E-readers have exploded prior to now yr. Should you’ve been tempted by the comfort and ease of the e-reader way of life, then perhaps you’ve got began to perform a little research already. No doubt, you’ve got come throughout Kindles, by far the most well-liked e-reader, however perhaps you’ve got thought-about some lesser-known manufacturers like Kobo.
Fortunately for you, we’re e-reader consultants right here at Mashable. We have extensively examined quite a lot of manufacturers and fashions, discovering one of the best and worst gadgets on the market. Right this moment, we’re wanting particularly at two fashions from the highest two e-reader manufacturers: the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Clara Color.
Each of those e-readers are their respective model’s bestselling fashions, they usually occur to be on the similar worth level. However is one higher than the opposite? We’re right here to inform you somewhat bit about every of those common e-readers and which is our favourite.
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Color: Worth and specs
The Kobo Clara Color has the added bonus of shade, letting you see ebook covers in all their glory.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Should you’re deciding between the Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Clara Color, one factor that will not issue into your resolution is worth, as each gadgets price $159.99. The Kobo Clara Color does come ad-free although, and if you would like an ad-free Paperwhite, you may must pay an additional $20.
So if worth is not an element, let’s get into the general design of every system. Listed below are their dimensions:
General, the Kindle Paperwhite’s show is one inch greater than the Kobo Clara Colors’. Plus, the Paperwhite’s display is flush to the body, whereas the Kobo Clara has a raised bezel across the display.
Every has adjustable heat and brightness shows, so you possibly can flip up the brightness once you’re within the sunny open air or flip it down and heat it up within the evenings. Plus, each gadgets have a decision of 300 ppi in black and white; the Kobo Clara Color’s decision in shade is 150 ppi.
Every system can also be waterproof, each incomes an IPX8 score, which means they are often submerged in as much as 2 meters of water for as much as 60 minutes. AKA, they’re protected to soak up the tub or to the seashore.
The Kobo Clara Color, as implied by its title, has shade shows, whereas the Kindle Paperwhite doesn’t. If you need a shade Kindle, you may want to have a look at the Colorsoft. This makes the Clara best for readers of graphic novels or comics.
You can do away with the Kindle Paperwhite’s advertisements for simply $20 extra.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino
The lock screens on every system are barely totally different, too. When not in use, the Kindle Paperwhite reveals random advertisements — until you pay the $20 further to get the system ad-free. In the meantime, the Kobo Clara Color reveals the final ebook you learn, alongside along with your progress within the ebook.
Every has an influence button, too. The Paperwhite’s is on the underside, which is barely annoying as it may be simple to press unintentionally, whereas the Clara’s energy button rests on the again nook of the system.
Contemplating all of those components, the Kobo Clara is our winner right here, because it has the bonus of shade shows. Plus, its smaller design makes it extra snug to carry for longer intervals of time.
Winner: Kobo Clara Color
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Color: Consumer expertise
The person interface and expertise on the Clara and Paperwhite are pretty comparable.
A precedence for a lot of e-reader customers is accessing Libby/OverDrive. Kobo has the final word integration, as OverDrive is constructed into all of its gadgets, together with the Clara Color. Which means any e-book you borrow out of your library will auto-populate in your Kobo.
To get library e-books in your Kindle requires a couple of further steps, as you may must entry the Libby app to browse books after which ship them to your Kindle library.
You may entry the Kindle and Kobo shops on the respective e-readers. With the Kobo, you possibly can choose which ebook you need to buy, however to finish the acquisition, you might want to scan a QR code in your cellphone. It is a less complicated course of on the Kindle, as you are ready to take a look at in your Kindle e-reader.
A function that makes the Kindle stand aside is its Goodreads integration, which lets you hyperlink your account to your Kindle.
Every system is equally intuitive and user-friendly, so for us, it is a draw.
Winner: Tie
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Color: Studying expertise
The prologue of M.L. Rio’s ‘If We Have been Villains’ begins on web page 12 of the Kobo Clara Color however on web page 3 of the Kindle Paperwhite.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
However how is it to truly learn on every system? Every e-reader has an intuitive person interface and a responsive show as you swipe by means of pages. Plus, each the Paperwhite and Clara let you customise their swipe responses to your preferences.
The place the 2 gadgets differ within the studying expertise is in web page numbers and progress markers. Kindle numbers its pages just like the bodily ebook, whereas Kobo numbers the digital pages.
My editor, Miller Kern, and I every examined the Paperwhite and Clara and had two totally different opinions on how the gadgets numbered their pages. Miller was pissed off by how Kobo numbered its pages, so when you’re studying together with somebody who’s studying a bodily copy, it is arduous to know when you’re on the identical web page. However, I appreciated understanding precisely what number of digital pages I needed to faucet by means of to complete the chapter or a complete ebook.
The place Miller and I do agree is that Kindle has higher progress location choices. On the underside nook of every web page, you possibly can flip by means of what web page you are on, how a lot time you’ve within the chapter, and the way a lot time is left within the ebook. For that, I agree with Miller that the Kindle Paperwhite has a greater studying expertise.
Winner: Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Color: Battery life
When it comes to battery life, the winner is clear. The Kindle Paperwhite blows the Kobo Clara Color out of the water. The Kindle Paperwhite has a battery life lasting as much as 12 weeks. I exploit my Kindle Paperwhite commonly and solely must cost it each couple of months.
The Kobo Clara Color says it lasts 42 days primarily based on half-hour of studying per day. So at greatest you are getting 6 weeks. However when you’re studying for a number of hours a day, that is going to be a lot much less.
Winner: Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Color: Is Kindle Limitless or Kobo Plus higher?
One other factor to contemplate between the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara Color is not really in regards to the e-readers, however the particular memberships provided by every model.
Kindle has Kindle Limitless, a membership that prices $11.99 per 30 days and has 4 million digital titles that embrace books and magazines, in addition to hundreds of audiobooks. Kobo additionally has its personal membership referred to as Kobo Plus. It is barely cheaper at $9.99 however has a smaller library. It has over two million ebooks and 150,000 audiobooks. Nevertheless, you possibly can simply pay $7.99 a month when you solely need entry to both the ebooks or audiobooks.
Kindle Limitless is the higher service, with extra books out there. However past Kindle Limitless, there are much more nice applications for Kindle readers. Amazon First Reads offers Prime members with one free ebook a month. To not point out that anybody purchasing within the Kindle Retailer can take pleasure in Kindle Rewards factors. For each $1 spent within the Kindle Retailer, earn three factors. Whenever you hit 300 factors, you may earn a $3 reward.
Winner: Kindle Paperwhite
Ultimate Ideas
Having examined each the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara Color for a number of months, assessing every system from prime to backside, our most well-liked e-reader is the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Kindle Paperwhite has a bigger show and higher battery life, to not point out I feel it runs a tad quicker than the Kobo. Kindles have higher subscriptions and reward applications, and if Amazon is already built-in into your life, then the Kindle goes to be the higher e-reader for most individuals.
Whereas I favor the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Clara Color remains to be a notable e-reader. It is smaller and extra snug to carry and can be proper for a sure sort of individual, and that individual is somebody who’s trying to get Amazon out of their life. If you do not have a Prime membership and are simply usually trying to minimize ties to Amazon, then the Kobo Clara Color will doubtless be best for you.
