Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
7″ · 300 ppi · 12-week battery
Kobo Elipsa 2E
2023
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) lands at 92 and Kobo Elipsa 2E at 82. That puts Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) ahead by 10 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) if…
- ✓Snappiest Kindle yet
- ✓Larger 7″ display
- ✓IPX8 water resistance
Pick Kobo Elipsa 2E if…
- ✓Weeks of battery life
- ✓Glare-free E Ink
- ✓Lightweight
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testBattery
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)Compared on the battery sub-score
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) leads on battery (96 vs 94).
Display
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)Compared on the display sub-score
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) leads on display (94 vs 82).
Speed
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)Compared on the speed sub-score
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) leads on speed (92 vs 82).
Value for money
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) more score per dollar ($159 vs $399).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) | Kobo Elipsa 2E |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7″ E Ink, 300 ppi | — |
| Storage | 16 GB | — |
| Battery | 12 weeks | — |
| Water | IPX8 | — |
| Release year | — | 2023 |
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
- +Snappiest Kindle yet
- +Larger 7″ display
- +IPX8 water resistance
- −Still Amazon walled garden
- −No buttons
- −Lockscreen ads unless paid off
Kobo Elipsa 2E
- +Weeks of battery life
- +Glare-free E Ink
- +Lightweight
- −Slow refresh vs LCD
- −Ecosystem lock-in
- −Color E Ink muted
FAQ: Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) vs Kobo Elipsa 2E
Which is better, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) or Kobo Elipsa 2E? +
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 10. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) worth the price? +
At $159, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in battery.
Is Kobo Elipsa 2E worth the price? +
At $399, Kobo Elipsa 2E delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in battery.
Does Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) or Kobo Elipsa 2E last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for battery, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) or Kobo Elipsa 2E? +
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) — leads on battery (96 vs 94). Compared on the battery sub-score.
Which is better for display, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) or Kobo Elipsa 2E? +
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) — leads on display (94 vs 82). Compared on the display sub-score.