The Best Ebook Readers
I DEARLY LOVE a paperback book that I can bend, touch, odor, and display on my bookshelf when I'm done. There's no doubt that ebook readers (also called e-readers) have actually made life simpler. They let you carry thousands of books or dozens of audiobooks in a single, slim, rectangle-shaped tablet; they have paperlike screens that are easy on the eyes, and they will not flood you with distracting notifications. Books can likewise be expensive and use up a lot of physical space, however that's not a issue with ebooks. Even better, you can check out digital books from a library without leaving your home.
Amazon makes the finest ebook reader, which is why we have a separate Best Kindles guide that breaks down the whole lineup. There are a few Kindle options out there in case you don't desire to support Amazon or you just desire a different set of features.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Best Overall
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation).
It's dead simple to get new ebooks from Amazon directly, and the Overdrive combination makes it simple to check out books from a regional library quickly. It's worth noting that Kindles practically constantly see high discounts a few times a year, particularly on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so attempt to wait for a sale.
Any of the designs in Amazon's current lineup is better than the competitors, however the current Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite. I reviewed the Signature Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but the basic $140 design is rather capable too. I advise paying a little extra for no ads. Both are waterproof, so you can check out in the swimming pool or tub without concern, and the 6.8-inch screens likewise have adjustable warm lighting so you can read in bed. The Signature supports wireless charging, has a front light that can adjust automatically, and has more storage at 32 gigabytes. But the 8 GB on the basic Paperwhite is plenty-- it can hold countless books. There's a Paperwhite Kids Edition too, which features a complimentary cover, a two-year carefree warranty, and a year of Amazon Kids+ using access to kid-friendly material.
Best Kindle Alternative.
Kobo Libra 2.
Don't want to give your hard-earned money to Amazon? A Kobo is your next-best alternative. The business (owned by Japanese merchant Rakuten) has a tremendous 6 e-readers for you to choose from, all of which sit someplace in between $100 and $400.
Many people must choose the Kobo Libra 2. It's waterproof, has physical page-turn buttons (a feature I really like), and there's Bluetooth support so you can listen and link headphones to audiobooks. Kobo slates have Overdrive integration, that makes reading library books easy, like on the Kindle. You get 32 gigabytes of storage and a fast 7-inch E Ink screen, which has an adjustable front light and even a dark mode that offers up a white text on a black background to make reading in the dark much easier on the eyes. You can even read it in landscape mode if you prefer. WIRED editor Adrienne So states the Kobo is still slower than the Kindle's screen-- it took her quite some time to type up her account qualifications and log in.
Nooks Are Fine Too.
Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4e.
Barnes and Noble put its Nook e-readers on the back burner for a while, however two releases in 2022 show it's providing it the old college try again. The Glowlight 4e is a read more satisfaction to keep reading, and I like the physical page-turn buttons. The book shop also provides a website lot of inexpensive ebooks-- after binging the True Blood TV series, I discovered the books that motivated it for simply $3.
The procedure of attempting to get a book from the library on a Nook is so frustrating that I had to put it down and come back at a later time with a cooler head. I suggest checking out the complete description in the pamphlet that is available in package, but generally, you'll require to set up Adobe Digital Editions on your computer system and make certain you're checked in to your Adobe ID on your Nook prior to connecting it physically and transferring files. It feels older school.
• Honorable Mentions.
Other Good Ebook Readers.
The listed below picks are ones we likewise really like if the above options aren't doing it for you. However, it's worth thinking about old Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks if you can find them for dirt cheap (or free). They're most likely fine for reading, though the older they get the slower they might be, with less effective batteries and laggy screens. See if you can evaluate it out first personally prior to you buy.
Amazon Kindle for $90: The fundamental Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs $110 without advertisements and is a couple of years old now. It's not waterproof, but it has a front light that makes it understandable in a dark space, and it includes Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks with headphones.
Kobo Elipsa for $400: This e-reader is just plain fun thanks to the consisted of stylus, which lets you increase pdfs and books , or develop notebooks. Perfect for English class. Its large 10.3-inch screen is particularly good, but it comes at a heart-stopping expense.
Barnes & Noble Glowlight 4 for $150: This ebook reader has 32 gigs of storage, which is a bargain more than the Glowlight 4E (8 GB), and it has a night mode for more comfy reading.
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You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet.
You Don't Need Another Screen.
You do not need to buy a separate device to read ebooks. Smartphones and tablets are completely practical for this function. You can utilize Amazon's Kindle app to check out ebooks (iOS, Android), and even download OverDrive's Libby app (iOS, Android) for library book gain access to anywhere. The E Ink screens found in e-readers are just plain nicer to look at-- there's no getting around that fact. I likewise like that these gadgets are one-trick ponies; there are no alerts to be sidetracked by or social networks feeds to doomscroll through.
Take a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for recommendations if you 'd still rather have one smart gadget you can check out on and use for other purposes.