But an awful pen sadly, and a sunken screen, it fills easily with dirt. Not to mention the very small selection of comic titles to buy. In the end color ends being just a gimmick and not very useful. I knew the library was going to be smaller than Amazon’s but in color content the difference is just too much. I never find what I want, the search engine is poor and collections are sometimes incomplete. No guided view also 🤷🏻♂️
@@radsmind it's quite easy to source the comics yourself tho. I feel like buying into either ecosystem without exploring that option is a huge mistake. it's up to amazon to offer this stuff on their platform, but sideloading is always a thing too
Independent of color, I personally find the physical buttons for navigating pages to be a killer feature because that's what you do constantly when reading and the ability to reverse the button action as well. The downside to the physical buttons is that it forces a certain way of holding the Kobo which may not be optimal for some hand sizes. I feel the only time I may find the color to be useful is when reading comics/manga so it's a very targeted group of readers.
People were complaining about Kobo screen being too dark. And Colorsoft is clearly much darker. Plus it has power button on bottom, lacks page turn buttons and the flush screen is a big disadvantage for me. I have Paperhite 5 and Libra 2... And Libra's diplays without the additional plastic layer is SO MUCH sharper. I will always take indented screen over flush screen, always. So to me the clear winner is Libra Colour.
That and one of the biggest problems with the Oasis was the battery, and Kobo made the clara/libra colour and clara BW repairable with ifix kit. So you can just swap out whatever breaks. Which is really really nice!! The color screen will always be darker than non color screens. I think people thought the dark screen was a flaw with Kobo but it’s really just the tech! I am passing on the Colorsoft, I love my Kobo color too much.
You can adjust the color on the Kobo to make it more vivid if that’s a thing for you. I don’t read manga or comics and the color covers don’t matter to me. You didn’t mention annotation which is why I chose Kobo. The ability to annotate and write directly on the book is a game changer for me.
@@terriersforever23 Via Good E-Reader: To access the hidden developer’s settings menu, Go to the search bar, type in devmodeon, and exit the search bar. Next, visit the settings menu, select device information, and select developer options. On page 2 of developer options, select CFA and a sidebar will open that allows you to change the various colour modes
Kindle - better colors and speed, Kobo - buttons, google drive feature, notes, I have the reader, stylus pen & sleepcover in the price of Kindle. I choose Kobo, but I understand if someone prefers Kindle.
It's Kobo for the win, for me. I enjoy annotating as I read and since Colorsoft does not work with stylus it's a no go for me. I also do not like the power button being on the bottom of the Colorsoft. WHY? Would they do that when so many have pointed out the flaw? My biggest reason for moving away from Amazon and Kindle is because of Amazon's policy; I have a library card that allows me to 'use' books to read for free. When I pay for something I consider it mine and Amazon doesn't see it that way.
The Colorsoft doesn’t have an ad supported version, but both the Kindle and the Kobo show recommendations on the Home Screen… so, not sure what point you’re making here.
@@coder543 the Kindle range is essentially an ad for Kindle books. The Home page isn't a Home page, but an enormous set of advertised books. I have an Oasis and a Scribe, and both are excellent bits of hardware. The Kindle advertising and terrible UI have ensured that my next reader will be Kobo.
Maybe you've never used a Kobo but all they do is try to sell you books. The Colorsoft has no ads (although of course the Home screen does show books you can buy on it too).
I was waiting for the day Amazon to announce a color Kindle so I can upgrade my 11th gen PW. But after seeing that price for the Colorsoft, I was then gonna wait for either Black Friday or cyber Monday for it to go on sale. That’s until I came across a deal bundle on QVC last week for the Kobo Libra Colour (ereader, stylus, and notebook case) for $236. I LOVE my Kobo!!!!
This is a really good comparison. Can you compare the colours of the two devices when you switch on the dev options on the Kobo? You can increase the colour vibrancy when you do this
@@LN7747 oh, no Colorsoft to compare it to 😅 just bought a Signature PPW5 last year and I don't think it's worth the switch. Probably when they come out with a colored Oasis. I'm loving the side buttons.
In terms of Libby, kindle is more convenient as you can borrow books from multiple libraries via “send to kindle” function whereas Kobo overdrive can only allow you to borrow books from one library.
@kbn-637 I completely agree with you! I never hear anyone bring this up when they’re praising Kobo for being the better library experience. It’s so annoying to have to log in and out when switching between multiple libraries on Kobo. The Libby app lets you use all of your libraries at the same time and is much more responsive than the sluggish process of trying to download a library book on your Kobo. There are things I prefer about Kobo over Kindle, but after testing both I ultimately stuck with Kindle because of Audible whispersync and the multiple libraries limitation on Kobo.
In the UK I got the kobo for £170 (after getting sick of waiting for decent upgrade for my 2012 paperwhite) whereas the colorsoft is £270! Its ridiculously over priced especially as its missing loads of features. For me the biggest bonus, apart from the buttons, is that I can borrow books from a library directly on the kobo. This is something amazon doesn't allow in the UK.
@@leannejenkins6887 it was a £30 off voucher at very. This followed me join very to get a new tablet as it was 20% your first order (so see what they are offering now) Currys had it recently for £179.
@@leannejenkins6887 I did reply but seems it's been deleted! Maybe because of how I got it, so will word if differently. Mine was from very with a discount code. It has also been on sale recently at curry's for £179.
Seems to me the Kindle Colorsoft is more comparable to the Kobo Clara Colour. Neither have buttons nor stylus support. But the Kindle is $280 vs Kobo at $150. I really wish Amazon made the Oasis Colorsoft.
Coming from a Nook that always had physical page turn buttons I am perfectly happy with my Kobo because I use those buttons all the time. I predominantly use it to read books only and not comics so I could give or take having color screen.
I can't believe you didn't mention this in your comparison. One thing that is a game changer for the Kindle over the Kobo is the Comixology Guided View technology for reading comics. It is a must for reading comics on a small screen. How they perform while reading comics/graphic novels is a big deal and a major selling point for a color eReader. It's not even close in that regard.
@beanpasteposts So far, it seems to work pretty well on the colorsoft, particularly on newer comics. Older books can be a bit wonky. It is great for reading on small screens.
I wouldn't use any of these for comics. Small screen and the colors still aren't quite there. Fine for kids books and covers of course. I use an ipad pro 13 m4 for comics.
@tosvus hard to compare to an iPad. I could see why the iPad experience would be 10x better if you don't need the battery life and portability of an e-ink device.
it's the glass. i switched to the kobo libra 2 because the oasis glass screen messed with my eyes focusing on the text making it ever so slightly not sharp. i notice this with all glass ereaders. it almost defeats the purpose of an ereader as it adds a lot of glare and reduces sharpness by adding a plane in front of the screen. i personally hate it.
I have a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and just received the Kobo Libra Colour as a Christmas gift. I’m looking forward to using the Kobo and comparing the two systems, even though my Kindle does not have color. I really wanted to purchase a Kindle Oasis instead of the Paperwhite, but since they discontinued the Oasis, I didn’t. I like the idea of having the physical page turn buttons on one side of the device, which should make it easier to operate with one hand. I noticed that in your review you had the warmth turned up about halfway on the Kindle when comparing the color graphics. I know from my Paperwhite that turning the warmth up halfway really changes the tone of the page. I wonder if that made the colors appear deeper? I don’t yet know what the “natural light” setting is on a Kobo. If it is just another way of saying warmth, then I guess it was a fair color comparison.
Since they're both using Kaleido 3 technology, I guess the main difference (at least that we can perceive with our eyes) is the oxide backplane, helping to create the rich vibrant colors on the colorsoft.
I have both devices, and am trying to make up my mind which to keep. Both have advantages over the other, but I find the colour reproduction better on the Colorsoft and the text to be crisper, so that's in the lead for me :-)
Tough tough, tough decision. As you probably saw in my video, I couldn't really pick a clear winner. I do love the flush screen of the colorsoft and I think the colors pop better as well. But I also like where the power button is on the cobo. Again, tough decision. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt When the placement of the powerbutton comes up as a decision factor, you know you've reached a point of where it doesn't matter which option you chose.
Not sure if I am liking my Colorsoft. It is cool but the color layer causes blurier text compared to my old Oasis. I might send it back and get the Paperwhite.
So if you actually look up the colors of the physical book cover, the colors in kobo are the actual colors of that book cover The kindle it too dark for that cover. The colors are more accurate on the kobo
First of all, love your name @cheesymarshmellows - also - great point about the colors. And often there are variations, hardcover will often look very different from paperback, etc. Alot to consider if looking at these ereaders
Kobo with buttons is great. You can have your coffee mug in one hand and you can continue reading with the other hand and press the buttons. It's really comfortable. And it's very light. 👍🏻
As a Kobo user I really pride Kindle's vivid colour compared to anyone else's muted tones. And the key is that I don't really know how they achieved it. What's the trick at play here?
They use a special oxide backplane... Perhaps that makes the difference? They also have a "vivid" mode in settings that may be over saturating the colors. Well done though, the colors look great.
Shame the lighting was not done in a controlled manner with the glare on the Kindle side washing out some colours it makes it more difficult to see an accurate contrast.
Color EReaders are really for specific use cases, if you read graphic novels, manga, comic books, very dependent on color highlighting, etc. then the color EReaders are a positive/enjoyable experience but if you only read books that are text heavy (and do NOT highlight passages) then color might be a luxury or a trend setter item but not a necessity.
I switched to Kobo Libra Colour a month ago after being long term Kindle user. I am coming to the same conclusion Andrew. All I do is read so, yeah the colours for the book covers are nice, but only represent a tiny fraction of the reading experience. I would also add I love the Kobo UI.
If pdf files are a priority for you, I'd recommend the Kobo. It's much easier IMHO to use PDF on Kobo vs Amazon. I do believe it's possible but it's not as easy. With the Kobo you can literally throw it into a Google drive folder or drag and drop to the device. Hope that helps
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt You can also very easily email PDFs to yourself with the Kindle, or even set up an automated workflow in Calibre where you just add a tag and it just automatically shows up on your Kindle. I don't believe there's a "Send to Kobo" email, but the drive feature is great, even if it means that if you maintain your Calibre library you have to copy files into two places (Calibre doesn't work well with its library in a shared cloud drive).
3:19 KLC bottom left is more grainy than color soft for some reason. Thought they both use the same tech, obviously Amazon has done something better to improve the screen. Hope they fix the yellow banding issue soon.
I got the Kobo Libra Colour. The one thing the Colorsoft lacks is stylus support. To me, the color is an added bonus, not the whole show. I just think the KLC is more bang for the buck, if you're not averse to converting your Kindle books to Kobo.
Definitely more bang for the buck, and the stylus support is a huge bonus. I think a lot of people are embedded in the Kindle ecosystem and it's hard to get out
I have a Scribe and definitely don't use the stylus as much as I thought I would. I can see if you're reading for work or school that making handwritten notes may be useful, but otherwise if you're just reading, I'd much rather just highlight with my finger.
@@joughdempsey Sure. If you're just reading, it doesn't make sense. But I was surprised how much I used the stylus. I don't take notes for classes or anything, but I love it for shopping lists, todo lists, and if I want to take a lot of notes on what I'm reading. Your mileage will definitely vary, though.
@@BrianHartman I’d definitely use the stylus more if the notes synced to my other devices better. Since I’m already typing notes (faster) on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac I have tools there that sync between the three and it’s great. The Scribe would need to be able to export to more interchangeable formats or have a nice app for all of those other platforms to make sense to me for things like shopping lists where I’m not going to be bringing the large Scribe with me, but will definitely have my phone on hand.
Id love the coloursoft, but i would really miss the buttons that i have on my kindle oasis. That said, ive had my oasis over 6 years and it works just as great as day one. The speed, the battery, i really have no need to upgrade. Even my 2012 kindle still works. With the amount of books i have read, and saved money on, they have definitely been a great investment. So Kindle please add page turn buttons to the next gen coloursoft and we will have a deal 🙂
Everyone keeps comparing these two when the Kobo Clara is closer to the Colorsoft and it's nearly half the price. the Libra has a stylus and notebooks plus physical buttons... all of which the Colorsoft does not.
Doesn't both of them use Kaledio 3 but with just some modifications on kindle? You mentioned they use different technologies but they are more similar in tech than you mentioned though.
Amazon looks better but I'm sick of their unethical practices such as blocking you installing ebooks from 3dr parties, deleting content from your devices,, will wait for Libras top catch up only a matter of a firmware update to imp[rove contrast.
I think he means like they are using different tech/approaches on the kaleido 3 screen. Which they are, Amazon made a big deal out of that at the kindle event.
Exactly. I know they both use e-ink but Amazon has their own tech they're using compared to Kobo who buys e-ink screens from the major e-ink screen company
Thank you for this review, it really helped, can I ask have you noticed the yellow line or something at the bottom of the kindle coloursoft? Not everyone can so I just wondered if you can see it, must say its stopped me buying it at the moment.
Glad that it was helpful! I have not seen the yellow line that everyone is talking about. I know a lot of others have reported it but so far I have not seen that on my device.
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt It's not a line. There is a variation in the screen temperature as you go from top to bottom, and it's most visible at the bottom, where it is warmer, and thus has the orange "haze" people speak of. The amount it's visible depends on brightness and warmth settings.
awesome review. I have the old kindle scribe ( with pencil) and paperwhite. I love ❤both of them. I would love to own the Color Kobo (with pencil) but cannot justify a third ereader. Plus I am so invested in Amazon I would have to get the ColorSoft but getting neither. I cannot justify it.
Same here! I have both the Kindle Scribe and Paperwhite, and I really wish they offered a colored highlighter option. I love the convenience for reading, especially since the iPad feels way too bright for me.
Thank you for including the info about the “sunken” screen on the Kobo! I have been watching a few reviews comparing these two devices, and no one else mentioned that. I definitely prefer the flush design, so this helped me make the right choice for me. I’m already so deep in the Amazon ecosystem, so I guess I’ll be sticking with them. I’m mostly wanting to get the Colorsoft because I really enjoy using different colors to highlight. I read a lot of fantasy, so it’s very helpful to be able to assign different colors to different themes or elements in the book. I have ordered a Colorsoft, but they’ve delayed shipping any new devices for 6-8 weeks so they can fix the yellow bar issue
After watching a few videos, I will say that the Colorsoft has more saturated colors, but that doesn't always lead to more accurate colors. I've seen a few shots of the Colorsoft displaying an Archie comic book, and poor Archie looks badly sunburnt and unnatural
Kindle colosoft colors are better and more vivid but i dont like flushed screen. i have a paperwhite from last year and barely use it. When i look at my old kindle keyboard with the sunken screen i prefer it every time. ill be ethier gifting the paperwhite or swapping it for kindle basic matcha because of the sunkun/recessed screen. If i get color it will have to be kobo or another device with sunken screen. They both are using the same color kaleido 3 screen technology its just different ways of rendering the color so colors appear differwnt even with other brands like poketbook or boox still its all keleido 3 except for gallery 3 on only 2 devices a older bugme which was so badvand the remarkable paper pro which it the best mostly in all color eink right now.
Interesting take on the sunken screen. Definitely a personal preference thing The screens are the same but Amazon claims they use a special oxide backplane. Assuming that has something to do with color too?
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt yes it's personal i saw a few coments on reddit and in comments where some prefer flushed screen only and most people it doesn't matter lol. That may be it too the way each company makes there color keleido 3 screen will make it a bit different but I did hear from one video review that the makers of the keleido 3 are trying to make it look more whiter comparable to bw monochrome eink and advancing it.
My concern of having a recessed screen would be the eventual failure of its waterproof ability if using it near water a lot. I would think water would have a tendency to sit right where the bezel meets the screen and eventually find a way inside the e-reader’s nether region and wreak havoc. However, with the flush face of the Kindle it would just run straight off or be easily wiped away. As for color, I wouldn’t give you two beans for it. For what I read, there is absolutely zero justification for having it and even less for paying that much extra for it. Now those buttons on the Kobo and that wider grip area? Now we’re talking! I would love having that extra real estate to be able to comfortably hold onto it while reading, just parking my thumb right beside that page forward button and barely rocking my thumb to turn the page. *heavy sigh* Oh how I miss having that option. I wish Apple would drop an e-reader that would address all of my e-reader woes. 😂
Well, you're certainly perky. The Kindle is thought to use the same Kaleido 3 screen as other readers (Amazon won't say), the greater responsiveness is likely due to Kindle's single-purpose software vs Android. I watched a video comparing the new Basic with the new Boox Go 6 and the difference was significant.
I had the kobo Clara colour and I had to return it. It looked like the regular black and white text was grainy. It was almost like the initial ereaders with lower resolutions. If you compare the color screens to the regular b&w screens is it as sharp?
They are not using different technologies. They are the same screens coming from the same manufacturer. Any differences you see here with colour saturation are the result of software tweaks. (you can bump the Kobo's colour saturaion in the hidden dev mode settings menu.). As to which is better will depend on the kind of images displayed. The greater colour saturation will look less real and loose details on more photographic type images. (But, the E-ink pastels will be pretty bad for those anyhow, and most colour content consumed on these devices will probably be comics, children's books, and other similar illustrations, I can't disagree with Amazon's choice here.)
Great comment. Appreciate the deep dive. When I mentioned the screens I was referring to amazon using the oxide backplane. I'm pretty sure that's exclusive to Amazon
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt Battery lasts 'for weeks' is a marketing exaggeration. It only lasts that long if you read very little. I read an oasis for example 2-3 hours a day and have to charge every few days. The same with the paperwhite I own.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft has a big problem and all the buyers have complained, a yellow stripe appears at the bottom of the screen with an uneven brightness. The Kobo Libra Color instead has a perfect screen in visualizing both colors and light. So at the moment the Kobo wins.
Old news... Kobo much better and its repairable unlike the kindle and I find your review lacking since you never mentioned the repairability of the Kobo. Also, I find the Kobo easer to hold, and the buttons make it much easier to use..
I like the empty space next to the screen on the Kobo too. Good spot to hold and I like the hardware buttons. I do like the flush screen of the Kindle tho
Im sure the colorsoft had better color. But i didn't have to be tired to Amazon with the kobo, and i get buttons, and it's cheaper. I'm definitely staying with my Libra colour
I don’t know if it’s true or not but I read articles saying that Kobo apparently has a patent for the “Libra Colour” design. That’s why Amazon had to do a paperwhite style color kindle.
The colorsofr clearly adjusted the technology to improvw the screen a bit over what libra offers. If the coloe screen is your main reason for buying, i would say definitely the kindle. In an ideal world i would want the kiindle screen and store and kindle unlimited but with buttons like their best ever reader the Oasis, along with stylus amd notebooks like in libra amd the screen at 8". The availability of books is juat far better on Amazon but would love the stylus, notebooks, and stylus on libra.
I definitely think there is a large segment of people who simply prefer hardware buttons. They often outlast touchscreens. Nonetheless, I agree that the Kindle feels more "premium". Tough decision either way. Thx for watching!!
Kobo libra color: ~219$ with buttons & support stylus pen.
Kindle colorsoft: ~279$ with yellow tinge.
Haven't had the yellow tinge people are talking about but it sounds like it's pretty common. 😭
and Kindle colorsoft with a very closed system compared to Kobo libra color
But an awful pen sadly, and a sunken screen, it fills easily with dirt. Not to mention the very small selection of comic titles to buy. In the end color ends being just a gimmick and not very useful.
I knew the library was going to be smaller than Amazon’s but in color content the difference is just too much. I never find what I want, the search engine is poor and collections are sometimes incomplete. No guided view also 🤷🏻♂️
Kobo is garbage compared to Kindle in terms of quality and ecosystem
@@radsmind it's quite easy to source the comics yourself tho. I feel like buying into either ecosystem without exploring that option is a huge mistake. it's up to amazon to offer this stuff on their platform, but sideloading is always a thing too
Independent of color, I personally find the physical buttons for navigating pages to be a killer feature because that's what you do constantly when reading and the ability to reverse the button action as well. The downside to the physical buttons is that it forces a certain way of holding the Kobo which may not be optimal for some hand sizes. I feel the only time I may find the color to be useful is when reading comics/manga so it's a very targeted group of readers.
I dig the physical buttons too.
It doesn't force the way you read the kobo because you can rotate the screen to whichever way you want.
I have an Oasis and it is my dream kindle
The oasis is perfect for this reason and I’m hoping mine will last forever since they are not making it any more!
People were complaining about Kobo screen being too dark. And Colorsoft is clearly much darker. Plus it has power button on bottom, lacks page turn buttons and the flush screen is a big disadvantage for me. I have Paperhite 5 and Libra 2... And Libra's diplays without the additional plastic layer is SO MUCH sharper. I will always take indented screen over flush screen, always. So to me the clear winner is Libra Colour.
That and one of the biggest problems with the Oasis was the battery, and Kobo made the clara/libra colour and clara BW repairable with ifix kit. So you can just swap out whatever breaks. Which is really really nice!! The color screen will always be darker than non color screens. I think people thought the dark screen was a flaw with Kobo but it’s really just the tech! I am passing on the Colorsoft, I love my Kobo color too much.
Love having options! Thx for you comment and for watching
Agree - Libra is much clearer to read on and much better (for my eyes) to read black n white.
You can adjust the color on the Kobo to make it more vivid if that’s a thing for you. I don’t read manga or comics and the color covers don’t matter to me. You didn’t mention annotation which is why I chose Kobo. The ability to annotate and write directly on the book is a game changer for me.
Didn’t think you could adjust the color on the kobo
@terriersforever23 I'm told it's in developer settings somewhere.
@ cheers my friend I’ll see if I can check that out.
@@terriersforever23 Via Good E-Reader: To access the hidden developer’s settings menu, Go to the search bar, type in devmodeon, and exit the search bar. Next, visit the settings menu, select device information, and select developer options. On page 2 of developer options, select CFA and a sidebar will open that allows you to change the various colour modes
Kindle - better colors and speed,
Kobo - buttons, google drive feature, notes, I have the reader, stylus pen & sleepcover in the price of Kindle.
I choose Kobo, but I understand if someone prefers Kindle.
Good points. Options and competition are always a good thing!! Thx for watching and commenting.
It's Kobo for the win, for me. I enjoy annotating as I read and since Colorsoft does not work with stylus it's a no go for me. I also do not like the power button being on the bottom of the Colorsoft. WHY? Would they do that when so many have pointed out the flaw? My biggest reason for moving away from Amazon and Kindle is because of Amazon's policy; I have a library card that allows me to 'use' books to read for free. When I pay for something I consider it mine and Amazon doesn't see it that way.
Well...One has physical page turn buttons and doesn't bombard you with ads...
I do like the hardware page turn buttons. Thx for the comment!!
The Colorsoft doesn’t have an ad supported version, but both the Kindle and the Kobo show recommendations on the Home Screen… so, not sure what point you’re making here.
@@coder543 the Kindle range is essentially an ad for Kindle books. The Home page isn't a Home page, but an enormous set of advertised books.
I have an Oasis and a Scribe, and both are excellent bits of hardware. The Kindle advertising and terrible UI have ensured that my next reader will be Kobo.
Maybe you've never used a Kobo but all they do is try to sell you books. The Colorsoft has no ads (although of course the Home screen does show books you can buy on it too).
I never understand the ad complaining… it’s like another 10 pounds to remove it, not a lot compared to the device you’re already buying
I was waiting for the day Amazon to announce a color Kindle so I can upgrade my 11th gen PW. But after seeing that price for the Colorsoft, I was then gonna wait for either Black Friday or cyber Monday for it to go on sale. That’s until I came across a deal bundle on QVC last week for the Kobo Libra Colour (ereader, stylus, and notebook case) for $236. I LOVE my Kobo!!!!
kindle is on vivid preset , the kobo is in C1 mode , you can push the colour with devmode on C2 which is vivid on Kindle
2 things. Kobo's physical page-turn buttons and the ergonomic design.
This is a really good comparison. Can you compare the colours of the two devices when you switch on the dev options on the Kobo? You can increase the colour vibrancy when you do this
This was a game changer for me. I was underwhelemed by the color at first on my Kobo but I turned devmodeon and 😍
@EezaLast yep exactly. Have you managed to compare once turned on to the Kindle Colorsoft?
@@LN7747 oh, no Colorsoft to compare it to 😅 just bought a Signature PPW5 last year and I don't think it's worth the switch. Probably when they come out with a colored Oasis. I'm loving the side buttons.
It is "Front Light" not "back light" with the e-ink technology.
Good point. My mistake.. I'm so used to tablet and laptops screens. Thx for the correction.
In terms of Libby, kindle is more convenient as you can borrow books from multiple libraries via “send to kindle” function whereas Kobo overdrive can only allow you to borrow books from one library.
This is a good point but for those of us in Australia, we can't borrow books on the Kindle at all. :( So Kobo is a much better option for us.
I prefer the Kobo because you can browse the library and borrow from said library directly on the device.
@MEO-iq1kr agree. If your local Library is part of Libby, you gotta go kobo
@kbn-637 I completely agree with you! I never hear anyone bring this up when they’re praising Kobo for being the better library experience. It’s so annoying to have to log in and out when switching between multiple libraries on Kobo. The Libby app lets you use all of your libraries at the same time and is much more responsive than the sluggish process of trying to download a library book on your Kobo. There are things I prefer about Kobo over Kindle, but after testing both I ultimately stuck with Kindle because of Audible whispersync and the multiple libraries limitation on Kobo.
Can’t use Libby at all on Kindle in 🇬🇧.Also you can link any library ticket you have through Kobo/Overdrive [Libby in UK]
In the UK I got the kobo for £170 (after getting sick of waiting for decent upgrade for my 2012 paperwhite) whereas the colorsoft is £270!
Its ridiculously over priced especially as its missing loads of features.
For me the biggest bonus, apart from the buttons, is that I can borrow books from a library directly on the kobo. This is something amazon doesn't allow in the UK.
Where did you find the Kobo for £170 I'm just about to buy one and can't find it cheaper than £199?
@@leannejenkins6887 it was a £30 off voucher at very. This followed me join very to get a new tablet as it was 20% your first order (so see what they are offering now)
Currys had it recently for £179.
Same question - how did you get it for £170?
@@leannejenkins6887 I did reply but seems it's been deleted! Maybe because of how I got it, so will word if differently.
Mine was from very with a discount code. It has also been on sale recently at curry's for £179.
Seems to me the Kindle Colorsoft is more comparable to the Kobo Clara Colour. Neither have buttons nor stylus support. But the Kindle is $280 vs Kobo at $150. I really wish Amazon made the Oasis Colorsoft.
I see a less expensive color Kindle in the future for sure
Yes! An Oasis with color would be amazing. I’m SO disappointed they discontinued the Oasis. So many people loved the physical page turn buttons.
Coming from a Nook that always had physical page turn buttons I am perfectly happy with my Kobo because I use those buttons all the time. I predominantly use it to read books only and not comics so I could give or take having color screen.
I can't believe you didn't mention this in your comparison. One thing that is a game changer for the Kindle over the Kobo is the Comixology Guided View technology for reading comics. It is a must for reading comics on a small screen. How they perform while reading comics/graphic novels is a big deal and a major selling point for a color eReader. It's not even close in that regard.
Ngl, I hate Kindle’s guided view. It gets stuck sometimes when you’re trying to get back to full page view. Gets annoying fast.
@beanpasteposts So far, it seems to work pretty well on the colorsoft, particularly on newer comics. Older books can be a bit wonky. It is great for reading on small screens.
I wouldn't use any of these for comics. Small screen and the colors still aren't quite there. Fine for kids books and covers of course. I use an ipad pro 13 m4 for comics.
@tosvus hard to compare to an iPad. I could see why the iPad experience would be 10x better if you don't need the battery life and portability of an e-ink device.
Which ebook formats are compatible with each e-reader when transferring books from a PC via USB?
Thank you so much this was a very in-depth comparison compared to the others I've watched!
it's the glass. i switched to the kobo libra 2 because the oasis glass screen messed with my eyes focusing on the text making it ever so slightly not sharp. i notice this with all glass ereaders. it almost defeats the purpose of an ereader as it adds a lot of glare and reduces sharpness by adding a plane in front of the screen. i personally hate it.
I have a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and just received the Kobo Libra Colour as a Christmas gift. I’m looking forward to using the Kobo and comparing the two systems, even though my Kindle does not have color. I really wanted to purchase a Kindle Oasis instead of the Paperwhite, but since they discontinued the Oasis, I didn’t. I like the idea of having the physical page turn buttons on one side of the device, which should make it easier to operate with one hand. I noticed that in your review you had the warmth turned up about halfway on the Kindle when comparing the color graphics. I know from my Paperwhite that turning the warmth up halfway really changes the tone of the page. I wonder if that made the colors appear deeper? I don’t yet know what the “natural light” setting is on a Kobo. If it is just another way of saying warmth, then I guess it was a fair color comparison.
Thanks for the comment!! So interesting to hear from someone with both Kindle and Kobo. Which software platform do you prefer?
They are both using Kaleido 3 screens. Kindles implementation might be a bit different, but it is the same underlining tech.
Since they're both using Kaleido 3 technology, I guess the main difference (at least that we can perceive with our eyes) is the oxide backplane, helping to create the rich vibrant colors on the colorsoft.
Kind of surprised that it makes that much of a difference. Thx for watching
I have both devices, and am trying to make up my mind which to keep. Both have advantages over the other, but I find the colour reproduction better on the Colorsoft and the text to be crisper, so that's in the lead for me :-)
Tough tough, tough decision. As you probably saw in my video, I couldn't really pick a clear winner. I do love the flush screen of the colorsoft and I think the colors pop better as well. But I also like where the power button is on the cobo. Again, tough decision. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
Yup, kindle has better color and contrast.
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt You're welcome, and thanks for your review :-)
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt When the placement of the powerbutton comes up as a decision factor, you know you've reached a point of where it doesn't matter which option you chose.
For certain category of book such as Arts, Master piece of history, Charts etc, colorSoft is better
Not sure if I am liking my Colorsoft. It is cool but the color layer causes blurier text compared to my old Oasis. I might send it back and get the Paperwhite.
Great review! Keeping my kobo ☺️
Can't go wrong. It's a great e-reader!!
So if you actually look up the colors of the physical book cover, the colors in kobo are the actual colors of that book cover The kindle it too dark for that cover. The colors are more accurate on the kobo
First of all, love your name @cheesymarshmellows - also - great point about the colors. And often there are variations, hardcover will often look very different from paperback, etc. Alot to consider if looking at these ereaders
Kobo with buttons is great. You can have your coffee mug in one hand and you can continue reading with the other hand and press the buttons. It's really comfortable. And it's very light. 👍🏻
As a Kobo user I really pride Kindle's vivid colour compared to anyone else's muted tones. And the key is that I don't really know how they achieved it. What's the trick at play here?
They use a special oxide backplane... Perhaps that makes the difference? They also have a "vivid" mode in settings that may be over saturating the colors. Well done though, the colors look great.
Shame the lighting was not done in a controlled manner with the glare on the Kindle side washing out some colours it makes it more difficult to see an accurate contrast.
Yes, I hear ya. I tried to control it as much as possible using a white light box.
I still have the Kindle 11 2022 and I am happy about it. I really would like another one Kobo Libra Color with pen ! it is not a need obviously LOL!!!
Libra with the pen is awesome. I bet Amazon does a color screen with pen soon. Color scribe??
Color EReaders are really for specific use cases, if you read graphic novels, manga, comic books, very dependent on color highlighting, etc. then the color EReaders are a positive/enjoyable experience but if you only read books that are text heavy (and do NOT highlight passages) then color might be a luxury or a trend setter item but not a necessity.
Great point. I agree 100%. Most people will barely ever use the color. But I do think color e-readers would be great for children.
I switched to Kobo Libra Colour a month ago after being long term Kindle user. I am coming to the same conclusion Andrew. All I do is read so, yeah the colours for the book covers are nice, but only represent a tiny fraction of the reading experience. I would also add I love the Kobo UI.
Thank you for this comparison. Question- do these e-readers accommodate pdf?
If pdf files are a priority for you, I'd recommend the Kobo. It's much easier IMHO to use PDF on Kobo vs Amazon. I do believe it's possible but it's not as easy. With the Kobo you can literally throw it into a Google drive folder or drag and drop to the device. Hope that helps
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt You can also very easily email PDFs to yourself with the Kindle, or even set up an automated workflow in Calibre where you just add a tag and it just automatically shows up on your Kindle. I don't believe there's a "Send to Kobo" email, but the drive feature is great, even if it means that if you maintain your Calibre library you have to copy files into two places (Calibre doesn't work well with its library in a shared cloud drive).
3:19 KLC bottom left is more grainy than color soft for some reason. Thought they both use the same tech, obviously Amazon has done something better to improve the screen. Hope they fix the yellow banding issue soon.
Amazon said they added an oxide backplane
Both screens use the same technology, E Ink Kaleido 3.
I got the Kobo Libra Colour. The one thing the Colorsoft lacks is stylus support. To me, the color is an added bonus, not the whole show. I just think the KLC is more bang for the buck, if you're not averse to converting your Kindle books to Kobo.
Definitely more bang for the buck, and the stylus support is a huge bonus. I think a lot of people are embedded in the Kindle ecosystem and it's hard to get out
I have a Scribe and definitely don't use the stylus as much as I thought I would. I can see if you're reading for work or school that making handwritten notes may be useful, but otherwise if you're just reading, I'd much rather just highlight with my finger.
@@joughdempsey Sure. If you're just reading, it doesn't make sense. But I was surprised how much I used the stylus. I don't take notes for classes or anything, but I love it for shopping lists, todo lists, and if I want to take a lot of notes on what I'm reading. Your mileage will definitely vary, though.
@@BrianHartman I’d definitely use the stylus more if the notes synced to my other devices better. Since I’m already typing notes (faster) on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac I have tools there that sync between the three and it’s great. The Scribe would need to be able to export to more interchangeable formats or have a nice app for all of those other platforms to make sense to me for things like shopping lists where I’m not going to be bringing the large Scribe with me, but will definitely have my phone on hand.
Id love the coloursoft, but i would really miss the buttons that i have on my kindle oasis. That said, ive had my oasis over 6 years and it works just as great as day one. The speed, the battery, i really have no need to upgrade. Even my 2012 kindle still works. With the amount of books i have read, and saved money on, they have definitely been a great investment. So Kindle please add page turn buttons to the next gen coloursoft and we will have a deal 🙂
Great video.. I have been waiting for this comparison video for sooo long on UA-cam 😃
Does it protect notes with password?
Everyone keeps comparing these two when the Kobo Clara is closer to the Colorsoft and it's nearly half the price. the Libra has a stylus and notebooks plus physical buttons... all of which the Colorsoft does not.
Probably because it's half the price and quality if the colors often and libra.
4:04 it’s definitely ghosting on the color soft and refreshing when you let go just like in the kobo lol
Agree, always going to be some ghosting on e-ink. I definitely think it's better with whatever voodoo magic Amazon is doing
Doesn't both of them use Kaledio 3 but with just some modifications on kindle?
You mentioned they use different technologies but they are more similar in tech than you mentioned though.
Kindle uses a oxide backplane behind the kaledio 3. Must be their secret sauce?
Amazon looks better but I'm sick of their unethical practices such as blocking you installing ebooks from 3dr parties, deleting content from your devices,, will wait for Libras top catch up only a matter of a firmware update to imp[rove contrast.
Kobo is def more open that Amazon. Some people love the walled gardens, some don't. I prefer a more open device myself.
Thanks for your review!
Hope it was helpful! Cheers
But the kobo on its side for reading is my favorite thing ever, but I do love kindle unlimited.
errr... they're not using different technologies?
I think he means like they are using different tech/approaches on the kaleido 3 screen. Which they are, Amazon made a big deal out of that at the kindle event.
I think he meant that the ereaders are using e-ink displays rather than LCD displays.
Actually, one uses Carta 1200, the other Carta 1300 - not different tech, just different versions of it.
Exactly. I know they both use e-ink but Amazon has their own tech they're using compared to Kobo who buys e-ink screens from the major e-ink screen company
No, they're both using Kaleido 3, but Kindle is claiming some level of customization
What about a Boox7?
Haven't had my hands on this one yet!! Hopefully soon
Would be an instant buy if it had better battery life
Thank you for this review, it really helped, can I ask have you noticed the yellow line or something at the bottom of the kindle coloursoft? Not everyone can so I just wondered if you can see it, must say its stopped me buying it at the moment.
Glad that it was helpful! I have not seen the yellow line that everyone is talking about. I know a lot of others have reported it but so far I have not seen that on my device.
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt It's not a line. There is a variation in the screen temperature as you go from top to bottom, and it's most visible at the bottom, where it is warmer, and thus has the orange "haze" people speak of. The amount it's visible depends on brightness and warmth settings.
How often does kobo come out with software updates
Pretty often actually. It's a very active OS with regular updates and support.
If only Kobo had sync between devices for side loaded content, like Kindle does…
I’ll have to go the Kindle rout this time…
Both great options and every feature will weigh differently with each person.
I’ll get the colorsoft. I am used to changing pages using tap/scroll gestures, so I’ll enjoy the smaller width because of no buttons :)
If you're not a button person, I can totally see the kindle being the choice.
The Kindle has a Vivid option for color. You should show that.
awesome review. I have the old kindle scribe ( with pencil) and paperwhite. I love ❤both of them. I would love to own the Color Kobo (with pencil) but cannot justify a third ereader. Plus I am so invested in Amazon I would have to get the ColorSoft but getting neither. I cannot justify it.
Totally feel the pain of wanting all the cool gadgets but knowing you don't need them. 😅
Same here! I have both the Kindle Scribe and Paperwhite, and I really wish they offered a colored highlighter option. I love the convenience for reading, especially since the iPad feels way too bright for me.
Thank you for including the info about the “sunken” screen on the Kobo! I have been watching a few reviews comparing these two devices, and no one else mentioned that. I definitely prefer the flush design, so this helped me make the right choice for me. I’m already so deep in the Amazon ecosystem, so I guess I’ll be sticking with them. I’m mostly wanting to get the Colorsoft because I really enjoy using different colors to highlight. I read a lot of fantasy, so it’s very helpful to be able to assign different colors to different themes or elements in the book. I have ordered a Colorsoft, but they’ve delayed shipping any new devices for 6-8 weeks so they can fix the yellow bar issue
Glad it was helpful! Thx for the comment.
After watching a few videos, I will say that the Colorsoft has more saturated colors, but that doesn't always lead to more accurate colors. I've seen a few shots of the Colorsoft displaying an Archie comic book, and poor Archie looks badly sunburnt and unnatural
Yeah, good point. And color accuracy is super important for many comics
I think the contrast makes a big difference, on kobo you can install the koreader and change it (I don't know if you can in the stock experience)
Had a KLC and the lip was fine, but you could see the lights on the side of the screen which was a real deal breaker.
Kindle colosoft colors are better and more vivid but i dont like flushed screen. i have a paperwhite from last year and barely use it. When i look at my old kindle keyboard with the sunken screen i prefer it every time. ill be ethier gifting the paperwhite or swapping it for kindle basic matcha because of the sunkun/recessed screen. If i get color it will have to be kobo or another device with sunken screen. They both are using the same color kaleido 3 screen technology its just different ways of rendering the color so colors appear differwnt even with other brands like poketbook or boox still its all keleido 3 except for gallery 3 on only 2 devices a older bugme which was so badvand the remarkable paper pro which it the best mostly in all color eink right now.
Interesting take on the sunken screen. Definitely a personal preference thing
The screens are the same but Amazon claims they use a special oxide backplane. Assuming that has something to do with color too?
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt yes it's personal i saw a few coments on reddit and in comments where some prefer flushed screen only and most people it doesn't matter lol. That may be it too the way each company makes there color keleido 3 screen will make it a bit different but I did hear from one video review that the makers of the keleido 3 are trying to make it look more whiter comparable to bw monochrome eink and advancing it.
My concern of having a recessed screen would be the eventual failure of its waterproof ability if using it near water a lot. I would think water would have a tendency to sit right where the bezel meets the screen and eventually find a way inside the e-reader’s nether region and wreak havoc. However, with the flush face of the Kindle it would just run straight off or be easily wiped away.
As for color, I wouldn’t give you two beans for it. For what I read, there is absolutely zero justification for having it and even less for paying that much extra for it.
Now those buttons on the Kobo and that wider grip area? Now we’re talking! I would love having that extra real estate to be able to comfortably hold onto it while reading, just parking my thumb right beside that page forward button and barely rocking my thumb to turn the page. *heavy sigh* Oh how I miss having that option.
I wish Apple would drop an e-reader that would address all of my e-reader woes. 😂
The kobo color does feel very nice in the hand !
Well, you're certainly perky. The Kindle is thought to use the same Kaleido 3 screen as other readers (Amazon won't say), the greater responsiveness is likely due to Kindle's single-purpose software vs Android. I watched a video comparing the new Basic with the new Boox Go 6 and the difference was significant.
Que es mejor kibo o kindel
I had the kobo Clara colour and I had to return it. It looked like the regular black and white text was grainy. It was almost like the initial ereaders with lower resolutions. If you compare the color screens to the regular b&w screens is it as sharp?
Interesting. Wonder if you got a bad batch? Text seems as clear as a normal e-ink screen to me on both devices.
Could they not give them simpler names?
Kobo Color 1?? Lol Amazon Kindle Color?
I want A kobo so bad! But I use kindle unlimited
Stuck in the ecosystem. Totally feel that pain. Both are great e-readers but it's painful when you can't switch because of the walled gardens. 😢
kobo clara 2e is the best
Clara 2e is a great reader! Thx for watching the vid
I have both people. The CS is a CLEAR winner. And I’m an Oasis fanatic so the buttons are a HUGE deal to me. Even without them…the CS is AMAZING!
They are not using different technologies. They are the same screens coming from the same manufacturer. Any differences you see here with colour saturation are the result of software tweaks. (you can bump the Kobo's colour saturaion in the hidden dev mode settings menu.). As to which is better will depend on the kind of images displayed. The greater colour saturation will look less real and loose details on more photographic type images. (But, the E-ink pastels will be pretty bad for those anyhow, and most colour content consumed on these devices will probably be comics, children's books, and other similar illustrations, I can't disagree with Amazon's choice here.)
Great comment. Appreciate the deep dive. When I mentioned the screens I was referring to amazon using the oxide backplane. I'm pretty sure that's exclusive to Amazon
I think the colour is poor in both models. It is muted and washed out. I will stick with my Oasis. Buttons rule.
They are e-ink after all, not an iPad. Battery lasts for weeks compared to tablets.
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt
Battery lasts 'for weeks' is a marketing exaggeration. It only lasts that long if you read very little. I read an oasis for example 2-3 hours a day and have to charge every few days. The same with the paperwhite I own.
@meplusTM great point, thx for adding the insight!! Definitely depends on use. I think 2-3 hours a day is not what they consider average use.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft has a big problem and all the buyers have complained, a yellow stripe appears at the bottom of the screen with an uneven brightness. The Kobo Libra Color instead has a perfect screen in visualizing both colors and light. So at the moment the Kobo wins.
Definitely fair. I personally haven't had that yellow stripe issue but I know it's pretty common. 😭
@@TechItBeforeYouWreckIt Anyway Amazon says they will fix this yellow stripe issue with a future firmware upgrade, hopefully!
Old news... Kobo much better and its repairable unlike the kindle and I find your review lacking since you never mentioned the repairability of the Kobo. Also, I find the Kobo easer to hold, and the buttons make it much easier to use..
I like the empty space next to the screen on the Kobo too. Good spot to hold and I like the hardware buttons. I do like the flush screen of the Kindle tho
Im sure the colorsoft had better color. But i didn't have to be tired to Amazon with the kobo, and i get buttons, and it's cheaper. I'm definitely staying with my Libra colour
I like the openness of Kobo!!
use devmode its cool you can push the color than its similar to Kindle , i change from kindle and love the Libra Color
Amazon missed the mark not coming out with a color oasis. Also, the button should be on the back or the top not the bottom.
Hopefully a color oasis is in the works 🤞🏻
I don’t know if it’s true or not but I read articles saying that Kobo apparently has a patent for the “Libra Colour” design. That’s why Amazon had to do a paperwhite style color kindle.
@tonigee327 🤔 hadn't heard that but who knows.
Neither one. Big money for grossly underdeveloped color technology. I’ll wait a generation or two.😊
Both are useless for me. Boox FTW because of the Android OS. Too bad that Boox is not available in India.
Kobo colour the best
It's a great option!!!
The colorsofr clearly adjusted the technology to improvw the screen a bit over what libra offers. If the coloe screen is your main reason for buying, i would say definitely the kindle.
In an ideal world i would want the kiindle screen and store and kindle unlimited but with buttons like their best ever reader the Oasis, along with stylus amd notebooks like in libra amd the screen at 8".
The availability of books is juat far better on Amazon but would love the stylus, notebooks, and stylus on libra.
Why does the Colorsoft look so used and dirty? Looks like it's been in some childs room used for years
Kindle looks compare and more premium, with better contrast and color. Colors in the kindle are better. ❤ Physical button is not good in the long run.
I definitely think there is a large segment of people who simply prefer hardware buttons. They often outlast touchscreens. Nonetheless, I agree that the Kindle feels more "premium". Tough decision either way. Thx for watching!!
Really? You could not find something else to not to show a specific symbol from the first second???
??