Kobo or Kindle: Which is the best ereader for you?

Note: This story has been updated with buying considerations and the latest prices on new contenders, accurate as of February 2025.

Admittedly, it took a while for this writer to get on board with the idea of investing in an e-reader, being someone who thoroughly preferred the experience of reading physical books. When I finally decided to give it a shot and got around to purchasing my first e-reader years ago, I faced the same question most people likely will - to Kobo or Kindle? 

Depending on your preference and reading habits, both Rakuten Kobo and Amazon Kindle offer a variety of models with great features. And let’s not forget the other e-readers available, such as PocketBook and more. In this buying guide, you'll find the following information to help you shop for the e-reader:-

• What to look out for when buying an ideal e-reader
• Best e-readers in Singapore to shop now
• Why get an e-reader, and what can you expect
• Picking the right e-reader for you in Singapore

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What to look out for when buying an e-reader

If you’ve been thinking about getting an e-reader, whether to accompany yourself on long train or bus rides, or simply to simplify your burgeoning book collection away from shelves of dusty books, here are some considerations to bear in mind when choosing between the Kindle and Kobo e-readers.

1) Display: Your Window to Worlds

The quality of the E Ink display is crucial, given this is what you’d be staring at for hours on end, presuming you are a bookworm. If you’re going to be reading away from the comfort of your home’s sofa, having E-Ink screens designed for excellent outdoor visibility will be important. Also, better quality screens also mean reduced eye strain over time. Colour E-Ink is more suitable for comics and illustrated books, though current colour resolution for colour E Ink screens (often 150 ppi) is typically lower than the 300 ppi standard for black and white text. While newer devices like the Kobo Libra Colour feature colour E-Ink, the international edition of the Kindle Paperwhite currently available on the Amazon Singapore store only has a greyscale display. Amazon actually has an e-reader with a colour display in the form of the newer Kindle Colorsoft, but that has yet to be made officially available here.

Screen sizes usually range from 6 to 7 inches, with a 300 ppi resolution ideal for sharp text. These devices are typically designed to be about the size of a paperback, and users expect them to be easily held in one hand. Larger sizes do exist, but they are not the norm for reading books, and they often double up as entertainment-friendly devices, reading webpages and even note-taking. So have a thought for the primary purpose and your usage needs before settling for the correct size.

Newer e-readers also now come with backlit screens, making it convenient to read long into the night without having to keep the lights on. The Kobo Libra Colour, for example, also comes with a feature that reduces blue light, making for more comfortable nighttime reading. That said, this should not be a make-or-break consideration, given that E Ink displays are similar to paper in that they reflect ambient light, meaning they don't emit light themselves. This inherent design element significantly reduces blue light exposure from E Ink displays by default,  compared to LCD screens, which use backlighting. 

 

2) Features: For everyday usability

• Protection from the elements: Waterproofing is a valuable feature for reading near water, especially if you’re reading while lounging beside a swimming pool, or even while on a beach holiday. Both the Kindle International Edition and the Kobo Clara Colour, for example, feature IPX8 waterproofing. 
  
   
• Battery life: E-readers boast impressive battery life by design, thanks to the nature of E Ink screens, which can last weeks on a single charge. E-ink displays are highly power-efficient because they only consume energy when the image needs to be updated. This is due to their bistable nature, meaning they retain the displayed image without continuous power, as once the particles are arranged to display an image, they remain in place without any additional power consumption. 
  
   
• Storage: Given that ebooks are basically just compressed text, a typical e-reader is able to store thousands of ebooks with ease. The Kindle International Edition comes with 16GB of storage, for example, while the Kobo Libra Colour comes with 32GB, and the Kobo Clara Colour comes with 16GB. Let's say that whichever option you choose in this case, running out of books to read during the holidays will be really hard since compressed text takes up very little space. That said, the larger storage might also come in handy if you intend to store PDF files on your e-reader.
  
   
• Ergonomics: While most e-readers like the Kindle International Edition use touchscreens by design, some models, like the Kobo Libra Colour come with physical page-turn buttons. While some prefer the latter for their tactile feel, others may prefer the touchscreen, as on the Kindle International Edition, for a simpler interface.
   

3) Content & Ecosystem

E-readers support several ebook formats, including the open standard EPUB, as well as Amazon's MOBI and AZW.

Kobo devices excel in EPUB support. While Amazon Kindles primarily use their own formats, they do support EPUB conversion through the "Send to Kindle" service.

PDF compatibility is generally available, though the reading experience may differ. E-reader selection is often tied to a particular ebook marketplace (Amazon or Kobo). For users in Singapore, a crucial consideration is compatibility with the National Library Board's (NLB) OverDrive/Libby platform for borrowing e-books, which Kobo supports, but Kindle does not.

Best ereaders in Singapore to shop now

If you’re considering upgrading from your current e-reader, or perhaps thinking of getting an e-reader for the first time, here are 9 e-book readers in Singapore to shop now with some on sale.

Kobo Libra Colour

$339.90

• Display: 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 touchscreen, 300 ppi (black & white), 150 ppi (colour), glare-free
• Storage: 32GB
• Waterproof: IPX8, safe for up to 60 minutes in 2 metres of water

The Kobo LIbra Colour adds colour to your reading experience, bringing life to book covers, illustrations, and annotations. With physical page-turn buttons and Kobo Stylus 2 compatibility, it’s great for both reading and note-taking. Bluetooth support lets you listen to Kobo Audiobooks, while OverDrive and Libby integration makes borrowing eBooks easy. 

With the Amazon colour Kindle not available in Singapore yet, Kobo’s addition is a compelling choice, especially for those who enjoy comics and picture books. Read more

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), 16GB

• Display: 7-inch E Ink Carta touchscreen, 300 ppi, glare-free
• Storage: 16GB
• Waterproof: IPX8, safe for up to 60 minutes in 2 metres of freshwater

The latest Kindle Paperwhite refines Amazon’s best-selling e-reader with thinner bezels and an adjustable warm light to shift between white and amber tones for comfortable reading day or night. With Bluetooth support for Audible and a battery that lasts up to 12 weeks, it's a reliable pick for book lovers.

Shop Now at Amazon

Amazon Kindle Oasis

• Display: 7-inch E Ink touchscreen, 300 ppi, glare-free
• Storage: 8GB
• Waterproof: IPX8, up to 60 minutes in 2 metres of water

The Kindle Oasis is Amazon’s premium e-reader, offering a larger 7-inch display and an ergonomic design with dedicated page-turn buttons, making it ideal for one-handed reading. Unlike the Kindle Paperwhite 6, the Oasis features an adaptive warm light that automatically adjusts brightness based on lighting conditions.

Its sleek aluminum body feels more premium, while the E Ink technology delivers even faster page turns. For those who want a larger reading screen with added comfort and luxury, the Kindle Oasis is the choice.

Shop Now at Amazon

Kobo Clara BW

$209.90

• Display: 6-inch E Ink Carta 1300 HD touchscreen
• Storage: 16GB
• Waterproof: IPX8, up to 60 minutes in 2 metres of water

If you're looking for a more compact e-reader, the Kobo Clara BW might be the one for you. It's slightly more compact than the usual e-readers like the Kindle Paperwhite and is a good entry-level e-reader to explore.

Shop Now at Lazada

Amazon Kindle (2022)

• Display: 6-inch E-ink touchscreen
• Storage: 16GB
• Waterproof: No

Amazon's lightest and most compact Kindle is another entry-level and wallet-friendly e-reader worth considering, especially for those who are leaning more toward Kindles and prefer the ease of finding and purchasing books within the Amazon ecosystem. 

Shop Now at Amazon

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Kobo Elipsa 2e

$609.99  $650.00  6% off

• Display: 10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen
• Storage: 32GB
• Waterproof: No

If you enjoy a larger screen, and scribbling notes as you read, the Kobo Elipsa 2e is worth looking into. It comes with the Kobo Stylus 2, and you can easily import documents or export your notebooks through  Dropbox or Google Drive. Read more

Shop Now at Lazada

Amazon Kindle Scribe, 16GB

$529.99  $700.00  24% off

• Display: 10.2-inch E-ink touchscreen
• Storage: Available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB
• Waterproof: No

It's Amazon's biggest Kindle, and the Amazon Kindle Scribe lets you take notes and sketch, acting as a digital paper notebook as well as an e-reader. The large screen also makes it a good choice if you enjoy reading comics or manga. Read more

Shop Now at Lazada

PocketBook InkPad Lite

• Display: 9.7-inch E-ink touchscreen
• Storage: 8GB, with expandable storage up to 32GB with a memory card
• Waterproof: No

Not keen on getting one of the smaller 6-inch e-readers, and not interested in the larger 10-inch plus ones either? The PocketBook InkPad Lite has a 9.7-inch display that might be up your alley, giving you a big enough screen that fits more text while letting you read more comfortably. It also provides the option for expandable storage, should you require it.

Shop Now at Amazon

PocketBook Verse Pro

• Display: 6-inch E-ink touchscreen
• Storage: 16GB
• Waterproof: IPX8, up to 60 minutes in 2 metres of water

The PocketBook Verse Pro is another option to consider if you're curious to try e-readers outside of Rakuten Kobo and Amazon Kindle. This model provides audiobooks support and the usual features you can expect to find in a basic and decent e-reader.

Shop Now at Amazon

Why get an e-reader?
 

E-readers are popular with more digital-forward book lovers for their focused and distraction-free reading experience. The use of E Ink screens mimics paper, reducing glare and eye strain - they don't emit light, such as typical LCD/OLED screens used for iPads and Android tablets - for comfortable reading, even for extended periods. More importantly, these light and portable devices can store vast libraries of content, offering access to numerous books when on the go. The owner is only really limited by the amount of storage space on their e-reader device.

Picking the right e-reader for you in Singapore
 

At the end of the day, making a choice between Kindle and Kobo in Singapore (presuming you only go by what is officially available) depends on one’s reading habits, especially concerning NLB library access and the preference for official local support versus navigating a non-localized ecosystem.

If seamless NLB ebook borrowing and native EPUB support are priorities, Kobo is the more advantageous choice in Singapore. With an official local presence, Singapore Dollar pricing for Kobo Plus (this is their all-you-can-read book subscription service), and more importantly, an accessible local warranty, are its top advantages.

For those heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem or reliant on Kindle Unlimited (even internationally via Amazon.com), a Kindle can be suitable for you. 

Editor's note and disclaimer: The deals are not an endorsement or recommendation of the product from the editorial team. Instead, the listed items present themselves as a good deal based on the novelty factor and how much of a discount it is being offered from standard retail pricing at the time of publishing. Please note that we are not responsible in any way if you're unable to secure the listed offer due to errors on our part or should the offers expire by the time you've checked them.

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