Kindle Paperwhite vs Kobo Aura

2023. Kindle Paperwhite gets new Kindle Scribe features



Amazon has rolled out a fresh firmware update, labeled as version 5.16.2.1, for the 7th generation Kindle, 11th generation Kindle Paperwhite and the Signature edition. To obtain and install the update, users can navigate to the settings menu and check for available updates. In case the update is not yet accessible in a particular region, it is expected to be released within the next few weeks. The update incorporates a range of Kindle Scribe features, including drawing, notebook management and sticky notes. However, these features are presently disabled and non-functional. This deliberate decision by Amazon enables them to maintain a unified code base for both their e-readers and the Kindle Scribe. Consequently, whenever an update is released for one model, it can be applied to all of them simultaneously.


2023. Amazon releases new colors and covers for the Kindle Paperwhite



Amazon has just introduced two new colors for the Kindle Paperwhite: Denim and Agave Green. These new shades will be available for both the 16GB Kindle Paperwhite and the 32GB Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. Alongside the new color options, Amazon is also launching an Agave Green leather and fabric cover to complement the Agave Green device. You might remember that Amazon unveiled a 16GB Kindle Paperwhite — in addition to the existing 8GB version — last fall, providing customers with the option of more storage so they can carry even more books while on the go. Building on this, the Kindle team aimed to add some vibrant colors to a customer favorite.


2022. Kindle Paperwhite is now available with 16GB of storage



Amazon has introduced the option to get a standard Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, available with or without advertisements. Priced at $149, the 16GB Kindle Paperwhite costs $10 more than the 8GB model. Amazon has previously increased storage on Kindles without raising the price, so this seems like a tactic to charge an additional $10 for a Paperwhite with extra storage that most users might not require. Interestingly, the new basic Kindle, now featuring 16GB of storage, is priced at just $99. It appears somewhat absurd for Amazon to offer a “upgraded” Paperwhite model with only 8GB of storage for $139, making the addition of a 16GB option more understandable.


2022. Kobo is now displaying advertisements on their e-readers



Kobo is now featuring advertisements on most of their e-readers when they wake from sleep mode. A full-page ad now appears, encouraging users to subscribe to Kobo Plus and informing them about the free 30-day trial. This ad is displayed regardless of whether Wi-Fi is turned on or off, as the image is retrieved from the device rather than the internet. This is the first instance of Kobo displaying ads on their e-book readers. Kobo has previously emphasized in their marketing campaigns that, unlike the Kindle, their devices are free from advertisements, but this no longer seems to be the case.


2021. Amazon launches Kindle Paperwhite for kids



Amazon has introduced the Kindle Paperwhite Kids. It is essentially the same as the standard Kindle Paperwhite but with software enhancements designed to make it more suitable for children. A significant advantage of the latest generation Kindle Paperwhite Kids is its IPx8 rating, which Amazon claims makes the new Paperwhite resistant to accidental water exposure—an important feature for a device intended for kids. The e-reader also includes Vocabulary Builder and Word Wise, which can be useful tools for children to improve their English language skills. Additionally, it supports the Open Dyslexic font, which is preferred by many individuals with dyslexia. The Paperwhite Kids comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, providing access to over a thousand eBooks and Audible audiobooks for children.


2021. Kobo e-readers get new My Words feature



Kobo has launched a new firmware update (4.26) for its range of Kobo e-readers. This update introduces a new "My Words" option, which can be activated from the list of Beta Features. It's similar to Kindle’s vocabulary builder feature, which tracks the words you look up in the dictionary for easy review later. Other new features include a “Back to page x” button for EPUBs, enhanced annotation synchronization and improved PDF viewing in landscape mode. Additionally, tapping the text field within the note preview window now allows for editing.


2020. Amazon issues new update for Kindle Paperwhite 3



Amazon has finally upgraded the Kindle Paperwhite 3 with all the new features it previously lacked. The model hadn't received a firmware update since December and was widely rumored to be discontinued. One of the new enhancements is an improved search experience, making it easier to navigate your search results within the book without losing your place. To use it, simply search for a term in your book and tap on a search result. They have also refreshed the Page Flip feature, which now displays recently read pages as dots on the progress bar, including your most recent page read from another device. If you have a FreeTime Unlimited subscription, children will see a new layout, enhanced search, book details and Audible support. In supported regions, kids with access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited will see rows of recommended eBook and Audible content that are suitable for their age.


2020. Amazon has ended support for the Kindle Paperwhite 3



Amazon has discontinued support for the Kindle Paperwhite 3 and the e-reader will not receive any further firmware updates. The only exception would be if Amazon updates their Kindle Whispersync program and Kindle Store with a new version of TLS. The 7th generation Kindle Paperwhite 3 was one of Amazon’s most successful e-readers. It was released in 2015 and was heavily promoted for four years before being succeeded by the Kindle Paperwhite 4 in late 2018. The last firmware update for the PP3 was in 2019 and it is currently running version 5.12.2, while all the other modern Kindles are on version 5.13.1.


2020. Kobo introduces $99 e-reader Nia to replace Aura



Rakuten has released a new entry-level e-book reader and it stacks up well against the least expensive Amazon Kindle in several key aspects. The Kobo Nia features a 6-inch screen with a 1024x758 pixel resolution and 212 ppi. It comes with Kobo's ComfortLight technology, allowing you to adjust the brightness of the display as needed. The Nia is quite sleek at 172 grams, with a thickness of 9.2mm around the edges. Inside, it has a 1,000mAh battery that provides "weeks" of reading on a single charge, plus 8GB of storage. Amazon's least expensive Kindle, which is a natural comparison for the Nia, starts at $89.99, but that includes Amazon's "Special Offers" ads; without the ads, the price rises to $109.99. It also has a 6-inch screen, but with a lower 165 ppi resolution and half the storage of the Nia. This makes the Nia a strong contender for anyone seeking an affordable e-reader who doesn’t want to be tied to Amazon's ecosystem.


2020. You can now delete Kindle Books directly from Kindle



Until now, the only way to delete an ebook from your Kindle e-reader was to log in to your account via the Amazon website and remove the book there. With the 5.12.5 firmware update, you can now completely delete an ebook from your entire Amazon account directly on the Kindle. Simply go to My Library, find the title you want to remove and press and hold the cover art for two seconds. This will prompt a confirmation window asking you to confirm the deletion process. Once the removal is complete, the book will be entirely gone from your Amazon account and the title will no longer appear in the cloud section. If you accidentally delete the wrong book, you will need to purchase it again.


2020. Kindle ereaders get new font menu system



Amazon has released a new firmware update (5.12.4) with a revamped Aa menu for all recent Kindles. It provides users with increased flexibility and control over their reading experience. Essentially, Amazon has reorganized the menu and combined some of the additional settings into one section, eliminating the need to navigate through various menus or sub-menus. When you access the Aa menu on the Kindle now, you'll find several sections: Themes, Font, Layout and more. The first section, called Themes, allows you to create custom themes or choose from several presets like Standard, Compact and Large. The Font menu includes a dropdown for selecting fonts, with slider bars to adjust the font's boldness or size. With fewer font options on the screen, more text is visible in the book you're reading, which helps you see how the font settings look as you adjust them.


2019. Amazon heavily discounts the Kindle Paperwhite 4



Amazon has recently reduced the price of the Kindle Paperwhite 4 by $30. You can buy the basic 8GB model for $99 and the 32GB Wi-Fi version for $129. If you're looking for an e-reader with 4G/LTE connectivity, Amazon has slashed the price of this variant by $40, making it available for $209. This offer is exclusively for US customers. The Kindle Paperwhite 4 is water-resistant and features access to the Audible audiobook store. You can listen to audiobooks using wireless headphones or a portable speaker. The display is completely flush with the bezel, making it easier to turn pages using swipes and gestures.


2018. The new Kindle Paperwhite is thinner and waterproof



Kindle Paperwhite has received several upgrades that will provide users with a more premium experience while maintaining the device’s starting price at $130. Waterproofing is the most notable among the upgrades. The reader features an IPX8 rating, meaning it can be submerged in two meters of water for up to an hour. Like the Oasis before it, this model has a flush front, unlike the raised bezels found on older, less expensive models. This design change gives the device a more premium feel and should help prevent water from penetrating its circuits. It also contributes to making this the thinnest and lightest Paperwhite yet. Another significant update is the increase from four LEDs to five. While it may seem minor, this enhancement helps maintain more uniform front lighting across the board, compared to the more uneven lighting of previous models.


2018. Kobo e-Ink readers get rapid Page-Turning


Kobo has released a new firmware update for all their e-readers that enhances the speed of page-turns with a new rendering engine. This updated system allows you to quickly tap or gesture on the screen to turn pages swiftly. You can also hold your finger down on the screen to turn pages. The text may become unreadable while the pages are turning rapidly and you'll need to lift your finger for everything to fully render. The fast page-turning feature works with KEPUB eBooks, which are books purchased directly from Kobo. It does not support CBR/CBZ or traditional EPUB formats and is incompatible with sideloaded EPUB books.


2018. Kindle adds new search features



Amazon has rolled out a new firmware update for all Kindles released in the past five years. The in-book search now includes results from your notes and highlights and a clock is now displayed at the top of the screen while you’re reading. You can turn it off in the settings menu. Update 5.9.4 should be distributed to all Kindles in the next few days and will automatically install when the device is in sleep mode. You will likely see a restart the next time you use it, along with a notification window that informs you of the new updates.


2017. Kobo makes managing ebooks simpler



Kobo has updated the firmware for its e-readers. The update introduced a Manage Books feature: under My Books, you can now select multiple books simultaneously, mark them as read or unread, delete them, or add them to collections. The My Books section has been redesigned with a cleaner layout, including updated Filter and Sort menus. The reading experience has also been enhanced. You can now tap the center of the page to open reading menus, access the Table of Contents, or modify Reading Settings. The screen will refresh after each chapter rather than every six pages.


2016. New 7.8-inch Aura One e-reader - the Cadillac of e-readers



With the new Aura One, Kobo is aiming to challenge Amazon's dominance in the market. Its 7.8-inch screen significantly surpasses the Aura HD, accompanied by a $230 price tag. Despite the addition of several other appealing features, this is a steep price for a dedicated e-reader, especially when Amazon's Kindle Voyage starts at $30 less (for the Special Offers edition, at least). However, Kobo’s previous ventures have been successful and while the company will likely concede that the Aura One isn’t for everyone, it offers exactly what someone willing to spend over $200 on such a device desires: the ultimate e-reader. Kobo earns credit for thinking beyond the conventional e-reader approach and while the Aura One may not be justifiable for most readers, the dedicated few will find much to appreciate, including a large screen, blue-light adjustment, a sleek design and ample storage.


2016. Amazon released Kindle Paperwhite USB Audio Bundle



Amazon introduced a new USB audio package that enables Kindle e-Readers to provide audio cues when navigating menus and offers text-to-speech features for listening to e-books. VoiceView for Kindle, which utilizes Amazon’s natural language text-to-speech voices, also allows visually impaired users to read Kindle books. The USB audio adapter connects to headphones or speakers, enabling users to both listen to and navigate the interface, in addition to enjoying books. Currently, the new adapter is compatible only with the latest generation Kindle Paperwhite. Amazon indicates plans to expand compatibility to other models in the future, such as the Kindle Voyage and Kindle Oasis.


2015. New $119 Kindle Paperwhite will be easy on your eyes



Amazon has introduced a new $119 Kindle Paperwhite e-reader featuring a 6-inch 300ppi display and an updated font and book layout system, designed to make it simpler to dive into *The Martian* during summer break. The device will be released on June 30 and is available for pre-order now. The e-reader is essentially similar to the previous Paperwhite—a bright, nearly white glare-free screen within a simple black plastic frame—but this model boasts “twice as many pixels” as the earlier version and will deliver “laser-quality text.” Typography enthusiasts will be pleased as Amazon has developed a new typeface, Bookerly, which they claim enhances readability. Additionally, a new “typesetting engine” will improve book layouts even at larger font sizes.


2014. Kindle Update for e-readers lets enables sharing books with your family



Amazon introduces a new update to Kindle e-readers, bringing the latest e-reading features of the Kindle Voyage to older Kindle models. The new features include Family Library (allowing users with linked Amazon accounts to access books downloaded by family members), Word Wise (which automatically displays definitions for challenging words above them), Enhanced Search (now retrieving results from your library, Goodreads and the Kindle Store) and About This Book (providing details such as author biographies and additional titles in the series as you begin reading). The update will be available for the 2nd generation Paperwhite, Kindle Voyage and the latest entry-level Kindles.