I’ve read 34 books this year and these are my favorite e-readers

Overview

Table of Contents

Listen, I, too, tried to be loyal to physical books. While you can’t replace the feel of paper, the beauty of bound hardcovers, and the ritual of turning the page, an e-reader brings convenience and portability that, yes, a book can’t beat. Sure, you can throw a book in your tote bag, but what about an entire library?

When you think of e-readers, your first thought is likely an Amazon Kindle, and while it wasn’t the first e-reader to hit the market, it indeed became the one to dominate the market. While Kindles are great — there’s certainly no denying that — there is a whole world of e-readers that are equally wonderful. And Prime Day might just be the best time to buy one.

Which e-reader is the best?

From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Choosing the right e-reader is a decision based on price, the need for special features, and where you get your books from. For instance, a loyal Barnes & Noble shopper might prefer a Nook over a Kindle simply based on where they like to shop.

To decide what kind of e-reader is right for you, consider the overall design that best suits you. Is a touchscreen okay, or do you need buttons? If you want to take your e-reader near water, whether it be a bathtub or a pool, you’ll also need to make sure you have a waterproof device.

Plus, it’s worth considering special features. Are you an annotator who wants to write in the margins of your e-book? Or are you sick of multiple devices and need a tablet that you can read and stream on? All of these questions help you determine which e-reader or tablet will blend into your habits.

Can you read on an iPad?

The iPad Mini is just the right size for reading compared to a larger model like the iPad 9th generation.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Yes, you can read on an iPad, and as an iPad reader, I highly recommend it. iPads come with the Apple Books app. However, other reading apps, including Libby and the Kindle app, give access to the world of books.

For this reason, I included an iPad in my testing. The iPad Mini made my list because it is the perfect size to feel like you’re reading a paperback novel versus larger iPad models like the 9th generation (pictured above), which feel like reading a clunky magazine.

Our Pick

Read our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite.

Who it’s for:The Kindle Paperwhite is for everyone. It hits all the marks and is the gold standard of e-readers. Getting books onto your Kindle is easy, whether buying through the Kindle store or borrowing through Libby. At 6.8 inches, it’s just the right size that feels nice in your hand, especially since it’s lightweight and your arm won’t get tired while holding it up. Plus, it’s the best choice for people on the go. With its compact size, it even fits in a small purse, and because it is waterproof, you’ll never stress about spilling water on it.

Why we like it:The Kindle Paperwhite was the last e-reader I tested, so I’d seen it all when I got to it. Immediately, I was struck by how zippy it was. Having gone through a series of e-readers that lagged on menus and turning the page, the Kindle Paperwhite zoomed through, switching between books and menu screens. And despite working hard, its battery life feels never-ending, lasting not just weeks but months at a time.

The matte screen is fantastic. It’s just the right size, with customizable fonts in case you need to increase the size. I could read comfortably in any environment, as the screen looks just like a printed page despite being high-tech. Plus, the screen is responsive, quickly reacting to taps and swipes when you want to turn the page.

As an avid reader, my bank account simply can’t handle my habits, so thankfully, there’s Libby. Getting my library books onto the Kindle Paperwhite through Libby is simple. I just hit “Send to Kindle” on the Libby app, and they’re in my Kindle library the next time I open it as long as my Kindle is connected to WiFi.

The Kindle Paperwhite is a significant improvement over the flagship Kindle because it is waterproof. While not everyone is concerned about reading at the beach like myself, the Kindle Paperwhite’s waterproofness is a significant perk in the case of accidents like spilled water bottles in backpacks.

If I were to think of ways to improve the Kindle Paperwhite, I’d maybe wish it had side buttons to turn the page like the Nook Glow does. However, the Kindle’s touchscreen is so responsive that you don’t need it — it’s just a personal preference of how you like to turn the page on your e-reader.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Read our full review of the Amazon Kindle Scribe.

Who it’s for:If looking through your bookshelf, your books have dog-eared pages, highlighted lines, and scribbles in the margins, your instinct might be that an e-reader isn’t for you, but I’d like to introduce you to the Kindle Scribe. With an included pen that magnetically attaches to the side of this e-reader, it’s ready for all your handwritten thoughts. The pen moves nicely across the screen, mimicking the texture of writing on paper. In addition to a library of books, the Kindle Scribe also comes with a journal section where you can take notes. The notes feature is especially great for students who want to handwrite notes and convert their handwriting into text.

Why we like it:The Scribe is shockingly big at 10.2 inches compared to the Kindle Paperwhite. That screen size does make it a little more awkward to hold, but for writing or annotating, it’s optimal. Unlike other tablets (I’m looking at you, iPads) that require you to buy a pen separately, the Kindle Scribe comes with a pen that conveniently attaches to the side so it doesn’t get lost. However, it’s not the most secure magnetic hold, so be careful of bumping off the pen accidentally.

Writing on the Kindle Scribe is a joy. Before testing this e-reader, I used my iPad and Apple Pencil to annotate readings, but I never loved the feeling of it because the screen felt too slick for the Apple Pencil. The Kindle Scribe does not suffer this problem, as the matte screen lends some friction to the pen, making it feel like you’re writing on paper. I really enjoyed writing with the pen, and I swear my handwriting looked better on the Kindle Scribe than it does on my iPad.

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Scribe’s battery life is excellent, lasting 12 weeks. Where it starts to differ is the user interface. In comparison to the Kindle Paperwhite, I found that the Scribe’s processing ran slow. It often lagged when starting to wake up or switching between journals or books. This is especially disappointing considering the price, which is over double that of the Paperwhite.

However, if you want to take notes but still want the convenience of an e-reader, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Kindle Scribe — make sure to grab it when it’s on sale during Prime Day.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Read our full review of the iPad Mini.

Who it’s for:There are so many devices that the modern person is meant to have. If adding an e-reader seems superfluous, I’d recommend a tablet that allows you to read books, stream shows, and browse the internet. The best tablet for reading? It’s the iPad Mini.

But why is this iPad better than any other? It’s all about the size. At 8.3 inches, it comfortably sits in your hand and is about the same size as a paperback.

Why we like it:Before testing these e-readers, I read using my 9th-generation iPad, and my main complaint was always the size. After 30 minutes of reading, my hand and wrist would strain holding up all 10.2 inches of the screen. That’s why the 8.3-inch display of the iPad Mini was such a treat. Reading with the Mini made me feel like I was holding an actual book rather than a laptop screen.

Unsurprisingly, the iPad Mini has the most computing power of all the e-readers on this list. It jumps between apps and turns pages without an ounce of hesitation. Plus, it offers the most expansive ways to read books. You can read using Apple’s built-in Apple Books app or download and read within the Kindle and Libby apps. And unlike most e-readers, you can read comics and graphic novels in full color. Plus, it has far more storage than any other e-reader at 64GB — another big reason to take the tablet route.

Despite my love of the iPad Mini, I have some beef, most of which is with the screen. While I love its overall size, it has a substantial glare problem. I’ve found this to be true with any iPad I’ve read on; the slick glass screen has a glare in almost any environment. That’s no surprise in the sun, but even at night, I found the screen to be a little too shiny, causing my eyes to have some trouble focusing. This does have a fix; if you want your iPad screen to look more like the matte of a Kindle, a screen protector such as Paperlike creates that effect.

Additionally, compared to e-readers, which provide months of battery life, the iPad Mini only gets you hours. If you’re reading for a couple of hours a day, you’re probably only charging the iPad once a week, which isn’t a big deal but certainly more than a traditional e-reader.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Who it’s for:If you’re a Barnes & Noble customer, then you might be inclined to go for a Nook. If so, go with the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus. With its soft glow, the anti-glare screen reads well in any environment, especially at night. If you miss the buttons on old Kindle models, the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus comes with page forward and back buttons on each side, negating the need to swipe ahead or back (but you can still do that if you prefer). It’s also waterproof, making it safe for your summer vacation. However, be wary that it runs a bit buggy, so don’t expect brilliant computing power here.

Why we like it:The Nook certainly didn’t provide the smoothest reading experience among all the e-readers I tested. It runs slow, taking several seconds to load books from the library and even lagging when turning the page. The touchscreen is pretty unresponsive; several times, I felt like banging my fingers against the screen to get it to respond. Plus, I found it doesn’t automatically connect to WiFi, and I had to reconnect it whenever I came home from using it in the wild.

However, negatives aside, the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus has its merits. It has the most storage of any traditional e-reader I tested at 32GB (the Kindle PaperWhite Signature Edition also houses 32GB of storage). Plus, I love the page-turning buttons on each side. Since the touchscreen tended to lag, I preferred using the side buttons; the top moved a page forward, and the bottom moved a page backward. Plus, it’s nice to have the buttons on both sides as I read at night in bed, and I can comfortably use the controls no matter what side I’m lying on. When I eventually started testing the Kindle Paperwhite, I quickly realized how much I missed the buttons of the Nook.

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the GlowLight 4 Plus is waterproof, which is not true with all Nooks. Although its battery life is shorter than that of the Kindle’s, it still lasts for about four weeks, meaning you’re only charging it about once a month.

Keep in mind, if you’re a frequent Libby user, it’s extremely difficult to upload the ePub files to the Nook requiring several steps and access to a Windows computer to do so.

The Good

The Bad

Details

Over several weeks, I tested each of these e-readers, reading at least one book per device. I evaluated their ease of use on every level, from the size of the e-reader to the user interface and overall design.

I used the e-readers at different hours of the day, from bright sunshine to a dark bedroom, adjusting the brightness and warm tone settings. I also explored all of the font and display settings to see how customizable each was.

I also took into account how easy it is to get books on each e-reader. All e-readers came with a built-in bookstore, but I primarily read using the Libby app to bring my library books to the e-readers. That also helped me assess how easy it is to get library books on each e-reader.

Since each e-reader’s battery life supposedly extends over several weeks, I was able to assess how long the batteries lasted during testing.

I also looked into special features, including note-taking abilities.

Other e-readers I’m testingMy colleagues have tested the Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara Colour and had positive things to say about each e-reader. I am in the process of testing them myself, so I left them out of my recommendations for now. Once I complete my tests with them, I’ll update this page with my thoughts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying an e-reader is a far more significant investment than going to the bookstore. Plus, you still have to buy e-books. At first glance, it seems like an expensive adventure. Luckily, even with an e-reader, you can support your local library. With Libby, you can borrow and read audio and e-books from your local library and get them on your digital e-reader.

Libby has an iOS app and can instantly send books to your Kindle. If you don’t happen to have a Kindle or iPad, you can still upload your library books through Adobe Digital Edition. Aka, you can still support your local library — and not pay a single penny to read a new book.

Boston-based Shopping Reporter, Samantha Mangino, covers all things tech at Mashable, rounding up the best products and deals. She’s covered commerce for three years, spending extensive time testing and reviewing all things home, including couches, steam irons, and washing machines. She thoroughly vets products and internet trends, finding out if those cozy gamer chairs are really as comfortable as TikTok claims.