The best e-readers allow you to view any book in your collection with ease. E-readers simplify novels. With an e-reader, you never have to guess which page you’re on! You can also store all of your books in one compact device, you can read in any type of lighting environment, and more! E-readers are also a great option for kids to explore.

Best Overall

  • Affordable and portable e-reader, offering a front light, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity

  • Supports audiobooks

  • Great value for money, it’s lightweight, easy to use, and offer 4GB built-in storage

  • Not waterproof

  • Lower resolution than the Paperwhite

There’s 8GB of storage built in which is enough storage for thousands of books. It connects via Wi-Fi and even offers Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to audiobooks as well as read. The battery is big enough to provide around four weeks of reading time, depending on things like light usage and how long you spend actually reading in a given session. Plus at only 0.34 inches thick, weighing only 6.1 ounces, and for a really affordable price, it is supremely portable, perfect for tossing into your beach or travel bag.

“We especially liked the Kindle Store application as thousands of books are at your fingertips to read, and tapping the purchase button allows the book to be downloaded and ready to be read in as little as two minutes.” — Rebecca Isaacs, Product Tester

Best Waterproof

  • Waterproof design is lightweight

  • Glare-free screen

  • The ad-free version is more expensive

  • USB charger not included

Best for Audiobooks

  • Alexa connectivity is handy for audiobooks and other apps

  • Access to the Kindle Unlimited Plan

  • Battery life could be longer

  • User interface is a bit slow

“Navigating the menus of the Fire HD 8 is mostly enjoyable, but multitasking becomes problematic if you’re used to the speed and fluidity of an iPad.” — Jordan Oloman, Product Tester

Best Splurge

  • Realistically imitates the look and feel of a physical book

  • Sturdy, ergonomic design

  • Waterproof

  • Expensive

  • Charging time could be quicker

Continuing the same trend Kindles have been following for a while, the 2019 Oasis, with storage of either 8GB or 32GB, aims to recreate the feeling of reading a physical text with a comfortable, ergonomic design, page turn buttons, and new e-ink technology. The 7-inch, 300 PPI Paperwhite display’s shade is adjustable for all lighting conditions. Night mode automatically tints the screen amber for midnight reading. Its waterproof IPX8 rating means it can survive a spill in the tub or pool, and you can enjoy Audible books by streaming through Bluetooth-enabled devices.

“The excellent build quality, feature set, and materials are worth the money, and that’s why it’s our best splurge.” — Sandra Stafford, Product Tester

  • Excellent 1024 x 600 IPS display
  • Family Library lets you link friends and family to share books

If you’re an on-the-go reader who doesn’t hesitate to toss your e-reader in your tote, you’ll also love the fact that the Fire 7 is highly durable. (It was rated as twice as durable than the iPad mini 4, not to mention, it’s cheaper, too!) For $30 more you can upgrade to the eight-inch Fire tablet, which will score you a larger reading screen and four more hours of battery life, but we find this seven-​incher to be a good balance between function and portability.

We like the Kobo Libra H20 for its unique, asymmetrical design, which can be used in either landscape or vertical orientation. It’s a quality, easy to use e-reader with both form and function. Users will appreciate the page-turn buttons, high-resolution display, and the choice of a black or white color scheme. Pages turn quickly, and the interface is easy to learn and use. Like all Kobo tablets, you’ve got access to OverDrive, allowing you to borrow ebooks from your participating library.

Best Design

Kobo Libra H20

  • Ergonomically friendly

  • Anti-glare, 7” screen

  • Asymmetrical, plastic design may not appeal to everyone

  • Bluetooth might be useful

With a slightly larger screen size of 7”, it uses Kobo’s Comfortlight PRO to adjust to all lighting conditions, reduce glare, and is designed not to interfere with your circadian rhythm. It’s also waterproof, rated to IPX8, making it useful for the pool, bath, or beach. Wi-Fi is also built-in, although it’s lacking Bluetooth, ad 8GB of included storage is enough to store close to 3,000 ebooks. For something a bit different, or if you love reading in landscape mode, consider the Libra H20.

“Page turns are fast and easy with either a touch or swipe action, and there’s also the option to navigate using the reading buttons located on the left edge of the device.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester

The impressive Kobo e-readers are giving Kindle a run for their money- we love the Clara HD for its affordable price point, quality build, and great lighting. The Clara HD’s Comfortlight PRO lighting system uses eight white LED lights and seven oranges, which work to create the perfect lighting, based on time of day. The high-resolution, six-inch screen is also easy to read at night or in low light, thanks to Comfortlight PRO.

Best Value

Kobo Clara HD

  • Affordable and lightweight e-reader, free of ads

  • Built-in access to OverDrive, allowing you to use your local library membership to borrow books via your e-reader

  • Not waterproof

  • Isn’t compatible with audiobooks

If you’re a frequent library user, all Kobo e-readers are great choices for you. They have built-in access to OverDrive. As long as your library uses that system, you can log in to your account and borrow books to read on your tablet, just as you would at the local library. Frequent readers will love this, and it saves money from constantly buying new titles.

While the device is slightly let down by its lack of waterproofing and incompatibility with audiobooks, the Clara HD is overall a top choice and a great alternative to the main competitors in the field.

“I appreciated the Natural Light feature. It introduces blue light throughout the day when you need it and then gradually decreases the amount to help you unwind.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester

The Kobo Forma impresses with its large, spacious screen, offering 8” of reading pleasure. If you’ve been put off from trying an e-reader by screen size, consider the Forma. It’s also waterproof, a useful feature, and is comfortable to hold and read, thanks to its clear and vibrant screen. Like the Libra H20, it can be used in landscape or portrait mode.

Best Large-screen E-reader

Kobo Forma

  • Generous 8” screen

  • Waterproof

  • Vibrant, clear display

  • Expensive

  • Low storage capacity

The Forma is Kobo’s premium e-reader, designed to compete with the Kindle Oasis. Although it’s the most expensive of Kobo’s products, the Forma is a top choice for its large screen, along with access to OverDrive and Pocket, which allows you to save articles to read later.

Ambient light or low light is no problem, thanks to the automatic light adjustments made by the Comfortlight PRO. While it’s unfortunate that the Forma can’t cater to audiobooks, if you don’t need this feature, it’s an amazing premium e-reader that’s worth the higher price.

“Because of the generous display, I didn’t have an issue with font size, but accessing font style, size, and margin and spacing preferences is easy from the reading menu.” — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester

Best for Kids

  • Battery life is not very long

The idea of an e-reader might be appealing if you’re wanting to save money at the bookstore, but be careful — ebooks can be similar in cost to paperbacks or hardbacks, especially if they are new releases from popular authors, textbooks, or in-demand novels. When selecting an e-reader, take note of what ebook supplier it’s tied to. Also, note whether the e-reader is enabled to access OverDrive, which allows you to check out books and audiobooks from your local library account. Selecting an e-reader that works with OverDrive is a fantastic way to save money on purchasing new ebooks, very useful for avid readers.

What to Look For in an E-Reader

Screen Type

Battery Life

In general, e-readers have stellar battery lives. Because the screens take up dramatically less power than smartphones or tablets, they can go days or even weeks without a charge. Some Kindles claim a whopping eight weeks of reading time (on 30 minutes of reading per day), so if you’re forgetful when it comes to charging, you’ll be set.

Durability

Planning to read at the beach? You’ll want an e-reader that can survive high tide. Some devices are designed to be waterproof and rated at IPX8, which means they can swim in depths of up to one meter for up to 60 minutes.