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5 Must-Know Facts: Kobo vs. Kindle

  • Kobo’s first e-reader was released in 2010 with Bluetooth and a D-pad, but no Wi-Fi.The Kindle was introduced 2 years before the Nook.The name Kobo is an anagram for the word book.More than 20 versions of the Kindle have been released since 2007.The first Kindle Paperwhite launched on October 1, 2012.

Kobo Clara HD vs. Kindle Paperwhite: What’s the Difference?

With that in mind, here’s how these devices stack up against one another.

Display

One of the reasons to choose an e-reader over a traditional tablet is the display. While you won’t find any QHD panels on these devices, both are designed for reading indoors or outside in full sunlight.

The Kindle Paperwhite has a 6.8” display with a pixel density of 300 PPI. The resolution is listed at 1236 x 1648p, compared to the Kobo Clara HD at 1072 x 1448p. The Clara HD has a smaller 6” display, although the pixel density is still 300 PPI.

Both touchscreen displays have an anti-reflective coating with backlighting. The E-ink panel on the Clara HD has a front-lighting system with a total of 13 LEDs: 7 blue and 7 orange. The color temperature makes it easy to read during the day or night without eyestrain, thanks to the ComfortLight PRO system.

As for the Kindle Paperwhite, it has 17 LEDs giving it a slight edge. It has a larger screen with a higher resolution, but both devices are easy on the eyes in a variety of conditions.

eBook Compatibility

The second area to consider once you’ve looked at the display of an e-reader is the selection of books you can read and the formats available. That can make or break a device, and it’s where things begin to get interesting between the Kobo and Kindle.

If you want to read things from outside those stores, things open up considerably for the Kobo, which supports 15 file formats including CBZ, CBR, TXT, FilePub, ePUB, JPB, and more. It allows you to read comic books with images sans conversion on an e-ink display and can handle HTML files and PDFs, just like the Kindle.

The Paperwhite can read many of the same formats along with PMP through conversion and PRC. You’ll have to remove DRM from Kobo titles to get them to work on the Kindle, however. As the Kindle uses MOBI while Kobo sticks to EPUB, you can’t carry titles over to the other platform without performing a few tech tricks or using an app.

Audiobooks

Devices like the Kindle and Kobo were initially designed for reading, but that changed with the rise of audiobooks. If you enjoy listening to books as much as reading them, this is an area where the 11th generation of the Kindle Paperwhite is a clear winner.

The Kobo Clara HD does not support audiobooks in any way, shape, or form. That’s due to an omission under the hood as there’s no Bluetooth module or 3.5mm headphone jack on the Clara HD.

The newest version of the Kindle Paperwhite has Bluetooth capabilities, although it doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can use Bluetooth earbuds to enjoy books from Audible, considering it’s built-in.

Battery Life

You don’t need a battery to read a physical book unless you’re trying to do so in the dark with a book light. E-readers are portable, so battery life is critical with these types of devices unless you want to be tethered to a wall outlet.

A 9W adapter can slash charging times to 2.5 hours on the Kindle. Kobo’s reader also supports fast charging, although we were unable to find an accurate time. How long each battery will actually last depends on your reading habits and brightness levels, but the Paperwhite can go 10 weeks between charges.

Hardware

When comparing smartphones or tablets, it’s important to take a look under the hood. Components like the processor, memory, and storage are critical with these devices but tend to take a backseat to e-readers.

The Paperwhite has a 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM. You’ll find the same hardware beneath the glass on the Kobo Clara HD. Both devices are also capped with 8GB of onboard storage, which is not expandable.

Features

Companies that manufacture e-readers and other types of consumer tech rely on features to help set their product apart from the competition. The Paperwhite and Clara HD aren’t two devices known for flagship features, but there are a few that certainly stand out.

The 11th generation of the Kindle Paperwhite is 10% brighter than the previous generation and has a “warm” reading light feature. The lighting doesn’t adjust automatically and there’s no auto orientation if you want to read in landscape mode.  

There are around 6 fonts on the Paperwhite e-reader and you can adjust the size, margin width, and line spacing. You’re able to do the same thing on the Kobo Clara HD, but it comes with 12 fonts out of the box.

The Kobo Clara HD has a similar set of features, so you can take notes or highlight passages as you read. Neither device has a fully functional web browser, although you’ll get Bluetooth on the Paperwhite. That e-reader also has IPX8 certification, so it’s resistant to water.

Kobo Clara HD vs. Kindle Paperwhite 11: Pricing and Availability

  • 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.

  • Get more with Signature Edition – Everything in the Kindle Paperwhite, plus wireless charging, auto-adjusting front light, and 32 GB storage.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 reading time – A single charge via USB-C or compatible Qi wireless charger (sold separately) now lasts up to 10 weeks.Adjustable screen – Now with adjustable warm light and auto-adjusting front light for a personalized reading experience, day or night.More books in more places – Store thousands of titles, then take them all with you.

  • 𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 & 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 - Kobo Libra 2’s improved 7" HD E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen delivers a faster display, quicker page…𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 - Kobo Libra 2’s ergonomic design feels good in your hands. Keep the story moving by swiping the touchscreen, or use…𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗜𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘 - Kobo Libra 2 supports Kobo Audiobooks with Bluetooth wireless technology. Think of it as a hands-free reading option,…𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙* - You can take your story to the park, the beach, the tub, or even out in the rain. Life happens, rain or shine, now your reading life…𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 - 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝟮𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 - Kobo Libra 2 comes with 32GB of storage,…

  • 𝗔𝗗𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 & 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟 – The Kobo Clara HD has ComfortLight PRO to…𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗘-𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 – It has a natural, print-like reading experience on its 6" high-definition 300PPI screen. Unlike your tablet or…𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝟲𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 – With 8GB of storage take your entire book collection everywhere you go. Browse over 6 million titles at any time, on…𝗔 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘 – Easily customizable features help you read the way you want to. Choose from over…𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 – The Kobo Clara HD eReader has a battery life that lasts for weeks*, so you can experience uninterrupted…

Kobo vs. Kindle: Which is Better?

What do you want from an e-reader? Are you looking for a device you can take on vacations or use for audiobooks? If so, the answer is easy, as the Kindle Paperwhite is the best choice. Bluetooth and IPX8 certification are major advantages over the Clara HD, even if the specifications are largely the same.

While we feel both e-readers are excellent choices, the Kindle Paperwhite 11 is the winner in our eyes. It’s not much more expensive than the Clara HD, but has a larger ecosystem, Bluetooth, and can handle a spilled drink or a quick dunk in the pool.

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