Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) vs Kobo Libra Colour
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best E-Readers in 2026: Kindle vs Kobo, and the One to Skip comparison.
The Kindle Paperwhite (2024) gets the balance of speed, screen quality, and battery right for the widest range of readers. The Kobo Libra Colour is the one to choose if library borrowing, open formats, or physical buttons matter more to you than the Amazon ecosystem.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
Buy itThe fast, no-fuss black-and-white reader that fits the most people.
- 7-inch 300 ppi Carta 1300 screen with the fastest page turns of any Kindle
- Weeks of battery, IPX8 waterproof rating, and USB-C charging
- Locked to Amazon's store and formats, with no built-in library-borrowing app
- The cheapest version shows lock-screen ads unless you pay to remove them
Kobo Libra Colour
Buy itPhysical buttons, library borrowing, and color for readers who want flexibility.
- Two physical page-turn buttons and an asymmetric one-handed grip
- Built-in Libby and OverDrive borrowing plus direct EPUB and PDF support
- Kaleido 3 color looks muted and drops to a lower resolution than the text
- Stylus writing feels slow and the pen is sold separately
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) Our pick | Kobo Libra Colour | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most readers who want a simple, fast reader and buy their books from Amazon. | Library borrowers and one-handed readers who want buttons and open file formats. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Display | 7-inch, sharp B&W | 7-inch, color |
| Color screen | No | Yes (muted) |
| Physical page buttons | No | Yes |
| Library borrowing (Libby) | No - Amazon only | Built-in |
| Open formats (EPUB/PDF) | Limited | Broad |
| Waterproof (IPX8) | Yes | Yes |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) if
most readers who want a simple, fast reader and buy their books from Amazon.
Know before buying: locked to Amazon's store and formats, with no built-in library-borrowing app.
Pick the Kobo Libra Colour if
library borrowers and one-handed readers who want buttons and open file formats.
Know before buying: kaleido 3 color looks muted and drops to a lower resolution than the text.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) - The fast, no-fuss black-and-white reader that fits the most people. Choose the Kobo Libra Colour instead if library borrowers and one-handed readers who want buttons and open file formats.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best E-Readers in 2026: Kindle vs Kobo, and the One to Skip.