The Very Best Ebook Readers
There's no doubt that ebook readers ( likewise called e-readers) have made life easier. Books can also be pricey and take up a lot of physical area, however that's not a problem with ebooks.
Naturally, when you hear e-reader, you might believe Kindle. Amazon makes the very best ebook reader, which is why we have a different Best Kindles guide that breaks down the entire lineup. There are a couple of Kindle options out there in case you do not desire to support Amazon or you simply desire a different set of functions. WIRED's Gear group has actually invested months, if not years, keeping reading these tablets-- these are our favorites.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Finest 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 inspect out books from a local library instantly. It's worth keeping in mind that Kindles nearly constantly see high discount rates a couple of times a year, especially on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so attempt to wait for a sale.
Any of the models in Amazon's existing lineup is much better than the competitors, however the latest Kindle Paperwhite is my preferred. Both are waterproof, so you can read in the pool or tub without concern, and the 6.8-inch screens also have adjustable warm lighting so you can read in bed. There's a Paperwhite Kids Edition too, which comes with a free cover, a two-year stress-free guarantee, and a year of Amazon Kids+ providing access to kid-friendly material.
Best Kindle Alternative.
Kobo Libra 2.
Don't want to give your hard-earned cash to Amazon? A Kobo is your next-best choice. The business (owned by Japanese seller Rakuten) has a whopping 6 e-readers for you to select from, all of which sit someplace in between $100 and $400.
Kobo slates have Overdrive combination, which makes reading library books basic, like on the Kindle. If you choose, you can even read it in landscape mode. WIRED editor Adrienne So says the Kobo is still slower than the Kindle's screen-- it took her quite some time to type up her account credentials 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 prove it's offering it the old college try once again. The Glowlight 4e is a satisfaction to keep reading, and I enjoy the physical page-turn buttons. The bookstore also offers a lot of low-cost ebooks-- after binging the True Blood television series, I discovered the books that more info inspired it for just $3.
The procedure of trying to get a book from the library on a Nook is so aggravating that I had to put it down and come back at a later time with a cooler head. I advise checking out the complete description in the pamphlet that is available in the box, but basically, you'll require to set up Adobe Digital Editions on your computer and make sure you're checked in to your Adobe ID on your Nook before connecting it physically and transferring files. It feels very old school.
• Honorable Mentions.
Other Good Ebook Readers.
The below choices are ones we also read more truly like if the above options aren't doing it for you. Nevertheless, it's worth considering old Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks if you can find them for dirt cheap (or totally free). They're likely fine for reading, though the older they get the slower they might be, with less effective batteries and laggy screens. If you can check it out initially in person prior to you purchase, see.
Amazon Kindle for $90: The standard Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs $110 without advertisements and is a few years old now. It's not waterproof, but it has a front light that makes it legible in a dark space, and it consists of Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks with headphones.
Kobo Elipsa for $400: This e-reader is just plain fun thanks to the included stylus, which lets you mark up pdfs and books , or develop note pads. Perfect for English class. Its big 10.3-inch screen is especially nice, but it comes at a heart-stopping cost.
Barnes & Noble Glowlight 4 for $150: This ebook reader has 32 gigs of storage, which is a good deal more than the Glowlight 4E (8 GB), and it has a night mode for more comfortable reading.
•.
You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet.
You Don't Need Another Screen.
You do not have to buy a separate gadget to read ebooks. You can utilize Amazon's Kindle app to read ebooks (iOS, Android), and even download OverDrive's Libby app (iOS, Android) for library book access anywhere.
Take a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for suggestions if you 'd still rather have one clever device you can read on and utilize for other functions.