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Which Kindle should I buy?

34 replies

Trampauline · 11/01/2025 12:29

Putting this in here for the traffic. Have decided I want to buy a Kindle but have no idea which type to get, so looking for your advice, Kindle users. I did used to have a Nook until they went obsolete so I have used this sort of device before.

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Trampauline · 13/01/2025 07:15

Thanks, I'm going to look into getting a Kobo.

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Trampauline · 13/01/2025 07:12

AnotherEmma · 12/01/2025 12:23

This is really helpful, thanks.

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Taytotots · 13/01/2025 00:02

I like my Kobo as I can download library books easily on it via overdrive (not possible on Kindle without some dodgy stuff). I do find some books are not available on Kobo that are on Kindle though when buying. And Kindle often has better sales. But the library definitely gives the Kobo the edge. I have a Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara 2e.

scarfaceace · 12/01/2025 17:58

@Trampauline Mine's a Kobo Libra H2O. It's a few years old now

AnotherEmma · 12/01/2025 14:00

I have a Kobo Clara, I think mine is the 2E model which has now been superseded by the B&W and colour models... both of which are still cheaper than the Kindle paperwhite!

Trampauline · 12/01/2025 13:53

scarfaceace · 12/01/2025 12:02

I have a Paperwhite and a Kobo and I love them both, but the Kobo has the edge as I can download library books and I can't do that on the Kindle. My Kindle is a few years old though and maybe the newer versions can download library books?

My Kobo has a touchscreen but also has buttons for turning pages, and you can hold it in any orientation and the page adjusts automatically.

Which Kobo do you have?

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AnotherEmma · 12/01/2025 12:35

Trampauline · 11/01/2025 22:44

Lots of you favour the Paperwhite and I think that would suit my needs. I've googled kobo and their ereaders sound equally as good as Kindles. I like that you own your books and can borrow ebooks from public libraries. I'm tempted by kobo but worry it might become obsolete like the Nook did.

I obviously don't have a crystal ball but I don't think Kobo will become obsolete like Nook did. Kobo is owned by Rakuten, which is a huge Japanese company with billions in revenue. Nook was owned by Barnes & Noble wasn't it? A smaller and very different company.

AnotherEmma · 12/01/2025 12:14

A Kobo, not a Kindle, if you're in the UK. Here you can borrow ebooks from the library (via the Libby app) and read them on Kobo but not Kindle.

I had a Kindle before but have had my Kobo for about a year now and very happy with it.

Trampauline · 12/01/2025 12:08

Ignore duplicates. I posted last night and still hadn't appeared on here by this morning and this mornings have had a massive delay appearing on here.

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scarfaceace · 12/01/2025 12:02

I have a Paperwhite and a Kobo and I love them both, but the Kobo has the edge as I can download library books and I can't do that on the Kindle. My Kindle is a few years old though and maybe the newer versions can download library books?

My Kobo has a touchscreen but also has buttons for turning pages, and you can hold it in any orientation and the page adjusts automatically.

TinyMouseTheatre · 12/01/2025 11:58

Trampauline · 11/01/2025 22:44

Lots of you favour the Paperwhite and I think that would suit my needs. I've googled kobo and their ereaders sound equally as good as Kindles. I like that you own your books and can borrow ebooks from public libraries. I'm tempted by kobo but worry it might become obsolete like the Nook did.

They might but they've been going for quite a while Wink

catin8oots · 12/01/2025 11:32

I've just upgraded to a paper white. It's brilliant.

Trampauline · 12/01/2025 11:32

A lot of you favour the Paperwhite and that sounds great for me.

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Trampauline · 12/01/2025 11:31

A lot of you favour the Paperwhite and I think that would suit my needs.

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Trampauline · 12/01/2025 11:27

A lot of you favour the Paperwhite and it sounds like it would be right for me. I've googled the Kobo and they sound very good as well. I like that you own what you have downloaded and that you can borrow ebooks from libraries. Just not sure I want to take the risk with something that must have a much smaller market than Kindle, in case it goes the way of the Nook.

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Trampauline · 11/01/2025 22:44

Lots of you favour the Paperwhite and I think that would suit my needs. I've googled kobo and their ereaders sound equally as good as Kindles. I like that you own your books and can borrow ebooks from public libraries. I'm tempted by kobo but worry it might become obsolete like the Nook did.

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PeachPumpkin · 11/01/2025 19:59

The light level is also adjustable on the basic, but it doesn’t have the warm or cool options for lighting.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/01/2025 19:54

Paperwhite hear as well.

CutFlowers · 11/01/2025 19:54

The 12th gen paperwhite is waterproof so good if you like to read in the bath. I choose it because it was back-lit but the most recent basic kindle is also back-lit (this means you can read in the dark without waking others in the room) and is slightly smaller so would possibly choose that if was choosing again. It is also cheaper.

Floralnomad · 11/01/2025 19:47

I have a paper white and it’s perfect for reading in bed in the dark and equally good in daylight .

LeylaOfCircassia · 11/01/2025 19:41

It is adjustable and you could turn it down entirely.

Trampauline · 11/01/2025 19:28

TinyMouseTheatre · 11/01/2025 12:30

I have a paperwhite. It's backlit so you don't need a light on to read at night.

Is the light level adjustable and can you use it without the back light?

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AgualusasLover · 11/01/2025 13:48

I have Paperwhite, reasonably old version as I picked it for being able to read in the dark. Now that the standard kindle also enables that I would probably opt for standard - one inch in screen size is probably fine for me.

Agree with others, I have a Fire that predates my Paperwhite, but it was a gift and other tech does everything better and I wanted it solely for reading.

toastofthetown · 11/01/2025 13:36

EskSmith · 11/01/2025 13:28

I agree with the others. Don't get a tablet, the usp of a kindle is that it isn't like reading a screen.
I've read ebooks since I started on my palm & the best by far is my current oasis which sadly has
a rapidly failing (battery). I love it & have no idea what yo replace it with. I've looked at the scribe but I think it's going to be too big to read on, and possibly too heavy so I'm probably going to go with the paper white - I'm not sure colour would enhance my reading experience. What I'm really really going to miss is physical page turn buttons.
Like toastofthetown I'm pretty tied into the Amazon ecosystem but if you are just starting out some of the others might be worth a look.

I feel you with the attachment to page turn buttons! No feature Amazon has replaced them with is better for me.

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