What decides how long an e-reader lasts?
Whether you can fix it. We don't have repair records for e-readers, so we can't tell you how often they get fixed or how old they are when they break. What we can tell you is which ones the maker lets you repair, and with what.
The battery is the part to watch. Every e-reader runs on one, and every rechargeable battery wears out with use.
Kobo and Amazon now plan for that. Kobo sells genuine batteries, screens, motherboards and covers for three of its e-readers. And Amazon's 2026 base Kindle has a back panel that opens for a battery swap.
Open Repair Data, the repair records behind our other guides, doesn't separate e-readers from other devices, so this guide relies on what makers and repairers publish.
Which e-reader brands can you repair?
Kobo, with official parts. Kobo says its Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW are designed to be repaired, and it authorizes repairs to the screen, battery, motherboard and covers. The parts are genuine Kobo parts sold through iFixit, with step-by-step guides, and they've been on sale since September 2024.
Kindle, starting with the 2026 base model. Amazon's listing says its back panel opens for a quick battery swap. That's confirmed for the base Kindle, but we haven't found confirmation for the new Paperwhite and Colorsoft, which came out on October 28.
What we looked at
We judged each e-reader on four things:
The battery. Can you get to it and replace it without wrecking the e-reader?
Parts you can buy. Does the maker sell the battery, screen and other parts, and at what price?
Build. Waterproofing, and page-turn buttons.
Maker support. What the maker promises on software updates, and whether it lets you repair the device yourself.
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Which e-readers last?
Kobo Libra Colour. Best for Longevity - Durability: 7/10 · Parts: sold by Kobo through iFixit - Price: ~$290 · Check price on Amazon
The e-reader to buy if you want to keep it. Kobo sells its battery, screen, motherboard and covers, so a dead battery, cracked screen or failed board has a genuine replacement. It has a 7-inch colour screen, page-turn buttons, IPX8 waterproofing and works with Kobo's stylus.
Trade-offs: The parts aren't cheap. A genuine battery is $69.99 USD and a screen $139.99 USD from iFixit, so in the US a cracked screen costs about half what a new Libra Colour does. Kobo says self-repair is for devices out of warranty, so use the warranty first.
Kobo Clara BW. Best Budget Kobo - Durability: 7/10 · Parts: sold by Kobo through iFixit - Price: ~$180 · Check price on Amazon
The same repair program in a smaller, cheaper e-reader. A 6-inch black-and-white E Ink screen with IPX8 waterproofing, and a genuine battery from iFixit for $64.99 to $69.99 USD, depending on the model number.
Trade-offs: No colour and a smaller screen. A new screen is $104.99 USD, most of what the e-reader costs.
Kindle (2026). If You Read on Kindle - Durability: 6/10 · Battery: user-replaceable - Price: ~$200 · Check price on Amazon
A Kindle you can keep going. Amazon's listing says the back panel opens for a quick battery swap. On the plastic models the back comes off without removing any screws, and four Phillips screws hold the battery in. Amazon says up to 6 weeks per charge, and promises software updates for at least four years from when you buy it new.
Trade-offs: It isn't waterproof, and we couldn't find a replacement battery on sale yet.
The new Paperwhite and Colorsoft are waterproof, but we haven't found confirmation that their batteries come out the same way. We'll add them once someone opens one.
Our top picks are side by side on DurableFinds.
Durability scores are our editorial ratings, not measurements.
What should you look for when shopping?
A battery you can replace. It's the part every e-reader wears out. Check that the maker says you can swap it, and that you can buy one.
Parts for the exact model. Kobo's genuine parts are for the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW. Kobo says its other models aren't designed to have replaceable parts.
Waterproofing if you read in the bath or at the beach. The Kobos here are rated IPX8. The 2026 base Kindle isn't waterproof.
The update promise. Amazon promises Kindle software updates for at least four years from when you buy one new.
Before you replace one, check what broke. If it's the battery on one of these Kobos, a genuine battery is $64.99 to $69.99 USD from iFixit, a fraction of a new e-reader.
Explore Further
Dig deeper into e-reader repair and replacement decisions:
- E-reader repair guide. What repairs cost and which models are worth fixing
- Should you repair or replace your e-reader?. Category-level repair cost estimates and when replacement makes sense
- Genuine Kobo parts on iFixit. Batteries, screens and boards for the Libra Colour, Clara Colour and Clara BW