Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) vs Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O

Both devices use a 1264 × 1680 pixel panel, so one screensaver image fits both without re-cropping. Both panels run at 300 ppi.

This is the cross-brand comparison people actually make, and the panel is the least interesting part of it — both devices use exactly the same 7-inch 300 ppi screen, bought from the same supplier. What separates them is what each manufacturer lets you do with it.

Specifications Side by Side

Screen specifications for the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and the Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O
Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O
Screensaver size1264 × 1680 px1264 × 1680 px
Screen size7-inch7-inch
Pixel density300 ppi300 ppi
Aspect ratio1:1.331:1.33
PanelGreyscale e-inkGreyscale e-ink
ManufacturerAmazonRakuten Kobo

The bottom line: One image file fits both devices. Getting it onto them is where they diverge completely: the Kobo reads images straight from a folder you create, with no conversion and no account, while the Kindle has no screensaver setting at all and needs the image wrapped in an EPUB as a book cover. If custom lock screens are the deciding factor in a purchase, this is the difference that matters.

Choosing an Image for Each

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)

The 12th generation grew to a 7-inch panel, so an image sized for an 11th-generation Paperwhite will not fill it correctly. Check which generation you own before exporting.

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) screensaver size →

Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O

The Libra has an asymmetric bezel with page-turn buttons on one side. Centre your subject rather than aligning it to that edge, and it will read correctly however you hold the device.

Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O screensaver size →

Setting a Screensaver: Two Different Processes

This is where the two devices separate most sharply. The image file may or may not be shared, but the route onto the device is not.

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)

Kindle has no official custom screensaver setting. The standard non-jailbreak workaround is to turn your image into an EPUB whose cover is that image, send it to the device, and let the lock screen show the current book's cover. The cover setting is hidden entirely on ad-supported Kindles, so ads have to be removed from the device first.

  1. Resize the image. Size the image to your Kindle's exact screen resolution using the resizer above, then download it.
  2. Convert it to an EPUB cover. Use Calibre or an image-to-EPUB converter to build an EPUB whose cover image is the file you just downloaded.
  3. Send it to your Kindle. Email the EPUB to your Send to Kindle address, or upload it through the Send to Kindle web page.
  4. Turn on the cover setting. On the Kindle, open Settings > Device Options and enable the setting that shows the current book's cover on the lock screen. Depending on firmware it is labelled Show Cover or Display Cover, and it does not appear at all on ad-supported devices.
  5. Open the book and sleep the device. Sync, open the new EPUB so it becomes the current book, then put the Kindle to sleep. The lock screen shows your image.

Full Kindle screensaver guide →

Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O

Kobo reads sleep-screen images from a folder you create yourself. Put your resized images in a folder named exactly `screensaver` inside the hidden `.kobo` folder, then enable the two sleep-screen settings.

  1. Resize the image. Size the image to your Kobo's exact screen resolution using the resizer above, then download it.
  2. Connect the Kobo by USB. Plug the Kobo into your computer and tap Connect on the prompt that appears on the device.
  3. Create the screensaver folder. Open the hidden .kobo folder on the Kobo drive and create a folder named exactly `screensaver`, all lowercase. On Windows enable Show hidden files; on macOS press Command + Shift + period in Finder.
  4. Copy your images across. Copy the resized images into .kobo/screensaver, then safely eject the Kobo.
  5. Enable the sleep-screen settings. On the Kobo, open Settings > Energy saving and privacy and enable both "Show current read" and "Show book covers full screen".

Full Kobo screensaver guide →

Kindle PW (12th Gen) vs Kobo Libra 2 / H2O FAQ

Do the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O use the same screensaver size?
Both the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and the Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O use a 1264 x 1680 pixel panel, so one screensaver image fits both without re-cropping.
Which has the sharper screen?
Neither — both panels run at 300 ppi, so fine detail reproduces identically on the two devices. The 7-inch and 7-inch screens differ in physical size, but the density is matched.
Is the setup process different?
Yes, completely. Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen): Kindle has no official custom screensaver setting. The standard non-jailbreak workaround is to turn your image into an EPUB whose cover is that image, send it to the device, and let the lock screen show the current book's cover. The cover setting is hidden entirely on ad-supported Kindles, so ads have to be removed from the device first. Kobo Libra 2 / Libra H2O: Kobo reads sleep-screen images from a folder you create yourself. Put your resized images in a folder named exactly `screensaver` inside the hidden `.kobo` folder, then enable the two sleep-screen settings.
Which should I size for if I own both?
One file covers both. Export at 1264 x 1680 and use the same image on each device — there is no reason to keep two versions.

Related Comparisons

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