Read Wherever You Want, Whenever You Want With the Best eReaders
If you're a book lover with a personal library at home, there's little chance you'd want to give up your books in exchange for an eReader — even if it was preloaded with all of your favorite titles. But you can still invest in one to conveniently enjoy countless stories anywhere you go. This compact device can hold an extensive selection of books, so you can read while traveling or under any lighting without having to lug around physical books or fiddle with book lights.
The number of eReader models available online can be daunting and may leave you wondering if you're better off sticking with your trusty paperbacks. To help you make an informed, stress-free purchase, we've researched and reviewed the most popular eReaders of 2023 and compiled a detailed buyer's guide covering everything you should know about these handy devices.
Comparing The Highest-Rated eReaders Of 2023
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: eReader: Best Overall
List Price: $139.99
There's pretty much no better general-purpose electronic reader on the market than the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite eReader — it's recently gotten a makeover, too. This popular model now has a bigger touchscreen, narrower edges, an adjustable warm light, longer battery life (up to 10 weeks!) and quicker page flips. The 6.8-inch screen is glare-free and can be adjusted to different brightness levels, allowing you to read in direct sunlight just as comfortably as in a dark room.
This eReader is available in 8 and 16 GB storage capacities, so you can hold thousands of books on this portable device. It weighs only 7.23 ounces and is waterproof and dustproof, making it convenient to use anywhere, whether relaxing in the tub or soaking up some sun at the beach. As a Kindle product, you can also unlock access to millions of books through Kindle Unlimited or use Audible (and some Bluetooth headphones) to enjoy your story hands-free.
Thanks to its long battery life, high-quality screen and compatibility with popular reading subscriptions, this eReader takes the top spot on our list.
Kobo Libra 2 eReader: User-Friendly
List Price: $189.99
Designed with comfort and convenience in mind, the Kobo Libra 2 eReader is a high-quality device that can make reading more enjoyable and accessible. This model features a 7-inch glare-free HD screen with adjustable brightness and blue light reduction technology. These user-friendly perks can help limit eye strain and allow you to read comfortably at night without impacting your sleep.
Weighing 7.5 ounces, the Libra 2 has an ergonomic design with curved corners and can be rotated so you can read your favorite books in landscape mode. You can quickly flip from one page to the next during binge-reading sessions thanks to its touchscreen and easy-to-use page turn buttons.
For hands-free reading, this eReader supports Kobo Audiobooks via Bluetooth wireless technology. It offers an impressive 32 GB of storage, capable of holding up to 24,000 ebooks, 150 audiobooks or a combination of both.
Lastly, it has a battery life that can last for weeks as well as an IPX8 waterproof rating to keep your digital library safe and accessible regardless of where you're reading.
Amazon Kindle Oasis eReader: Lightweight
List Price: $349.99
Weighing only 6.6 ounces, the Amazon Kindle Oasis eReader is the most lightweight option on this list, making it very portable and comfortable to use. Constructed from aluminum, this pick has a thin ergonomic design and a high-end texture that you won't find with any other model, giving it a slicker appearance and feel.
The eReader features a 7-inch screen, page turn buttons, adaptive brightness and customizable display settings for font size, text and more. This adjustability, combined with its excellent backlighting, helps to decrease eye strain while reading.
Built to handle long reading sessions, the Kindle Oasis boasts an impressive battery life that can last up to six weeks on a single charge. Interested in hands-free reading? Like other Kindle models, this eReader is compatible with Audible audiobooks through Bluetooth devices, so you can switch from reading to listening.
In addition to its IPX8 waterproof rating that ensures it's protected against moisture, this product comes with a one-year limited warranty in case you experience any issues.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus eReader: Versatile
List Price: $139.99
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus eReader is a tablet that is capable of helping you do more than just read. Like the other products on this list, this device supports access to Kindle and Audible libraries to meet your reading habits. But it can also be used for apps like Netflix, Zoom and TikTok, as well as to check your email, surf the internet and much more.
To do all this efficiently, this eReader boasts 3 GB of RAM and a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor. It has an 8-inch HD touchscreen and comes with either 32 or 64 GB of storage so you can hold plenty of books and easily switch between pages or adjust settings.
Since this option packs more powerful hardware, it's a bit bulkier to hold at 12.5 ounces. The good news is that the back of the device is made of textured plastic with a non-slip rubberized feel, so it's still easy to grip while you're reading.
The Fire HD 8 Plus is quite sturdy and can withstand accidental drops. In terms of its battery, this model offers up to 12 hours of battery life and supports wireless charging.
Kobo Elipsa Pack eReader: Great Display
List Price: $399.99
If you prefer a larger screen for reading (and writing), the Kobo Elipsa Pack eReader is worth taking a close look at. This model has an impressive 10.3-inch glare-free touchscreen designed for note-taking as well as reading. It features Carta 1200 e-ink technology to ensure a clear and responsive display that you can use to quickly flip through pages.
The Kobo Elipsa's screen brightness can be easily adjusted to suit your preferences — there's even a dark mode setting for reading at night. Depending on your visual settings, this eReader's battery life is very reliable and can survive for several weeks on a single charge.
Due to its large screen and overall size, this model weighs 13.5 ounces, so it's slightly heftier than other options on this list. The 32 GB storage capacity of the Kobo Elipsa still makes it easy to bring all your books and files with you wherever you go.
As far as accessories go, this pick comes with a stylus for efficiently navigating the display or making notes and a cover to put it to sleep and protect it when not in use.
Finding Your Next eReader: A Buyer's Guide
There are a variety of high-quality eReaders available on the market, each of which offers a different combination of features and hardware specs. We prepared this comprehensive buying guide so you can select the eReader that best suits your reading habits.
How To Choose The Right eReader
Screen Size
The standard size of an eReader is between 6 and 8 inches in diameter, making it about the same size as a paperback novel. This is convenient because your eyes may be used to the conventional font size and spacing of a physical book, though most devices allow you to adjust these details to suit your preferences. You can also adjust things like sharpness, contrast, brightness and color on different models, allowing you to customize your reading experience.
Support For Audiobooks
Potential eReader buyers should be aware that not all of these devices support audiobooks. If you're interested in a specific model or brand and you want to be able to read hands-free, you should verify that it not only supports audiobooks, but also supports the platform you prefer to listen to them on.
Storage
Most devices offer enough storage capacity for the average reader, spanning from 4 GB to 64 GB. For a rough idea of how many books you could fit on an eReader, 8 GB of storage is equivalent to around 6,000 ebooks. This impressive capacity might be worthwhile for avid readers who are constantly expanding their collection beyond their physical bookshelves.
Benefits Of Using eReaders
Taking Notes
You can improve your reading comprehension by underlining and making notes, which is a breeze to do with certain eReaders models. For devices designed to support note-taking, you can easily import and export files as needed to applications like Dropbox. Not only is this convenient, but it can be a more effective way to read than physical books for some people.
Many Books, One Device
Not sure which books to bring with you when you're traveling? By allowing you to download many titles onto a single portable device, eReaders do away with the struggle of narrowing down your options. These devices make it possible to transport thousands of books all at once on a single piece of hardware.
Dictionary
When it comes to learning and reading comprehension, many eReaders come equipped with a dictionary that you can use to look up words you aren't familiar with while reading. You can do this on most devices by pressing and holding down on the word you want to look up.
Avoid Losing Your Place
It's perfectly normal to forget where you are in a book from time to time. This is a common problem for bookworms, but it doesn't have to be with an eReader. These devices can automatically save your place so you never lose your page again.
Save Space
There is no need to buy and assemble another huge shelf for all your books — with an eReader, a few gigabytes of storage space are needed for your entire library. Plus, if you want to organize and track your books on an eReader like a pro, there are many settings and free apps available that can help you out.
Fewer Trips To The Library Or Bookstore
Reading on an eReader means that you don't have to leave the house to pick up your next book. Many library systems now allow patrons to check out ebooks online. There's also no obligation for you to return them — after the due date has passed, you'll simply no longer have access to the ebook and someone else will be able to read it. That means no more worrying about late fees, either.
Easy Navigation
It's wonderful to have a large collection of books at home, and if you keep them well-organized, you won't have any trouble finding what you need. However, an eReader can make it far more convenient to quickly find a quote or passage for research purposes. Simply enter your search terms, and you can quickly and easily navigate to the page or section you're looking for in a few clicks (or taps).
People Also Ask
How long will my eReader last?
The way an eReader is used, how it's charged and its environment all have a significant impact on how long it will last. According to industry norms, a Kindle should last about five to six years, while Kobo models can usually withstand four to six years of use. Compared to e-ink models, Fire tablets have a much shorter lifespan of only two to three years on average.
Can my eReader read out loud?
Many eReaders support hands-free reading through Bluetooth headphones or a speaker. To hear text read aloud on Kindle devices, touch the screen to reveal the toolbar, then click the play button on the right side. The reading speed of the text-to-speech voice can be changed by tapping the icon labeled "Narration Speed." It should also provide the option to change the tempo.
Is an eReader better for the environment?
Electronic readers don't require the use of trees, ink or glue, and they don't take up as much room or weigh as much as traditional books do. Since an eReader doesn't just represent a single book but an entire bookshelf, carrying a greater number of books on your device results in a lower environmental impact per book.
Is my eReader safe for my eyes?
Electronic ink doesn't produce much glare because it's designed to be similar to the ink used on printed paper, which means it's easier on the eyes. eReaders usually come with adjustable brightness and color levels, such as warm light or dark modes, so you can customize your reading experience based on your environment and preferences.
Can using an eReader save me money?
Avid readers will generally be able to save money by purchasing ebooks. While ebooks are usually more affordable than physical books, some physical books on recent bestseller lists are the same price or slightly cheaper than their Kindle versions. Subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited are great investments if you want to gain access to millions of titles for a flat monthly fee.
