E-Readers · owner-verdict comparison

Kindle Colorsoft vs Kobo Clara BW: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Kobo Clara BW: 81% of 458 owners recommend it, vs 49% of 41 for the Kindle Colorsoft.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Kindle Colorsoft

49%of 41 owners recommend
49% recommend · 10% neutral · 41% don't
Owners praise
  • Color E Ink makes covers, comics, graphic novels, and magazines genuinely enjoyable to read
  • Page turns and navigation feel fast and snappy, comparable to or quicker than the Paperwhite
  • For the right reader, it's a fun, satisfying device that owners say they love using
Owners complain about
  • A yellow band or discoloration along the bottom of the screen plagued many launch units, leading some owners to return the device
  • Quality-control defects like dead or stuck pixels, dark screens, and charging quirks turned up on a number of units
  • At around $280 it's pricey for an e-reader, and several owners felt the color didn't justify the cost
Full owner report →

Kobo Clara BW

81%of 458 owners recommend
81% recommend · 11% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Crisp, sharp, high-contrast screen
  • Compact, light and pocketable
  • Easy sideloading and library support
Owners complain about
  • Build feels cheap and plasticky
  • Uneven lighting or yellow tinge
  • Ghosting on page turns
Full owner report →

What Kindle Colorsoft owners say

I bought it. It’s expensive but I can make up for it by using Libby, plus I don’t drink or smoke or anything so I feel it’s a justified splurge.
@Skate_noir on YouTube
Actually impressed with the color screen
@afrothundar on YouTube
I've had two Colorsofts and sent both back because of screen issues.
@gsogymrat on YouTube

What Kobo Clara BW owners say

I have to say 6" is the way to go. Most comfortable for reading
@moltenbullet on YouTube
Kobo it is then , i will not fed these greedy leeches from amazon
@devilhaque on YouTube
the screen lighting is too uneven to work for me when in any kind of the night mode warm color. I am loving going back to such a smaller size device though.
PixelSquish on Reddit