Here is a comparison between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Aura to help you choose the right eReader. For this comparison, we have chosen the Kobo Aura Version 2 because it is priced on par with the Kindle Paperwhite.
Type of problem
- Kindle Paperwhite – 169 x 116 x 8,18 mm, 182~191 grams
- Kobo Aura – 159 x 113 x 8,5 mm, 185 grams
All Kindle Paperwhites and Kobo Auras have wonderful build quality.
The Kobo Aura has a padded back and is available in 5 colors, while the Kindle Paperwhite is available in a beautiful black color and has a soft-touch painted back.
Those looking for compactness and portability in an eReader are more likely to opt for the Kobo Aura, which is certainly lighter, thinner and smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite.
View
- Kindle Paperwhite – 6″ E Ink Pearl present, 300 PPI
- Kobo Aura – 6″ E-ink display, 212 PPI
Both the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Glo offer the same sized 6-inch e-ink displays and utilize the best e-ink experience available on the market.
Compared to the Kobo Aura, the Kindle Paperwhite offers comparatively greater clarity, darker text content, and more pixels with its 300 PPI display.
Notice: Kobo Clara HD ($129.99) offers a 300 PPI display
Integrated lighting
All Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Aura eReaders have built-in lighting, eliminating the need to purchase illuminated eReader covers or separate external lighting sources.
In our opinion, the Kindle Paperwhite has the edge here and we have no hesitation in saying that Amazon has practically perfected the use of light in an eReader.
The Kindle Paperwhite's lighting appears to be an integral part of the overall display, illuminating the background and highlighting the distinction.
The only drawback is that the Kindle Paperwhite's lighting is designed to always be on and cannot be turned off, while the Kobo Aura allows you to turn off the lighting at any time.
Contact screen
- Kindle Paperwhite – Capacitive touch screen
- Kobo Aura – Capacitive touch screen
Both the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Aura are powered by a capacitive touchscreen like those found on trendy touchscreen tablets.
In terms of consumer experience, there isn't much difference between the two, as each e-reader uses a capacitive touchscreen experience.
Storage
- Kindle – Available in 8 and 16 GB, 3.000 books, storage free in the cloud
- Kobo Aura – 4 GB, 3.000 books
With the Kobo Aura, you can expand the storage capacity up to 32 GB using a Micro-SD card. The Kindle Paperwhite offers 5 GB of free cloud storage and unlimited cloud storage for something you just bought on Amazon.
We don't consider storage to be an issue, as the usual 4GB is easily enough for 3.000 books and most of us probably won't go over that mark.
Battery duration
- Kindle Paperwhite – 2 months
- Kobo Aura – 1 month
Battery life Kobo Aura It is rated to last a month with the WiFi off. Kindle Paperwhite It has a longer battery life of about 2 months with WiFi off and lights on.
Supported file codecs
Kobo Aura supports the EPUB format, which means you can buy books from anywhere and view them on Kobo Aura.
In comparison, the Kindle Paperwhite does not support the open EPUB format and forces you to buy books from Amazon.
Kobo Aura vs Kindle Paperwhite | Conclusion
If you like the Amazon ecosystem (Amazon Prime, books, music), it makes sense to go for the Kindle Paperwhite.
If you don't need to be connected to Amazon and want to check out books from your national library through OverDrive, you can opt for the Kobo Aura or pay $10 more for the Kobo Clara HD.
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My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
I am also an expert in online marketing and communication and have knowledge in WordPress development.