Six reasons why I didn’t buy a Kindle and won’t regret it in 2026

Almost four years ago I made the leap to eReaders (electronic book readers) to, in a way, force myself to read a little. At that time I hadn’t gotten into reading for quite some time and I wanted to buy a reader. But there were many to choose from.

Kindle was my first choice because they are the best known, but after a lot of reading, especially analysis, and watching a few videos of use experiences, I opted for the Kobo Clara 2Ethe previous generation of the current Kobo Clara BW (129 euros) and is also available in a version with a color screen called Kobo Clara Color (169 euros).

Now, Why did I finally choose this eReader and not a Kindle? These are all the reasons that led me to it, and those that keep me “stuck” to the brand.

First eReader or casual readers

To anyone who makes the jump to an eReader for the first time or who simply reads from time to time, I recommend that Don’t spend too much money on a reader. The experience is different from reading physically and if you haven’t tried an eReader for a few hours it is better to go for a model with a good quality-price ratio than to buy something that you don’t end up liking.

Here we can find the basic Kindle (119 euros), but it has certain shortcomings compared to the Kobo Clara 2E or the Kobo Clara BW, such as water resistance. I was looking for a model with which I would have a very good experience so that it would be attractive for me to read, always taking into account the price.

The Kobo Clara BW currently sits between the basic Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite (169 euros), but it costs little more than the first. Unless we are looking for a much cheaper model (maximum about 80 euros), I would bet on Rakuten first.

How difficult it was to pass books from the computer

Amazon has made it a lot simpler over the years, but Before it was not so easy to transfer books from the computer to the reader. I don’t like shopping on my mobile at all and I do everything from my PC, so the “odyssey” that I was at that time set me back a lot.

Yes I know that Caliber It has always been there and is one of the best digital book organizers we can have. But I’ve always preferred not having to install anything to do something as basic as transferring a file to a device.

Water resistance, audiobooks and more

When I bought the eReader I did so with one goal in mind: to read all the published novels of A Song of Ice and Fire, those of ‘Game of Thrones‘ by George R.R. Martin. Although it is true that I did not get to read them all because I have been delving into other literary works, I wanted to do it with a compact device that would allow me to read anywhere. And when I say anywhere, I mean anywhere.

By this I mean that I enjoy reading on the train, on the terrace of a cafe and even in the pool. If there is something that has seemed essential to me, it is the water resistance from Rakuten Kobo. We don’t see it on the basic Kindle and over the years it has become an increasingly important feature to me. After all, they are devices that are oriented towards portability because you can carry thousands of books in a single reader.

There are also other functions that I find especially interesting, although these can also be found in Amazon eReaders. A good example is that of the audiobook playback. It is not something that I have used personally, but I do find it very practical to continue enjoying literature in certain scenarios, such as when driving.

Origami covers

It may seem silly, but when buying the Kobo Clara 2E I also did so thinking about the origami case that I also bought that same day (it is also available for the Kobo Clara Color / BW and for him Kobo Libra Color). It is a folding case that allows you to support the reader on a surface to act as a support. And I find it especially interesting for several reasons.

The first is that you can fold the case to better grip the reader. But above all, I found this cover practical because for some time now I have been using a treadmill next to a lift-up desk. Sometimes I watch a series on the computer, but other times I delve into reading. And I can do it without having to pick up the eReader; I put it on the table and that’s it.

Amazon support

What makes me not want to get into Kindle? While it is true that some eReaders seem very attractive to me (Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Edition mainly), news like that Amazon will stop supporting some of its models…they pull me very far back.

It’s not the end of the world, but eReaders are very durable devices. And the fact that the Kindle that you bought in 2011 continues to work as it did on the first day and that you lose access to the Amazon store through the reader… is not something that particularly attracts me.

Readers with color screen

The Kobo Clara 2E has its limitations when it comes to reading manga, and especially comics and magazines. In any case, the six-inch screen is fine for reading only text because it doesn’t matter if the page is cut, you will have a good experience. But of course, it can’t be cut into manga, comics or magazines.

That is why you either strain your eyes to read the text or the speech bubbles or you don’t even try. That’s why I’ve been thinking for a few weeks about the next eReader I’m going to buy, especially for reading at home, and I want it to have a color screen. Kobo or Kindle? Well, the price of their eReaders has made it quite clear to me.

I’m interested in the Kobo Libra Color (239 euros) because it is cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft or Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (299 euros), and It also has buttons. And this is very useful to avoid dirtying the screen. Here we also have alternatives to these two brands because PocketBooks also usually have a touch screen and keypad; In fact, if I didn’t want a color screen, this brand would have it on my radar because the prices of its eReaders are similar to those of Kindle and Rakuten Kobo.

Which one would you buy right now?

The Kobo Clara 2E has accompanied me through many adventures. I have had such a good experience and have delved into so many books since I bought it that to this day I cannot say that I regret buying it, quite the opposite.

With all this, if you are going to make the leap to digital format, the Kobo Clara BW It is the one I always recommend. If you are looking for something cheaper, the Basic Kindle or the Woxter Scriba 195 They are fine. And if you are looking for something better, the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kobo Libra Color.

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Images | Amazon, Rakuten Kobo

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