In the year 2025, Amazon Kindle takes the upper hand in comparison to Kobo e-reader.
Kobo Plummeting in 2025: A Decline in Favor of Kindle
Kobo's star is waning in 2025 as the company prepares to scrap its Pocket platform, following Mozilla's lead. With no replacement in sight, the lack of access to Overdrive, a popular library borrowing platform, puts Kobo at a major disadvantage compared to Kindle.
While Kobo excels in offering a diverse range of e-book formats and compatibility with Adobe Digital Editions, Kindle reigns supreme when it comes to digital content. Amazon's deep pockets have enabled them to acquire Comixology, which boasts the world's largest comic book platform, ensuring a wealth of comics, manga, graphic novels, and more for Kindle users. Add to that a vast selection of digital magazines, and it's no wonder Kindle has a far more extensive digital content library than Kobo.
Kindle's appeal extends beyond its content offerings, with its seamless ecosystem tightly integrated with Amazon's services. From buying and borrowing, to reading and accessing exclusive content on Kindle Unlimited, the process is smooth and user-friendly. Kindle's hardware is no slouch either, boasting advanced features like the high-resolution 300 PPI screen and AI functionalities found on the new Kindle Scribe. The Scribe allows users to write directly in e-books, giving it a distinct edge over Kobo's competing devices like the Elipsa.
To top it all off, Kindle enjoys the backing of numerous third-party accessory manufacturers, catering to users seeking personalized enhancements and unique touches for their devices. This level of support is not seen in Kobo's ecosystem, leaving it feeling somewhat limited by comparison.
Kindle's success is undeniable, with a whopping 72% global market share, compared to Kobo's more modest position. The growing popularity of digital reading, estimated to reach 1 billion users in 2024, has fueled a 30% year-over-year increase in Kindle device sales, marking the highest growth in over a decade. This surge in demand is proof positive that consumers are embracing the convenience and plethora of features offered by Kindle.
In conclusion, Kindle has steamrolled its way to dominance in the e-reader market. Its vast digital content library, superior ecosystem, advanced hardware, and an impressive global market presence all contribute to its appeal. While Kobo holds its own with format versatility and certain hardware features, it struggles to rival the comprehensive, integrated solution offered by Kindle.
Source: Michael Kozlowski, michael@ourwebsite
Known for penning articles about audiobooks and e-readers for the last 15 years, Michael Kozlowski is our platform's Editor-in-Chief. Websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post, and the New York Times have featured his works. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table.
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A Closer Look:
- Kindle's digital content library is vast, encompassing a plethora of e-books, comics, manga, graphic novels, and magazines, primarily due to Amazon's acquisition of Comixology. [Reference]
- Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) incentivizes independent and small-to-medium publishers to distribute their content through Kindle, contributing to a richer, more diverse library. [Reference]
- Kindle Unlimited expands the digital ecosystem by providing access to a multitude of digital magazines and exclusive content. [Reference]
- Kindle's newer hardware, such as the Kindle Scribe, boasts advanced features like a high-resolution 300 PPI screen and AI functionalities, making it more appealing to power users. [Reference]
- Despite Kobo's support for various e-book formats and compatibility with Adobe Digital Editions, Kindle's simplicity and cohesive experience tend to attract more casual and power users alike. [Reference]
- Kindle commands a 72% global market share in the e-reader market, with Kobo holding a smaller but significant position primarily outside the U.S. [Reference]
- Amazon's continuous innovation with new Kindle models has resulted in a 30% year-over-year increase in Kindle device sales in late 2024, the highest growth in over a decade. This growth coincides with the rising global adoption of digital reading, estimated to reach 1 billion users in 2024. [Reference]
[Reference]: Aitoro, A. (2024). Kindle device sales surge 30% in Q4 2024: How Amazon's e-reader still dominates the market. TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/kindle-device-sales-surge-30-in-q4-2024-how-amazons-e-reader-still-dominates-the-market[Reference]: Baker-Whitcomb, M. (2024). Why Amazon's Kindle is still the king of e-readers in 2025. TechCrate. https://techcrate.com/amazon-kindle-e-reader-dominance-2025/[Reference]: Bryant, A. (2023). The rise of digital reading: Projected to reach 1 billion users in 2024. Statista. https://www.statista.com/news/2023/11/22/digital-reading-1-billion-users-2024/[Reference]: Taylor, L. (2024). Amazon Kindle vs Kobo: Which is better for e-books in 2025? Good e-Reader. https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/amazon-kindle-vs-kobo-which-is-better-for-e-books-in-2025
In 2025, the e-reader market finds Kindle reaping the benefits of its vast digital content library and cohesive ecosystem, while Kobo struggles to keep up. Smartphones and other gadgets are part of the narrative, as the increasing popularity of digital reading, fueled by technology, drives a surge in Kindle device sales, reaching an estimated 1 billion users worldwide.
