The Ultimate eReader Ecosystem: Kindle vs Kobo vs Boox (Review)
The first e-reader I ever got was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2022).
I bought it when I was living in South Korea because I really wanted to get back into reading without having to buy a bunch of physical books. If you’ve ever lived abroad—especially in a non-English-speaking country—you’ll understand that you can’t really accumulate books. They’re heavy, and when you leave, it’s just not practical (and it’s expensive!) to lug everything around with you.
Also, local libraries do have English books, but as they’re mostly in Korean (obviously), I just wanted something simple that would let me read again.
I’ve always loved reading. Ever since I was a kid, it’s been a habit of mine, and I thought that having an ereader would help me get back into it, so I decided to purchase the Kindle Paperwhite in 2022 while overseas.
Kindle Paperwhite — My Fiction & Bedside Reader
Interestingly, this Kindle Signature Paprewhite didn’t actually get me back into reading until about a year ago—around the time I left South Korea. I think it partially had to do with Kindle not having easy access to libraries/Libby/Overdrive, so it was not as easy to get books and therefore, it stumped my reading a bit.
However, that being said I really like this device for many reasons.
I love the form factor, I love that the screen is flush with the edges—it just feels very clean and crisp when reading. It’s also incredibly sturdy. When I first got it, I didn’t use a case or screen protector at all. I would take it to the beach, throw it in my beach bag and travel around with it—no protection whatsoever—and it’s completely fine. People say e-ink screens are fragile, but honestly, this one has survived all my chaos and shenanigans.
Now I do have a clear case with a bunch of stickers and little things I’ve saved from shopping and cafes, a blue vintage floral skin, and a little baguette situation. I’ve gotten a lot better at protecting my devices.
As mentioned above, one thing I didn’t realize when I bought it was that I wouldn’t be able to use my local library with it (outside the U.S.). That was a huge disappointment.
So now, I’ve repurposed it in a few ways; I use my Kindle for fiction reading through:
American library books (you can get a remote US library card membership or use an American friend’s card!)
Kindle Unlimited (if and when I feel like subscribing, for example when I’m off school for the summers)
I like keeping fiction separate from academic reading. My library feels less cluttered, mentally.
This Kindle device lives by my bedside, so it is not longer my travel e-reader unless I am headed to the beach or taking trips that require airplanes (it’s pretty sturdy, as mentioned above). It’s mostly my cozy, low-effort, “I’m under the blanket and don’t want to move” reader. I use it with my pink remote page turner.
Kobo Libra Colour — My Academic Reader
The next device I got is the Kobo Libra Colour.
I got this primarily for school since I am currently doing my Masters of Divinity. I needed something that could hold all my digital textbooks. While I can purchase my digital textbooks off of Kindle, I’d rather be putting my money towards Kobo. Also, Kobo Plus, which I’ll talk about more below, is amazing for having a wide variety and access to lots of historical, classic, and academic texts! It is a huge hack for me as a girl in academia and seminary. Also, the third benefit to getting a Kobo Libra Colour is that it gives me access to my local library, which Kindle does not. Using my Kobo, I can access books from my library through Libby/Overdrive. So while I try my best to use my Kindle for fiction reading, I do break my little separation rule and read fiction on my Kobo if a title I want is available from the Canadian library.
Also, at the time I purchased this device, Kobo also allowed multiple libraries on one device, which I loved (they’ve since removed that, which is sad and I hope they bring it back).
My biggest usage out of my Kobo is that it is my academic e-reader or my academic textbook. I mentioned that a lot of academic texts and my textbooks are available on Kobo Plus, and I get to build my separate non-fiction library away from Kindle. Also, I can annotate and highlight in colour on here, which is great for seminary and academia. There are so many academic and classical texts available there. I’ve found so many theology books, church fathers, reformers, and even authors like C.S. Lewis and John Lennox. It has saved me so much money on textbooks.
Digital textbooks can easily be $80–$100+, which is insane. So if I can get it through Kobo Plus, that’s a win.
To recap, I use it for:
Textbooks
Theology books
Classics
Buying digital e-books since I'd rather purchase on Kobo than Kindle
Kobo Plus
Canadian library access/Libby/Overdrive (mostly fiction that I can’t access on Kindle)
Anything I need to annotate
I do read fiction on here sometimes—but only if it’s from the library or Kobo Plus. Otherwise, I try to keep fiction on my Kindle.
Boox Go 6 — My “Everything” Device
I really went back and forth on this because I didn’t want to be someone with multiple e-readers. I could justify two (Kindle + Kobo, since both have very different ecosystems and usages), but this felt like a lot.
However, there was a gap that needed to be filled: As a student, I use Logos a lot, and I couldn’t access my Logos library easily unless I was on my iPad, computer, or phone—and I didn’t want to read heavy texts on those. Since neither Kobo or Kindle can let me access Logos, or my other reading apps, this was a big miss. Also, having an ereader that lets you access all the reading apps, including Kobo and Kindle together, would be ideal for travelling.
The Boox devices run on Android, which means I can use:
Logos
Kindle
Kobo
Libby
Basically any reading app
That’s the biggest advantage. I won’t lie that this device is slow, but it’s mostly slow on the navigation page. It is fine once you’re inside an app.
This is my:
On-the-go reader
Multi-platform reader
Purse device
It’s small, sleek, and fits easily with my traveller’s journal, which I love carrying with me.
Kobo Mini — The “I Just Think It’s Cute” Device
Then… I bought a Kobo Mini off Facebook Marketplace for like $20.
I’ll admit that I didn’t need it, but I just thought it was really cute. I enjoy having a piece of old tech that can get some more life out of it.
It’s tiny, it’s old (over a decade old), it has no backlight, and it’s honestly not the most comfortable device to use—but I still like it.
Right now, it doesn’t have a super clear purpose, which I don’t love because I prefer each device to have a role.
But I’m trying to use it in a way that distinguishes it from my Kobo Libra Colour, which means:
A simple fiction reader for when I do read fiction on my Kobo devices
A way to separate from my more “serious” reading devices where I do not need buttons or annotations
This lives by my bed, away from my study. Once I am done studying for the night, the idea is to leave all of my textbooks (including my digital textbook, aka the Kobo Libra Colour), and go to bed and wind down. It’s a clear way to separate studying and relaxation, but of course this sometimes only works in theory as a student!
Boox Palma — The Accidental Purchase
And finally… the Boox Palma.
I said I wasn’t going to get another e-reader. And then I saw this on Facebook Marketplace for a really good deal—with multiple cases and accessories—and I bought it.
This one is shaped like a phone, but it’s an e-ink device.
At first, I thought it overlapped too much with the Boox Go 6, but I actually found a really helpful use for it. When I’m at home, I have this habit of constantly picking up my phone—checking notifications, scrolling, doing nothing productive.
So now, I use this instead and try to fill all the moments where I’m simply passing time scrolling on my phone by switching my phone with the Boox instead. It basically replaces my phone in those in-between moments.
This would also be my ideal ereader when travelling, especially in places where walking and taking public transit is a must. So when I’m back in South Korea, this would totally be my go-to device on the subways or KTX/bullet trains!
Device Summary & Usage
Kindle Paperwhite
Fiction, Kindle Unlimited, U.S. libraries
Bedside, cozy reading
Most durable and simple
Kobo Libra Colour
Academic reading, textbooks, annotation
Kobo Plus + library access
My main “school” device
Boox Go 6
All reading apps (Kindle, Kobo, Logos, Libby)
On-the-go, purse device
Slower, but very flexible
Kobo Mini
Light fiction (still figuring it out)
Tiny, simple, minimal
More for fun than function (for now)
Boox Palma
Replacing phone scrolling
Quick reading throughout the day
Surprisingly useful for habits
If you made it this far, then thanks for reading. God bless 🤍
