I agree. The only reason I'm going to stick with the Kobo is because the eco system works better in my country with Kobo than with Kindle. My library is supported on kobo and I get Kobos Kindle unlimited alternative.
If ever Kindle unlimited goes global, I'll be back.
I was pro-Kobo until Amazon AU made it so much easier to be a Kindle owner in NZ. I haven't looked back since getting my first Paperwhite about 4 years ago. I like that Kobo's Plus includes ebooks and audio in the price, but the selection isn't very good unfortunately.
The Kindle just feels more premium. And I like that premium feel a lot. And buying books is so easy, and finding cheap books. And finding cute cases and accessories. It's just more to love with a Kindle.
I get that but kindle isn’t available everywhere. I love how kobo is more low vision friendly than kindle. Why is kindle still slow on adding feature for low vision users? Kobo is way ahead, and it’s annoying. And why can’t they had built in Libby support like every other e-reader? The UI also needs to change bc I hate how you organize
I agree. I bought a Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard in 2011 and my first book was how to win friends and influence people for a sales job. It was and still is one of the coolest gadgets ive ever owned because I've never seen an e-ink display before, and the battery lasted like a month because there was no backlit screen at the time. I have probably almost 1000 books now and I would not be reading without it because I don't like buying and having paper books clutter up my room. Being able to browse a store and buy books at like 2am in the morning is something people take granted these days now lol.
Do you mean the Kindle physically feels more premium?
Because I’m not sure how the Kindle’s reading experience feels more premium when it’s blatantly designed first and foremost to sell you more stuff from Amazon, from the ads to pushing results from the store to the top of searches. It’s the exact opposite of immersive; it’s tacky and intrusive.
I think most Kindle readers have subconsciously trained themselves to accept and ignore this intrusiveness so it kind of fades into the background, like how we all develop “banner-ad blindness” when browsing the internet. You don’t realize until how subpar the experience is until you step outside it and experience something different.
Yes, physically. How it feels in the hand. The kobo feels cheap and plasticky. It IS a cheap plastic device, but it doesn't have to feel like it. Add some grip to the back so it's better to hold, that would have helped a lot because it's so light. Or make the screen and the bezel one surface so it's not always dusty in the corners and the screen feels bigger. Just small things like that.
Yeah, this is the reason I have both a kobo and a kindle. If I buy books it’ll be for my kindle since that’s where majority of my books already are. But for library books I need a kobo so for me it’s best of both worlds.
I have an older kobo though and I love it. It reminds me of my Paperwhite 3 more than anything
Are you in the US? As an American, I don't have any problems borrowing library books. I do virtually all of my internet browsing on my phone. If I'm on amazon and find a book I want, I go to Libby (also on my phone) to see if the library has it. If so, I borrow it or put on hold. I don't do anything else because I've sent it to my kindle. If I see a book on kindle and it's free, and if I want it, I buy it that way. I seldom buy books any longer.
Yeah, the big reason I swapped from Kindle to Kobo was because of library lending. I wouldn't have swapped if Kindle was library compatible in my country.
I mean it depends on what you’re looking for in ‘global’. If you want to see books in your native language or authors from where you are, then yes it’s not global at all unfortunately. However, if you can get your hands on a US Kindle, you can just login to amazon.com (us website) and get the kindle unlimited, so the subscription is not inaccessible in other parts of the world. I’m living in a country where Kindles aren’t officially sold so no Kindle device or books (even for the application) on our national Amazon website. I got a Kindle from the US and logged in with my amazon account which I also use in the US and I’m also subscribed to unlimited.
> I can't help but wonder if I'm missing out on something
different people like different brands for different reasons. some people love Coke, some people love Pepsi; neither is right or wrong, it just makes them different.
You... you... you compared Coke with Pepsi... How dare you... I haven't seen anyone being so brutal and insensitive on reddit ever... you need to mend your ways... 😋
I do love my kindle and do still use it sometimes but I had to switch to kobo as if you’re not in the US, kindle features are much lesser. In the UK we can’t get library books on kindle as our libraries mainly use BorrowBox.
I live in US and only use Libby. I’ve never bought books with money and never will. But sometimes I feel l8ke I paid too much for my kindle with what it has to offer. Yes it has Libby but it lacks lots of things like accessibility that other brands like kobo offers
Libby and kindle are getting annoying bc they changed how you can return library books now and you have to sign in to Amazon every time you wanna sent a book over…. Like wtf
Yep, Canada is improving but when I had a kindle ages ago I ended up getting rid of it and changing to kobo because I couldn’t access library books on kindle. It was awful.
FYI it isn’t that hard to set up kobo so you have use Dropbox with it and easily add books without a cord, but it is annoyingly not standard.
But of course, everybody likes different things and kindles are great- kindle is just notably not as good in places that aren’t the US.
I’ve stopped buying books. I only get them from the library now and I’ve gone through most of their hard copies that I’m interested in so had to get a kobo to access the ebooks (I’m not reading on my phone need an e-reader). I worked out that if I borrow 13 books from the library then I will have offset the cost of my kobo, whereas with the kindle, there’s no offsetting the cost as a lot of books cost the same as hard copies these days.
Yeah I hate how some books cannot e sent to kindle but could possibly,y be opened on kobo with Libby. I have never paid for an ebook either. And KU isn’t my favorite unless I like an author but even when I get the free months offers I don’t use it as much? It doesn’t appeal to me and the recommendations it offers are always KU books even though the books I read are best sellers by big authors from my library
You use a computer to download the book to adobe digital editions (free) then plug your kobo in and drag it across to the file. When you eject your kobo it’s there.
Can get library books on Libby at my library no problem. It's mind bogglingly simple. I only clicked on to this ages months ago and it's a total game changer
>all of my library borrows appear together on my Kindles
You're lucky.
I am happy with my Kindle (as a device) and the Amazon ecosystem is certainly convenient for many things. But honestly, I'm starting to get fed up with the fact that Amazon treats non-U.S. users as second-class customers. I can understand that the U.S. market is the largest, but if I can accept, for example, the greater number of device variations (like different colors), I cannot tolerate the lack of features in my country. I pay for the service and the device exactly like an American user. Why the hell, for example, is Bluetooth blocked on the software side in my country? Why can't I borrow books from my library?
This lack of consideration for non-US users is the main reason why I am seriously considering switching to Kobo.
I never understood why Amazon treats their non US market like bald headed stepchildren and this is coming from someone from the US. Like why are certain colors only available here but not internationally? Why is kindle unlimited only available in the US market? Don't even get me started on the libby/overdrive topic....
Yeah, I don't understand it either. I don't think they lack resources. If Kobo can do it, I don't see why Amazon couldn't do it. Here in Italy we have Kindle Unlimited. The biggest limitation, from my point of view, is the inability to read library books. And blocking bluetooth doesn't really make sense either, since the devices have all the necessary hardware. Again, I can accept a limited number of colors, because although they are nice, it is still a relatively important aesthetic thing. But for the same price, the functionality should be the same.
I'm new to kindle, ebooks and got into reading again after 20 years because I bought a scribe just to take notes as a cheaper alternative to an ipad, but then got hooked on reading because of the three month trial on kindle unlimited. And I'm spanish in spain, didn't know there are countries who can't access :/
I think the answer to KU being US-only is explained by geofencing and licensing.
Like for example, they have or used to have the Harry Potter books. But if in some other country (say UK) somebody else (say Waterstones) has bought the distribution rights, then Amazon can't legally offer it there. And with HP it's very likely that someone already has the rights bought in almost every country, if not all, so Amazon can only distribute it in the US.
And this goes for every book KU has, sure for the indie ones Amazon can distribute them everywhere, as no one else bought the licence for them, but still KU would have to manage every book in every country separately, since their availability might differ. So I guess they just opted out of all this and stuck to the US for simplicity.
Might have something to do with the fact that the black kindles are made of 90% recycled plastic iirc and the other colours aren't, maybe there are EU and UK laws surrounding environmental waste ?
Publishing rights are only country wide, which means, Amazon would need to maintain a separate KU library for each country. The EU could be combined, but e.g. UK, Norway or Switzerland would be separat. And then these markets become too small to uphold such an operation.
Yes, the library thing is annoying here too. I was excited to get stuck into using the library apps on my Kindle only to discover they're not available in NZ. I can read them on my tablet sure, but that's not as convenient for me as it could have been with my Kindle. Those services are obviously available in other countries, so why can't we use our Kindles for it like the US?
Yes, I also read them from my tablet or phone. But I already work in front of the PC screen all day, I would rather rest my eyesight at least while reading.
When I moved to France, I switched my Amazon US account to a FR one. Both Bluetooth and Goodreads integration just disappeared from the ereader after that, like what???
I recently changed to a Kobo, now I can borrow books from my local library and I can simply copy EPUBs without going through an online service.
I don't understand why I can't have kindle unlimited. Sure, Amazon does not sell books in my language, but there are a lot of people who read in English anyway. Or you can be someone from English speaking country living abroad.
Reading experience is great. Everything else sucks for me. I am mostly annoyed that kindle doesn't have series tag for books.
Not just my library, but library systems all over the world. Amazon should provide software side the way to read the format used by virtually the whole world.
For me it is greener. First of all as a non US citizen it is not as easy to get your library borrows onto the kindle. It is easier with a Kobo.
Also you may find the plugins in calibre etc cumbersome, but once installed you never look at them again.
Which also brings me to the point why I like my Kobo now more as the Oasis or Voyage I have. An easy way to sort my books. Without jailbreak or sideloading them to Amazon there is no way to easily sort them on collections (and even over the browser in your Amazon library it is not easy). Now I get series easily through my „series“ tab in calibre and if I want to further sort it (like biography, urban, etc) in collections. As someone who tends to store many books on my ereaders (I often re-read books or look up things) this is a godsend. For example I have around 1k books on my oasis. And on an old Sony PRS-T1 even 3k (was once a copy of all my books…. Before I found Project Gutenberg).
Sure the screen is not as crisp as could be because I have another layer above it for color. But as someone who reads also physical books I don‘t find it a dealbreaker. Looks to me like the paper publisher uses. Yeah the icing on the cake for me would be if it is as crisp as on my Oasis but as stated I am alright with it.
[https://send.djazz.se/](https://send.djazz.se/) is great for sideloading books onto your Kobo and is almost as convenient as Send to Kindle.
I really don't like that you can't sync sideloaded books with the Kobo iPhone app and your ereader. That might be the one reason why I stick with my Kindle and return my Kobo.
As someone who will probably get a Kobo once my kindle dies this is actually really helpful. A lot of the issue you've had just won't effect me at all. I already sideload books, I'm not the in US so can't use library books on the kindle at all, and I already know I won't be going for the colour variant and the BW screen seems to be the best quality currently available.
Didn't realise I'd need to instal plug ins for things like the time, but if it's possible to do I don't mind.
Yess come on over to the dark side :) I switched to Kobo a few years and haven’t looked back. I adore my Libra 2 and reading on it is a joy which I never felt with my PW.
It’s valid to prefer one over the other but it bugs me that some of the things the OP complains about are incorrect and amounts to spreading misinformation.
You can use send.djazz.se to transfer books wirelessly (though I personally sideload exclusively through Calibre).
You don’t need to install anything for the clock—only if you want it to persist on the screen while you’re reading. On the flip side, Kobo is amazingly customizable and I love its openness to tweaking… for example, I can configure the font weight even for sideloaded fonts and I’ve added a patch so that font size and line spacing are increased/decreased in smaller increments.
You’re also not locked into Amazon’s walled garden forever (walls that they’re constantly working on making higher and higher).
Many eons ago a tried a kobo (kobo glo) after having used a kindle for about 3 years. I think I lasted about 4-5 days before I retuned it and went back to the 2nd gen paperwhite.
I love Kobos but of course to each their own. A couple of advice tho that can make your life with Kobo better:
- Even if Clara doesn't have the Google Drive official support, you can still unlock it really quickly with NickelMenu, so even if you still don't get whispersync for sideloaded books, you can download your books on the go without the need of a PC.
Also you can use https://send.djazz.se/ , which already convert your ePubs in kepubs
- second advice is indeed to use Kepubs instead of epubs (if you didn't already do it), the formatting of the page is definitely better, plus it unlocks all the cool stuff, a bit like using azw3 instead of mobi on Kindle.
You can use Calibre or the site I linked above.
Probably unpopular opinion but I don’t understand why a color e-ink reader is so coveted. Unless you’re reading graphic novels or magazines I don’t really see the big advantage? I read my graphic novels on a tablet, the touch screen is more responsive than an e-ink display and I can easily zoom in and out of panels if needed. I’ve read manga on my kindle before and even though no color is needed for these, the reading experience wasn’t great because of the slower refresh rate and difficulty for zooming in and out.
New tech is always coveted. If we finally get to the point that colour e-readers have the same performance as black-and-white ones then that would be really cool, right? Other than consuming coloured media, some people also like highlighting texts in different colour markers (as some people do on physical books!). Nice to have the option.
You should compare your Kindle to a BW Kobo, such as the Clara BW. I had a Paperwhite Gen 10 and it felt like reading a screen, I could always tell it was not real paper. On my Clara BW, the contrast is superb, words pop out like real paper.
It really seems like the kobo is not going to be my second pick from what I heard. I like my kindle paperwhite, but definitely want a different device in addition eventually, one that is less limited and gets me access to the local libraries (I'm not from the US). Kobo could be that, but again, based on what I read elsewhere and what you've described, it isn't the one for me. Thankfully, there still a few more options. Concerning color in ereaders, good to have, but I feel like it's so new that I'd rather wait longer.
I have a Kobo Libra 2 and it’s on par with my oasis. The screen is excellent. The buttons are great. I can download to phone and transfer via https://send.djazz.se/
I can download from Overdrive/Libby and with alternate software, such as koreader and nickel menu alongside the kobo software, it really opens up the usefulness of the device eg Dropbox support.
You can sign up for a non-resident card at some participating US libraries. They will cost a fee, but in return, you’ll get access to Libby books on the Kindle.
I’m UK based and a have non-resident card for the Orange County Library system. Absolutely worth it :)
I can't speak for the colored screen, but the Kobo Clara BW screen is fantastic, though.
Quite a step up from the current Paperwhite. I had both in hand and returned the Paperwhite and even aside from the better screen, I found the Kobo to be a much better experience across the board. Better OS (less cluttered) and just way snappier and faster compared to the Kindle.
I'm a long time Kindle user and I LOVE using it paired with the Libby app to check out books from my Public Library ( conveniently set up with Amazon to download the ebook after I check it out with my virtual library card...)
Yeah, I'll be sticking with the Kindle...
I have both, but had the Kobo for longer. It was a culture shock moving to Kindle at first because of how little you can customize the user experience. Not being able to disable the swipe to unlock screen, no pages left in chapter display, and not being able to sync calibre collections/metadata were big ones for me. However, as many have commented, the screen contrast looks sharper than Kobo and the menus are snappier as well.
In my use case, for Japanese language books, the dictionary lookup in Kindle is also much smoother than Kobo as you can just press and hold a phrase instead of having to highlight it for lookup (Though I miss the "add to My Words" function that Kobo has on their dictionary lookups).
Also, having only 3 'steps' to choose from for line spacing on Kindle feels restrictive - I prefer having the rows closer together but I got used to it after a while.
Kobo is a better user experience overall if you are willing to put in some effort to set it up to your liking, and Kindle has its merits as well.
I'm happy that you're happy with your Kindle, but some of your complaints about your Kobo usage aren't really about the device, and more about having to learn a new workflow to achieve the same things, or are about software that isn't the Kobo itself.
Trouble converting in Calibre is not a flaw of the Kobo, but of Calibre, or your misunderstanding on how to convert books. Why are you converting to KFX to load onto a Kobo, when you can install one plugin and have Calibre instantly convert to kepub as it transfers over?
A few years back I upgraded from a basic Kindle to a Kobo Clara HD, and haven't look back since.
The Kindle was cool n'all, and being able to email books to it was great, but being in the UK meant that it always felt like it was being crippled in some way. And while I could email books, they weren't sent in a format that allowed for more advanced font settings, which just annoyed me. Amazon made a decision to make them do that. The icing on the cake for me was when Amazon updated the firmware in such a way that any books side loaded from Calibre couldn't have cover art. At that point I cut my losses and picked up the Kobo.
That Kobo has served me almost flawlessly over the past four years, and while there's no way to email books to it, I can side load using send.djazz.se, which allows me the option to convert to kepub as it sends. Kobo don't care where I get my books from, while Amazon does everything it can to limit the experience unless you buy your books from them.
You’re absolutely right.
I think that I was just trying to provide some context to people who are trying to decide between the two, or who have moved from one to the other who may come across this thread while researching. Because some of what you term as your opinion is just unfamiliarity in the differences between the two devices. Kobo isn’t inherently worse than Kindle, it’s just different. For my needs, I find it better, for your needs, you prefer Kindle.
It’s valid to have your own opinion and preferences. But some of your complaints amount to spreading misinformation about Kobo due to your own misunderstanding.
For starters you make it sound like Kobo devices don’t come with a clock, or that there is no way to transfer books wirelessly to it. No idea why you’re reading in KFX format either; all of my books are in Kepub, converted automatically upon transfer to device, and it renders books perfectly. I also dislike the Colour screen which is why I won’t get one, but making a blanket statement about the inferior contrast compared to black and white Kindles is comparing apples and oranges.
I get that. I’m an ereader addict (8 devices currently, before my cull) but I don’t know. It’s gonna need some innovation, not incremental improvement.
Oh man I've got a whole rant about this incoming. I've noticed that Kobos are very trendy right now on the sole basis of "I doN'T wanT tO sUPPort aMaZOn." I have a Kobo and it's a great device, but ever since I got my Kindle, I've barely touched it. And it has everything to do with your point:
>-Having to log in and out of multiple libraries to access overdrive when all of my library borrows appear together on my Kindles.
My region has amazing reciprocity and I regularly check out books from half a dozen libraries. I'm reading 3 books right now from different libraries. Even when Overdrive worked, I hated accessing it on my Kobo and pretty much just never used that feature. It was easier to side-load my books entirely. With Libby's Kindle support, I don't have that problem at all and my reading has skyrocketted since I got my Oasis. Not to mention, I'm saving so much money using the library vs buying books.
I sound like such a Kindle shill whenever I talk about it in other subs, but the sheer amount of misinformation that's spread about Kindles vs. Kobo is staggering. Kindles do not require you to buy books on Amazon. They literally have a 'Send to Kindle' function that is the most frictionless way to support side-loading that I've ever used. Along that note, side-loading to a Kindle is not different or harder than it is with a Kobo. You can attach a cable and use Calibre just the same.
These are just some of the common points against Kindle that I encounter. People can enjoy whatever devices they want, but as someone who has extensively used both, I hate reading the blatant lies people parrot about how "Kindles exist to sell you books. Kobos exists to help you read."
Thank you. Yes Amazon blows and if Jeff Bexos erupted into a firey ball I would not lose sleep, but my kindle has been life changing. I've read 26 books so far this year, idk if I've ever read more than 10 in a whole year. It's so easy.
Very true! I usually preface my comments that I'm referring strictly to US capabilities but didn't this time, my bad! Anyone outside of the US would be best served with a Kobo (assuming they have Libby access) but in OP's case, they're also US based.
What kills me are the people who shit on Amazon only to turn around to support Rakuten. As if Rakuten is a morally, mom and pop company and not the major, corporate conglomerate that it really is. It's hypocritical.
Fair, although the monopoly concern is considerable. It won't turn out well for anyone, including Kindle users, if Amazon manages to marginalise its competitors even further. They wouldn't do shit like pay-to-remove ads if they weren't already so dominant in the market.
Rakuten sells whale meat and elephant ivory (https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Blood-e-Commerce-FINAL.pdf). They are definitely big and they are definitely evil.
I can't speak for the colored screen, but the Kobo Clara BW screen is fantastic, though.
Quite a step up from the current Paperwhite. I had both in hand and returned the Paperwhite and even aside from the better screen, I found the Kobo to be a much better experience across the board. Better OS (less cluttered) and just way snappier and faster compared to the Kindle.
I liked everything about the Clara color except the screen. I may try a non-color kobo in the future. It fit in my hand nicely and seemed lighter than the pw.
The screen on the BW is objectively better, since it uses a newer generation screen, but it's significantly different from the colored version (it has no weird texture). On the PW I could still spot pixels without looking too hard. The Clara BW on the other hand really does seem paperlike, especially when you read in good light and just turn off the backlight. It's so pleasent on the eyes. You can't spot pixels anymore.
The biggest difference by far was the performance, though. It's so much snappier than the PW and it didn't refresh the entire page after each page turn. That might've been a settings issue though that I could've turned off on the PW. Not sure (I didn't use it very long).
Same for the libra colour, I gave it a few good weeks chance but it’s ridiculous I can’t use it well in daylight for its intended use! I like the software for the reading and menu layout but otherwise found it very unreliable, very sensitive to file issues my kindle has no problems with!
>-No whispersync/send to kindle. Meaning I have to hook the kobo up to my laptop to sideload books which can be an inconvenience at times.
Don't you just need to be using a kobo account to get it to automatically sync?
Thank you for this! I’ve been a kindle person religiously and the color option for Kobo sparked my interest, but seeing your review I think changed my mind
I use both kobo and kindle for library books, depending on book availability so I switch between them all the time. (Sometimes the library only has kindle version available, sometimes only for Libby so I read those on kobo)
You can definitely have more than 1 library's books on kobo without signing out. Sign in using your overdrive account info, not using your library account number. I have books from all 3 of my libraries available without any account switching.
For me battery life is the most important thing. I think I was scared from a time when I tried to use an older fire tablet as my reading device and constantly faced a dead battery when I picked it up for reading, so now I don’t want anything with battery draining apps if I can help it.
I also love that I never need a computer. Libby adds ebooks that I’ve borrowed from my library directly to my kindle account so when I open my kindle itself or the kindle app on an iOS device the book is already in my kindle library. I also found that I can send my favorite fanfic stories directly to the kindle like a book, if I’m feeling more ambitious I’ll save it in iPhones pages app so I can add a nice cover but even then everything is directly from my phone, no computer required so kindle is the best option for me :)
I returned my Libra Color due to the poor contrast. Meanwhile Kindle Unlimited keeps adding more and more of my favorite authors. I will say though that the OG Libra H2O is a fantastic device.
I LOVE the send to kindle and that alone is enough to make me stick with kindle. My friends and I all have a shared google doc full of books and short stories and things and being able to browse that and pick something to read and then send it to myself while on the go is essential to me. I don’t want to have to go home to my computer every time I want to put something on my kindle.
I loved my Kobo (Libra 2 colour) I have exclusively sideloaded books and kobo was way easier than sideloading kindle. My series group from calibre perfectly instead of kindle etc, and I just needed one or two plug ins for kobo vs wayyy too many for kindle. You just need one format epub->kepub, wheras kindle azw3 for paperwhite/basic and kfx marked pdoc for scribe for certain features. But If I use exclusively kindle books I can see the annoyance. I don’t use Libby
UK perspective:
overdrive ONLY available through kobo,
pocket and google drive a VERY GOOD kobo alternative to send to kindle,
kobo have different settings for header which is subjective preference (and you can install third party software for clock),
screen quality affected by kobo first gen colour layer (BW kobo screen is barely distinguishable from kindles),
calibre conversion has never given me issues before?!
But I will keep my kobo Libra colour and ppw5 for diff reasons. I think comparing the colour kobo with a BW kindle is problematic as personal whether colour content negates arguable loss of BW quality.
I’m a long time Kobo user - they were a lot more prevalent in Canada for a long time - and while I had no major complaints about the user experience (always used calibre and while yeah it definitely botched some conversions I’ve had weird issues with kindle that way too now and then), I went through 3 devices in 7 years. They just don’t hold up.
I’m on my second PW in 6 years, but that’s because I left the first one in a cab last year. It still worked just fine.
Tbh I have a Kobo mini (2011), Kobo touch (2011), Kobo Aura H2O (2014, still used by my dad), a Clara HD (2016, still used by my niece), and they all still work well. The only one that didn't survive was a 2012 Kobo GLO. So it's also a matter of luck I guess.
I’d buy that 100%. I just got frustrated and moved over. I don’t know what the first one was but I know I had two touches, and the second one died within a couple weeks of the end of its warranty.
Yea, I keep hearing about the fragility of kobos. I've had my oasis since 2019 and PW since 2021 and both still look and work flawlessly. I feel so let down by the Clara colour.
I love both. I reach for my kobo more these days bc I’m low vision and it’s been better for that bc I can adjust menu sizing but I love and use both. This is starting to feel like MS vs Apple. They’re ereaders, people! Not religions!
Careful what you wish for. I bought one and in principal it was great but kindle app and Libby were very sub par performance compared to the dedicated devices. The text was not as crisp and although you could adjust individual app contrast, it looked off. That was a Boox note air 2 plus. Very buggy. I eventually returned it for a scribe.
I felt the same way, the one thing I do love is that it works so well with calibre, I read lots of fanfic so it’s nice to just have a list all organized so easily by series. But then sometime skobo readers will randomly factory reset on me after disconnecting. Makes me start over on everything! And then the kobo forums will say I did something wrong or the file had issues, but my kindle never has any issues with the same files. So I’m now switching back to kindle, and it’s such a shame because there is a lot kobo does right. But the kobo book store isn’t as good, especially for comics, and when kindle makes a color ereader it will be awesome for comics as well will probably get panel by panel view like on the app.
>No whispersync/send to kindle. Meaning I have to hook the kobo up to my laptop to sideload books which can be an inconvenience at times.
>When converting books in calibre, the epub and even the KFX format is terrible. I'll notice huge spacing between words and the only remedy for that was using a smaller or different font and justifying text to the left which barely worked, if not at all.
>Having to download plug-ins for something minuscule such as the time.
LAUGHS IN EUROPEAN*
Useful info - thank you. Not that I was tempted to jump the ship - Kindle ecosystem is perfect to me, especially the way third party content, including web clippings, is not "discriminated" against Amazon-purchased books.
My only gripe is discontinuation of small press magazine subscriptions.
I love both 🤗 Kindle Oasis is lovely and still feels premium, I just get fed up with the constant recommendations which are effectively ads. I love the new Kobo libra colour it’s lush 🥰 I love the simplicity of the homescreen and features. It’s a joy to get library books and so easy to do. I’m looking forward to the kindle colour release. What can I say I love e-readers!
OP, some of your points are really not fair!
There is a difference between Clara and Libra. Clara is more basic, and I don't think it comes with Dropbox and Google Drive integrations like the Libra, so you can only sideload the books via USB cable.
I mean have you bought the device without knowing that there is no a whispersync or a send to email option?
I can rant about my Kindle Scribe and call it the worst, just because I cannot annotate directly on the page or because it doesn't have a speaker!! Would that be fair? These were not things that I didn't know the Scribe doesn't have. I knew the Scribe couldn't do that because I did my research and my expectations were in check.
I believe you didn't do your research and thought you were buying a Kindle Color! Your post is all negative about the device. You haven't even mentioned if there was something you liked about it. I can understand your point about not liking the color screen because that is the technology. Nothing wrong with liking or disliking it. However, your other points do not make sense to me.
The other thing you have to keep in mind that you need to convert the epubs to Kepubs in Calibre as this is the correct format for Kobo epubs. Again I'm not sure you've done your research.
Buying a Kobo or a Kindle should not replace each other, like purchasing an eReader will not replace physical books. One should enjoy having more options.
Your post felt to me like: I hate Kindle Paperwhite because it doesn't have physical buttons!
Please don't make assumptions. You're entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine.
I never planned on replacing my kindles with the kobo. I love my kindles too much to give them up.
A friend of mine had the Libra colour that I played around with and wasn't impressed. Said friend eventually ended up returning it for similar reasons as mine.
I don't throw money around so best believe that I did my research before buying the kobo. I didn't predict that the screen would give me headaches but now I've noticed that that's a common complaint amongst new users.
Btw, if you would have read my post, I mentioned calibre. I spent hours on here, YouTube, and other websites learning the software. I got it down but the formatting was choppy.
I'm not one to usually throw insults around but clearly comprehension isn't a strong point of yours. I never said anything about "buttons" or completely replacing my kindles. Seems like you're in the wrong sub since me praising my kindles is an issue. I'm entitle to feel the way I do just as you are. Even if I disagreed with someone, I'm not going to come on their post and make assumptions and tear them down because their experiences is opposite of mine. Would you go on the kobo sub and insult someone who loved their kobos but hated their experience with the kindle? I highly doubt it. I wouldn't make "ass"umptions about you if you went to my favorite restaurant and hated the food or service when my experience is polar opposite. If you ask me, you're on the wrong sub. I unfollowed ereader and kobo because of the kindle bashing and post mirroring yours. I could of made a big deal out of it but quietly excused myself.
I will make it clearer:
It seems like you misunderstood my previous post. I felt that your post was biased, as it seemed to praise one tech product while putting down another without being balanced. It appeared as if you were already set on disliking the Kobo even before trying it out.
When someone is unfamiliar with a device and reads your post, it may lead them astray. I am not loyal to any particular brand, and I evaluate each device based on its features and drawbacks.
I believe it's fair to critique any device, whether it's a Kindle, Kobo, or any other device. However, your post didn't provide a balanced review or impression; it came across as a rant about why Kobo is not like Kindle.
I don't think I'm in the wrong subreddit because I'm not loyal to any company. I own multiple e-readers and tablets. These subreddits are for sharing our opinions and insights about products and services, not for displaying fanatical loyalty to one brand while bashing another.
You're on a sub for Kindles. Of course there's going to be a bias. I would expect the same for any other ereader sub. Of course there's going to be more post praising kindles on a sub dedicated to kindles.
I can't control what someone else chooses to do. I was only giving my experience using a kobo while also appreciating my kindles on a kindle sub. This isn't a one size fits all situation. While I wasn't a fan of the kobo experience, someone else will love it as seen with a few responses to this very post. I can only hope that people will take the time out to do the research themselves and experience the kobo first hand and then decide what works for them.
You keep mentioning that you're not loyal to any company but what did you expect coming to a kindle sub? You're right. It was somewhat of a rant but I didn't realize it was a crime to speak on my experience with one ereader while praising another brand on the dedicated subred for said brand. If you want a more unbiased approach, you're better off perusing the e/reader sub. They seem to be very biased and anti kindle over there but I don't see anyone jumping down their throats.
Thanks to all for posting comment here on pluses and minuses of the Kobo color units. I’m in the US and for years I’ve been reading Kindle books on my iPad Mini 6 or iPad Pro 11. And with those tablets, it’s also easy to use other media formats like PDF, Overdrive, Libby, etc. Usually my Mini 6 (cellular) travels with me daily, while the iPad Pro 11 (WiFi only) remains at home and is mostly use for media consumption (movies, books, etc.) I also have a iPad Pro 12.9 which serves as a personal PC replacement for business trips, etc. And I have a Fire HD 8+ which I occasionally used, but it didn’t really have any advantages.
Anyway I’ve gotten tired of the battery life & weight for reading on the iPad’s, and having to re-charge so frequently. Also they’re not ideal in terms of weather sealing and weight for backpacking or the beach. So I’ve recently ordered a Paperwhite Signature. The one thing I realized is that while I’ll gain on battery life and weather sealing over my iPads, I’ll lose on color. And I do have Kindle books with color in them.
I was considering a Kobo color unit, but I think for now I’ll just continue to use one of my iPads when I need to access one of the books with color. And maybe in 2025 Amazon might release another color Kindle…
you can use google drive to sideload books on the libra (i’m not sure if this is US only) and thats how i’ve replaced send to kindle! i use a website to convert to kepub on my phone and then send thru google drive. obviously this doesn’t apply to your issues with the clara though
[this website](https://pgaskin.net/kepubify/try/)
is what i use to convert existing epubs. if i need to convert from another format to epub, i use [this website](https://www.freeconvert.com/epub-converter) first
If you're still looking for color, you might like the android ereaders. I have a boox tab mini C and it's pretty great. Most android apps can be installed (some random ones say they wont) but I have kindle, Nook, libby, play books, and Everand all on there. All sync fine, and I don't have to muss around with calibre. Even have a simplified version of Duolingo and a solitaire game on there.
I will say the screen definitely isn't as crisp as a kindle, which might get your goat, but I haven't minded too much since the choices in where to buy books has won me over. Although I do still mainly use kindle for Books and use my Scribe all of the time. Usually on rotation with the Boox.
It's weird but I had buyer's remorse the moment I ordered the thing. Never felt that with my kindles. It was almost like a sign from above that the kobo wasn't meant to be lol.
Bought kobo when they first came out and I was going on a big trip for 3 months across US and Canada and it was great for about 8 months but then the screen froze and had it replaced . 6 months later same thing happened and they refused to replace it. I even offered to pay half for the repair but they still refused.. eventually I managed to read the books I had already bought elsewhere and forgot about kobo forever aside from getting emails every now and then. Seems a very strange business model to alienate a customer who you potentially had for life for the sake of saving a few bucks
I have both, Kobo for 10+ years kindle for a year. The only thing I like more about my kobo are the page turn buttons, I really miss those on my kindle. I like the synch of the kindle better, especially the Goodreads integration.
Glad to see this post. I'm in Canada and have been curious about Kobo for some time. Especially with the colour features.
I ended up buying the Kindle Scribe even though, I think Kobo's offerings is cheaper. Glad to know grass isn't greener!
One thing I really appreciate about Kindle over Kobo is that Kindle has done a better job about accessibility in terms of TTS function and Alexa being able to read aloud any ebook available through Amazon. Not all books are available as audiobooks, and this is really helpful for users with visual impairment.
speaking of converting: you need to convert the books to KEPUB (kobo epub) it's their own format and looks and works much better on their devices, i think you need a sperate plugin for calibre to do it
Different devices suit the needs of different people and that's okay! I'm a kobo guy currently because I like the side buttons on the libra.
Find reviews from people who are similar to you in your reading style and lifestyle. If you don't like whatever you buy, remember you can always return it if you do it soon enough. Happy reading.
Yea I thought the Kobo looked cool but I'll just wait for Amazon to make a Kindle Color hopefully next year. I have an OLED tablet which is probably still better for color content. The tech still needs to improve.
I ordered the Kobo Libra Colour to replace my Kindle Scribe. I'm still waiting on it to get delivered. I'm not sure whether I'll like it or not but I'm starting to not like the size of the Scribe. I use it as a reading device and planner. I have to carry a large purse solely because of the Scribe. Well, I don't HAVE TO but I have the constant need to have my reading device near me. I'm sure you'd all understand :-)
Also, I was lured by the color screen.
Why do you want to replace the Scribe?? The Scribe is an excellent device. Yes, it has some shortcomings but it is a very nice Kindle to have for the size.
I have also ordered a Kobo Libra Colour but it is not replacing anything. It's just a new member of the family.
I don't take my Scribe out. It is always sitting on my desk at home. My Paperwhite is the eReader that I take out whenever I want.
My Scribe is currently my e-reader, daily planner, and I also use it for quick note-taking. I'm a former paper calendar person. I want something portable and small with the ability to write.
Other factors:
\*I like the pocket intregration
\*The notebook option on the libre seems cool. They have more page set ups, you can mix and match in one document. And highlight in different colors.
\*I've only owned Kindles and I'm curious what's out there.
\*I finally learned how to use Calibre and was able to tranfer all my kindle books.
Thank you for this post! I've been contemplating switching but I mainly read from a few different libraries and KU so it seems like I should just stick with Kindles. Saved me a lot of hassle!
Now here's hoping Amazon comes out with another kindle with page turn buttons eventually!
You are missing out that different people have different priorities?
With Kindles, I can't loan books from libraries AT ALL, ie.
Having series, subtitles and collections automatically managed from Calibre is a must have for me. Sync reading status between my e-reader and Calibre (+GR) is another important feature (and nope, Amazon doesn't provide it here, some countries are more important than others in their book... 🫠🫠🫠)
An e-reader that doesn't provide me synopsis for books (sideload or not) is another big no.
Being able to add things, if I want to, is better deal than having no chance to do that to start with🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
Does it mean Kindles suck and I'm missing something? No, it just means everyone has their own priorities, and it's enough to search beforehand the characteristics of any device to know if that device is a good match for you or not 🙃
I agree. The only reason I'm going to stick with the Kobo is because the eco system works better in my country with Kobo than with Kindle. My library is supported on kobo and I get Kobos Kindle unlimited alternative. If ever Kindle unlimited goes global, I'll be back.
If I didn't live in the US, I definitely would be more pro kobo since most of my books come from the library. I definitely can see the appeal.
I was pro-Kobo until Amazon AU made it so much easier to be a Kindle owner in NZ. I haven't looked back since getting my first Paperwhite about 4 years ago. I like that Kobo's Plus includes ebooks and audio in the price, but the selection isn't very good unfortunately.
The Kindle just feels more premium. And I like that premium feel a lot. And buying books is so easy, and finding cheap books. And finding cute cases and accessories. It's just more to love with a Kindle.
I get that but kindle isn’t available everywhere. I love how kobo is more low vision friendly than kindle. Why is kindle still slow on adding feature for low vision users? Kobo is way ahead, and it’s annoying. And why can’t they had built in Libby support like every other e-reader? The UI also needs to change bc I hate how you organize
I agree. I bought a Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard in 2011 and my first book was how to win friends and influence people for a sales job. It was and still is one of the coolest gadgets ive ever owned because I've never seen an e-ink display before, and the battery lasted like a month because there was no backlit screen at the time. I have probably almost 1000 books now and I would not be reading without it because I don't like buying and having paper books clutter up my room. Being able to browse a store and buy books at like 2am in the morning is something people take granted these days now lol.
Do you mean the Kindle physically feels more premium? Because I’m not sure how the Kindle’s reading experience feels more premium when it’s blatantly designed first and foremost to sell you more stuff from Amazon, from the ads to pushing results from the store to the top of searches. It’s the exact opposite of immersive; it’s tacky and intrusive. I think most Kindle readers have subconsciously trained themselves to accept and ignore this intrusiveness so it kind of fades into the background, like how we all develop “banner-ad blindness” when browsing the internet. You don’t realize until how subpar the experience is until you step outside it and experience something different.
Yes, physically. How it feels in the hand. The kobo feels cheap and plasticky. It IS a cheap plastic device, but it doesn't have to feel like it. Add some grip to the back so it's better to hold, that would have helped a lot because it's so light. Or make the screen and the bezel one surface so it's not always dusty in the corners and the screen feels bigger. Just small things like that.
Yeah, this is the reason I have both a kobo and a kindle. If I buy books it’ll be for my kindle since that’s where majority of my books already are. But for library books I need a kobo so for me it’s best of both worlds. I have an older kobo though and I love it. It reminds me of my Paperwhite 3 more than anything
Are you in the US? As an American, I don't have any problems borrowing library books. I do virtually all of my internet browsing on my phone. If I'm on amazon and find a book I want, I go to Libby (also on my phone) to see if the library has it. If so, I borrow it or put on hold. I don't do anything else because I've sent it to my kindle. If I see a book on kindle and it's free, and if I want it, I buy it that way. I seldom buy books any longer.
Nah not the US, so kindle doesn’t support Libby here. Kobo has OverDrive so I borrow directly from the kobo or my phone
Yeah, the big reason I swapped from Kindle to Kobo was because of library lending. I wouldn't have swapped if Kindle was library compatible in my country.
I mean it depends on what you’re looking for in ‘global’. If you want to see books in your native language or authors from where you are, then yes it’s not global at all unfortunately. However, if you can get your hands on a US Kindle, you can just login to amazon.com (us website) and get the kindle unlimited, so the subscription is not inaccessible in other parts of the world. I’m living in a country where Kindles aren’t officially sold so no Kindle device or books (even for the application) on our national Amazon website. I got a Kindle from the US and logged in with my amazon account which I also use in the US and I’m also subscribed to unlimited.
> I can't help but wonder if I'm missing out on something different people like different brands for different reasons. some people love Coke, some people love Pepsi; neither is right or wrong, it just makes them different.
Dr. Pepper enters the chat
No, they are both wrong. Mountain Dew is the right answer.
But Mountain Dew is Pepsi
Coke.
You... you... you compared Coke with Pepsi... How dare you... I haven't seen anyone being so brutal and insensitive on reddit ever... you need to mend your ways... 😋
They both are trash, just get water or a juice if you fancy sweets.
I do love my kindle and do still use it sometimes but I had to switch to kobo as if you’re not in the US, kindle features are much lesser. In the UK we can’t get library books on kindle as our libraries mainly use BorrowBox.
I live in US and only use Libby. I’ve never bought books with money and never will. But sometimes I feel l8ke I paid too much for my kindle with what it has to offer. Yes it has Libby but it lacks lots of things like accessibility that other brands like kobo offers
Annoyingly Libby isn’t compatible with Kindle in the UK. I have a kindle and am considering switching to Kobo for that reason alone.
Libby and kindle are getting annoying bc they changed how you can return library books now and you have to sign in to Amazon every time you wanna sent a book over…. Like wtf
Yep, Canada is improving but when I had a kindle ages ago I ended up getting rid of it and changing to kobo because I couldn’t access library books on kindle. It was awful. FYI it isn’t that hard to set up kobo so you have use Dropbox with it and easily add books without a cord, but it is annoyingly not standard. But of course, everybody likes different things and kindles are great- kindle is just notably not as good in places that aren’t the US.
I’ve stopped buying books. I only get them from the library now and I’ve gone through most of their hard copies that I’m interested in so had to get a kobo to access the ebooks (I’m not reading on my phone need an e-reader). I worked out that if I borrow 13 books from the library then I will have offset the cost of my kobo, whereas with the kindle, there’s no offsetting the cost as a lot of books cost the same as hard copies these days.
Yeah I hate how some books cannot e sent to kindle but could possibly,y be opened on kobo with Libby. I have never paid for an ebook either. And KU isn’t my favorite unless I like an author but even when I get the free months offers I don’t use it as much? It doesn’t appeal to me and the recommendations it offers are always KU books even though the books I read are best sellers by big authors from my library
How do you access borrowbox on Kobo in the UK?
You use a computer to download the book to adobe digital editions (free) then plug your kobo in and drag it across to the file. When you eject your kobo it’s there.
Can get library books on Libby at my library no problem. It's mind bogglingly simple. I only clicked on to this ages months ago and it's a total game changer
My local library only uses borrowbox.
>all of my library borrows appear together on my Kindles You're lucky. I am happy with my Kindle (as a device) and the Amazon ecosystem is certainly convenient for many things. But honestly, I'm starting to get fed up with the fact that Amazon treats non-U.S. users as second-class customers. I can understand that the U.S. market is the largest, but if I can accept, for example, the greater number of device variations (like different colors), I cannot tolerate the lack of features in my country. I pay for the service and the device exactly like an American user. Why the hell, for example, is Bluetooth blocked on the software side in my country? Why can't I borrow books from my library? This lack of consideration for non-US users is the main reason why I am seriously considering switching to Kobo.
I never understood why Amazon treats their non US market like bald headed stepchildren and this is coming from someone from the US. Like why are certain colors only available here but not internationally? Why is kindle unlimited only available in the US market? Don't even get me started on the libby/overdrive topic....
Yeah, I don't understand it either. I don't think they lack resources. If Kobo can do it, I don't see why Amazon couldn't do it. Here in Italy we have Kindle Unlimited. The biggest limitation, from my point of view, is the inability to read library books. And blocking bluetooth doesn't really make sense either, since the devices have all the necessary hardware. Again, I can accept a limited number of colors, because although they are nice, it is still a relatively important aesthetic thing. But for the same price, the functionality should be the same.
I'm new to kindle, ebooks and got into reading again after 20 years because I bought a scribe just to take notes as a cheaper alternative to an ipad, but then got hooked on reading because of the three month trial on kindle unlimited. And I'm spanish in spain, didn't know there are countries who can't access :/
I think the answer to KU being US-only is explained by geofencing and licensing. Like for example, they have or used to have the Harry Potter books. But if in some other country (say UK) somebody else (say Waterstones) has bought the distribution rights, then Amazon can't legally offer it there. And with HP it's very likely that someone already has the rights bought in almost every country, if not all, so Amazon can only distribute it in the US. And this goes for every book KU has, sure for the indie ones Amazon can distribute them everywhere, as no one else bought the licence for them, but still KU would have to manage every book in every country separately, since their availability might differ. So I guess they just opted out of all this and stuck to the US for simplicity.
Might have something to do with the fact that the black kindles are made of 90% recycled plastic iirc and the other colours aren't, maybe there are EU and UK laws surrounding environmental waste ?
As an European, I wish that was the case.
Publishing rights are only country wide, which means, Amazon would need to maintain a separate KU library for each country. The EU could be combined, but e.g. UK, Norway or Switzerland would be separat. And then these markets become too small to uphold such an operation.
Yes, the library thing is annoying here too. I was excited to get stuck into using the library apps on my Kindle only to discover they're not available in NZ. I can read them on my tablet sure, but that's not as convenient for me as it could have been with my Kindle. Those services are obviously available in other countries, so why can't we use our Kindles for it like the US?
Yes, I also read them from my tablet or phone. But I already work in front of the PC screen all day, I would rather rest my eyesight at least while reading.
Yes exactly, I don’t want to read on my tablet either. The Kindle is way kinder to the eyes.
When I moved to France, I switched my Amazon US account to a FR one. Both Bluetooth and Goodreads integration just disappeared from the ereader after that, like what??? I recently changed to a Kobo, now I can borrow books from my local library and I can simply copy EPUBs without going through an online service.
I don't understand why I can't have kindle unlimited. Sure, Amazon does not sell books in my language, but there are a lot of people who read in English anyway. Or you can be someone from English speaking country living abroad. Reading experience is great. Everything else sucks for me. I am mostly annoyed that kindle doesn't have series tag for books.
Its not amazon. Its your library system.
Not just my library, but library systems all over the world. Amazon should provide software side the way to read the format used by virtually the whole world.
No, it's Amazon.
For me it is greener. First of all as a non US citizen it is not as easy to get your library borrows onto the kindle. It is easier with a Kobo. Also you may find the plugins in calibre etc cumbersome, but once installed you never look at them again. Which also brings me to the point why I like my Kobo now more as the Oasis or Voyage I have. An easy way to sort my books. Without jailbreak or sideloading them to Amazon there is no way to easily sort them on collections (and even over the browser in your Amazon library it is not easy). Now I get series easily through my „series“ tab in calibre and if I want to further sort it (like biography, urban, etc) in collections. As someone who tends to store many books on my ereaders (I often re-read books or look up things) this is a godsend. For example I have around 1k books on my oasis. And on an old Sony PRS-T1 even 3k (was once a copy of all my books…. Before I found Project Gutenberg). Sure the screen is not as crisp as could be because I have another layer above it for color. But as someone who reads also physical books I don‘t find it a dealbreaker. Looks to me like the paper publisher uses. Yeah the icing on the cake for me would be if it is as crisp as on my Oasis but as stated I am alright with it.
A simple way to look at an entire series would be life-changing.
[https://send.djazz.se/](https://send.djazz.se/) is great for sideloading books onto your Kobo and is almost as convenient as Send to Kindle. I really don't like that you can't sync sideloaded books with the Kobo iPhone app and your ereader. That might be the one reason why I stick with my Kindle and return my Kobo.
As someone who will probably get a Kobo once my kindle dies this is actually really helpful. A lot of the issue you've had just won't effect me at all. I already sideload books, I'm not the in US so can't use library books on the kindle at all, and I already know I won't be going for the colour variant and the BW screen seems to be the best quality currently available. Didn't realise I'd need to instal plug ins for things like the time, but if it's possible to do I don't mind.
Only if you want to see time while reading. There’s a clock available if you touch the top of the screen. No plug-in needed.
Also, I have the BW, Clara Colour and the Libra Colour. All wonderful. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Oh, that's the same as my current kindle anyway! Glad to hear all 3 of them are good :)
Yess come on over to the dark side :) I switched to Kobo a few years and haven’t looked back. I adore my Libra 2 and reading on it is a joy which I never felt with my PW. It’s valid to prefer one over the other but it bugs me that some of the things the OP complains about are incorrect and amounts to spreading misinformation. You can use send.djazz.se to transfer books wirelessly (though I personally sideload exclusively through Calibre). You don’t need to install anything for the clock—only if you want it to persist on the screen while you’re reading. On the flip side, Kobo is amazingly customizable and I love its openness to tweaking… for example, I can configure the font weight even for sideloaded fonts and I’ve added a patch so that font size and line spacing are increased/decreased in smaller increments. You’re also not locked into Amazon’s walled garden forever (walls that they’re constantly working on making higher and higher).
Many eons ago a tried a kobo (kobo glo) after having used a kindle for about 3 years. I think I lasted about 4-5 days before I retuned it and went back to the 2nd gen paperwhite.
I love Kobos but of course to each their own. A couple of advice tho that can make your life with Kobo better: - Even if Clara doesn't have the Google Drive official support, you can still unlock it really quickly with NickelMenu, so even if you still don't get whispersync for sideloaded books, you can download your books on the go without the need of a PC. Also you can use https://send.djazz.se/ , which already convert your ePubs in kepubs - second advice is indeed to use Kepubs instead of epubs (if you didn't already do it), the formatting of the page is definitely better, plus it unlocks all the cool stuff, a bit like using azw3 instead of mobi on Kindle. You can use Calibre or the site I linked above.
Probably unpopular opinion but I don’t understand why a color e-ink reader is so coveted. Unless you’re reading graphic novels or magazines I don’t really see the big advantage? I read my graphic novels on a tablet, the touch screen is more responsive than an e-ink display and I can easily zoom in and out of panels if needed. I’ve read manga on my kindle before and even though no color is needed for these, the reading experience wasn’t great because of the slower refresh rate and difficulty for zooming in and out.
New tech is always coveted. If we finally get to the point that colour e-readers have the same performance as black-and-white ones then that would be really cool, right? Other than consuming coloured media, some people also like highlighting texts in different colour markers (as some people do on physical books!). Nice to have the option.
You should compare your Kindle to a BW Kobo, such as the Clara BW. I had a Paperwhite Gen 10 and it felt like reading a screen, I could always tell it was not real paper. On my Clara BW, the contrast is superb, words pop out like real paper.
It really seems like the kobo is not going to be my second pick from what I heard. I like my kindle paperwhite, but definitely want a different device in addition eventually, one that is less limited and gets me access to the local libraries (I'm not from the US). Kobo could be that, but again, based on what I read elsewhere and what you've described, it isn't the one for me. Thankfully, there still a few more options. Concerning color in ereaders, good to have, but I feel like it's so new that I'd rather wait longer.
I have a Kobo Libra 2 and it’s on par with my oasis. The screen is excellent. The buttons are great. I can download to phone and transfer via https://send.djazz.se/ I can download from Overdrive/Libby and with alternate software, such as koreader and nickel menu alongside the kobo software, it really opens up the usefulness of the device eg Dropbox support.
You can sign up for a non-resident card at some participating US libraries. They will cost a fee, but in return, you’ll get access to Libby books on the Kindle. I’m UK based and a have non-resident card for the Orange County Library system. Absolutely worth it :)
Great tip, thank you, will check if it will work for me, too. :)
I can't speak for the colored screen, but the Kobo Clara BW screen is fantastic, though. Quite a step up from the current Paperwhite. I had both in hand and returned the Paperwhite and even aside from the better screen, I found the Kobo to be a much better experience across the board. Better OS (less cluttered) and just way snappier and faster compared to the Kindle.
What are your concerns/reservations regarding Kobo?
I'm a long time Kindle user and I LOVE using it paired with the Libby app to check out books from my Public Library ( conveniently set up with Amazon to download the ebook after I check it out with my virtual library card...) Yeah, I'll be sticking with the Kindle...
I have both, but had the Kobo for longer. It was a culture shock moving to Kindle at first because of how little you can customize the user experience. Not being able to disable the swipe to unlock screen, no pages left in chapter display, and not being able to sync calibre collections/metadata were big ones for me. However, as many have commented, the screen contrast looks sharper than Kobo and the menus are snappier as well. In my use case, for Japanese language books, the dictionary lookup in Kindle is also much smoother than Kobo as you can just press and hold a phrase instead of having to highlight it for lookup (Though I miss the "add to My Words" function that Kobo has on their dictionary lookups). Also, having only 3 'steps' to choose from for line spacing on Kindle feels restrictive - I prefer having the rows closer together but I got used to it after a while. Kobo is a better user experience overall if you are willing to put in some effort to set it up to your liking, and Kindle has its merits as well.
I'm happy that you're happy with your Kindle, but some of your complaints about your Kobo usage aren't really about the device, and more about having to learn a new workflow to achieve the same things, or are about software that isn't the Kobo itself. Trouble converting in Calibre is not a flaw of the Kobo, but of Calibre, or your misunderstanding on how to convert books. Why are you converting to KFX to load onto a Kobo, when you can install one plugin and have Calibre instantly convert to kepub as it transfers over? A few years back I upgraded from a basic Kindle to a Kobo Clara HD, and haven't look back since. The Kindle was cool n'all, and being able to email books to it was great, but being in the UK meant that it always felt like it was being crippled in some way. And while I could email books, they weren't sent in a format that allowed for more advanced font settings, which just annoyed me. Amazon made a decision to make them do that. The icing on the cake for me was when Amazon updated the firmware in such a way that any books side loaded from Calibre couldn't have cover art. At that point I cut my losses and picked up the Kobo. That Kobo has served me almost flawlessly over the past four years, and while there's no way to email books to it, I can side load using send.djazz.se, which allows me the option to convert to kepub as it sends. Kobo don't care where I get my books from, while Amazon does everything it can to limit the experience unless you buy your books from them.
You're entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine🤷🏽♀️
You’re absolutely right. I think that I was just trying to provide some context to people who are trying to decide between the two, or who have moved from one to the other who may come across this thread while researching. Because some of what you term as your opinion is just unfamiliarity in the differences between the two devices. Kobo isn’t inherently worse than Kindle, it’s just different. For my needs, I find it better, for your needs, you prefer Kindle.
It’s valid to have your own opinion and preferences. But some of your complaints amount to spreading misinformation about Kobo due to your own misunderstanding. For starters you make it sound like Kobo devices don’t come with a clock, or that there is no way to transfer books wirelessly to it. No idea why you’re reading in KFX format either; all of my books are in Kepub, converted automatically upon transfer to device, and it renders books perfectly. I also dislike the Colour screen which is why I won’t get one, but making a blanket statement about the inferior contrast compared to black and white Kindles is comparing apples and oranges.
I had the opposite experience I did the same with a libra colour and couldn’t be happier. I’m sorry it didn’t live up to your hopes.
Big same here. I love my KLC and am wondering whether I’ll ever need another kindle.
NGL I will buy Kindles color model when it comes out whenever that may be just to see how it is but I doubt it will take me from kobo
I get that. I’m an ereader addict (8 devices currently, before my cull) but I don’t know. It’s gonna need some innovation, not incremental improvement.
I feel so seen lol
Oh man I've got a whole rant about this incoming. I've noticed that Kobos are very trendy right now on the sole basis of "I doN'T wanT tO sUPPort aMaZOn." I have a Kobo and it's a great device, but ever since I got my Kindle, I've barely touched it. And it has everything to do with your point: >-Having to log in and out of multiple libraries to access overdrive when all of my library borrows appear together on my Kindles. My region has amazing reciprocity and I regularly check out books from half a dozen libraries. I'm reading 3 books right now from different libraries. Even when Overdrive worked, I hated accessing it on my Kobo and pretty much just never used that feature. It was easier to side-load my books entirely. With Libby's Kindle support, I don't have that problem at all and my reading has skyrocketted since I got my Oasis. Not to mention, I'm saving so much money using the library vs buying books. I sound like such a Kindle shill whenever I talk about it in other subs, but the sheer amount of misinformation that's spread about Kindles vs. Kobo is staggering. Kindles do not require you to buy books on Amazon. They literally have a 'Send to Kindle' function that is the most frictionless way to support side-loading that I've ever used. Along that note, side-loading to a Kindle is not different or harder than it is with a Kobo. You can attach a cable and use Calibre just the same. These are just some of the common points against Kindle that I encounter. People can enjoy whatever devices they want, but as someone who has extensively used both, I hate reading the blatant lies people parrot about how "Kindles exist to sell you books. Kobos exists to help you read."
Thank you. Yes Amazon blows and if Jeff Bexos erupted into a firey ball I would not lose sleep, but my kindle has been life changing. I've read 26 books so far this year, idk if I've ever read more than 10 in a whole year. It's so easy.
The issue with kindle while yes is US users get Libby, kindle lacks the global aspect of all users get the same experience.
Very true! I usually preface my comments that I'm referring strictly to US capabilities but didn't this time, my bad! Anyone outside of the US would be best served with a Kobo (assuming they have Libby access) but in OP's case, they're also US based.
What kills me are the people who shit on Amazon only to turn around to support Rakuten. As if Rakuten is a morally, mom and pop company and not the major, corporate conglomerate that it really is. It's hypocritical.
Fair, although the monopoly concern is considerable. It won't turn out well for anyone, including Kindle users, if Amazon manages to marginalise its competitors even further. They wouldn't do shit like pay-to-remove ads if they weren't already so dominant in the market.
Rakuten sells whale meat and elephant ivory (https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/Blood-e-Commerce-FINAL.pdf). They are definitely big and they are definitely evil.
I returned my kobo Clara color because the screen was horrible - I thought. I wanted to like it.
I can't speak for the colored screen, but the Kobo Clara BW screen is fantastic, though. Quite a step up from the current Paperwhite. I had both in hand and returned the Paperwhite and even aside from the better screen, I found the Kobo to be a much better experience across the board. Better OS (less cluttered) and just way snappier and faster compared to the Kindle.
how’s batt
I liked everything about the Clara color except the screen. I may try a non-color kobo in the future. It fit in my hand nicely and seemed lighter than the pw.
The screen on the BW is objectively better, since it uses a newer generation screen, but it's significantly different from the colored version (it has no weird texture). On the PW I could still spot pixels without looking too hard. The Clara BW on the other hand really does seem paperlike, especially when you read in good light and just turn off the backlight. It's so pleasent on the eyes. You can't spot pixels anymore. The biggest difference by far was the performance, though. It's so much snappier than the PW and it didn't refresh the entire page after each page turn. That might've been a settings issue though that I could've turned off on the PW. Not sure (I didn't use it very long).
Same for the libra colour, I gave it a few good weeks chance but it’s ridiculous I can’t use it well in daylight for its intended use! I like the software for the reading and menu layout but otherwise found it very unreliable, very sensitive to file issues my kindle has no problems with!
I have both. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. The most important thing is to read and enjoy yourself.
>-No whispersync/send to kindle. Meaning I have to hook the kobo up to my laptop to sideload books which can be an inconvenience at times. Don't you just need to be using a kobo account to get it to automatically sync?
Yep. For books you buy from kobo. There is also a plug in that let's you "send to kobo" for others, I believe
Thank you for this! I’ve been a kindle person religiously and the color option for Kobo sparked my interest, but seeing your review I think changed my mind
I use both kobo and kindle for library books, depending on book availability so I switch between them all the time. (Sometimes the library only has kindle version available, sometimes only for Libby so I read those on kobo) You can definitely have more than 1 library's books on kobo without signing out. Sign in using your overdrive account info, not using your library account number. I have books from all 3 of my libraries available without any account switching.
For me battery life is the most important thing. I think I was scared from a time when I tried to use an older fire tablet as my reading device and constantly faced a dead battery when I picked it up for reading, so now I don’t want anything with battery draining apps if I can help it. I also love that I never need a computer. Libby adds ebooks that I’ve borrowed from my library directly to my kindle account so when I open my kindle itself or the kindle app on an iOS device the book is already in my kindle library. I also found that I can send my favorite fanfic stories directly to the kindle like a book, if I’m feeling more ambitious I’ll save it in iPhones pages app so I can add a nice cover but even then everything is directly from my phone, no computer required so kindle is the best option for me :)
I returned my Libra Color due to the poor contrast. Meanwhile Kindle Unlimited keeps adding more and more of my favorite authors. I will say though that the OG Libra H2O is a fantastic device.
Yea, KU has definitely stepped up its game.
I LOVE the send to kindle and that alone is enough to make me stick with kindle. My friends and I all have a shared google doc full of books and short stories and things and being able to browse that and pick something to read and then send it to myself while on the go is essential to me. I don’t want to have to go home to my computer every time I want to put something on my kindle.
I loved my Kobo (Libra 2 colour) I have exclusively sideloaded books and kobo was way easier than sideloading kindle. My series group from calibre perfectly instead of kindle etc, and I just needed one or two plug ins for kobo vs wayyy too many for kindle. You just need one format epub->kepub, wheras kindle azw3 for paperwhite/basic and kfx marked pdoc for scribe for certain features. But If I use exclusively kindle books I can see the annoyance. I don’t use Libby
UK perspective: overdrive ONLY available through kobo, pocket and google drive a VERY GOOD kobo alternative to send to kindle, kobo have different settings for header which is subjective preference (and you can install third party software for clock), screen quality affected by kobo first gen colour layer (BW kobo screen is barely distinguishable from kindles), calibre conversion has never given me issues before?! But I will keep my kobo Libra colour and ppw5 for diff reasons. I think comparing the colour kobo with a BW kindle is problematic as personal whether colour content negates arguable loss of BW quality.
I’m a long time Kobo user - they were a lot more prevalent in Canada for a long time - and while I had no major complaints about the user experience (always used calibre and while yeah it definitely botched some conversions I’ve had weird issues with kindle that way too now and then), I went through 3 devices in 7 years. They just don’t hold up. I’m on my second PW in 6 years, but that’s because I left the first one in a cab last year. It still worked just fine.
Tbh I have a Kobo mini (2011), Kobo touch (2011), Kobo Aura H2O (2014, still used by my dad), a Clara HD (2016, still used by my niece), and they all still work well. The only one that didn't survive was a 2012 Kobo GLO. So it's also a matter of luck I guess.
I’d buy that 100%. I just got frustrated and moved over. I don’t know what the first one was but I know I had two touches, and the second one died within a couple weeks of the end of its warranty.
Yea, I keep hearing about the fragility of kobos. I've had my oasis since 2019 and PW since 2021 and both still look and work flawlessly. I feel so let down by the Clara colour.
I’d have less of an issue with them if they’d broken due to use. It’s not like they cost much. But all three just randomly stopped working one day.
I love both. I reach for my kobo more these days bc I’m low vision and it’s been better for that bc I can adjust menu sizing but I love and use both. This is starting to feel like MS vs Apple. They’re ereaders, people! Not religions!
I kinda want a boox
Careful what you wish for. I bought one and in principal it was great but kindle app and Libby were very sub par performance compared to the dedicated devices. The text was not as crisp and although you could adjust individual app contrast, it looked off. That was a Boox note air 2 plus. Very buggy. I eventually returned it for a scribe.
Guess kindle just do it best lol the page turners and androids openness is attractive to me.
I tried at first Onyx boox and i returned it unhappy, thought ereaders isnt for me. Tried kindle in store, got one and happy with it!
I felt the same way, the one thing I do love is that it works so well with calibre, I read lots of fanfic so it’s nice to just have a list all organized so easily by series. But then sometime skobo readers will randomly factory reset on me after disconnecting. Makes me start over on everything! And then the kobo forums will say I did something wrong or the file had issues, but my kindle never has any issues with the same files. So I’m now switching back to kindle, and it’s such a shame because there is a lot kobo does right. But the kobo book store isn’t as good, especially for comics, and when kindle makes a color ereader it will be awesome for comics as well will probably get panel by panel view like on the app.
I did the EXACT same thing. Now I'm going to sell my kobo on eBay I guess
>No whispersync/send to kindle. Meaning I have to hook the kobo up to my laptop to sideload books which can be an inconvenience at times. >When converting books in calibre, the epub and even the KFX format is terrible. I'll notice huge spacing between words and the only remedy for that was using a smaller or different font and justifying text to the left which barely worked, if not at all. >Having to download plug-ins for something minuscule such as the time. LAUGHS IN EUROPEAN*
Useful info - thank you. Not that I was tempted to jump the ship - Kindle ecosystem is perfect to me, especially the way third party content, including web clippings, is not "discriminated" against Amazon-purchased books. My only gripe is discontinuation of small press magazine subscriptions.
I love both 🤗 Kindle Oasis is lovely and still feels premium, I just get fed up with the constant recommendations which are effectively ads. I love the new Kobo libra colour it’s lush 🥰 I love the simplicity of the homescreen and features. It’s a joy to get library books and so easy to do. I’m looking forward to the kindle colour release. What can I say I love e-readers!
OP, some of your points are really not fair! There is a difference between Clara and Libra. Clara is more basic, and I don't think it comes with Dropbox and Google Drive integrations like the Libra, so you can only sideload the books via USB cable. I mean have you bought the device without knowing that there is no a whispersync or a send to email option? I can rant about my Kindle Scribe and call it the worst, just because I cannot annotate directly on the page or because it doesn't have a speaker!! Would that be fair? These were not things that I didn't know the Scribe doesn't have. I knew the Scribe couldn't do that because I did my research and my expectations were in check. I believe you didn't do your research and thought you were buying a Kindle Color! Your post is all negative about the device. You haven't even mentioned if there was something you liked about it. I can understand your point about not liking the color screen because that is the technology. Nothing wrong with liking or disliking it. However, your other points do not make sense to me. The other thing you have to keep in mind that you need to convert the epubs to Kepubs in Calibre as this is the correct format for Kobo epubs. Again I'm not sure you've done your research. Buying a Kobo or a Kindle should not replace each other, like purchasing an eReader will not replace physical books. One should enjoy having more options. Your post felt to me like: I hate Kindle Paperwhite because it doesn't have physical buttons!
Please don't make assumptions. You're entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine. I never planned on replacing my kindles with the kobo. I love my kindles too much to give them up. A friend of mine had the Libra colour that I played around with and wasn't impressed. Said friend eventually ended up returning it for similar reasons as mine. I don't throw money around so best believe that I did my research before buying the kobo. I didn't predict that the screen would give me headaches but now I've noticed that that's a common complaint amongst new users. Btw, if you would have read my post, I mentioned calibre. I spent hours on here, YouTube, and other websites learning the software. I got it down but the formatting was choppy. I'm not one to usually throw insults around but clearly comprehension isn't a strong point of yours. I never said anything about "buttons" or completely replacing my kindles. Seems like you're in the wrong sub since me praising my kindles is an issue. I'm entitle to feel the way I do just as you are. Even if I disagreed with someone, I'm not going to come on their post and make assumptions and tear them down because their experiences is opposite of mine. Would you go on the kobo sub and insult someone who loved their kobos but hated their experience with the kindle? I highly doubt it. I wouldn't make "ass"umptions about you if you went to my favorite restaurant and hated the food or service when my experience is polar opposite. If you ask me, you're on the wrong sub. I unfollowed ereader and kobo because of the kindle bashing and post mirroring yours. I could of made a big deal out of it but quietly excused myself.
I will make it clearer: It seems like you misunderstood my previous post. I felt that your post was biased, as it seemed to praise one tech product while putting down another without being balanced. It appeared as if you were already set on disliking the Kobo even before trying it out. When someone is unfamiliar with a device and reads your post, it may lead them astray. I am not loyal to any particular brand, and I evaluate each device based on its features and drawbacks. I believe it's fair to critique any device, whether it's a Kindle, Kobo, or any other device. However, your post didn't provide a balanced review or impression; it came across as a rant about why Kobo is not like Kindle. I don't think I'm in the wrong subreddit because I'm not loyal to any company. I own multiple e-readers and tablets. These subreddits are for sharing our opinions and insights about products and services, not for displaying fanatical loyalty to one brand while bashing another.
You're on a sub for Kindles. Of course there's going to be a bias. I would expect the same for any other ereader sub. Of course there's going to be more post praising kindles on a sub dedicated to kindles. I can't control what someone else chooses to do. I was only giving my experience using a kobo while also appreciating my kindles on a kindle sub. This isn't a one size fits all situation. While I wasn't a fan of the kobo experience, someone else will love it as seen with a few responses to this very post. I can only hope that people will take the time out to do the research themselves and experience the kobo first hand and then decide what works for them. You keep mentioning that you're not loyal to any company but what did you expect coming to a kindle sub? You're right. It was somewhat of a rant but I didn't realize it was a crime to speak on my experience with one ereader while praising another brand on the dedicated subred for said brand. If you want a more unbiased approach, you're better off perusing the e/reader sub. They seem to be very biased and anti kindle over there but I don't see anyone jumping down their throats.
No whispersync did it for me.
Thank you for this review and me not running right out to waste money. I will wait for the Amazon Color Oasis!
Thanks to all for posting comment here on pluses and minuses of the Kobo color units. I’m in the US and for years I’ve been reading Kindle books on my iPad Mini 6 or iPad Pro 11. And with those tablets, it’s also easy to use other media formats like PDF, Overdrive, Libby, etc. Usually my Mini 6 (cellular) travels with me daily, while the iPad Pro 11 (WiFi only) remains at home and is mostly use for media consumption (movies, books, etc.) I also have a iPad Pro 12.9 which serves as a personal PC replacement for business trips, etc. And I have a Fire HD 8+ which I occasionally used, but it didn’t really have any advantages. Anyway I’ve gotten tired of the battery life & weight for reading on the iPad’s, and having to re-charge so frequently. Also they’re not ideal in terms of weather sealing and weight for backpacking or the beach. So I’ve recently ordered a Paperwhite Signature. The one thing I realized is that while I’ll gain on battery life and weather sealing over my iPads, I’ll lose on color. And I do have Kindle books with color in them. I was considering a Kobo color unit, but I think for now I’ll just continue to use one of my iPads when I need to access one of the books with color. And maybe in 2025 Amazon might release another color Kindle…
you can use google drive to sideload books on the libra (i’m not sure if this is US only) and thats how i’ve replaced send to kindle! i use a website to convert to kepub on my phone and then send thru google drive. obviously this doesn’t apply to your issues with the clara though
What's the website?
[this website](https://pgaskin.net/kepubify/try/) is what i use to convert existing epubs. if i need to convert from another format to epub, i use [this website](https://www.freeconvert.com/epub-converter) first
If you're still looking for color, you might like the android ereaders. I have a boox tab mini C and it's pretty great. Most android apps can be installed (some random ones say they wont) but I have kindle, Nook, libby, play books, and Everand all on there. All sync fine, and I don't have to muss around with calibre. Even have a simplified version of Duolingo and a solitaire game on there. I will say the screen definitely isn't as crisp as a kindle, which might get your goat, but I haven't minded too much since the choices in where to buy books has won me over. Although I do still mainly use kindle for Books and use my Scribe all of the time. Usually on rotation with the Boox.
[удалено]
It's weird but I had buyer's remorse the moment I ordered the thing. Never felt that with my kindles. It was almost like a sign from above that the kobo wasn't meant to be lol.
Bought kobo when they first came out and I was going on a big trip for 3 months across US and Canada and it was great for about 8 months but then the screen froze and had it replaced . 6 months later same thing happened and they refused to replace it. I even offered to pay half for the repair but they still refused.. eventually I managed to read the books I had already bought elsewhere and forgot about kobo forever aside from getting emails every now and then. Seems a very strange business model to alienate a customer who you potentially had for life for the sake of saving a few bucks
I have both, Kobo for 10+ years kindle for a year. The only thing I like more about my kobo are the page turn buttons, I really miss those on my kindle. I like the synch of the kindle better, especially the Goodreads integration.
Glad to see this post. I'm in Canada and have been curious about Kobo for some time. Especially with the colour features. I ended up buying the Kindle Scribe even though, I think Kobo's offerings is cheaper. Glad to know grass isn't greener!
One thing I really appreciate about Kindle over Kobo is that Kindle has done a better job about accessibility in terms of TTS function and Alexa being able to read aloud any ebook available through Amazon. Not all books are available as audiobooks, and this is really helpful for users with visual impairment.
thank you sm for de influencing me
speaking of converting: you need to convert the books to KEPUB (kobo epub) it's their own format and looks and works much better on their devices, i think you need a sperate plugin for calibre to do it
They’re both great.
Ive been a Kindle Girl since Kindle Keyboard. I’ve SOOOOOO curious about that color screen. So thank you for posting this review!
I had the exact same experience as you and I agree 100%. I switched back to kindle. I’m hoping they release a colored kindle later this year 🫡
Different devices suit the needs of different people and that's okay! I'm a kobo guy currently because I like the side buttons on the libra. Find reviews from people who are similar to you in your reading style and lifestyle. If you don't like whatever you buy, remember you can always return it if you do it soon enough. Happy reading.
Do you read comics OP? I feel like the colour would be really nice for graphic novels
Yea I thought the Kobo looked cool but I'll just wait for Amazon to make a Kindle Color hopefully next year. I have an OLED tablet which is probably still better for color content. The tech still needs to improve.
I ordered the Kobo Libra Colour to replace my Kindle Scribe. I'm still waiting on it to get delivered. I'm not sure whether I'll like it or not but I'm starting to not like the size of the Scribe. I use it as a reading device and planner. I have to carry a large purse solely because of the Scribe. Well, I don't HAVE TO but I have the constant need to have my reading device near me. I'm sure you'd all understand :-) Also, I was lured by the color screen.
Why do you want to replace the Scribe?? The Scribe is an excellent device. Yes, it has some shortcomings but it is a very nice Kindle to have for the size. I have also ordered a Kobo Libra Colour but it is not replacing anything. It's just a new member of the family. I don't take my Scribe out. It is always sitting on my desk at home. My Paperwhite is the eReader that I take out whenever I want.
My Scribe is currently my e-reader, daily planner, and I also use it for quick note-taking. I'm a former paper calendar person. I want something portable and small with the ability to write. Other factors: \*I like the pocket intregration \*The notebook option on the libre seems cool. They have more page set ups, you can mix and match in one document. And highlight in different colors. \*I've only owned Kindles and I'm curious what's out there. \*I finally learned how to use Calibre and was able to tranfer all my kindle books.
Thank you for this post! I've been contemplating switching but I mainly read from a few different libraries and KU so it seems like I should just stick with Kindles. Saved me a lot of hassle! Now here's hoping Amazon comes out with another kindle with page turn buttons eventually!
Kindle 100% here!
You are missing out that different people have different priorities? With Kindles, I can't loan books from libraries AT ALL, ie. Having series, subtitles and collections automatically managed from Calibre is a must have for me. Sync reading status between my e-reader and Calibre (+GR) is another important feature (and nope, Amazon doesn't provide it here, some countries are more important than others in their book... 🫠🫠🫠) An e-reader that doesn't provide me synopsis for books (sideload or not) is another big no. Being able to add things, if I want to, is better deal than having no chance to do that to start with🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️ Does it mean Kindles suck and I'm missing something? No, it just means everyone has their own priorities, and it's enough to search beforehand the characteristics of any device to know if that device is a good match for you or not 🙃
The kindle with color should be coming out next year by the way.