Experimented with Kobo e-reader for a week; discover why I've abandoned Kindle for good.
Leaving the Kindle Nightmare Behind: A Joyful Jump to Kobo
After years as a Kindle loyalist, I've bid adieu to the e-reader giant.
Last month, Amazon decided to remove the feature that allowed users to download their Kindle books to their PC, leaving only the Wi-Fi-connected Kindle or app as the reading options. This change confirmed my worst fears – when you buy a Kindle ebook, you don't actually own it because Amazon has full control over your library.
Amazon has a history of exercising this control. In 2009, they removed copies of 1984 from Kindle devices after discovering an independent seller didn't have the proper authorization. And they have even changed the content and covers of Kindle ebooks without giving readers a choice in the matter.
Fed up with Amazon's shenanigans, I jumped ship and dove headfirst into Kobo's arms. My Kindle, already showing signs of age, served as the perfect excuse to make the change.
Kobo: A Brighter, More Open E-reader
Like Amazon, Rakuten offers a range of Kobo ereaders, from the basic Clara BW to the feature-packed Libra Colour. For a lightweight, simple reading experience, I opted for the Kobo Clara BW, the black-and-white equivalent of the Kindle Paperwhite.
Obtaining my Kobo proved to be the most frustrating part of the process. While Kobo ereaders are available on Amazon, I decided to order directly from Rakuten to avoid any conflicts of interest. The shipping took around a week.
The build quality of the Kobo Clara BW feels far more solid than my Kindle, with a textured plastic that's easier to hold. Though it doesn't boast the minimalistic look of the Kindle, its practicality wins out. I also prefer the power button placement on the back – a definite improvement over the bottom edge placement on my Kindle, which was far too easy to press accidentally.
However, since Kobo ereaders aren't as popular as Kindles, the selection of cases and accessories is limited. If you're into decking out your ereader with stylish or unique cases, you might be disappointed.
The reading experience on the Kobo is top-notch, with a straightforward interface that took only a few minutes to master. One thing that initially threw me off but ended up growing on me is the way Kobo counts pages. For instance, if I'm on "page 8 out of 16" in a chapter on my Kobo, each "page" is one swipe of my screen. In contrast, Kindle doesn't adjust page numbers for your device and display settings, so you could be on "page 8" for several swipes of your screen. I prefer the way my page number is displayed on Kobo because it makes it much easier to gauge how close I am to the end of a chapter.
The Kobo store is more user-friendly than the Kindle store. In my first week of using Kobo, I found over a dozen titles from my wishlist on sale for $5 or less. While ebooks do go on sale on Kindle stores, I noticed more significant and frequent discounts on Kobo.
As an added bonus, Rakuten still allows users to download and export their Kobo ebooks to other devices, as opposed to Kindle's lock-in approach. Plus, Kobo devices don't have lockscreen ads, in contrast to the Kindle.
A Content Reader, Free at Last
I haven't touched my Kindle in over a week, and I've almost forgotten it exists. That's how much I prefer reading on my Kobo.
The Kobo's battery life and E-ink display are just as good, if not better, than my Kindle, and I can still export my ebooks without being locked into one ecosystem or device. The Kobo UI is less cluttered with shop recommendations, offers more fonts, and sports a more convenient page-counting system. Basic features like highlighting, adding notes, or looking up definitions for words are just as smooth as they are on Kindle.
Though making the switch might not be for everyone, especially those with large Kindle libraries they can't export, I highly recommend taking a leap of faith and giving Kobo a shot. If you're due for an upgrade, looking to leave the Amazon ecosystem, or shopping for your first ereader, Kobo is definitely worth considering. The drawbacks compared to Amazon are few, and the pricing is comparable.
I've grown fond of my Kobo, and it's safe to say it will be my ereader of choice for the foreseeable future. Farewell, Kindle.
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Insights:
- Kobo supports a wider range of file formats than Kindle, offering greater compatibility with various devices and sources.
- Kobo is more customizable, with options for fonts, layout, and sideloading additional fonts.
- Kobo offers better library borrowing opportunities, especially outside the U.S., due to its OverDrive integration.
- Kobo devices are generally ad-free, while Kindles often display ads on the lock screen.
- Kobo offers a broader range of device choices and sizes, including color e-ink displays on some models.
- Kindles tend to offer more storage options (up to 64 GB compared to Kobo’s max 32 GB).
- Kindles have stronger Bluetooth integration for audiobook support.
- Kindles are known for their streamlined, simple user interface, while Kobo features more complex but customizable options.
- Both devices deliver excellent reading experiences, but Kindle screens are noted for their sharper, more natural, and paper-like quality.
- The Kobo Clara BW's build quality feels more solid than my Kindle, with a textured plastic that's easier to hold, despite not having the minimalistic look of the Kindle.
- The Kobo store offers a broader range of ebooks for sale, with frequent discounts that I've found over a dozen titles from my wishlist on sale for $5 or less in my first week of using Kobo.
- One advantage of choosing Kobo over Kindle is the ability to download and export ebooks to other devices, giving users more freedom rather than being locked into one ecosystem or device.
- The Kobo's battery life and E-ink display are just as good, if not better, than my Kindle, and I can still highlight, add notes, or look up definitions for words easily, as basic features are just as smooth as they are on Kindle.
