I’m just re-discovering the 2015 Kindle paper white I bought years ago and had stopped using…because overall I had started reading less. I’m using it with a new appreciation for how great of a form factor it is for my hands + a pop socket. Carry it with me everywhere, tucks into my jacket pocket or backpack when I’m heading to work.
I’m not the biggest fan of Amazon, but I load it with Calibre so where possible I try to get my ebooks from elsewhere.
Anyway Im wondering what you all are reading on and why. What’re the latest advances in ereader technology since 2015? Am I missing out on something?
Another Kobo Libra 2 user here. In addition what other’s have said about wanting to escape Amazon’s reach, its also pretty open as far as these types of devices go. I use Overdrive (Libby) a lot and it’s integration is pretty nice, though it is certainly not hard to use with a Kindle anyways.
If you like to tinker with your devices, Kobo devices won’t try and stop you from doing so. The following projects give you a lot of customization options to get exactly what you want out of your Kobo:
- KOReader - This also works with a jailbroken Kindle, though it’s much easier to get going on Kobo. Tons of customization options and has very flexible style overrides and lots of plugins.
- Plato is another reader application though only supported for Kobo devices. Does not feature as much customization as KOReader, but does more than the stock reader and has a very nice UI.
- Even if you stick with the stock reader, there are a number of patches you can apply if there are things about the stock software that bug you.
I have a Kobo Libra 2 and I think the only extra features are that it’s waterproof and you can do audiobooks on it via Bluetooth (you might be able to do that on Kindle too, I’m not sure).
I went with Kobo because I’m not a fan of Amazon and because I wanted to access a subscription service through it. With the optional sleep cover I never turn it off so it’s always ready to go.
Nice, yeah I hear Kobo is a pretty great alternative to Amazon and seems to be popular nowadays. If my Kindle broke it’s probably the first brand I’d check out.
I’m on my second Kobo. Just fantastic devices.
What happened to the first one?
In my experience Kobos are pretty long lasting. I got a Libra 2 last year because of the larger screen and page turn buttons, but my Glo HD from 2016 still works flawlessly.
I actually still have it as a backup. The battery just kind of has gotten worn out. I sure wish it were mandatory to have easily replaceable batteries on every device sold.
Moon+ reader for Android.
Librera FD on my Android.
There have been no major innovations since 2015, when eInk Carta displays were already available. In the meantime, there are eInk Carta 1200 displays, which offer a bit more contrast depending on the manufacturer. Kobo Libra 2 is a good example. Since Kobo is not officially represented in my country, I mainly use PocketBook devices. Here, I like the open system and that metadata like genre or series are fully evaluated and displayed. The latest model, Inkpad 4, is not quite cheap, but I can highly recommend it. It has a 7.8-inch display, a long battery life, and USB-C.
Another Kobo Libra 2 owner here. It’s a great unit, with physical buttons on the side which also assists with holding the Kobo during reading. The only drawback for me is the OS is laggy at times.
My parents got me a Kindle Paperwhite in 2014 for my birthday, which I replaced with a new Kindle Paperwhite in 2018. I like the Paperwhite over the classic because it has backlighting.
In the future, I think I’d like to get a Kobo one because it can be cracked to run open source software on it, but since I already go through Calibre for everything and never buy from the Amazon store, I will definitely not replace my ereader before it dies.
9th gen Kindle Oasis. The metal body and contour is very nice to hold. I do wish I wasnt wrapped up in the Amazon ecosystem but the device itself is superb. Im a Pastor and college professor and I consume a lot of books through it, it’s nice for at home or in the office but it’s a bit cumbersome to just carry around.
I also read on my phone a lot as well because it’s always with me. Can’t do long stretches but it beats doom scrolling
Right there with you (not 100% sure what gen my oasis is). Not crazy about Amazon, but it’s a very nice device, and I get most of my books from the library these days anyway.
I like my Paperwhite.
I wish the UI was acceptably responsive - so, like 100x faster.
I’m a huge fan of my 13" Boox Max Lumi 2 – the form factor is superb for pdfs. But it’s definitely a niche and more expensive device and it isn’t for everyone
I have a Kobo Libra 2, and it’s what I use for at night reading or when I’m out and about. Otherwise I use my Supernote for the bigger screen and the notetaking capabilities. Naturally everything is organized through Calibre.
I use a Kobo Clara HD. There’s a newer version available (it’s a Clara model, can’t recall the exact name) but the Clara HD does the job well. Of the reviews I’ve read, if you own a Clara HD, upgrading to the newest model may not be worth it for you.
I also use my iPad Air + Google Books, and the Kindle app, for things that are either on those accounts or don’t play nice with the Clara HD. For example, PDF advance reader copies do not work very well on the Kobo, and converting them with Calibre doesn’t always work either.
I also have a Kobo Clara HD and I love it. Battery life isn’t quite as good as my old Paperwhite (but still good) but more than made up for by not having to deal with Amazon and being able to actually make categories of books on the thing and the use of Overdrive/Libby.
I also used Calibre for my Paperwhite and use it for my Kobo, and the Kobo is just better and doesn’t feel like such a fight to use.
Only other complaints would be: not that many cases available for it, and the lowest light setting is a good bit brighter than on the Paperwhite. All minor things.
Battery life
Maybe I simply don’t read as much on my Kobo as you do, but I find the battery life amazing. I rarely charge it. As I type that, I realize that I read quite a bit of paperback books though.
cases
I’m not too picky about this. I use the navy blue Kobo case designed for the Clara. It’s not the greatest thing in the world but I enjoy it.
All in all, I don’t have much to compare it to other than a VERY old Kobo - like one of the originals I believe. It was incredibly slow and battery life on that one was horrid. Yeah, the screen was bigger than the Clara, but the Clara is leaps and bounds above that ugly thing I was using.>
Good points. I do use mine a ton, so I end up charging it about every other week on average, which is still very good. Part of the issue is also that I bought a third-party case (I use it before bed every night, so I always buy the brightest orange case I can find for easy locating when it inevitably gets lost in the bedsheets) and it’s not that reliable about sleeping the Kobo when I close it.
One thing I’ve done recently to help battery life is change the settings to have the device power off after 20 minutes of inactivity (I think it’s 20 minutes - either way it’s the longest time period available in the settings).
I will have to check that setting, thanks.
I go the calibre route as well, I have the cheapest basic kindle it is super light and very small I can even fit it in most pockets.
I really enjoy the curation of a bookstore so I usually end up side loading an epub of my physical purchases. I’ll typically switch back and forth I just finished “The Way of Kings” the hardcover was gigantic and unwieldy at times but the maps were so much better than the kindle version.
@books Hisense touch, size of a phone so it’s easy to carry and runs android so can use it for other stuff easily
My Kobo Aura One is perfection
I also use a Kindle Paperwhite from around the same era as yours (maybe even older). I just load it up with overdrive books from my library.
What are overdrive books?
They are ebooks checked out from your local library. It’s a US only feature with kindle to send ebooks checked out to it, but if you have a library card definitely look and see if your library has a catalogue on the libby app.
It’s not just US only, I know someone in Canada who has the overdrive integration for their public library working on their kobo. It does vary by country though.
