E-readers have become more popular as bookworms began to hoard more books. I’ve taken a while to research different e-readers to determine which one would work best for me, and here’s why I think a Kobo would be best for you too!
Available models
The model that I chose was one of the entry, more basic models of a Kobo, the Kobo Clara HD. The Kobo range is quite large, with simpler models like the Clara and Nia. They also have more “fancier” models that include more features like the Sage, Forma and Libra 2. Some features that the nicer models include are larger screens, buttons to control page turns, and the ability to listen to audiobooks. I’d say that the Kobo range of models has a model for every type of reader, and the Clara HD is a comparable version to the Kindle Paperwhite and a great entry level e-reader. Simple to use and a great price for people who don’t need a lot of extra features.
The manufacturer
For those who care about who makes your products, I think Kobo is a real winner compared to Amazon, who manufactures the Kindle. Rakuten Kobo is a Canadian company that originated from Indigo Books. To me, I always love supporting Canadian companies whenever I can. I’d rather give them my money than a huge conglomerate like Amazon. So if you feel the same way and don’t necessarily want to support Amazon, a Kobo would be a great choice for you!
Library features
Now the biggest thing that made me choose a Kobo was because of its integration with Overdrive. Before reading on the Kobo, I used to read on my iPad using the Libby app. I have a strong passion for supporting libraries and wanted to continue to support them even when reading on the Kobo. Being a Canadian, I know that Amazon Kindle’s Overdrive doesn’t support Canadian libraries, which would make it difficult to continue borrowing books from the library. When I realized that Kobo has Overdrive integrated into its system and allows for Canadian libraries, I was sold.
Ability to load your own book files
Aside from borrowing books from the library using Overdrive, there is also the ability to buy books from the Kobo book store, which has a wide selection, as well as transferring your own book files onto the Kobo. If you bought a book previously, or you were able to get an EPUB file of a book and wanted to read it on your Kobo, you can do that. You just simply connect your Kobo to your computer using a USB cable and then copy and paste your EPUB files to your Kobo device like it’s a USB. Super easy to get the best of both worlds.
Easy way to take notes and highlight
Something that I’ve come to enjoy recently is the ability to highlight and take notes while reading a book. You can continue to do this on the Kobo and it allows you to see all your notes and highlights in one place after you’re done reading it. I enjoy doing this especially when reading self-help books so I can keep all the valuable insights in one place.
Popularity
Now popularity is completely subjective and it depends on how much you care about having a product that everyone else has as well. I believe that Kindles are definitely a lot more popular than Kobos, especially with Americans. But, I feel like Kobos overall are a better product for Canadians and I didn’t care too much to have the same thing that everyone else has. But, if you want to relate to other and have something similar to them, perhaps a Kindle is the better choice for you.
Conclusion
Overall, I’d say that both Kobo and Kindle e-readers are pretty similar in the functional sense. There are small differences that I pointed out here but the main one that pushed me toward a Kobo was the Overdrive integration. Hopefully this provides you with some insight on the difference and helped you make a good purchasing decision. Let me know by commenting down below, DM-ing me on Instagram or sending me an email!
