Finest book readers for 2023

Any book reader will allow you to cram a Magnificence and the Beast-sized library’s value of books in your pocket, however so will your telephone. An book reader gives a extra book-like studying expertise, with fewer distractions and fewer eye pressure, and lots of embody further options, like adjustable frontlighting. Some actually are pocketable. Others are waterproof or provide bodily page-turning buttons, whereas just a few even allow you to take notes.

What I’m searching for

Consolation

How straightforward is it to make use of and skim on? A pointy show and comparatively quick efficiency are important to an gratifying studying expertise, as are dimension and weight.

Construct high quality

Some e-readers include totally different options, like waterproofing, which suggests you actually can learn wherever. Others provide buttons that make utilizing the e-reader extra intuitive to make use of. 

Supported content material sorts

There have to be straightforward, direct entry to a big selection of digital titles, which incorporates audiobooks in addition to varied file codecs.

Affordability

Is the value justified, given what the e-reader gives?

I’ve been utilizing book readers for practically a decade, and I’ve gone hands-on with dozens, from the Kindle Paperwhite to lesser-known rivals just like the Pocketbook Period. Whether or not you need one thing your child can throw towards the wall or a water-proof, warm-glow Kindle that gained’t destroy your spa atmosphere, these are the very best book readers for everybody. 

One of the best Kindle

$140

Amazon’s newest Kindle Paperwhite has a 6.8-inch E Ink show with adjustable colour temperature for nighttime studying. It additionally boasts a quick processor, months-long battery life, IPX8 waterproofing, and a USB-C port.

Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x .32 inches / Weight: 205 grams / Display space and determination: 6.8-inch display screen, 300ppi decision / Storage: 8GB or 16GB / Different options: IPX8 waterproofing, Bluetooth audio help 

In the event you principally purchase ebooks from Amazon, you’ll need a Kindle, and the Eleventh-gen Kindle Paperwhite is your best option for most individuals. Beginning at $139.99, it’s cheaper than the Kobo Libra 2 — my prime non-Amazon book reader, which I’ll dive into later — for lots of the identical options. These embody a big 300pi show and an adjustable heat white frontlight, which make for a transparent and gratifying studying expertise. The latter additionally conveniently improves sleep by chopping down on blue gentle that interrupts melatonin manufacturing. 

That heat white frontlighting is a bonus over the cool white of the $99.99 base-model Kindle, and in contrast to the bottom Kindle, the Paperwhite has IPX8 water resistance. The $189.99 Signature Version Paperwhite additionally has an auto-adjusting frontlight and no lockscreen adverts. It additionally has wi-fi charging, which is a uncommon characteristic to seek out in an e-reader.

The Kindle Paperwhite comes with an adjustable heat white frontlight. Picture by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge

Amazon is the biggest on-line retailer on the earth, and it dominates the US book market, so Kindle homeowners have entry to benefits homeowners of different book readers don’t. A lot of Amazon’s {hardware} technique is dependent upon providing cut-rate reductions to tug you into its content material ecosystem. When you have Prime and purchase a variety of Kindle ebooks, the Paperwhite is your best option as a result of Amazon makes it extremely straightforward to purchase and skim its stuff. Its ebooks and audiobooks are sometimes on sale, and Prime members get extra free content material by Prime Studying. Rivals like Kobo provide gross sales, too, however it’s exhausting for them to supply reductions as steep as Amazon does.

There are downsides, although. The Paperwhite has lockscreen adverts until you pay $20 further to do away with them. It’s additionally too large to carry comfortably with one hand. Maybe the Kindle Paperwhite’s greatest flaw, although — which it shares with all Kindles except for Hearth tablets — is that it’s not straightforward to learn books bought outdoors of Amazon’s retailer. Kindle book codecs are proprietary and solely work on Kindle. Not like Kobo and different book readers, Kindles don’t help EPUB information, an open file format utilized by just about everybody besides Amazon. So, for instance, in case you usually store from Kobo’s bookstore (or Barnes & Noble or Google Play Books or many different book shops), you’ll be able to’t simply learn these books on a Kindle with out utilizing a workaround. There are methods to transform and switch file codecs so you’ll be able to learn on the Kindle and vice versa, however it’ll take a few further steps and is usually a problem.

Nonetheless, in case you don’t purchase your books elsewhere otherwise you don’t thoughts procuring from Amazon, you’ll be very happy with the Kindle Paperwhite.

Learn our full evaluate of the Kindle Paperwhite.

One of the best non-Amazon book reader

$190

The Kobo Libra 2 options bodily page-turning buttons together with a pointy 7-inch E Ink show freed from adverts. It additionally boasts IPX8 waterproofing and 32GB of storage.

Dimensions: 5.69 x 6.36 x 0.35 inches / Weight: 215 grams / Display space and determination: 7-inch display screen, 300ppi / Storage: As much as 32GB / Different options: Bodily page-turning buttons, waterproofing, Bluetooth audio help 

The Kobo Libra 2 is a superb different to an Amazon book reader, particularly for readers outdoors the US. It’s simply as good because the Paperwhite, with lots of the Paperwhite’s standout options, like waterproofing, USB-C help, and a 300ppi show. It doesn’t work as nicely with Amazon’s ecosystem, in fact, however it gives just a few further perks that make the e-reader, in some methods, much more gratifying to make use of.

The Kobo Libra 2 is my favourite book reader to make use of

For one factor, it helps extra file codecs, together with EPUB. It’s additionally a lot simpler to instantly borrow books from the Overdrive library system, whereas native help for Pocket means you’ll be able to learn your saved articles offline. The Libra 2 additionally comes with easy-to-use bodily buttons and begins at 16GB of storage, double the capability of the bottom Paperwhite. There aren’t any annoying lockscreen adverts to take care of, both. Plus, as a substitute of a flat-front display screen, the show is barely recessed into the body. I liked that because it meant I didn’t unintentionally faucet the display screen and skip a web page, as I usually did with the Paperwhite. It additionally stored the display screen cleaner and — mixed with the large facet bezel — made the Libra 2 extra snug to carry.

1/3

The Kobo Libra 2 comes with bodily page-turning buttons. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

1/3

The Kobo Libra 2 comes with bodily page-turning buttons. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The Kobo Libra 2 is my favourite book reader to make use of. I stored having to restrain myself from utilizing it on a regular basis to present the opposite e-readers on this checklist a good likelihood.

Nonetheless, at $189, it prices $50 greater than the ad-supported Paperwhite, although it’s solely $20 greater than the ad-free Paperwhite. That hole widens much more when the Paperwhite is on sale, which it often is. Plus, as anyone whose digital library consists primarily of Amazon ebooks, I discovered the truth that I couldn’t simply and rapidly learn my huge assortment of Kindle books irritating. You are able to do it, however you’ll must convert file codecs utilizing third-party apps, which may take time, particularly when you have a big library. But when these issues don’t matter or apply to you, the Kobo Libra 2 offers you the very best digital studying expertise of all of the e-readers on this checklist.

It’s value mentioning, nonetheless, that Barnes and Noble will likely be releasing the Glowlight 4 Plus on September sixth. On paper, the brand new e-reader appears to supply a variety of what makes Kobo’s Libra 2 stand out — together with waterproofing, bodily page-turning buttons, and a 300ppi display screen — which may make it a very good Kindle Paperwhite different at $199.99. We’re nonetheless within the early levels of testing it, although, so keep tuned for our remaining verdict.

One of the best low-cost book reader

$100

Amazon’s new entry-level Kindle is basically the budget-friendly, 6-inch model of the Kindle Paperwhite. It lacks waterproofing however in any other case is comparable with the identical sharp show and USB-C help.

Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches / Weight: 158 grams / Display space and determination: 6-inch display screen, 300ppi decision / Storage: 16GB / Different options: USB-C help, Bluetooth audio help 

The bottom-model Kindle ($99.99 with adverts) is the very best low-cost book reader. Its 300ppi decision makes textual content clearer and simpler to learn than the lower-resolution screens on different book readers in its worth vary, and its 16GB of storage is double even that of the Paperwhite. It even has USB-C for comparatively quick charging. 

Studying on its six-inch display screen feels somewhat extra cramped than it does on the bigger shows of the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra 2. Nonetheless, the flip facet is that its small dimension makes it pocketable, gentle, and straightforward for small palms to carry. Mixed with its comparatively reasonably priced worth, the Kindle can also be the very best book reader for teenagers — particularly within the children model Amazon sells for $20 extra. It shares the identical actual specs however is ad-free with parental controls, a two-year prolonged alternative assure, and a case. It additionally comes with one 12 months of Amazon Children Plus, which grants children entry to 1000’s of children books and audiobooks without spending a dime. After that, although, you’ll must pay $79 per 12 months.

The child-friendly model of the Kindle comes with colourful instances. Picture: Kindle Children

The bottom Kindle doesn’t have further conveniences just like the bodily page-turning buttons discovered on Barnes & Noble’s entry-level e-reader, the Nook GlowLight 4e. Nonetheless, you do get one thing extra necessary: snappier responses. On many of the different entry-level book readers I examined, together with the GlowLight 4e, I needed to wait just a few seconds after tapping the display screen for the web page to show. The Kindle, as compared, provided no perceptive lag.

There are different tradeoffs. There’s no water resistance, in contrast to the Paperwhite, and battery life is sweet, however it’ll final you three weeks tops — not months, just like the Paperwhite. And since it’s an Amazon book reader, you’re additionally locked into the Amazon ecosystem and must pay further to do away with adverts. But when you are able to do with out all of that, the Kindle delivers the necessities for underneath $100.

Learn my full evaluate of the Kindle.

One of the best book reader for taking notes

$400

The Kobo Elipsa 2E is an ad-free 10.3-inch e-reader you’ll be able to write on with the included stylus. It gives a complete host of helpful options, like the flexibility to transform handwriting to typed textual content and an amazing choice of pen sorts.

Dimensions: 7.6 x 8.94 x 0.30 inches / Weight: 390 grams / Display space and determination: 10.3-inches, 227ppi decision / Storage: 32GB / Different options: Handwriting to textual content conversion, magnetic stylus, Bluetooth audio help 

Of all the big book readers I examined, the Kobo Elipsa 2E stood out probably the most due to its wonderful note-taking talents. You possibly can instantly write on pages, and the notes won’t disappear, which makes for a extra intuitive note-taking expertise than the Kindle Scribe, which solely helps on-page notes on choose Kindle titles. In any other case, you’re restricted to creating annotations on playing cards which are like disappearing sticky notes. 

You may also sync your notes with Dropbox or view them on-line, and Kobo may even convert handwriting to typed textual content. Amazon just lately rolled out an identical functionality for the Kindle Scribe, however it might probably solely convert handwriting to typed textual content if you export notebooks and never as precisely. Against this, Kobo allows you to convert your handwriting not simply whereas exporting but in addition from inside a pocket book itself.

1/2

The Kobo Elipsa 2E allows you to insert diagrams, convert handwriting to textual content, and might even remedy math equations for you. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

1/2

The Kobo Elipsa 2E allows you to insert diagrams, convert handwriting to textual content, and might even remedy math equations for you. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The Elipsa 2E additionally gives different useful note-taking instruments. It’s even succesful, for instance, of fixing math equations for you. You may also insert diagrams and drawings, and it’ll mechanically snap it into one thing that appears cleaner and nicer. There’s additionally an amazing choice of pen sorts and ink shades. 

True, the Kindle Scribe begins at $60 much less, however the Kobo Elipsa 2E comes with twice the storage. You possibly can step as much as the 32GB Kindle Scribe if you need the identical storage capability, however that places it at basically the identical worth because the Kobo. I like to recommend simply forking out the cash on the Elipsa 2E as a substitute.

I additionally advocate the Elipsa 2E over the Onyx Boox Observe Air 2 Plus, regardless that it, too, gives significantly better writing instruments than the Kindle Scribe. That’s as a result of it prices a whopping $449 and in addition isn’t as available within the US market. The Onyx Boox Observe Air 2 Plus additionally comes with too many distracting extras, like an easy-to-access music participant and the Google Play app retailer preinstalled so you’ll be able to obtain a number of studying apps, together with each the Kindle and Kobo apps. Nonetheless, Kindle and Kobo notes didn’t present up on the Onyx Boox Observe Air 2 Plus — and you’ll’t annotate their books wherever as simply as you’ll be able to on their respective units.

1/2

The Kobo Elipsa 2E comes with an included stylus. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

1/2

The Kobo Elipsa 2E comes with an included stylus. Picture by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

Observe-taking capabilities apart, the Kobo Elipsa 2E can also be a very good e-reader, however it comes with the identical strengths and weaknesses as different Kobo e-readers. There’s help for a variety of file codecs, however you’ll be able to’t simply learn Kindle books with out changing them first. Its 227ppi show can also be barely much less sharp than the 300ppi display screen discovered on the Kindle Scribe and the Kobo Libra 2. Nonetheless, the ten.3-inch display screen does steadiness issues out a bit and makes textual content simpler to learn, so it’s probably not a noticeable downside.

Different book readers that didn’t make the minimize

There are another book readers I examined that I didn’t characteristic above however are nonetheless value highlighting. One in all these is the Kobo Clara 2E e-reader. In the event you’re searching for a non-Amazon different that’s extra reasonably priced than the Kobo Libra 2, the Kobo Clara 2E is value a glance. It sells for $139 and in addition gives waterproofing in addition to a pointy, 300ppi show, however it lacks buttons. As I discussed in my evaluate earlier this 12 months, I additionally favored that it doesn’t include adverts however discovered it’s not as quick because the Kindle Paperwhite. Nonetheless, now that I’ve used the e-reader for fairly a while, I discover it’s snappy sufficient, and the occasional lag isn’t as distracting as I imagined it’d develop into. The Libra 2 remains to be sooner, although.

I additionally didn’t point out the Kindle Oasis, which additionally has bodily page-turning buttons and which many think about a high-end system. At this level, although, it’s outdated and lacks some options even the bottom Kindle gives, like USB-C help. That makes it much less interesting at $249. In case you are keen to pay that a lot for a high-end reader, I’d check out the Kobo Libra 2 or the Kobo Sage as a substitute. The latter is $269, but not solely does it include buttons and USB-C, however it’s also possible to use it to take notes. The eight-inch display screen feels very cramped to jot down on, although, so I wouldn’t advocate it as a major note-taking system. 

Replace August twenty second, 2023: Vetted hyperlinks, adjusted costs, and added details about Barnes and Noble’s forthcoming Nook Glowlight 4 Plus e-reader.