If you’re deciding between a Kindle and a Kobo, then it can be difficult to know where to start. Though they are very similar to one another, there are some differences between a Kindle and a Kobo that you’ll need to be aware of. So, let’s look at some of the main differences between the two.
Kindle vs Kobo
When the Kindle was first released all the way in 2007, users were astonished by it’s high price tag. Back the, the first Kindle actually cost around $399 dollars, which is much different than it’s average price today.
So really the Kobo was born out of a necessity for an e-reader that would be cheaper than a Kindle. But fast forward to now, and Kindle’s are actually available at a pretty reasonable price. So is it worth getting a Kobo nowadays, or should you opt for a Kindle? Let’s take a closer look at both models to see some differences between them.
Kindle
Their Best Model – The Standard Kindle
If you’re looking for the cheapest Kindle option, then you’ll want to stick with their basic model as opposed to looking at their more expensive options. The standard Kindle has pretty much everything you could need from a Kindle.
Pros of the Kindle
- Price – The main reason to opt for the basic Kindle as opposed to the more expensive models is that it’s the cheaper version of the Kindle available. So you get all the functionality of any other Kindle, but typically they’re less than $80, which is a fair price.
- Battery Life – Even the standard model of the Kindle offers a really long battery life, often reaching more than 6 weeks of a fair amount of use. So, you won’t need to worry about charging this model up if you plan on using your Kindle quite a lot.
- Audible integration – This is another one of the main positives about options for a Kindle above looking at other brands. Kindle’s are easily integrated with Audible, which means that you can listen to your e-books too. However, I guess you can just do this on your mobile phone if you need to!
Other Kindle Models
There are bigger and better options to look at if you’re thinking about purchasing a Kindle. They are more expensive, but they offer things that the standard Kindle doesn’t have.
- Kindle Paperwhite – The Kindle Paperwhite is a very similar price to the standard Kindle, and is typically only 10 or 20 dollars more than it’s little brother. However, the main improvement that this model offers is much better screen resolution. So if you want more pixels per inch, giving you a sharper display, then think about upgrading to the Paperwhite.
- Kindle Oasis – The most expensive of the Kindle models is the Kindle Oasis. The benefits of upgrading to the Oasis is that you’ll get a waterproof device (more water resistant than truly waterproof) that has an increase quality of display and backlighting. So, it could be worth the upgrade for some.
Kobo
As of 2020, Kobo have four different e-reader models to choose from. They have in the past released a line of tablets too, but nowadays they’re sticking solely to e-readers.
Their Best Model – Kobo Clara HD
The Kobo Clara HD is the best option to choose from Kobo in my opinion, as well as the cheapest option available from them. There are many good things about the Clara, which we’ll look at now.
Pros of the Kobo Clara HD
- A lot of storage – The base model of the Clara HD comes with 8GB of storage space. This should be more than enough space for you to download whatever books that you need to.
- Display – The Display of the Clara is on par with any of the Kindle models that are in the same price range. It has a 300 ppi (which stands for Pixels Per Inch), meaning that you’re going to get a sharp image on your display.
- ComfortLight – Like most models of Kobo e-reader it has ComfortLight. This is something that is there to help reduce any blue light being emitted from the e-reader, which can help to make it easier to sleep at night.
Other Kobo Models
As well as the Clara HD, there are a few other models of Kobo Reader that you may want to consider. They are;
- Kobo Forma – The Kobo Forma is the highest end model that Kobo produce. It has a large 8 inch screen, combined with a high resolution and the ability to upgrade to 32GB storage.
- Kobo Libra – The Kobo Libra has a slightly smaller screen than the Forma at only 7 inches. However, it has the same long battery life and has a high resolution, too.
- Kobo Aura One – The Kobo Aura one is somewhere between the Forma and the Libra, in both quality and size (it’s screen measures 7.8 inches). The best thing about this model is that it’s waterproof, so if you’re looking for an e-reader for by the pool, this might be a good choice.
Overall Verdict on Kobo
There’s not really anything wrong with any of the Kobo models mentioned, and if you already have a Kobo, then that’s great! However if you’re looking for a new e-reader, then I’d advise that you stick to the Kindle range. This is more for convenience than anything else.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there actually isn’t much difference between these two brands. The devices themselves are very similar to one another, and there’s really not much of a difference between them. However in terms of quality, then the Kindle is the better choice. It’s kind of like a tablet for kids, except it’s mainly targeted at adults.
