Kobo vs Kindle vs PocketBook: which e-reader should you buy in 2026?
The e-reader market in Spain is limited to three major brands: Amazon Kindle, Rakuten Kobo and PocketBook. All three sell good devices. All three have loyal followings. But each is designed for a different type of reader. This comparison tells you which one is right for you, without any marketing hype, based on how and where you buy your books.
The question to ask before comparing models
Before looking at the specifications, answer this: Where are you going to buy your books?
- Available exclusively on Amazon or Kindle Unlimited → Kindle Paperwhite. No question about it.
- From individual digital bookshops, public libraries, or EPUB files from any source → PocketBook Era or Kobo.
- Do you want the device to be independent of the shop? → PocketBook comes out on top in terms of supported formats.
- You’re keen on a high-quality integrated shop, but not Amazon → Kobo (its own shop with an extensive catalogue).
The most common mistake is buying the e-reader first and then realising that it isn’t compatible with the way you actually buy books. Decide where you’ll get your books from before choosing your device.
A quick comparison: the three brands
| Feature | Amazon Kindle | Rakuten Kobo | PocketBook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated shop | Amazon (the best) | Kobo Store (very good) | Our own shop + free books |
| Open formats (EPUB) | ❌ Needs conversion | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (19 formats) |
| Public library (Adobe DRM) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Unlimited subscription | Kindle Unlimited (€9.99/month) | Kobo Plus (€9.99/month) | ❌ Not a native speaker |
| Audiobooks | Audio (Bluetooth) | Kobo Audiobooks | Bluetooth (various services) |
| A range of models | Spacious | Wide (including colour) | Media |
| Ticket price | from €99 | from €119 | from €99.99 |
| Availability in Tenerife | ✅ Macy’s Digital | ❌ Not sold | ✅ Macy’s Digital |
Amazon Kindle: the default choice
The Amazon Kindle is the world’s best-selling e-reader for one reason: the integration with the shop. You buy a book on Amazon and it appears on your Kindle in under 30 seconds. You request a sample, read the first chapter, and decide whether to buy it. You synchronise your reading position across your Kindle, mobile and tablet.
Models available at Macy’s Digital Tenerife
| Model | Price | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle 11th generation 16GB | from €99 | Casual reader, tight budget |
| Kindle Paperwhite 12th generation 16GB | 179€ | Balance. General recommendation |
| Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition | 229€ | Ad-free intensive reader |
The good thing
- Integrated Amazon shop. The best reading experience of any e-reader.
- Kindle Unlimited. €9.99 a month for unlimited access to millions of books. If you read more than one book a month, you’ll get your money’s worth.
- Audible. Audiobooks via Bluetooth, featuring the best selection in Spanish.
- Water resistance. The entire Paperwhite range is IPX8-rated (submersible to 2 metres for 60 minutes).
- Support and repairs. Amazon offers a reliable after-sales service in Spain.
The downside
- Amazon format only. EPUB files need to be converted using Calibre. If you buy from anywhere other than Amazon, you’ll have a bad experience.
- It does not read public library books with Adobe DRM. Spanish libraries (eBiblio, GreenLib) do not work on Kindle.
- Advertisements. Kindles with adverts display banners on the lock screen. You pay extra (~€50) to get rid of them.
- Closed ecosystem. Your books are hosted on Amazon. If Amazon decides to change the rules, your library is at their mercy.
Read the full Kindle Paperwhite review
Rakuten Kobo: the Kindle’s biggest rival
Kobo is the Canadian brand owned by Rakuten. It is the premium alternative to the Kindle: a well-designed in-house shop, support for open formats, integration with public libraries and colour models.
Main models (for reference only; not sold at Macy’s)
| Model | Approximate price | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Kobo Clara BW | 149€ | 6″ |
| Kobo Clara Colour | 169€ | 6″ (colour) |
| Kobo Libra Colour | 239€ | 7″ (colour, with physical buttons) |
| Kobo Elipsa 2E | 399€ | 10.3″ (with stylus) |
The good thing
- It supports EPUB natively. Uploads EPUBs without conversion.
- Suitable for a public library. Read books borrowed from eBiblio, GreenLib and other platforms.
- Integrated OverDrive. Request books from international public libraries directly from your device.
- Colour models. The Kobo Clara Colour and Libra Colour feature a colour e-ink display (Kaleido 3) for comics and illustrated books.
- Physical buttons on some models. The Kobo Libra and Sage have page-turn buttons – a real difference for anyone who experiences fatigue from repeatedly tapping the screen.
The downside
- A smaller retailer than Amazon. The catalogue is good, but it doesn’t quite measure up to Amazon’s, particularly in Spanish.
- Kobo Plus. An unlimited subscription is available, but the selection of Spanish-language titles is limited compared to Kindle Unlimited.
- Not available at Macy's Digital. If you’re shopping in Tenerife, you’ll have to order it from Amazon or another online shop and wait for it to be delivered.
- Slower after-sales support. In Spain, the official technical service network is limited.
The problem with buying a Kobo in Tenerife
Macys Digital Kobo does not sell. If you opt for this brand, you’ll have to buy it online and accept the delivery times, with no in-person support available. For many casual readers, this is reason enough to rule it out and choose a Kindle or PocketBook instead.
PocketBook: the open ecosystem
PocketBook is the Swiss/Ukrainian brand specialising in e-readers with maximum format compatibility. If you value independence from the manufacturer and the ability to read any file, PocketBook is the best choice.
Models available at Macy’s Digital Tenerife
| Model | Price at Macy’s | Size | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PocketBook Verse PB629 8GB | 99,99€ | 6″ | Casual reader or on a tight budget |
| PocketBook Era 7″ 16GB | 249€ | 7″ | A serious reader looking for an alternative to the Kindle |
The good thing
- 19 natively supported formats. EPUB, PDF, MOBI, DJVU, FB2, RTF, TXT and many more. You don’t need to convert anything.
- Compatible with Spanish public libraries. Read digital loans from eBiblio and GreenLib without any problems (Adobe DRM supported).
- Audiobooks via Bluetooth. Plug in your headphones and listen to audiobooks from various services.
- No adverts. No PocketBook displays adverts, regardless of the model.
- Access to free books. Integration with Project Gutenberg and public domain libraries.
- Robust design. The PocketBook Era has a well-built chassis and feels like a premium device.
The downside
- Limited integrated shop. PocketBook Cloud Reader works, but its catalogue is no match for Amazon or Kobo.
- Without an unlimited subscription. There is no equivalent to Kindle Unlimited.
- Less polished software. The interface works, but it isn’t as polished as the Kindle’s. There’s a slightly steeper learning curve.
- Fewer official accessories. A smaller selection of official cases and stands.
Which one’s right for you? — The decision guide
Buy a Kindle Paperwhite if:
- I mainly buy books on Amazon
- Are you interested in Kindle Unlimited (€9.99/month for unlimited access)?
- Do you want the best integrated shopping experience?
- You mainly read books in Spanish or English (Amazon’s strongest ranges)
- You’re not very tech-savvy and would rather it «just works» without you having to change anything
- You’re going to use Audible for audiobooks
Buy Kobo if:
- Buying EPUBs from Spanish online bookshops (Casa del Libro, FNAC ebooks)
- Would you like a colour screen for comics or illustrated books?
- Do you prefer physical buttons for turning pages (Kobo Libra)?
- Are you interested in the OverDrive ecosystem for international public lending?
- You’re willing to buy online because Macy’s doesn’t stock it
Buy the PocketBook Era if:
- It reads files in various formats (EPUB, PDF, mixed MOBI)
- You use the Spanish digital public library (eBiblio, GreenLib)
- Do you want complete independence from Amazon?
- You value a robust, well-built device
- Do adverts annoy you? (PocketBook doesn’t have any)
Buy the PocketBook Verse if:
- You’re on a tight budget (€99.99) but you want an open ecosystem
- Casual reading without needing a large screen
- Would you prefer an «alternative» Kindle without Amazon’s restrictions?
The honest choice for Tenerife
As Macy’s Digital does not sell Kobo, the real choice for anyone shopping on the island comes down to Kindle Paperwhite (€179) y PocketBook Era (€249) or the cheapest PocketBook Verse (€99.99).
General recommendation: If your books come from Amazon, go for the Kindle Paperwhite. If they come from anywhere else, go for the PocketBook Era. The €70 difference between the two is solely down to where your books come from, not the hardware specifications (both are excellent devices).
If you want to avoid spending more than €100, the PocketBook Verse for €99.99 The 80% meets the needs of the casual reader and supports all open formats. It offers the best value for money in the shop’s range.
The advantage of Tenerife
With e-readers, the savings on IGIC are negligible; these are products costing less than €250, where the difference between mainland VAT (21%) and Canary Islands IGIC (7%) isn’t worth the trip. But if you’re already on the island:
| Product | Price for mainland Spain | Price at Macy’s Tenerife |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle Paperwhite 16GB | ~169€ | 179€ |
| PocketBook Era 7″ 16GB | ~239€ | 249€ |
| PocketBook Verse PB629 | ~119€ | 99,99€ |
The PocketBook Verse a 99,99€ It is indeed considerably cheaper than on the mainland (€119).
For tourists from outside the EU (UK, Norway, Switzerland): buying the Kindle Paperwhite for €179 saves you €45 compared with the UK price, including VAT. The purchase falls well within the duty-free allowance of £390 / €430.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Amazon books on a Kobo or PocketBook?
Not directly. Amazon uses its own DRM-protected format. You’d have to remove the DRM (which is legally questionable depending on the jurisdiction) and convert it to EPUB using software such as Calibre. If your library is on Amazon, stick with the Kindle.
Can I read EPUB files on a Kindle?
Only after converting them to Kindle format (KFX/AZW3) using Calibre. The experience is so-so and you lose some of the original formatting. If you regularly buy EPUBs, Kobo or PocketBook are better options.
Which one has the best battery life?
All three brands offer battery life of several weeks with normal use. The 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite promises 12 weeks. The Kobo Clara, 8 weeks. The PocketBook Era, 6–8 weeks. The difference is negligible in real-world use.
Which one has the best screen?
All three use similar E Ink Carta displays. The real difference lies in the software and settings. The 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite has the best contrast in the range. The Kobo Clara Colour offers a colour display (at the expense of some sharpness in black and white). The PocketBook Era offers the largest screen in the range (7″).
Is the colour screen worth it?
For picture books, comics and manga, yes. For plain text, no — colour e-ink has lower resolution and contrast than black and white. If you only read novels, choose black and white. If you read comics, consider the Kobo Clara Colour or Libra Colour.
How do I upload books that I downloaded from outside the shop?
Connect the e-reader to your computer via USB-C. It will appear as an external drive. Copy the files to the «Books» folder or equivalent. On PocketBook, it works with any format. On Kobo, EPUB files can be used directly. On Kindle, EPUB files require prior conversion using Calibre.
What about the warranty if I buy it in Tenerife?
Macys Digital offers an official 2-year warranty (the statutory warranty in Spain) with its own after-sales service on the island. This is more convenient than Amazon Marketplace for making claims in person.
Verdict
All three brands are genuinely good. The choice depends on where do you buy your books?, not which device has the best specifications.
- Kindle Paperwhite if your library is hosted on Amazon → 9/10 for Amazon users
- Kobo if you buy EPUBs and use a public library → 9/10 but it requires buying outside Tenerife
- PocketBook Era if you want an open ecosystem and maximum compatibility → 8/10 in stock locally
- PocketBook Verse if you want a cheap, open ecosystem → 8/10 best price in Tenerife
Kindle Paperwhite, PocketBook Era and PocketBook Verse are available at Macy’s Digital, at the Parque Santiago 3 shopping centre (Playa de las Américas, Tenerife). For more details on the Kindle Paperwhite, read the full review. For a comprehensive guide to tablets and e-readers, see our Guide to the best value-for-money tablets in 2026.