While your smartphone can also hold a vast collection of literature, an e-reader device allows you to fit a *Beauty and the Beast*-sized library in your pocket. These dedicated devices offer a more print-like reading experience, providing reduced interruptions and diminished visual fatigue. Many also incorporate additional functionalities, such as customizable screen illumination. Some models are truly portable, others boast water resistance or include tactile page navigation controls, and a select few even permit annotation.
Having utilized e-readers for over a decade, I have personally tested numerous models, ranging from the Kindle Paperwhite to lesser-recognized competitors like the PocketBook Era. Whether you’re seeking a rugged option suitable for children or a waterproof Kindle with a warm-light feature that won’t disrupt your tranquil spa environment, this compilation presents the optimal e-readers for every individual.
$160
The Advantages
- Boasts the most appealing display among e-readers
- Features a marginally expanded screen while maintaining a similar device footprint
- Enjoys quicker page transitions, swifter content loading, and a more reactive user interface
- Introduces a touch of vibrancy (without being a color screen)
The Disadvantages
- Improvements are not as substantial compared to the previous Paperwhite model
- Does not include stylus functionality or physical page navigation buttons
- The Signature Edition’s wireless charging can be cumbersome due to the absence of magnets
- The rear panel of the Signature Edition offers reduced tactile grip
Measurements:7 x 5 x .3 inches /Mass:211 grams /Display size and clarity:7-inch screen, 300ppi resolution /Internal capacity:16GB /Additional capabilities:IPX8 water resistance, Bluetooth audio support
For those who primarily acquire digital books from Amazon, a Kindle is the preferred choice, with the 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite standing out as the optimal selection for the majority of users. It is $70 more affordable than the Kobo Libra Colour — my preferred alternative e-reader not from Amazon — yet incorporates many comparable attributes, including an ample 7-inch 300ppi display with excellent contrast fidelity. In contrast to Amazon’s basic model Kindle, it also features IPX8 water resistance and an adjustable warm frontlight that mitigates blue light emissions, which can disrupt melatonin synthesis. The $199.99 Signature Edition Paperwhite additionally enables wireless charging, an uncommon functionality in an e-reader.
Given Amazon’s command of a significant share of the US digital book market, Kindle owners benefit from perks that users of other e-readers lack. A substantial portion of Amazon’s device sales approach relies upon providing steep price reductions to attract consumers to its digital media environment. If you possess a Prime membership and frequently purchase numerous Kindle ebooks, the Paperwhite represents the optimal selection because its digital books and audiobooks are frequently discounted on Amazon, and Prime members receive additional complimentary material through Prime Reading. Competitors like Kobo also provide promotional offers, yet it is challenging for them to match Amazon’s significant discounts.
However, there are certain drawbacks. The Paperwhite features advertisements on the lock screen unless a $20 fee is remitted for their removal, and its dimensions can render one-handed reading somewhat awkward. More crucially, like all Kindles, it employs an exclusive file type and lacks inherent compatibility with EPUB, the universal format utilized by the majority of alternative digital bookstores. If you frequently purchase from Kobo’s bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or Google Play Books, you will need to reformat and migrate file formats for consumption on a Kindle. Nevertheless, if you primarily remain within the Amazon ecosystem, you will be quite content with the Paperwhite.
Access our comprehensive evaluation of the Kindle Paperwhite.
The premier e-reader outside of the Amazon ecosystem
$230
Advantages
- Pleasing color display featuring crisp, 300ppi monochrome definition
- Tactile page navigation controls
- Integrated support for a stylus
- Works well with Overdrive
Disadvantages
- Transferring content from alternative digital storefronts to the gadget may prove difficult
- Higher price point compared to the Kindle Paperwhite
- Does not offer the same vividness as competing color e-readers
- Absence of wireless power replenishment
Measurements:5.69 x 6.34 x 0.33 inches /Mass:199.5 grams /Display dimensions and clarity:7-inch screen, 300ppi (black-and-white), 150ppi (color) /Capacity:32GB /Additional functionalities:Tactile page navigation buttons, water resistance, Kobo Stylus 2 compatibility, Bluetooth sound capability
For individuals situated beyond the United States or those disinclined to integrate with Amazon’s digital environment, the Kobo Libra Colour presents an excellent substitute for Amazon’s e-book devices. Numerous prominent capabilities present in the 12th-generation Paperwhite, such as water resistance, USB-C connectivity, and a 300ppi screen, are provided by this device, alongside several additional advantages. Its most remarkable attribute is the incorporation of E Ink’s cutting-edge Kaleido color technology, which renders subtle, pastel-esque shades that nonetheless remain prominent under bright sun. Although the definition decreases to 150ppi for color display, it nonetheless enhances the enjoyment of diverse content, despite visuals not matching the intensity of a conventional tablet or the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition.
In contrast to Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, the Libra Colour is also compatible with a digital pen (acquired separately), facilitating multi-color highlighting, book annotations, and utilization of Kobo’s built-in note-taking features. Furthermore, it incorporates several sophisticated functionalities from the Kobo Elipsa 2E, such as converting handwritten input to text and solving mathematical problems, thereby enabling its use as a compact digital jotter. The device additionally features tactile page navigation controls, is devoid of lockscreen advertisements, accommodates a broader array of file types (including EPUB), and simplifies the process of borrowing from OverDrive digital collections. A recent software enhancement even extends compatibility to Instapaper, allowing users to store essays, weblog entries, and diverse materials for access without an internet connection.
Nonetheless, priced at $229.99, the Libra Colour carries a $70 premium over the base-model Paperwhite – a figure that excludes Kobo’s $69.99 digital pen, essential for executing specific functions. This disparity grows significantly when the Paperwhite is discounted, an occurrence that happens with greater regularity. Moreover, the Libra Colour does not readily permit entry to Amazon’s electronic book collection; consequently, veteran Kindle patrons might necessitate external utilities to transform their acquired titles. Nevertheless, should these aspects be inconsequential or inapplicable to you, the Libra Colour delivers the most adaptable and pleasurable reading encounter among all e-readers featured here. It persists as my preferred choice.
Access our complete Kobo Libra Colour critique.
The most economical electronic book device
$110
Advantages
- Superb, high-definition screen
- Simple to grasp single-handedly
- Quicker than the prior model, boasting enhanced battery endurance
- Pleasing aesthetic color choices
Disadvantages
- Absence of water resistance
- Does not feature adaptable color warmth
- Marginally higher in cost than the previous iteration
Measurements:6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches /Mass:158 grams /Display dimensions and clarity: 6-inch screen, 300ppi resolution
Measurements:7.6 x 8.94 x 0.30 inches /Mass:390 grams /Display size and clarity: 10.3-inches, 227ppi resolution /Capacity:32GB /Additional functionalities:Handwriting to text conversion, magnetic stylus, Bluetooth audio support
Among the various large e-readers I have evaluated, the Kobo Elipsa 2E proved to be the most remarkable, owing to its competence as an e-reader coupled with robust annotation capabilities. Direct inscription onto pages is possible, mirroring the experience of a traditional volume. While the Kindle Scribe also permits book page annotation, its method is intricate, utilizing adjustable text boxes that disrupt page layout and hinder simple actions such as encircling terms. Conversely, jotting down notes on the Elipsa 2E seems considerably more instinctive and organic.
The Elipsa 2E provides additional beneficial annotation instruments and functions. Similar to the Kobo Libra Colour, it can, for instance, resolve mathematical equations on your behalf. Users can also embed diagrams and sketches, which the device will automatically refine into a more polished and appealing appearance. Furthermore, one can synchronize annotations with Dropbox, access them online, and transform handwritten script into digital text. The Kindle Scribe also includes this conversion feature, but once more, Kobo executes it with greater speed and efficiency directly within the primary notebook document, rather than on a distinct page. The sole omission from the Elipsa 2E is the Scribe’s capacity to summarize notes; however, this is a compromise I find acceptable considering the significantly simplified process of creating annotations.
Beyond its note-taking functionalities, the Kobo Elipsa 2E serves as a commendable e-reader, presenting the familiar advantages and disadvantages found in other Kobo gadgets. It accommodates a vast array of file types; however, perusing Kindle books necessitates prior conversion. Furthermore, its 227ppi screen is marginally less defined than the 300ppi display present in the Kindle Scribe and Kobo Libra Colour. Nevertheless, the 10.3-inch display somewhat compensates, making text more readily legible and thus not a significant disadvantage. Additionally, the Elipsa 2E incorporates a customizable warm illumination for reading after dark. This is a characteristic absent in competing e-readers that boast more sophisticated note-taking functions, such as the $409.99 Onyx Boox Go 10.3, which permits the embedding of links within notes.
Alternative E-book Devices We Evaluated
A few other e-book devices, which my associates and I put through their paces, were not highlighted previously but still merit mention. The most prominent among them are:
Kindle Colorsoft Signature Model
The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition marks the inaugural Kindle to incorporate E Ink’s color display technology, distinguishing itself from other color e-paper gadgets through its customizable aspects. It provides heightened contrast, richer hues, and quicker display updates. Priced at $279.99, this model is presently the priciest Kindle variant on the market that lacks stylus compatibility for annotations, yet it encompasses upscale functionalities such as cordless power replenishment. While these are handy, they aren’t truly essential for a gadget boasting several months of power autonomy. Should a color display be desired and loyalty to Amazon preferred, the Colorsoft Signature represents the premier choice.– Andrew Liszewski, Senior Reporter
Lately, Amazon launched the Kindle Colorsoft, a more budget-friendly substitute for the $279.99 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. This variant is $30 less expensive, providing an almost identical reading sensation, yet it omits wireless charging and provides merely 16GB of memory. While this capacity is ample for electronic books, it could prove insufficient for those possessing numerous graphic novels. The base-model Kindle Colorsoft additionally incorporates Amazon’s novel “Send to Alexa Plus” capability, enabling users to forward notes or files to Amazon’s Alexa Plus digital helper for abstracts, task lists, notifications, or ideation. Following a day of evaluation, I generally perceived it as beneficial, though it occasionally lacked subtlety.
For myself, an avid nocturnal reader, the primary disadvantage is the absence of an automatically adapting front illumination, a feature that significantly simplifies reading in the dark (nevertheless, its luminosity and chromatic warmth are capable of manual modification). Considering that the Colorsoft Signature Edition is only $30 more, offering a front light that adapts to diminishing room light, 32GB of memory, and cordless power, I would personally select that option if integrated into Amazon’s environment. Unless the conventional Colorsoft is offered at a reduced price, its regular cost does not represent excellent worth.
For those seeking an alternative not tied to Amazon, and more economically priced than the Kobo Libra Colour, the Kobo Clara Colour — which succeeds the Kobo Clara 2E — merits consideration. Priced at $159.99, this advertisement-free e-reader surpasses the cost of the Kobo Clara 2E, yet in my opinion, the additional $10 is justified. It maintains the identical six-inch screen and IPX8 water-resistant build, but this e-reader now incorporates color. Moreover, it operates discernibly quicker — a welcome improvement, given that the intermittent sluggishness of the Clara 2E occasionally irritated me. While you forgo the Clara Colour’s tactile buttons or digital pen compatibility, this represents an equitable compromise at its current valuation.
The previous year, the manufacturer additionally unveiled a white variant at an identical cost, which boasts a marginally more capacious 1,900mAh power cell (an increase from the 1,500mAh in the black iteration). Kobo states this can sustain operation for more than a month on one full replenishment.
During 2023, Barnes and Noble launched the Nook Glowlight 4 Plus. Should you possess numerous electronic texts from Barnes and Noble, this model might serve as a viable substitute for a Kindle. Otherwise, my suggestion would remain the Kobo Libra Colour for all others. The $199.99 Nook Glowlight 4 Plus presents itself as a competent e-reader offering a wealth of features, such as an appealing 300ppi display, water resistance, tactile page-advancing controls, and even an audio jack. Nevertheless, its responsiveness is inadequate, rendering setup, purchasing literature directly from the unit, and traversing its menu system a protracted process. Compounding the issue, the display occasionally locked up, compelling me to reboot the device mid-read.
Notwithstanding the numerous benefits of E Ink display advancements, your cellular phone likely remains a handier apparatus for perusing texts, owing to its portability. The Boox Palma 2, an E Ink gadget akin to a smartphone in size, slides into a pocket with equal ease, yet it offers broader functionalities than a mere e-reader. Its 6.3-inch E Ink screen excels for engrossing in literature, and the $299.99 Palma 2 additionally operates on Android 13, thus enabling the installation of utility applications such as electronic mail and instant messaging — provided, naturally, that wireless internet access is available, as this compact e-reader does not feature mobile data support. If the initial Palma is already owned, upgrading to the subsequent model is not advisable. However, for those seeking a more diminutive substitute for Kindles and Kobos, the Palma
2 might justify the expense.– Andrew Liszewski, Senior Reporter
The $409.99 Onyx Boox Go 10.3 represents an additional advertisement-free e-reader that facilitates note-taking. Its performance as a note-capture tool is outstanding, and it furnishes a remarkably extensive selection of drafting instruments and a greater number of integrated journal layouts compared to Kobo’s Elipsa 2E. The act of penning remarks within its integrated notebook closely mimicked the sensation of writing on physical paper, and its slender form factor gives the gadget the impression of a conventional journal. Similar to all other Boox gadgets, it also grants immediate entry to the Google Play Store, enabling the acquisition of various reading applications — such as Kindle and Kobo software. Furthermore, the tablet’s vivid 300ppi screen surpasses the clarity of the Kobo Elipsa 2E’s display, an undeniable advantage.
Nevertheless, in contrast to the user-friendly Elipsa 2E, the Go 10.3 does not feature a front illumination and presents a more challenging initial user experience. Observations recorded on a Kindle or Kobo gadget are incompatible for transfer (and the reverse is also true), and additionally, marking up texts within those applications using the Boox is not possible. I also perceived that Google Play access carries both benefits and drawbacks, since it offers straightforward entry to diverting applications, including games, media streaming platforms, and TikTok. The latter is excessively sluggish to operate, yet it proves sufficiently responsive and pleasant that I frequently indulged in the Word Search application. From my individual perspective, my e-reader must be entirely free from such diversions — it constitutes a primary differentiator from a tablet, fundamentally. However, should your discipline exceed mine, the Go 10.3 might warrant consideration.
During April, Boox unveiled the Go Color 7 Gen II, priced at $279.99. This water-repellent e-reader features a 300ppi screen, which reduces to 150ppi when rendering chromatic material, similar to its Kobo and Kindle competitors. Yet, akin to the Kobo Libra Colour, this advertisement-free version provides tactile page-advancement controls and facilitates annotation. No digital pen is provided, thus, an additional expenditure of $45.99 for Boox’s pressure-responsive InkSense pen is required for note capture. Furthermore, consistent with other Boox units, it operates on the Android platform, thereby granting entry to a broad selection of applications and digital bookshops via the Google Play Store.
Although I valued the convenience of not having to manually transfer my Kindle and Kobo collections, and the enhanced adaptability for calibrating color configurations, my ultimate preference leans towards the Kobo Libra Colour. During my evaluations, the Go Color 7 Gen II exhibited a disappointingly slow response time when measured against the Libra Colour, a letdown considering the Boox carries an additional $50 price tag. For me, promptness is fundamental to the reading journey, consequently, I would endorse the Boox variant exclusively for individuals prioritizing Android application versatility above operational speed.
Amazon’s inaugural chromatic e-reader, the $629.99 Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, is additionally engineered for capturing notes. In her assessment, my associate Victoria Song lauded its slender, featherlight build, extended battery longevity, and negligible ghosting phenomenon. Nevertheless, she opined that the 11-inch screen appeared excessively spacious for both reading and annotation, and that the subdued E Ink hues diminish its attractiveness for creators intending to sketch more than simple drawings. It is likewise regrettable that several of its premier annotation functionalities — comprising direct text input and AI-driven summarization and lookup utilities — do not encompass alternative document formats, like PDFs.
My Criteria
Upon evaluating a novel e-book reader, I ensure its utilization as my principal gadget for a minimum of one entire week. Throughout that week, or potentially longer, the e-reader serves as my primary method for engaging with e-books, audiobooks, and the majority of online articles (where relevant). Should the device possess annotation functions, I employ it for marking texts and recording diverse prompts, task lists, and observations. I also dedicate it to casual diary entries and sketching. Typically, I engage in reading for approximately one hour daily — extended on weekends — whether for professional purposes or for relaxation by the seashore, in bed, or in the bath. I acquire literature straight from each e-reader’s dedicated marketplace, loan volumes from libraries through Overdrive, and attempt to manually load diverse file types to ascertain the simplicity of the process.
How straightforward is its operation and readability? A clear screen and reasonably swift operation are crucial for a pleasant reading journey, alongside appropriate dimensions and mass.
Certain e-readers boast distinct attributes, such as water resistance, implying unrestrained reading locations. Other models present physical controls that enhance the e-reader’s user-friendliness.
Unimpeded, immediate entry to a broad array of digital works is imperative, encompassing audiobooks and diverse document structures.
Is the
price warranted, considering the provisions of this digital reader?