Best e-Readers for True Lovers of Reading

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 3, 2023
Do you have time for reading? Not much, right? There's always work to do. But reading is interesting and useful. With an e-reader you can read in transport, or while having lunch, or have a chapter or two before going to sleep, without even bothering your family with lights on. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Display
Screen Size
Screen Type
Book Formats
On-Device Storage
Battery Life
Additional Features
Body Material
Size
Weight
Accessories
Warranty
 
PROS
It has PagePress sensors with touch response instead of mechanical buttons for page turning, tempered protection glass with High Gloss coating, and screen backlit with adaptive lighting sensor. It is also lightweight.
CONS
There is no slot for a memory card; the list of supported content formats is not very large (for example, you will not be able to read FB2).
OUR VERDICT
Thanks to the high resolution of a display, its backlighting, and also to a new E Ink Carta technology, as well as additional features, this Kindle reader can be considered a breakthrough in the world of ebooks.
detailed parameters
Display
1080 x 1440 pixels E Ink Carta
Screen Size
6"
Screen Type
Capacitive Touch Screen
Book Formats
AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC
On-Device Storage
4GB (approx. 3,000 books)
Battery Life
21 hours of continuous reading, 6 weeks of reading for 30 min per day
Additional Features
Wi-Fi, Web Browser, Dictionary, Book Store
Body Material
Plastic with a soft-touch coating
Size
6.4" x 4.5" x 0.30"
Weight
Wi-Fi controlled: 180 grams, Wi-Fi + Free 3G controlled: 188 grams
Accessories
Kindle Voyage, USB 2.0 charging cable, and Quick Start Guide
Warranty
1-year limited warranty
PROS
High definition display provides a clear picture, thanks to display backlighting it is possible to read in darkness. This ebook is very convenient and has a compact size.
CONS
The pages can only be turned with a touch screen, no buttons, and also no place for a memory card.
OUR VERDICT
Well thought-through ergonomic aspects, compact size, and light weight allows to use this Kindle ereader for a long time without feeling any weariness or discomfort. There is also a modified model with 3G support.
detailed parameters
Display
1080 x 1440 pixels E Ink Carta
Screen Size
6"
Screen Type
Capacitive Touch Screen
Book Formats
AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC
On-Device Storage
4GB (approx. 3,000 books)
Battery Life
21 hours of continuous reading, 6 weeks of reading for 30 min per day
Additional Features
Wi-Fi, Web Browser, Dictionary, Book Store
Body Material
Plastic
Size
6.7" x 4.6" x 0.36"
Weight
Wi-Fi controlled: 205 grams, Wi-Fi + Free 3G controlled: 217 grams
Accessories
Kindle Paperwhite, USB 2.0 charging cable, and Quick Start Guide
Warranty
1-year limited warranty
PROS
The display of this e-reader has a High Gloss coating. Its size is compact and comfortable, and it also has easy user-friendly interface.
CONS
No buttons for page turning, quite narrow selections of formats (no FB2), no slot for a memory card.
OUR VERDICT
Functional design and easy to handle interface makes Amazon Kindle 6 a fairly good choice for a reading device targeted at the most general public.
detailed parameters
Display
800 x 600 pixels E Ink Pearl
Screen Size
6"
Screen Type
Infrared Touch Screen
Book Formats
AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC
On-Device Storage
4GB (approx. 3,000 books)
Battery Life
14 hours of continuous reading, up to 4 weeks of reading for 30 min per day
Additional Features
Wi-Fi, Web Browser, Dictionary, Book Store
Body Material
Plastic
Size
6.7" x 4.7" x 0.40"
Weight
191 grams
Accessories
Kindle 6, USB 2.0 charging cable, and Quick Start Guide
Warranty
1-year limited warranty
PROS

The housing has an IP67 protection rate and is able to withstand submersion in water up to 1 meter. Additionally, the device is sand proof and dustproof.

CONS

Switching between options in the main menu is relatively slow.

OUR VERDICT

It is a premium e-book that comes in a reliable housing. It supports a large number of different formats and has all the basic functions for reading your favorite e-books with maximum convenience.

detailed parameters
Display

1430 x 1080 pixels E Ink Carta

Screen Size

6.8"

Screen Type

Capacitive Touch Screen

Book Formats

EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR

On-Device Storage

4GB (approx. 3,000 books)

Battery Life

Up to 2 months of reading for 30 min per day on a single battery charge

Additional Features

Wi-Fi, Book Store

Body Material

Plastic

Size

7" x 5" x 0.38"

Weight

233 grams

Accessories

Kobo Aura ONE, USB cable for charging and synchronizing with PC

Warranty

2 years

PROS
This e-book supports memory cards up to 32GB. You can turn pages with either touch screen or with buttons at the sides of the front part of the body.
CONS
Operating system takes up a lot of memory storage, what is left for books is approximately 250MB.
OUR VERDICT
Android operating system will provide excellent functionality and support for a varied range of formats, and also a possibility to download various applications.
detailed parameters
Display
800 x 600 pixels E Ink Pearl
Screen Size
6"
Screen Type
Infrared Touch Screen
Book Formats
PDF, ePUB2, ePUB3, HTML5, FB2
On-Device Storage
2GB (approx. 300 books)
Battery Life
40 hours of continuous reading, up to 2 months of reading for 30 min per day
Additional Features
Wi-Fi, MicroSD card slot, Web Browser, Dictionary, Book Store
Body Material
Plastic with a soft-touch coating
Size
6.5" x 5" x 0.47"
Weight
210 grams
Accessories
Barnes&Noble Nook Simple Touch, USB 2.0 charging cable, battery charger, and Quick Start Guide
Warranty
1-year limited warranty
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Kindle Voyage 6"

Ergonomic Aspects

Front panel of a Kindle Voyage e-reader is finished with matte glass which is framed all-round by hard black rugged plastic. Use of capacitive touch screen allowed the manufacturer to make the front panel flat like a tablet's, when most readers have a significant difference between the height of E Ink screen and a frame. Two pairs of PagePress buttons with tactile reaction are placed at the sides of display frame opposite to each other and are intended to turn the pages. Body with a Soft-touch coating is nice on the touch, resistant to graze and scratches, and feels good in your hand.

Review of Kindle Voyage 6" High-Resolution Display e-Reader

Image Quality

Automatic adjustment of brightness in Kindle Voyage slowly lowers display brightness so that the reading is pleasant to your eyes. Display glass has micro-engravings that diffuse light to eliminate flecks and to create a paper-like feeling. High contrast and display resolution are the advantages of a new E Ink Carta matrix.

Kindle Voyage 6" High-Resolution Display e-Reader in the use

Additional Features

Embedded Wi-Fi receiver will help you visit a branded book store of electronic books where you will be able to choose books and download them to your Kindle e-book reader. By means of a pre-installed dictionary you will have the opportunity to learn the meaning of any new word. There are touch buttons for turning pages. This Kindle Ebook is considered one of the best ebooks.

Detailed review of Kindle Voyage 6" High-Resolution Display e-Reader
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00IOY8XWQ

VIDEO
Amazon Kindle Voyage Hands-on

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Read anywhere....no sun glare outside (like the Fire)...no extra reading lamp at night...perfect

Features

Page turns using the touch screen and the bezel pressure touch work quickly.
 

Kindle Paperwhite

Ergonomic Aspects

Kindle Paperwhite Ebook body is made of rough plastic (resistant to any finger prints) that sits in your hand rather firmly. The front panel is finished with black matte plastic, the frame is minimal along the larger sides of a 6-inch screen and notably wider above and under it. There are no control buttons here, all the operation is still performed using the capacitive touch screen.

Review of Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Previous Generation - 7th)

Image Quality

New E Ink Carta matrix provides Kindle Paperwhite ebook with a high quality of image. The latter becomes even more detailed, sharp, and there are no flecks of reflection if you prefer reading outside in the bright sunshine. Display backlighting will allow you to read a few chapters of your favorite book in the evening before you decide to go to sleep.

Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Previous Generation - 7th) in the use

Additional Features

This Ebook has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, so you will have an opportunity to visit the Kindle Store of electronic books. There is a browser installed in the reader. The Whispersync technology synchronizes the last page you have read, bookmarks, and summaries on all of your devices - you will be able to start from the very place you have stopped the last time you were reading.

Detailed review of Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Previous Generation - 7th)
Last updated price $38.35
Stock In stock
ASIN B00OQVZDJM

VIDEO
All New Kindle Paperwhite High Resolution 300 ppi Unbox

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

The screen is beautiful. Being able to read either in complete darkness or in direct sunlight is a thing of beauty - especially coming from an iPhone.

Features

Also appreciate the ease of changing dictionaries once the definition comes up.
 

Kindle 6" Glare-Free

Ergonomic Aspects

The front panel of this Amazon Kindle 6 Ebook is performed in a very smooth high-quality black colored plastic with a miniature glossy logo of a Kindle brand. The type of plastic used here has an extremely high resistance to scuffs and fingerprints, and is actually one of rather high-performance characteristics overall.

Review of Kindle 6" Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi

Image Quality

A screen of this electronic book reader looks the same as any real printed document. The display has a High Gloss coating of the very best quality, and thanks to it you will have the opportunity to read your favorite book, or a magazine even sitting outside in the park or at the beach under the bright sun shining full strength.

Kindle 6" Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi in the use

Additional Features

The built-in wireless adapter gives your Kindle e-reader an access to the Internet via Wi-Fi, and also to the Goodreads network at Kindle, where you will be able to connect to the largest community of book lovers, to see what your friends read, and to share with them the most important or most interesting and breathtaking moments of the books you have been reading.

If you can not imagine your life without listening to music, you could probably get interested in Bluetooth speakers. Looking through our review, you will find the best model for you. 

Detailed review of Kindle 6" Glare-Free Touchscreen Display, Wi-Fi
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00I15SB16

VIDEO
Kindle, 6" E Ink Display, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers (Black)

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

One of my favorite features is that this particular Kindle is the cheapest because IT HAS NO BACKLIGHT. This is considered a negative by some people, but I find that hours of staring into a backlit screen causes eyestrain.

Features

Dictionary: this is my favorite. Simply touch a word you don't know and it brings up the definition
 

Rakuten Kobo Aura H2O

Functional Device

The Kobo AURA H2O e-reader offers a convenient 6.8" Carta E Ink HD touchscreen with the high resolution of 1430 x 1080. This is more than enough to get detailed and sharp pictures and crisp text when reading books. The reliable 1 GHz processor ensures trouble-free operation of the device.

Talking about the memory capacity, we would like to point out that this model provides 4 GB of onboard memory and can store about 3,000 eBooks. For an average user, this number is more than enough. Anyway, in case you need more, there is an option to expand the memory up to 32 GB. This will enable you to have up to 30,000 eBooks on your appliance. Thanks to the Wi-Fi support, you can wirelessly surf the Internet, check your e-mail, or watch videos.
Review of Rakuten Kobo Aura H2O E-Reader

Great Ergonomics

This electronic reader has one of the smartest designs out there. The device is equipped with a useful front light to ensure even light distribution. It will do a really good job for people who frequently read at night and do not want to disturb their partners. This light is nice and even after long hours of reading at night, your eyes will not hurt.

The Aura H2O e-book is a water-resistant appliance. Just for an experiment, you can hold it under the water (at up to one meter) for a half an hour without any worries. In addition, this model is sand- and dustproof. Thus, it will not get damaged if you are hiking with it or reading on the beach.
Its user-friendly interface supports English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese languages making it a versatile device suitable for users worldwide.
Rakuten Kobo Aura H2O E-Reader in the use

Thoughtful Design

The Kobo company focuses on durability and usability. Since an e-reader is usually stored in a bag with lots of other items, the manufacturer has made this model extremely reliable and well-protected from various external damages.

The black plastic housing of this model is strong enough to withstand abuses of traveling. It is quite comfy to hold for a long time. The power button is located on the top corner and is easy to reach. Actually, you will have to press the button rather hard to make it respond. It means the appliance will not accidentally turn on in your backpack and its battery will not get low. Overall, the Kobo H20 will be a perfect choice for active people who are often on the go.
If you have children, you can get interested in tablets for kids. This device will be perfect not only for entertaining but also for a child`s developing.
Detailed review of Rakuten Kobo Aura H2O E-Reader

Additional Info

User Manual

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00N9ZVN90

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Excellent e-reader. I chose this one because of the slightly larger screen (7" vs. 6") compared to the Kindle. It may not seem like a lot, bit an extra inch diagonal makes a big difference at this small size. Compared to my wife's Paperwhite it seems substantively larger.

Features

It reads a multitude of formats, and has a MicroSD card input.
 

Barnes & Noble Nook 6" Simple Touch

Ergonomic Aspects

Barnes & Noble Nook Ebook has a frontal panel with finely rounded corners and is made of rubberized plastic. It is of the graphite grey shade. Side parts of the screen frame have two pairs of buttons intended to turn pages, and there is an operational Home button at the bottom performed in the shape of an "n" symbol. The rear panel of the ereader is an integral unit with the lateral parts. It is also made of the same hand-filling rubberized plastic, dark grey in color, and has a unique shape. There is a deepening at the center of the case cover, and closer to the edges there are extensions which help to firmly hold the reader and are considered NOOK readers' trademark.

Review of Barnes & Noble Nook 6" Simple Touch eBook Reader

Image Quality

E Ink Pearl screens are traditionally well known for their conveniently high image contrast and the speed of updating the image displayed. The viewing angle of the Nook e-reader screen is up to 180 degrees without any changes inflicted to the image. The display does not flicker when you turn pages. The screen has a matte coating.

Barnes & Noble Nook 6" Simple Touch eBook Reader in the use

Additional Features

NOOK e-reader is based on Android operating system which is also used on many smartphones and tablets. This means that you can easily download and install third-party applications in addition to those already present on your Ebook, or use Google services via Wi-Fi connections to Internet. There is also a possibility to widen your on-device storage by means of MicroSD memory card. Nook Ebook is also one of the cheapest ebooks compared to other ebooks presented on the market.

Detailed review of Barnes & Noble Nook 6" Simple Touch eBook Reader
Last updated price $208.96
Stock In stock
ASIN B00L89V1AA

VIDEO
New Barnes & Noble Nook "Simple Touch": Review (Nook vs Kindle)

What customers say about this product

Features

Good features, a bit too large to wield one handed.

Key Specs

I have had it for about 3 years and it is still working perfectly, no faded ink or screen problems.
 

What Is an e-Reader?

Recently e-readers have gained quite a few followers, you can see people reading ereaders in transport, on vacations, and at home. This is all thanks to the fact that this tiny device has space for thousands of books, and all of them you can take with you. Just put an e-book into your bag or in the pocket.

An e-book is a portable device for storing and displaying various electronic text formats. An e-book allows you to read your favorite novel, a magazine, scientific literature, or comics.

An e-reader is an absolutely necessary device for each and every book lover.

If you not only read books but also write them, we recommend you think about obtaining a touchscreen laptop.

Best e-Readers

What Features to Compare

E-readers can be different in sizes, from 4.5" to 10". Manufacturers determined the 'happy mean' of a display to be 6" to 7". These sizes make a device more compact and easy to transport than an average tablet. In this review, we will compare 5 best e-readers.

The size of an Ebook is slightly smaller than a notebook, and it is not thicker than a pencil. Even compared to a single printed book, a reader is much more mobile. E-reader body can be made of different materials, for example, aluminium, plastic, or combined. But mostly they are manufactured of extra-strong and lightweight plastic, that makes the device cheaper. Material quality and size of the device affect its Ergonomic Aspects.

First, you need to determine display characteristics, as it is essential for the e-reader Image Quality. Nowadays Ebooks have monochrome displays with matte High Gloss coating and use the so-called 'electronic ink' (E Ink). Such displays consume energy only when the displayed information is being changed (for example, when you turn a page), thereby battery life can last several weeks. Text sharpness and quality of little details in pictures depend on display resolution and pixel density per inch (ppi). The higher this index is the more detailed picture you will see. The average resolution is 800x600px (E Ink Pearl). To solve the problem of reading with weak light (for example, before sleep), some e-readers are equipped with an embedded backlighting.

In the latest models, manufacturers strive to replace the mechanical operational buttons with touch screens. There are three main types of touchscreens: Resistive, which reacts to pushing on the display with any object, Capacitive, which reacts only to a finger touch, and Infrared, which reacts to both object and finger touch. Models with infrared and resistive displays react to operation even when you wear gloves.

With the help of an e-reader not only will you be able to read exciting detective stories, romance novels, and other literature, but also, thanks to the embedded Wi-Fi, you will have the option of going online and will be well informed about what is happening around the world by reading the latest news. That's why pay attention to Additional Features of your e-reader. There are models that support 3G Internet, for example. You can also download new study books, magazines, fiction novels and other electronic books via the Internet or using a USB cable to connect your e-reader to a PC. If you have encountered new or odd word in a book you have been reading, you can learn its meaning with the help of a pre-installed vocabulary.

There might be more additional features in an e-reader, but you are primarily looking for a reading device, right?

Sources:

1. Simon Hill How to Pick The Right E-Reader, Digital Trends. October 3, 2012.

2. Piotr Kowalczyk Tablet or e-Reader? Ebook Friendly. October 19, 2015.

3. Gillian Shaw Six Tips for Choosing the Right Ereader for You, Vancouver Sun. May 28, 2013.

4. Chris Warren 5 Tips for Choosing the Right E-Reader, HowStuffWorks.

5. How to Choose an eBook Reader, wikiHow.

6. Ebook Reader Guide How To Choose The Best eReader, The eBook Reader.com.

7. Mike Plant How to Buy the Best Ebook Reader, Which?

8. John Falcone Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy? CNET. December 17, 2012.

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