Amazon continues to dominate the e-reader market despite growing competition from Kobo and other manufacturers offering superior features. With Black Friday sales starting early, consumers now have more compelling alternatives to Kindle's ecosystem, especially as color e-ink technology matures and note-taking capabilities become standard across premium devices.
The e-reader landscape is shifting as Amazon fights to maintain its grip on digital reading. While the company's 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite remains the go-to choice for most readers at $159.99, competitors are pushing boundaries with features Amazon has been slow to adopt.
Kobo is leading the charge with its Libra Colour, delivering what many consider the best digital reading experience available. The $229.99 device combines E Ink's latest Kaledio color screen technology with physical page-turning buttons and built-in stylus support – features conspicuously absent from Amazon's mainstream lineup.
"The Libra Colour doesn't have the lockscreen ads on the base Paperwhite and packs physical page-turning buttons, which feel more intuitive to use than tapping either side of the display," according to testing by The Verge. The device also supports EPUB files natively, something Amazon continues to resist in favor of its proprietary formats.
But Amazon isn't standing still. The company recently announced three new versions of its Kindle Scribe, including a $629.99 color model that features an 11-inch display and AI-powered search capabilities. The move signals Amazon's commitment to the premium note-taking segment, where it faces increasing pressure from devices like the Kobo Elipsa 2E.
The budget segment tells a different story entirely. Amazon's base Kindle at $109.99 remains unbeatable for basic reading needs, offering a 300ppi display that outperforms most competitors in its price range. The device's compact 6-inch form factor makes it the most pocketable option available, though users sacrifice waterproofing and adjustable color temperature.
Color e-ink technology is becoming the new battleground. While Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition commands $279.99, it lacks the versatility of competing devices. Kobo's color offerings integrate seamlessly with library systems through Overdrive support and recently replaced Pocket integration with Instapaper for offline article reading.
