The Very Best Ebook Readers
There's no doubt that ebook readers ( likewise called e-readers) have made life simpler. Books can likewise be expensive and take up a lot of physical space, however that's not a issue with ebooks.
Naturally, when you hear e-reader, you may believe Kindle. Amazon makes the very best 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 do not desire to support Amazon or you simply want a different set of functions. WIRED's Gear team has spent months, if not years, reading on these tablets-- these are our favorites.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Finest Overall
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation).
Amazon's Kindles are the very best e-readers around. It's dead simple to get new ebooks from Amazon directly, and the Overdrive combination makes it easy to check out books from a local library immediately. E Ink screens in most ebook readers are a little sluggish when you interact with them, but Kindles are a few of the most responsive devices on the market. It's worth keeping in mind that Kindles often see steep discount rates a few times a year, particularly on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so attempt to wait on a sale.
Any of the designs in Amazon's current lineup is better than the competitors, however the latest Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite. I reviewed the Signature Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends), but the standard $140 model is quite capable too. I advise paying a little additional for no advertisements. Both are water resistant, so you can read in the swimming pool or tub without concern, and the 6.8-inch screens likewise have adjustable warm lighting so you can check out in bed. The Signature supports wireless charging, has a front light that can adjust instantly, and has more storage at 32 gigabytes. However the 8 GB on the basic Paperwhite is plenty-- it can hold thousands of books. There's a Paperwhite Kids Edition too, which features a free cover, a two-year worry-free guarantee, and a year of Amazon Kids+ providing access to kid-friendly material.
Best Kindle Alternative.
Kobo Libra 2.
Do not want to give your hard-earned money to Amazon? A Kobo is your next-best option. The company (owned by Japanese retailer Rakuten) has a tremendous six e-readers for you to pick from, all of which sit somewhere in between $100 and $400.
Kobo slates have Overdrive integration, which makes reading library books easy, like on the Kindle. If you choose, you can even read it in landscape mode. 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 read more Noble put its Nook e-readers on the back burner for a while, but 2 releases in 2022 show it's giving it the old college try once again. The Glowlight 4e is a pleasure to read on, and I love the physical page-turn buttons. The book shop likewise provides a bunch of cheap ebooks-- after binging the True Blood television series, I discovered the books that inspired it for just $3.
Nevertheless, the process of attempting to get a book from the library on a Nook is so discouraging that I needed to put it down and come back at a later time with a cooler head. I advise reading the full description in the pamphlet that is available in package, however basically, you'll need to install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer and make sure you're signed in to your Adobe ID on your Nook before linking it physically and transferring files. It feels older school.
• Honorable Mentions.
Other Good Ebook Readers.
If the above alternatives aren't doing it for you, the below picks are ones we likewise actually like. It's worth considering old Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks if you can find them for dirt inexpensive (or complimentary). They're most 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 first in individual before you purchase, see.
Amazon Kindle for $90: The fundamental Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs $110 without ads and is a few years old now. It's not water resistant, but it has a front light that makes it readable in a dark space, and it includes Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks with earphones.
Kobo Elipsa for $400: This e-reader is just plain fun thanks to the included stylus, which lets you mark up books and PDFs , or create note pads. Perfect for English class. Its big 10.3-inch screen is particularly nice, however it comes at a heart-stopping cost.
Barnes & Noble Glowlight 4 for $150: This ebook reader has 32 gigs of storage, which get more info is a good deal more than the Glowlight 4E (8 GB), and it has a night mode for more comfortable reading.
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You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet.
You Don't Need Another Screen.
You don't need to purchase a separate gadget to read ebooks. Smartphones and tablets are perfectly practical for this purpose. 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 discovered in e-readers are just plain better to look at-- there's no getting around that truth. I also like that these devices are one-trick ponies; there are no notices to be sidetracked by or social media feeds to doomscroll through.
Take a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for suggestions if you 'd still rather have one wise device you can read on and utilize for other purposes.