I switched from a Kindle ereader to a Kobo for a week — that’s why I’m not going back
After several years as a Kindle fan, I’ve abandoned ship.
Last month, Amazon announced that it was removing a feature that allowed users to download their Kindle books to their PC, whether they backed up those books or used a tool like Caliber to read them on a non-Kindle device. Since this feature is gone, i only the way to read Kindle books is now in the app connected to Wi-Fi or in the Kindle app.
The announcement sparked frustration among many readers, prompting many (myself included) to take a closer look at the Kindle’s closest competitor, Kobo. If you’re also considering making the switch, you may be wondering whether or not it’s worth it or whether Kobo readers can really compare to Kindle.
I switched to a Kobo ereader for a week to find out. My experience has left me completely convinced of which ereader I will be using from now on.
Why I Left the Kindle (And I Should, Too)
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Amazon’s change to its ebook download rules may not sound like a big deal. After all, if you buy ebooks from Amazon, you probably plan to read them on a Kindle or an app anyway. However, this move reinforces the fact that when you buy a Kindle ebook, you don’t actually own it because Amazon can change or remove that title from your library at any time and you can’t read it outside of the Amazon ecosystem.
Amazon has already used this control in the past. Back in 2009, Amazon released copies of the 1984 from Kindle devices after finding out the independent seller did not have the proper authorization to sell the ebook. Of course, the people who bought it had no way of knowing that. Amazon and publishers can also (again) change the content and covers of Kindle ebooks without giving readers any option to choose which version of the book they want.
Seeing Amazon remove the one feature that would allow users to control access to the ebooks they’ve purchased didn’t sit well with me. My Kindle was getting a little old and battered around the edges anyway, so I decided it was time to make the jump to the Kobo.
What Kobo does better (and worse) than Kindle
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Like Amazon, Rakuten offers a variety of Kobo monitors, from the basic Clara BW to the feature-packed Libra color. I prefer smaller, lighter ereaders and I didn’t need a color display, so I went with the basic Kobo Clara BW (black and white). It’s a good match for Kobo’s Kindle Paperwhite.
The most inconvenient part of making the switch was actually getting my Kobo. Thanks to Prime, you can order a Kindle and own it on that day. While Kobo ereaders are available on Amazon, it seemed pointless to buy one there so I ordered directly from Rakuten. Shipping took about a week from the time I placed my order until my ereader arrived.
The build quality of the Kobo Clara BW feels really solid, significantly better than my Kindle (All-New Kindle for 2022). The plastic on the Clara seems to be more textured, making it easier to hold. It doesn’t look as “minimalist” as the sleek case on the Kindle, but it’s very functional. I also like that the Kobo has its power button on the back instead of the edges like the Kindle. The placement of the power button on the bottom edge of my Kindle made it easy to press accidentally.
Unfortunately, since Kobo readers aren’t as popular as Kindles, there are very few options for cases and accessories. I didn’t want anything fancy, so I just got a clear plastic case for Clara. However, if you like to decorate your reader with a stylish or unique case, you probably won’t have much to choose from.
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The reading experience on Kobo is fantastic. The interface is very straightforward and it only took me a few minutes to get used to it. I really like that the Home screen on my Clara isn’t full of store recommendations like my home screen on my Kindle. You can go into the Kobo store and buy ebooks from Clara, but the advertising isn’t in your face, which is a relief.
Something that initially threw me off, but I ended up appreciating the way Kobo counts pages. For example, if I’m on “page 8 of 16” in a chapter on my Kobo, each “page” is one swipe of my screen. In contrast, Kindle doesn’t adjust your device’s page numbers and display settings so you’re on “page 8” with multiple swipes of your screen. I prefer the way my page number is displayed on the Kobo because it makes it easy to gauge how close I am to the end of the chapter.
So far, I like the Kobo store better than the Kindle store. Even in my first week of using my Kobo, I found more than a dozen titles on my wishlist on sale for $5 or less. Of course, ebooks continue to be sold on Kindle, too, but I’ve seen significant and regular discounts on Kobo.
As an added bonus, Rakuten still lets you download and send your Kobo ebooks to other devices, at least at the time of writing. You also don’t have to pay to remove lock screen ads like on the Kindle (of course, there are no lock screen ads on Kobo).
Do I regret switching to Kobo?
I haven’t picked up my Kindle in over a week, and frankly, I’ve forgotten where it was for a few days. That’s how content I read on my Kobo.
The battery life and quality of the E-ink display on my Kobo is just as good, if not better than my Kindle, and the Kobo still supports downloading and exporting your ebooks, so your library isn’t locked into a single ecosystem or device. The Kobo UI is less cluttered with store recommendations, includes more fonts, and has a much simpler pagination system. Basic features like highlighting, adding notes, or looking up word definitions all work just as well as they do on the Kindle.
Of course, making the switch may not be for everyone, especially if you have a large Kindle library that you can no longer transfer. However, if your Kindle is about to be upgraded, you’re looking to leave the Amazon ecosystem, or you’re buying your first e-reader, I highly recommend giving Kobo a shot. The barriers compared to Amazon are few and far between and the prices are the same.
I’ve had a great experience with my Kobo so far and I can safely say it will be my reader of choice for the foreseeable future. It’s been a while, Kindle.
