Should I buy a used Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Clara Colour?

Choosing between a used Kindle Paperwhite and a Kobo Clara Colour mostly comes down to whether you want a sharper black-and-white reading experience and lower used pricing, or color plus more library-friendly flexibility.

Buy the Kobo Clara Colour if:

• You want color: its color E Ink display is useful for book covers, comics, charts, and colorful highlights.
• You use public libraries a lot: Kobo is generally a strong choice for library borrowing and for people who prefer a less Amazon-centric ecosystem.
• You want more format flexibility: Kobo tends to be friendlier with EPUB and other non-Amazon files.

Buy a used Kindle Paperwhite if:

• You want the best black-and-white reading experience: Paperwhite screens usually have strong contrast and a clean look for text.
• You want a larger screen: newer 11th-gen Paperwhites have a 6.8-inch display.
• You want the cheapest route: a used Paperwhite often costs less than a new Kobo Clara Colour while still being a very solid reader.

My quick take:

• Pick the Kobo Clara Colour if color and library use matter most.
• Pick the used Kindle Paperwhite if you mainly read text and want the better-value deal.

When buying used, check the Paperwhite’s generation, battery health, and overall condition, since these can vary a lot.