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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) vs Kobo Clara BW
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on battery, ease of use. Kobo Clara BW wins on book store & formats.
The biggest complaint about the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) is pricey for what you get; for the Kobo Clara BW it's shorter real-world battery than kindle. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) | Kobo Clara BW | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in e-readers | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | E-reader | E-reader |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 12% |
| Overall score | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Screen | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Battery | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Book store & formats | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Build & durability | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $120 · $$ $120–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
- Pricey for what you get
Wirecutter notes a $20 launch increase over the previous model and says prices are now $40 above launch. TechRadar calls it 'expensive for its feature set' and says to wait for a sale. Tom's Guide also lists the higher price as a con.
- Awkward power button and slippery back
Tom's Guide calls the power-button location bad, and Engadget says the bottom-edge button is easy to press by accident. TechRadar says the slim bezels and smooth back make it hard to grip, and the plastic attracts dust and smudges more than any other reader it tested.
- Ads, store nudges and no page buttons
Engadget says the standard Paperwhite shows lock-screen ads (the Signature Edition doesn't). TechRadar says the home screen constantly points you to the Kindle Store, and that only about 11.5 GB of the 16 GB is usable. Wirecutter regrets that Amazon still hasn't added page-turn buttons. Amazon's summary calls functionality and compatibility mixed.
Kobo Clara BW
- Shorter real-world battery than Kindle
Kobo claims up to 53 days, but Wirecutter's reviewer got just a few weeks at higher brightness, versus about six weeks for the basic Kindle and two-plus months for the Paperwhite.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Software crashes
Amazon's review summary says the software gets mixed feedback, with some owners reporting crashes.
- Small screen, plain build, no cloud transfer
TechRadar lists no cloud file transfer, a dated plastic design, and a 6-inch screen that some may find small. It also notes only Kobo-store audiobooks will play. Engadget notes Kobo's store is smaller than Kindle's.
Who should pick which
Pick the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) if
Kindle readers who want a bigger, faster, waterproof screen
Reading by the pool or in the bath (IPX8)
Going many weeks between charges
Skip it if: You want physical page-turn buttons; You want to shop outside Amazon's store; You don't want lock-screen ads (pay extra or buy the Signature)
Pick the Kobo Clara BW if
Readers who want to avoid Amazon's ecosystem
Library borrowers (OverDrive built in)
Sideloading EPUBs over USB
Skip it if: You already own a big Kindle library; You want the longest time between charges; You want a screen bigger than 6 inches
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