The Very Best Ebook Readers
There's no doubt that ebook readers (also called e-readers) have made life easier. Books can also be costly and take up a lot of physical space, but that's not a problem with ebooks.
Naturally, when you hear e-reader, you may think Kindle. Amazon makes the very best ebook reader, which is why we have a different Best Kindles guide that breaks down the entire lineup. However there are a few Kindle alternatives out there in case you don't wish to support Amazon or you just desire a different set of features. WIRED's Gear group has invested 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 simple to have a look at books from a local library immediately. E Ink screens in many ebook readers are a little slow when you connect with them, but Kindles are some of the most responsive devices on the marketplace. It's worth noting that Kindles usually see high discount rates a few times a year, especially on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so try to wait for a sale.
Any of the models in Amazon's present lineup is better than the competitors, however the most recent Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite. I reviewed the Signature Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends), however the basic $140 design is quite capable too. I suggest paying a little extra for no advertisements. Both are waterproof, 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. But the 8 GB on the basic Paperwhite is plenty-- it can hold thousands of books. There's a Paperwhite Kids Edition too, which includes a totally free cover, a two-year carefree warranty, and a year of Amazon Kids+ providing access to kid-friendly material.
Best Kindle Alternative.
Kobo Libra 2.
Don't wish to give your hard-earned money to Amazon? A Kobo is here your next-best option. The business (owned by Japanese retailer Rakuten) has a massive 6 e-readers for you to select from, all of which sit someplace between $100 and $400.
Kobo slates have Overdrive combination, which makes reading library books basic, like on the Kindle. If you prefer, 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 rather 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, but 2 releases in 2022 show it's giving it the old college try again. The Glowlight 4e is a pleasure to read on, and I enjoy the physical page-turn buttons. The book shop also offers a lot of low-cost ebooks-- after binging the True Blood TV series, I found the books that inspired it for simply $3.
The process of trying to get a book from the library on a Nook is so frustrating that I had to put it down and come back at a later time with a cooler head. I advise checking out the full description in the booklet that is available in the box, but generally, you'll need to set up Adobe Digital Editions on your computer system and ensure you're signed in to your Adobe ID on your Nook prior to connecting 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 really like. Nevertheless, it's worth considering old Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks if you can find them for dirt cheap (or totally free). They're most likely fine for reading, though the older they get the slower they may be, with less effective batteries and laggy screens. See if you can test it out initially personally prior to you buy.
Amazon Kindle for $90: The basic Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs $110 without ads and is a few years old now. It's not waterproof, but it has a front light that makes it understandable in a dark room, and it includes Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks with earphones.
Kobo Elipsa for $400: This e-reader is simply plain fun thanks to the consisted of stylus, which lets you mark up books and PDFs , or produce note pads. Perfect for English class. Its big 10.3-inch screen is particularly good, but it comes at a heart-stopping expense.
Barnes & Noble Glowlight 4 for $150: This ebook reader has 32 gigs of storage, which is a bargain more than the Glowlight 4E (8 GB), and it has a night mode for more comfy reading.
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You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet.
You Don't Need Another Screen.
You don't have to buy a different best e-reader 2022 device 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 gain access to anywhere.
If you 'd still rather have one smart gadget you can continue reading and use for other purposes, have a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for suggestions.