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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) vs Kobo Clara Colour
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on screen, battery. Kobo Clara Colour wins on book store & formats.
The biggest complaint about the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) is pricey for what you get; for the Kobo Clara Colour it's color costs text clarity. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) | Kobo Clara Colour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in e-readers | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | E-reader | Color e-reader |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 8% |
| Overall score | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Screen | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Battery | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Book store & formats | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 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 Colour
- Color costs text clarity
TechRadar says black-and-white text lacks contrast. Engadget says color adds slight noise to white areas and reduces text clarity. Amazon's summary says some owners find the screen grainy.
- Muted color and slower refresh
Wirecutter says color E Ink brings slower refresh, lower resolution and a limited color range that can look washed out, and all of these apply to this Kaleido 3 screen.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Small screen, grainy plastic
TechRadar says 6 inches may be too small, especially for comics. Engadget says the plastic is grainier and the bezels sit less flush than on rivals.
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 Colour if
A first color e-reader on a budget
Library borrowers (OverDrive built in)
Ad-free, waterproof reading
Skip it if: You mostly read plain text (the Clara BW is sharper); You want a bigger screen for comics; You're invested in Kindle books
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.