Kindle Paperwhite vs Kobo Clara

2024. Kobo releases new firmware for Colour e-readers



Kobo, in what one can only assume is a spirited attempt to keep its latest e-readers in perfect harmony with the cosmic fabric of electronic stability, has launched a software update for its shiniest new models: the Clara Colour, Libra Colour, and Clara BW. Known for their startling knack for both performance and affordability—a rare and dizzying combination—these devices are getting a touch more robust, though the specifics of what’s been fixed or stabilized remain a mystery, presumably known only to Kobo and perhaps a small cabal of hyper-intelligent squid. The rollout begins today, promising that every reader will soon be up-to-date, though—let's be honest—other models may now feel rather abandoned, left to ponder their own existence. Updating is blissfully simple: press the sync button. For those of a DIY disposition, firmware patches await on Kobo’s site; just select your model, download it to your PC or MAC, connect your e-reader with the USB-C cable, drop the file into the root folder, and with a quick reboot, voilà—you’re in possession of whatever faintly mysterious improvements this update holds.


2024. Kobo has introduced the Kobo Clara BW E-reader



Picture this, if you will: the Kobo Clara BW, a marvelous black-and-white e-reader engineered with the sort of understated brilliance that would leave even hyperintelligent pan-dimensional beings quietly impressed. Featuring a gloriously compact 6-inch glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD screen (which seems to smugly whisper, “Rain? Splashes? Mere trifles!” thanks to its waterproof bravado), it transforms the act of reading into an effortless glide through Kobo’s vast library of audiobooks and ebooks. With the understated oomph of a MediaTek MT8113L processor, paired with Bluetooth 5.0 to beam your favorite words into your choice of earbuds, headphones, or speakers, this device practically hums contentment at every turn. A USB-C port promises charging and content transfer with the smug simplicity of an evolved species, while a modest 1,500 mAh battery and a frame so portable (112 x 160 x 9.2 mm, weighing just 174 g) might make you suspect it’s hiding a tiny improbability drive. At a price of $129.99 (USD), the Kobo Clara BW might just be the hitchhiker's guide to your next literary adventure—don’t panic, just read.


2023. Kindle Paperwhite gets new Kindle Scribe features



Amazon, in its infinite wisdom and with a slight flourish, has unveiled a firmware update joyfully titled version 5.16.2.1, aimed squarely at the 7th-generation Kindle, the 11th-generation Kindle Paperwhite, and the ever-so-distinguished Signature edition. Procuring this marvel of modern software is as simple as meandering over to the settings menu and imploring the device to check for updates—though, if the cosmic forces of regional distribution have not aligned in your favor, you may have to exercise a smidge of patience for a few weeks. Within this update lies an intriguing assortment of Kindle Scribe-esque capabilities—think doodling, notebook wrangling, and virtual sticky notes—but alas, these are about as functional as a chocolate teapot for the time being. This, of course, is no accident. Amazon, in a stroke of corporate efficiency, has crafted a universal code base for all its e-readers and the Scribe, ensuring updates ripple harmoniously across the entire family of devices. Elegant, isn’t it?


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's new waterproof Clara 2E e-reader takes on Kindle



Kobo is introducing a new waterproof e-reader - the Kobo Clara 2E, which could challenge Amazon's Kindle e-readers. The device features an exterior crafted from over 85 percent recycled plastic, with 10 percent of it reportedly sourced from ocean-bound materials. The Kobo Clara 2E includes Bluetooth technology for audiobooks, offers 60 minutes of water resistance in up to two meters of water and provides more storage for your eBooks than earlier Kobo models (16GB). It boasts a six-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 glare-free display with dark mode and blue light reduction and promises weeks-long battery life. Priced at $150, it is less expensive than the company's previous Forma model but costlier than the Nia model. Additionally, Kobo's SleepCovers for the device are made from recycled polyester with an inner microfibre lining created from 40 percent recycled plastic water bottles — available in colors like Black, Deep Ocean Blue, Coral Reef Orange and Sea Glass Green.


2022. Kobo Clara HD 2 will be available soon



Kobo is set to release a new e-reader in the coming months—Kobo Clara 2, the second generation of their highly popular 300 PPI e-book reader. The new model will feature a six-inch E INK Carta 1200 display panel, which will enhance page-turning speed and overall performance. It will have a 300 PPI screen, a front-lit display and a candlelight color temperature system. Notably, this model will be the first e-reader globally to use the new E Ink ComfortGaze technology, which reduces blue light with a decreased Blue Light Ratio (BLR) and Blue Light Toxicity Factor (BLTF) by up to 60% and 24%, respectively. BLR refers to the proportion of toxic blue light to total blue light output, while BLTF indicates the ratio of brightness to harmful blue light.


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.


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. 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. New Kobo Clara HD is an affordable Kindle competitor



After months of speculation, Canadian e-book reader manufacturer Kobo has unveiled its latest device, the Kobo Clara HD. This reader is the first budget-friendly model released by the company in nearly three years. Despite being one of Kobo’s more economical options, it boasts some quite notable features. The Kobo Clara HD features a 6-inch Cara E Ink screen with a 300ppi resolution. It includes a substantial 8GB of storage, which can hold approximately 6,000 e-books. Unless you're a heavy user, the battery is expected to last for several weeks. One of the most exciting additions to the Kobo Clara HD is ComfortLight Pro. Instead of using traditional technology to illuminate most E Ink screens, ComfortLight Pro employs orange and red LEDs for lighting, reducing your exposure to blue light. While the Clara HD is not the first Kobo e-reader to feature this technology, it is the most affordable one available.


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.


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.


2014. Kindle Paperwhite gets twice more internal storage



Amazon discreetly updated the Kindle Paperwhite 2nd generation hardware. The newest model is identical to the version released last year, except with doubled internal storage. The international product page for the Wi-Fi Kindle Paperwhite began displaying a banner earlier this summer directing to a “current version” product page. Kindle enthusiasts on the MobileRead forums have confirmed that the new page is for a 4GB Paperwhite, which was previously available only in Japan. Amazon notes that this isn’t a new product — it’s the same Paperwhite, but with increased storage.