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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you want a simpler, dedicated ereader, start with Kobo: the Clara BW is a compact black-and-white choice, the Clara Colour adds a color screen, and the Libra Colour offers a larger display, page-turn buttons and optional stylus support. Choose the BOOX Go 6 (Gen II) instead if running Kindle, Libby and other Android apps on the reader matters more than a focused ereading interface.
Which Kindle alternative should you choose?
| Model | Best fit | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Kobo Clara BW | Compact black-and-white reading | 6-inch display and 16 GB storage; NBC Select lists 174 g and up to 53 days of battery life. Kobo’s US catalog showed $159.99 when captured on 7 October 2026. NBC Select · Kobo US catalog |
| Kobo Clara Colour | Compact reading with color | 6-inch display, 16 GB, 6 ounces, IPX8 waterproofing and up to 42 days of battery life, according to WIRED. Kobo’s US catalog showed $179.99 when captured on 7 October 2026. WIRED · Kobo US catalog |
| Kobo Libra Colour | Larger color screen, buttons and optional annotation | 7-inch display, 32 GB, 7.03 ounces, IPX8 waterproofing and up to 40 days of battery life, according to WIRED. Kobo’s US catalog showed $259.99 when captured on 7 October 2026. WIRED · Kobo US catalog |
| BOOX Go 6 (Gen II) | Reading through Android apps | 6-inch, 300 ppi display; 32 GB; 5.6 ounces; Android 11 and Google Play access. WIRED lists USB-C charging and no waterproofing; it does not state a battery-life estimate. WIRED |
These are published specifications and source recommendations, not measurements by Freedom251. WIRED named the Libra Colour its best ereader in its October 2026 guide and described the Clara Colour as a budget option. NBC Select named the Clara BW its best overall Kindle alternative and the Libra Colour its best color pick; those are that publication’s judgments.
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What changes when you leave Kindle?
Books, libraries and apps
Kobo has its own bookstore and supports library borrowing through Libby/OverDrive where available. BOOX runs Android 11 and can use apps such as Kindle and Libby, which can be useful if you want to keep reading through services you already use. That flexibility also means a more app-centered experience than a dedicated reader’s simpler interface; books from third-party services may need to be opened in their own apps. WIRED · NBC Select
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Before switching, check whether your local library supports borrowing on the device you plan to buy, and whether your existing books can be transferred. A Kindle purchase does not automatically become a DRM-free file that another ereader can open. Library access, file formats and digital rights restrictions can determine whether a device fits better than its screen or price.
#1 Best Overall
- 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - Read in colour with a 6” E Ink Kaleido 3 display to enjoy eBook covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, and more.
- 𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 - With multiple colours available at the touch of a finger, you can highlight your eBooks. Add, erase, or change colours as you go, and easily see all your highlights by chapter at a glance
- 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 – ComfortLight PRO automatically reduces blue light throughout the day, and you can personalize your reading settings via font size, line spacing, or even Dark Mode
- 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 – Full waterproof protection and meets requirements of IPX8 rating – waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 metres of water
- 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection
Screen size and color
The Clara models have 6-inch screens; the Libra Colour is 7 inches. On the color Kobo models, WIRED lists 300 ppi for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color. Color can help with covers, highlights, comics and illustrated books, but it comes at lower color resolution than monochrome text on these displays. If most of your reading is novels, a black-and-white screen may be the more straightforward choice.
Buttons, writing and waterproofing
The Libra Colour has physical page-turn buttons and supports the optional Kobo Stylus 2 for annotation. These features are specific to that model and should not be assumed to apply to the Clara readers. WIRED lists the Libra Colour and Clara Colour as IPX8 waterproof; NBC Select also describes the Clara BW and Libra Colour as waterproof. Confirm the rating for the exact model and regional version before purchase. WIRED · NBC Select
Rank #2
- 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - Read in colour with a 6” E Ink Kaleido 3 display to enjoy eBook covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, and more.
- 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - With multiple colours available at the touch of a finger, you can highlight your eBooks. Add, erase, or change colours as you go, and easily see all your highlights by chapter at a glance.
- 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 - ComfortLight PRO automatically reduces blue light and personalize your reading settings via font size, line spacing, or even Dark Mode
- 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Full waterproof protection and meets the requirements of IPX8 rating – waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 metres of water.
- 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection.
For commuting or one-handed reading, a smaller, lighter device may matter more than the extra screen area of the Libra. For notes or frequent page turns, its buttons and stylus compatibility may be worth the larger form factor. Kobo’s US catalog lists compatible covers and a Stylus 2; check compatibility against your particular model before buying an accessory. Kobo US catalog
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How to compare prices and alternatives
Check current local pricing
Kobo’s US catalog showed list prices of $159.99 for the Clara BW, $179.99 for the Clara Colour and $259.99 for the Libra Colour when captured on 7 October 2026. These are US prices, not global pricing, and prices or stock can change. WIRED reported that the Libra Colour’s price rose by $30 to $260 in May 2026, underscoring why it is worth checking the current regional store before deciding. Kobo US catalog · WIRED
Rank #3
- BROWSE & READ EBOOKS IN FULL COLOR - Book covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, note-taking and more come to life. No glare in sunlight, no notifications - just you and your eBooks in full-color
- YOUR JOURNAL, DAILY PLANNER AND MORE - Dive into your stories with colorful markups. With Kobo Stylus 2* compatibility (*sold separately), annotate, highlight, and note take your eBooks in color
- READ COMFORTABLY, ALWAYS - Ergonomically designed with page-turn buttons, left/right screen rotation, full font size and margin customization, and landscape mode
- IPX8 WATERPROOF EREADER - Full waterproof protection and meets requirements of IPX8 rating - waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 meters of water
- BETTER BY DESIGN - Thoughtfully made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection
Consider PocketBook if you want more color options
PocketBook’s catalog includes the Verse Pro Color and Era Color. They are additional models to compare if you want a color ereader, but the available detailed editorial coverage is thinner than for the Kobo and BOOX options above. Check the specifications, regional availability and library or bookstore compatibility of the specific model before choosing it. PocketBook catalog
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗨𝗣. 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡. 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗕𝗜𝗚. – Made for big thinkers and bundled with Kobo Stylus 2, the new upgraded Kobo Elipsa 2E is designed to help you focus and organize your thoughts. With an exterior made of recycled plastic and ocean-bound plastic, the eco-conscious Kobo Elipsa 2E eReader is designed to capture all your big thinking. An excellent choice for anyone who loves to read and wants a lightweight eBook reader that’s easy to use and take with them on the go!
- 𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗘-𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 – Kobo Elipsa 2E has a 10.3” high-resolution E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen with ComfortLight PRO providing a glare-free reading experience including adjustable brightness and colour temperature – so you can reduce blue light and write without your eReader keeping you awake longer than you’d like
- 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 & 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 & 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 – Write directly on your eBooks and PDFs with Kobo Elipsa 2E’s improved note-taking experience with the included ergonomically redesigned and rechargeable Kobo Stylus 2. As ideas come to mind, you can easily make highlights, underline, or write in the margins with your eReader with stylus compatibility. With Kobo’s patented markup technology, you’ll always see your annotations, even if you change your font size. Stay in the moment, without any ads or distractions
- 𝟯𝟮𝗚𝗕 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘, 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝟮𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 – With 32GB of storage, carry your entire library and all your notes wherever you go. You can store up to 24,000 eBooks or connect to Wi-Fi and access millions of eBooks and audiobooks through the Kobo Store. With up to several weeks of battery life* on a single charge, you can focus on your reading instead of being tethered to a power outlet *dependent on individual usage.
- 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣, 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 – At Kobo, we embody everything you love about your favourite local bookshop, perfected for your modern life. Our mission is to bring the power of reading to your world – because we’re booklovers, just like you. Why do we do it? Because we believe stories shape who we are, and words can enhance and transform the world around us.
Make the switch with fewer surprises
- Check your library first. Confirm that your library supports the borrowing service and device you intend to use; support can depend on location and the service’s current requirements.
- Review your existing ebook purchases. Check transfer and DRM restrictions before assuming Kindle books will open on another reader.
- Pick the screen for your reading. Choose a Clara for a compact 6-inch device, the Libra for a 7-inch screen and buttons, or consider color if you read illustrated content or want colored highlights.
- Verify the regional listing. Recheck price, stock, specifications and accessory compatibility in your market before ordering.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
