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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) vs Kobo Libra 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 #2 of 8) and scores better on screen, battery. Kobo Libra Colour wins on book store & formats.
The biggest complaint about the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) is pricey for what you get; for the Kobo Libra Colour it's stylus sold separately; small for notes. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) | Kobo Libra Colour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in e-readers | #1 | #2 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | E-reader | Color e-reader |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 5% | 8% |
| Overall score | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Screen | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Battery | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Book store & formats | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| 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 Libra Colour
- Stylus sold separately; small for notes
TechRadar and Engadget note the stylus costs extra ($290 with stylus vs $220 without, per Engadget). TechRadar says the 7-inch screen is too small for heavy note-taking.
- Lag and mixed screen and reliability reports
TechRadar lists a couple of functions that suffer from lag. Amazon's summary says screen quality and reliability are mixed, with some owners reporting visual clarity issues and finding it doesn't meet their needs. Some also find the 7-inch size too small. Wirecutter says the colors look subdued.
- Smaller store, aging design
Engadget's only listed con is that Kobo's store is smaller than Kindle's. TechRadar was initially disappointed by the dated design, notes the model is over two years old, and says Kobo hasn't released new readers in a couple of years.
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 Libra Colour if
One-handed reading with page-turn buttons
Color comics with room for 32 GB
Margin notes with the optional Kobo Stylus 2
Skip it if: You don't need color (cheaper grayscale readers exist); You'll take lots of notes (7 inches is cramped); You buy mostly from the Kindle store
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