Kobo Clara BW vs Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)
Kobo Clara BW (#2, best value) vs Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) (#3, best budget): in our E-Readers for Kids scoring the Kobo Clara BW totals 7.6/10 and the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) 7.5/10. At $159.99 versus $129.99, the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) costs $30 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Kobo Clara BW | Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 | $129.99 |
| Display | 6" glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD, 300 ppi | 6" glare-free E Ink, 300 ppi, adjustable front light |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 6 weeks |
| Water Resistance | IPX8 waterproof | None |
| Weight | 174g | 158g |
| Includes | USB-C cable (no cover included) | Protective case, 6 months Amazon Kids+, 2-year warranty |
How they differ in real use
Built from our e readers for kids scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Kobo Clara BW and the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) made our Top 5 E-Readers for Kids, at #2 (best value) and #3 (best budget). Skips the ongoing subscription entirely—built-in OverDrive/Libby support borrows real library ebooks for free, making it the strongest long-term value for families with an active library card, even without a dedicated kids' interface. Identical 300 ppi display and Kids+ ecosystem as the pricier Kindles at the lowest price on this list; the tradeoffs are no waterproofing and roughly half the battery life of the Paperwhite Kids.
We score e-readers for kids on Parental Controls (30%), Durability (25%), Content & Library Access (20%), Battery Life (15%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Kobo Clara BW totals 7.6 out of 10 and the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) 7.5. The widest gap is Parental Controls, where the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) scores 8.6 against 5 for the Kobo Clara BW — screen-time limits, content filtering, dashboards. Durability also separates them: 8 for the Kobo Clara BW versus 5.8 for the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB). The Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display — 6" glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD, 300 ppi on the Kobo Clara BW versus 6" glare-free E Ink, 300 ppi, adjustable front light on the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB); Water Resistance — IPX8 waterproof on the Kobo Clara BW versus None on the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB); Weight — 174g on the Kobo Clara BW versus 158g on the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB); Includes — USB-C cable (no cover included) on the Kobo Clara BW versus Protective case, 6 months Amazon Kids+, 2-year warranty on the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB). They match on Storage and Battery Life.
Pricing as of July 15, 2026: $159.99 for the Kobo Clara BW and $129.99 for the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB), a $30 difference in the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)'s favor. Owners praise the Kobo Clara BW for built-in OverDrive/Libby support borrows real library ebooks for free, no subscription needed and crisp E Ink Carta 1300 HD display with dark mode option; the most common complaint is no dedicated kids mode, parental controls, or content filtering—parents must manage what's downloaded manually. Owners praise the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) for lowest price of any e-reader on this list at $129.99 and 300 ppi display with adjustable front light and dark mode, as bright as the Paperwhite; the most common complaint is not waterproof, unlike the Paperwhite Kids and both Kobo picks.
Kobo Clara BW
- Built-in OverDrive/Libby support borrows real library ebooks for free, no subscription needed
- Crisp E Ink Carta 1300 HD display with dark mode option
- Fully waterproof (IPX8) for up to 60 minutes
- Open ePub support reads library books and school-assigned titles without conversion
- No dedicated kids mode, parental controls, or content filtering—parents must manage what's downloaded manually
- 6" screen is smaller than the Paperwhite Kids' 7"
Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)
- Lowest price of any e-reader on this list at $129.99
- 300 ppi display with adjustable front light and dark mode, as bright as the Paperwhite
- Amazon Kids+ (6 months included) gives access to thousands of ad-free books
- Compact, lightweight design suits smaller hands
- Not waterproof, unlike the Paperwhite Kids and both Kobo picks
- Up to 6 weeks of battery life, half the Paperwhite Kids' rating
Which should you buy?
The Kobo Clara BW is the better fit for families with a public library card who want free books and parents who don't want an ongoing content subscription — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Durability and Content & Library Access. The Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) is the better fit for budget-conscious families and first e-reader for younger kids, and the stronger choice if Parental Controls and Value matter more to you than the overall score. If the $30 saving matters more than Parental Controls, the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) is the better value. The Kobo Clara BW is a poor fit for parents wanting built-in content filtering or screen-time controls; the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) is a poor fit for kids who read near pools, baths, or beaches.
Choose the Kobo Clara BW if
- Families with a public library card who want free books
- Parents who don't want an ongoing content subscription
- Kids who already have school or library ebook accounts
Skip it if
- Parents wanting built-in content filtering or screen-time controls
- Younger kids who need a dedicated kids' interface
Choose the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) if
- Budget-conscious families
- First e-reader for younger kids
- Households that already trust the Kids+ ecosystem
Skip it if
- Kids who read near pools, baths, or beaches
- Families wanting the longest possible battery life
Common questions
Is the Kobo Clara BW better than the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)?
In our E-Readers for Kids ranking the Kobo Clara BW scores higher overall, 7.6 to 7.5, with the biggest advantage in Parental Controls. The Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB) is stronger on Parental Controls and Value, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Kobo Clara BW cost than the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)?
$30 more as of July 15, 2026: $159.99 for the Kobo Clara BW against $129.99 for the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB). Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Parental Controls — 8.6 versus 5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Kobo Clara BW and the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB)?
The headline spec difference is Display: 6" glare-free E Ink Carta 1300 HD, 300 ppi on the Kobo Clara BW versus 6" glare-free E Ink, 300 ppi, adjustable front light on the Amazon Kindle Kids (2024, 16GB). In use, the gap that matters most is Parental Controls (5 vs 8.6 in our scoring): screen-time limits, content filtering, dashboards.