Key Points
- Kindle and iBooks are both digital book platforms that provide users with millions of digital books to choose from. E-books bring in an estimated $1.1 billion a year in the U.S. This is accumulated from an estimated 75.2 million e-book readers across the country.For e-books the Kindle is the better option, as there are more books to choose from. As a tablet, the iPad is a better overall device for downloading apps and playing games.
Everybody loves a good e-reader. Initially feared as the one thing that might manage to kill physical media for good, it eventually became clear that — once people actually got their hands on an e-reader — both physical and digital books could exist side by side. However, that is not to suggest that there isn’t a battle going on between all the different varieties of e-readers out there. Take Kindle vs iBooks, for example. The two have been duking it out for more than a decade now.
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Both have their own respective advantages and disadvantages, and neither one is perfect. With that being said, the Kindle vs iBooks debate is definitely a debate worth having. We’ll begin by making a full comparison between Kindle and iBooks, then move on to a side-by-side comparison of their specs. From there, we’ll go over some fast facts about e-books and continue on to an overview of the history of the Kindle and iBooks. Once that’s said and done, we can conclude with an answer as to which e-book platform is truly best.
Full Comparison: Kindle vs iBooks
This is the biggest, most significant difference between Kindle and iBooks: The Kindle exists solely for e-books and audiobooks, while the iBooks app is just one of many countless apps available for Apple devices. From the iPad to the iPhone to the Mac to the Apple Watch, the iBooks app brings the e-book and audiobook experience exclusively to Apple products. The Kindle app, on the other hand, is available across multiple different smartphone and desktop brand names as well as being integrated into the Kindle e-reader.
In other words, one is a device with an app while the other is an app for a device. Sound confusing? It’s actually pretty simple when you think of it this way. Kindle is primarily concerned with being an e-reader first and an e-book store second. iBooks, on the other hand, is an e-book store first. All e-book capabilities come second to this fact. This is evidenced by the way Apple has never made a specific e-reader device and instead chooses to simply make the iBooks app available across its wide range of products.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Kindle vs iBooks
5 Must-Know Facts About E-Books
- 75% of all e-books in the United States are sold from the Kindle store. (Compare that to 95% in the United Kingdom.)E-books bring in an estimated $1.1 billion a year in the U.S. This is accumulated from an estimated 75.2 million e-book readers across the country.While there are far more Kindle e-book sales than iBook sales, there are still more iPads sold than Kindles. American e-book sales have a compound annual growth rate of 13.3% each year.While e-books did not catch on until the mid-to-late 2000s, the first e-book was created in 1971. The book in question? It was the United States Declaration of Independence.
The History of the Kindle
- Kindle Paperwhite – Now with a 6.8” display and thinner borders, adjustable warm light, up to 10 weeks of battery life, and 20% faster page turns.Purpose-built for reading – With a flush-front design and 300 ppi glare-free display that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight.More books in more places – Store thousands of titles, then take them all with you. A single charge via USB-C last weeks, not hours.Easy on the eyes – Now with adjustable warm light to shift screen shade from white to amber.Waterproof reading – Built to withstand accidental immersion in water, so you’re good from the beach to the bath.
The Emergence of iBooks
This broad range of features might suggest that iBooks falls short of the Kindle’s offering simply because it’s not the only feature available to iPad users. However, this isn’t completely true. The iBooks app — also known as Apple Books in some official Apple descriptions — is still full of impressive, competitive features not unlike the Kindle. Initially offered exclusively on the iPad before expanding to the iPhone and the iPod Touch later in 2010, the iBooks app integrates an e-book store with an e-reader for utmost convenience.
As time went on, the iBooks app also made its way to Macs and even Apple Watches. Today, the iBooks app — or Apple Books, depending on where you look — offers affordable e-books, audiobooks, and sleek page-turning software that replicates the look and feel of reading a physical book. What’s more, the iBooks app also allows users to upload PDFs, purchase textbooks, and even gift e-books to other iBooks users. (Not to mention, iPads and other Apple devices are also compatible with the Kindle app, effectively delivering the best of both Kindle and iBooks. This is something Kindle e-readers cannot do.)
Pros and Cons of Kindle vs iBooks
Kindle vs iBooks: Which Is Better?
Without question, the iPad is far more functional and much more versatile than even the most high-end Kindle. You can do more business. You can play more games, and you can run more apps… It’s simply a better tablet, no ifs, and, or buts about it. However, this isn’t a comparison of the iPad vs the Kindle. This is a comparison of Kindle vs iBooks. For this reason, we have to hand it to Kindle.
The Kindle is a device made specifically for reading and listening to e-books. Comparatively, iBooks is merely an app you can download to an Apple device. The Kindle feels like it’s far more dedicated to creating a great e-book experience, while iBooks feels more like an afterthought. It’s just one more feature on a long list of features for Apple devices. The Kindle, on the other hand, is made specifically for e-reading. This dedication is what ultimately makes it the superior e-book option. (Plus, the Kindle app is also available on Apple devices, making it the best of both worlds.)
