss on the Basic is the warm light. I downloaded all my ebooks before the change.

    YouTube comment · @Lucas_Filipos · 2025-04-28 · watch the original ↗

  • For those thinking to get this or Paperwhite one, I was there too and I bought this. The reason is actually depends on why do you want it and how will you use it?... me personally, bought this to carry it every single day. It fits my cargo pants pockets, my jackets pockets etc, so I carry it around everywhere and read it on subway, bus literally everywhere.

    YouTube comment · @tugrultheman · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • This is probably the best review on the new Kindle I've stumbled across thus far. Appreciate the relevant information with no fluff or padding.

    YouTube comment · @TheGhostRises · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • Great review, Cam. If this just had the Paperwhites’s adjustable warmth then I’d never choose the current Paperwhite over this.

    YouTube comment · @geneticjen9312 · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • Sadly, yesterday, my Kindle screen froze and showed a low battery. Nothing works; hard reset, recharging, changing charging cables and all. Had a chat with Amazon customer support, and apparently, it's a hardware fault, and I was offered 15% off to purchase a new device... I don't want to spend extra on Kindle Paperwhite, so I will keep things basic and simple with this model.

    YouTube comment · @hasrizalofficial · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • Just bought one for $80 USD on Amazon!

    YouTube comment · @mutedtulips · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • I have one of the earlier Paperwhites, 3rd generation, and although it doesn't boast any water resistance rating, it's still extremely water resistant. I use it in the bathtub all the time... I wonder if the 2022 basic Kindle has a similar resistance to water

    YouTube comment · @j.p.9522 · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

  • After years of using the 4th Gen, I "upgraded," to the 10th Gen a few years ago and went for the white model... My one gripe with the 10th (and presumably the 11th?) is that you can't permanently turn off the "progress in book" options. I turn it off but am forever accidentally activating it!

    YouTube comment · @neorich59 · 2022-10-21 · watch the original ↗

3
Best Kindle alternative

Kobo Clara BW

Buy the N365B revision; early P365 units had touch issues

Illustration of Kobo Clara BW Illustration of the product
Kobo Clara BW — thumbnail of a cited video review ▶ From a video review of this product Check price on Amazon →

affiliate link · goes to an Amazon search for this product

Screen
6 inch, Carta 1300
Waterproof
Yes

Why it ranks here. The Clara BW is where Kindle refugees go: a 6-inch matte screen, dark mode, any file format, library loans, no ads, waterproof, and a size owners of every reader call ideal. It ranks third because an early hardware revision had touch bugs and light bleed, and a few units develop ghost touches after years.

'Kobo Clara BW is superior over Paperwhite, I will die on this hill'↗, says one owner. A former Kindle Voyage owner switched 'When Amazon stopped us downloading our purchases'↗, 'in protest'↗. An owner of Paperwhites, an Oasis and several Kobos says '6" is the way to go'↗ because 'your eyes barely feel like they need to move side to side'↗. Another: 'Really nice and light form factor. And - totally amazon free'↗. Manga reads well, but with no card slot 'scans take up too much space'↗. The P365 revision 'was too distracting for me'↗ with 'extreme light bleeding'↗, and the replacement N365B was 'perfektion, no bugs, no light bleeding'↗. A Clara 2E from 2023 has 'been posessed by the dreadful "Ghost Touch" issue'↗, which another owner cured by cleaning the screen edge with a toothbrush. One buyer finds the reading area 'not even 5"'↗.

What owners like

  • '6" is the way to go'↗ for an owner of Paperwhites, an Oasis and several Kobos
  • 'totally amazon free'↗: any format, library loans, no ads
  • Waterproof, with a matte screen and dark mode

What owners complain about

  • Early P365 units with 'extreme light bleeding'↗ and touch bugs
  • A 'Ghost Touch'↗ fault after about three years for some
  • No card slot, so manga 'scans take up too much space'↗

“I have had one of these for two months. It replaced a Kindle Voyage. The Voyage used to do 2-3 weeks on a charge when new but now it only manages 2-3 days... When Amazon stopped us downloading our purchases, I decided to try someone else's ecosystem in protest.” — YouTube comment · @TheRealWindlePoons · 2024-05-28

9 positive · 2 mixed · 2 negative · 13 voices · ✓ all 13 linked to source

Read all 13 quotes (13 voices)
  • This was a masterclass in content delivery. No words wasted, no hyperbole and just pure information delivered succinctly. Great review.

    YouTube comment · @TraumaTeamRacing · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • Kobo it is then , i will not fed these greedy leeches from amazon 😊

    YouTube comment · @devilhaque · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I own several ebook readers, kindle paperwhite, oasis, libra, clara, clara hd, clara 2e. I have to say 6" is the way to go. Most comfortable for reading cuz your eyes barely feel like they need to move side to side, and the 6" models are always pocketable for me, regardless of their body/bezel.

    YouTube comment · @moltenbullet · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I have had one of these for two months. It replaced a Kindle Voyage. The Voyage used to do 2-3 weeks on a charge when new but now it only manages 2-3 days... When Amazon stopped us downloading our purchases, I decided to try someone else's ecosystem in protest.

    YouTube comment · @TheRealWindlePoons · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • Love my kobo clara bw. Really nice and light form factor. And - totally amazon free.

    YouTube comment · @petercarlsson6606 · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • got this model a week ago. it's actually excellent for reading manga, i found it superior to using a phone or tablet. sadly scans take up too much space for me to carry a meaningful number of volumes with me. if it had a microSD card slot this device would've been perfect.

    YouTube comment · @jiru331 · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • I just received my Kobo Clara BW and the screen size is way smaller than what the specs say. Specs say 6" but the reading screen is not even 5". Anyone else finding this?

    YouTube comment · @trillium.3.24 · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

  • FWIW I bought a brand new BW last week and it's an N365B. So yeah, don't worry about it unless you're planning to buy second hand. Don't go Kindle unless you want Amazon to dictate how you use your device. I made the switch to Kobo a year ago, and having the freedom to put whatever book format I want on it should be the norm.

    Reddit comment · u/BullioMarf · r/kobo · 2026-09-01 · read the original ↗

  • I had the P-version and returned it. The Bug was too distracting for me and the bottom corners ahd extreme light bleeding. I asked the shop if they could send me the N-Version and they did. It's perfektion, no bugs, no light bleeding...

    Reddit comment · u/ImaginationDry1840 · r/kobo · 2026-09-02 · read the original ↗

  • I had no idea this was a thing and I have the P365 version. I haven’t had any of the above issues. Maybe the occasional missed page turn when I have pressed firmly enough, but nothing I wouldn’t expect to happen on my kindle.

    Reddit comment · u/The_Cuddly_Cactus · r/kobo · 2026-09-02 · read the original ↗

  • Bought the Kobo Clara 2E last 2023 and it was my first e-reader. Sad to say it has now been posessed by the dreadful "Ghost Touch" issue. The screen is randomly responding to some input that I am not making.

    Reddit post · u/Sunnychic123 · r/kobo · 2026-09-03 · read the original ↗

  • Carefully clean all around the inside edge of the screen. I had a similar issue with my last kobo and it turns out I am just gross. I used a clean dry toothbrush and all kinds of gunk came off, then the screen stopped responding to the wishes of the gunk and listened to me again

    Reddit comment · u/unlovelyladybartleby · r/kobo · 2026-09-03 · read the original ↗

  • Kobo Clara BW is superior over Paperwhite, I will die on this hill

    Reddit comment · u/Ok-Spite-5454 · r/kobo · 2026-08-30 · read the original ↗

4
Best for notes

Kindle Scribe

Original black-and-white, or the Colorsoft

Illustration of Kindle Scribe Illustration of the product
Kindle Scribe — thumbnail of a cited video review ▶ From a video review of this product Check price on Amazon →

affiliate link · goes to an Amazon search for this product

Screen
10.2 inch, 300 ppi, pen included
Waterproof
No

Why it ranks here. The Scribe is the Kindle you write on: a 10.2-inch screen with a paper texture, a pen that feels real, and PDF notes for students and reviewers. It ranks fourth because it costs $339 to $700, it is a sit-up device, and early units could not annotate a PDF copied over USB.

'I can't say enough good things about the screen'↗, says one owner. 'The texture is very nice too where writing on it feels similar to writing on a piece of paper'↗, and 'The pen feels so natural'↗. A book reviewer who reads PDFs for a journal calls it 'One of the best investments I have ever made'↗. A parent bought it as a 'school book and notebook replacement'↗ and finds it 'truly awesome'↗. One iPad refugee read 100 pages 'and felt fresh'↗. The Colorsoft version is 'the BEST Kaleido 3 screen on the market'↗ for one reviewer, bought at $479 on Prime Day. The catches: a PDF copied over USB 'isn't converted and you can't annotate'↗, 'False advertisement indeed'↗. And the price: '$700 for an ereader - nah'↗.

What owners like

  • Writing 'feels similar to writing on a piece of paper'↗, and 'The pen feels so natural'↗
  • 'One of the best investments I have ever made'↗ for a PDF-reading reviewer
  • The Colorsoft is 'the BEST Kaleido 3 screen on the market'↗

What owners complain about

  • '$700 for an ereader - nah'↗; $339 at the bottom
  • A USB-copied PDF 'isn't converted and you can't annotate'↗
  • Big and heavy; a desk device, not a bed one

“The Screen: I can't say enough good things about the screen. It is beautiful and more than big enough to read on comfortably. The texture is very nice too where writing on it feels similar to writing on a piece of paper. The Pen: The pen feels so natural. In my hand, it feels close to a real pen I would use to write on paper.” — Reddit post · u/lifting_and_coding · r/kindle · 2023-01-15

9 positive · 2 negative · 11 voices · ✓ all 11 linked to source

Read all 11 quotes (11 voices)
  • The Screen: I can't say enough good things about the screen. It is beautiful and more than big enough to read on comfortably. The texture is very nice too where writing on it feels similar to writing on a piece of paper. The Pen: The pen feels so natural. In my hand, it feels close to a real pen I would use to write on paper.

    Reddit post · u/lifting_and_coding · r/kindle · 2023-01-15 · read the original ↗

  • this is the reason of buying it: to move away from ipad screen (bad for my eyesight after like 20 minutes of reading and get so tired after reading like over 1.5-2 hours per day)... yesterday evening I read 100 pages on Scribe and felt fresh with no need to take my eyes from the screen (especially when I read without the backlight)

    Reddit post · u/ReviProject88 · r/kindle · 2022-12-07 · read the original ↗

  • What I learnt from the review is that the Kindle Scribe doesn’t mark up PDF files. When you send a pdf to your kindle scribe it gets converted to a .kfx and then you can annotate. However, if you transfer the pdf via a usb for example, the pdf isn’t converted and you can’t annotate on the pdf. False advertisement indeed.

    Reddit post · u/Pathocyte · r/kindle · 2022-12-22 · read the original ↗

  • Now, I don’t know what kind of voodoo magic Amazon has created to make the screen of the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft as good as it is, but it’s the BEST Kaleido 3 screen on the market. Text is crisp, the color is expressive, and it looks almost like printed paper.

    Reddit post · u/Alexilprex · r/kindle · 2026-07-02 · read the original ↗

  • I’m sure it’s nice. $700 for an ereader - nah.

    Reddit comment · u/Eofkent · r/kindle · 2026-07-03 · read the original ↗

  • I am a new Kindle Scribe ColorSoft owner. I bought my 32gb Graphite during the Amazon Prime Day for $479 plus tax. $150 off the regular price. I love it... I find reading on it so great that I’m neglecting my TV watching.

    Reddit comment · u/Then-Strawberry-2527 · r/kindle · 2026-07-08 · read the original ↗

  • I honestly don’t know why your channel doesn’t have at least 500k subscriptions. Your content is short, simple and very informative. Keep it up!

    YouTube comment · @adeyinkasokunbi8132 · 2023-06-04 · watch the original ↗

  • I review books for ALA's review journal, which are now all pdfs that did not play well with Kindle. Now I can read the pdfs without adjusting every page, write my review in a notebook, and send a text version to myself to copy and paste into the review form... One of the best investments I have ever made.

    YouTube comment · @donnascanlon28 · 2023-06-04 · watch the original ↗

  • So glad I saw your video, got it for my daughter as a school book and notebook replacement. It may not have android, but as a note taking device it is truly awesome. Love the turn on speed, love the low lag, and the great price.

    YouTube comment · @ead0601 · 2023-06-04 · watch the original ↗

  • What bugs me are the reviewers that give this product one star because it didn't work out of the box or they were too dumb to figure it out. If it doesn't work send it back and get another one. It couldn't be easier with Amazon.

    YouTube comment · @dougschust1 · 2023-06-04 · watch the original ↗

  • Make the shortcut button your eraser :) It's even faster than flipping it over. Never turned back!

    YouTube comment · @jon-sully · 2023-06-04 · watch the original ↗

5
Best colour screen

Kobo Libra Colour

Illustration of Kobo Libra Colour Illustration of the product
Kobo Libra Colour — thumbnail of a cited video review ▶ From a video review of this product Check price on Amazon →

affiliate link · goes to an Amazon search for this product

Screen
7 inch colour, Kaleido 3, stylus support
Waterproof
Yes

Why it ranks here. The Libra Colour is Kobo's flagship: page-turn buttons, a 7-inch colour screen, a stylus, library loans, and the device most Kindle leavers bought in 2025. It ranks last because the colour layer makes text grainier and dimmer than a black-and-white Kobo, and Bluetooth drains it in a day.

'I've had a Kindle for more than a decade, but have switched to the Kobo Libra Colour. It's a much friendlier and more tactile device, and I'm reading so much more on it'↗, says one owner. Another downloaded her Kindle library before Amazon's deadline and is 'Very, very happy with my Libra Colour'↗. A 600-hour owner says it 'does not give me eye strain'↗ and 'at least i can download my books to the computer'↗. The screen divides: 'The colour screen has A LOT less contrast than the BW screen from the Libra 2'↗; one manga reader says 'The Libra 2 is very crisp'↗ by comparison; another wishes 'it was without colour as text is less crisp'↗. One owner: 'It's not good for reading at all. It gives me eye strain'↗. And Bluetooth forces wifi on: 'Mine dropped over 50% on day one from a full charge'↗.

What owners like

  • 'a much friendlier and more tactile device, and I'm reading so much more on it'↗
  • Page-turn buttons, library loans, and 'i can download my books to the computer'↗
  • Colour covers and highlights, with a stylus

What owners complain about

  • 'A LOT less contrast than the BW screen from the Libra 2'↗; 'text is less crisp'↗
  • 'It gives me eye strain'↗ for one owner
  • With Bluetooth on, 'Mine dropped over 50% on day one from a full charge'↗

“I’ve had a Kindle for more than a decade, but have switched to the Kobo Libra Colour. It’s a much friendlier and more tactile device, and I’m reading so much more on it.” — YouTube comment · @esthereley6808 · 2025-05-16

5 positive · 5 mixed · 1 negative · 11 voices · ✓ all 11 linked to source

Read all 11 quotes (11 voices)
  • There is a big difference in clarity. The Libra 2 is very crisp... I totally recommend a BW Kobo if your goal is to read manga... Surprisingly, I prefer reading on the Kobo Libra Colour while in a naturally lit setting.

    Reddit post · u/Major-Goose-6320 · r/kobo · 2026-08-26 · read the original ↗

  • The display is great, the colors look amazing, and so does the black and white. The screen and stylus and buttons are all very responsive... I am so, so happy right now, and I can tell I’m going to really enjoy this device and get a lot of use out of it 😍

    Reddit post · u/throwawayfatbitch · r/kobo · 2026-08-27 · read the original ↗

  • It's not good for reading at all. It gives me eye strain , I can't use it freely because of how much expensive it is and honestly Kindle Paperwhite is superior... Screen is grainy, battery life sucks and stylus doesn't work half of the time.

    Reddit post · u/touchofmal · r/kobo · 2026-08-30 · read the original ↗

  • Well considering i have read over 600 hours on the KLC since purchasing it almost a year ago, I can say its worth it and does not give me eye strain. Noticeable improvement over my old Kindle 10th gen ,and at least i can download my books to the computer unlike Kindle.

    Reddit comment · u/Spandrkmv · r/kobo · 2026-08-30 · read the original ↗

  • I found out the hard way that you can't use Bluetooth without Wi-Fi also coming on — it's in Kobo's own support docs. So if you want a Bluetooth page turner, you're trading away the battery life this thing is sold on. Mine dropped over 50% on day one from a full charge... it's a letdown on a $260 device.

    Reddit post · u/Repulsive-Camp2715 · r/kobo · 2026-09-03 · read the original ↗

  • I’ve had a Kindle for more than a decade, but have switched to the Kobo Libra Colour. It’s a much friendlier and more tactile device, and I’m reading so much more on it.

    YouTube comment · @esthereley6808 · 2025-05-16 · watch the original ↗

  • I had an extensive library of books on my Kindle but with Amazon's decision to no longer allow downloads to your computer, etc. I downloaded all my books before that deadline, and then invested in the Libra Colour... Very, very happy with my Libra Colour.

    YouTube comment · @PaulaScardamalia · 2025-05-16 · watch the original ↗

  • The colour screen has A LOT less contrast than the BW screen from the Libra 2. This really annoyed me in the beginning and I actually thought of giving this one to my daughter and taking the Libra 2 back. However the difference in responsiveness held me back.

    YouTube comment · @deblaiser · 2025-05-16 · watch the original ↗

  • I got a new Kindle Paperwhite Signature and I hate it - it's so awkward to hold... But the Kobo is my future. Also Kobo Plus is very very good - it doesn't have the indie books that KU has but it is great for many audio and e books.

    YouTube comment · @joujoureads · 2025-05-16 · watch the original ↗

  • As a guy, I'm tired of black everything. A beautiful white ereader with an earthy green case is a wonderful change of pace.

    YouTube comment · @abgamma · 2025-05-16 · watch the original ↗

  • I bought Libra for these key factors - page turn buttons, google drive integration, and slightly bigger screen. But I wished it was without colour as text is less crisp on this one... I wished I had bought clara, if clara had gdrive integration and page turn buttons it would be the best e reader in the world!

    YouTube comment · star-.-butterfly · 2024-05-28 · watch the original ↗

Frequently asked questions

Kindle or Kobo?

Kindle has the biggest store, the smoothest software and easy family sharing, and it locks you in: since 2025 you cannot download purchased books to a computer. Kobo reads EPUB and PDF files you load yourself, borrows library books through Libby, and shows no ads. Owners who switched name that freedom as the reason. A few note that Kindle's accessibility and text-to-speech are still ahead.

Is a colour screen worth it?

Split. Colour covers, comics and highlights are nice. The Kaleido colour filter makes text dimmer, grainier and lower in contrast than a plain black-and-white panel, and some owners get eye strain reading novels on it. If you mostly read text, most owners say buy the Clara BW, the basic Kindle or the Paperwhite.

How long does the battery last?

Weeks per charge for most owners, a month for some, with the light low and wifi off. A Bluetooth page-turner forces wifi on for many Kobos and drains it in a day. Old units fade: a Kindle Voyage that did three weeks new manages three days after years.

Is a writing tablet like the Scribe worth it over a plain reader?

For PDF marking, journals and student notes, owners call it one of the best purchases they have made. It costs $339 to $700, it is a two-handed sit-up device rather than a bed reader, and early units could only annotate PDFs sent through Amazon's converter, not ones copied over USB.

How this ranking was made

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