E-readers are one of the most versatile and worthwhile products you can buy. Unlike physical books, stocking your own digital library gives you long-term access to some of your favorite titles in a portable, user-friendly way. And since the text size is completely adjustable, you can also enjoy customized reading comfort with every use.
To help you discover which device best suits your preferences, we’ve reviewed the best e-readers available in 2025. The Kobo Libra 2 earned the top spot on our list for its high-resolution, touchscreen display and seamless library borrowing. Find the right reading gadget for you with help from our reviews and buying guide.
Looking for a waterproof touchscreen e-reader? Then you’ll definitely want to consider the Kobo Libra 2. As a connection to a world of limitless literary adventures, this e-reader can help you dive into the joy of reading without hesitation. Thanks to the overall waterproof design and impressive IPX8 rating, this e-reader can accompany you wherever you go.
The durability of this e-reader will save you money because you won’t have to replace it often. Plus, the pages contain sharp and crisp text that mirrors the feeling that reading from traditional paper offers. The font sizes, styles, and line spacing are adjustable, so you can change them according to your reading experience preferences. Plus, it has extensive format compatibility and seamless integration with library borrowing, making it our top choice.
Kindle offers the ultimate reading experience allowing you to look up definitions, highlight passages, adjust text size, font face, margins, line spacing, and translate words without leaving the page. The glare-free display gives you an authentic paperback reading experience, even when outdoors.
This e-reader holds thousands of books with 8GB on-device storage and free cloud storage for Amazon content. You can navigate the device with text-to-speech and enjoy audiobooks with this sleek Kindle 10th Generation. Plus, this e-reader is compatible with a range of formats, including PDF, JPEG, PNG, and AAX.
Nook has designed an e-reader with features every bookworm will love. The 6-inch, 300-dpi high-resolution device offers a paper-like reading experience and a built-in glare-free, scratch-resistant, and fingerprint-resistant screen. The screen can be set to automatically adjust according to indoor or outdoor brightness and you can depend on the long battery life that ensures weeks of uninterrupted reading without worrying about running out of juice.
With 32GB of storage, you can take your entire library with you wherever you go. Additional comfort features include a soft-touch design for easy grip and page-turning buttons. Font size and type are adjustable, allowing you to read just about anywhere without worrying about enough lighting.
There is a wide range of e-readers out there—from entry-level models ideal for those who just want to read books, to devices that offer good color quality for illustrations and images, audio capabilities, and video clips. Even if you don’t require all the bells and whistles and want a device you can use mainly for text reading, there are still some important features we highly recommend you look out for. Here is everything you need to consider when choosing the best e-reader for your needs.
Considering all the time you already spend in front of screens that emit blue light, which can strain your eyes, paperback reading can seem like a welcome relief. From phones and television screens to tablets and computers, there is no reason to place more strain on your valuable peepers.
Choose an e-reader that utilizes e-paper as this won’t cause any eye strain and the electronic ink (e-ink) reads just as it would on the pages of a printed copy. As with print, e-paper reading devices also prevent glare. If you enjoy reading while outdoors or taking your reader to the poolside or beach, this is a must-have feature to look for.
If you exclusively read text copy, there won’t be much need for high-quality image display features. However, if you plan to read magazines, children’s books, study material with images, or any other photo or image media, a full-color LCD screen is highly recommended. This allows magazines to appear very authentic and offers detailed image quality.
LCD screens may not be as lightweight as traditional e-ink readers and may also be larger in size. However, they are well worth it to enjoy your regular subscriptions and even video content in a more convenient way. Another thing to note with high-quality color screens is that the battery won’t last quite as long and of course, the extra features will cost a little more.
Most e-readers should have adjustable brightness levels for the screen as well as a backlight for nighttime reading. This is a feature worth checking for, especially if you read in bed or on an airplane where you may not have good light or don’t want to disturb others.
E-readers vary both in screen size and weight. High-definition color screens will be somewhat heavier than traditional e-ink readers. Weight can vary from 6 ounces to as much as 16 ounces, so keep in mind where you are using the device and the space required in travel bags.
Ideally, something that will fit in your handbag is what you’re after. This way your library of books can easily go with you to school, work, a coffee shop, and wherever your travels take you. If the device is mostly used at home for kids’ homework or bedtime reading, a bigger or heavier model probably won’t make too much of a difference to its convenience.
The only feature where hardcopy beats e-reading is that paperbacks don’t require a battery to open and close. Your device’s battery life is, therefore, a vital factor to consider when choosing a good e-reader. Imagine being in the airport or at the beach, just a few pages from the end of your book, and the battery dies unexpectedly.
Although the way in which you use your reader can largely influence the battery life, device battery life may last anywhere from 6 hours to two months. That’s a big difference. Check the charging time and also check how the manufacturer determines the battery life. Some manufacturers will state a battery life of one month for readers who use the device only 30 minutes per day with Wi-Fi turned off. If you are watching videos, streaming, or using the brightest settings, your battery will run out a lot faster. Every reader should come with a charger.
When you’re on the go, it’s easier and safer to have an audiobook whispering in your ears than gazing at a screen. Not all models have audio features and connections to Bluetooth speakers.
Some devices allow you to change the background color of the paper to achieve the desired color contrast. For example, you may prefer a beige color paper with black ink as opposed to reading straight black on white. In addition, most devices allow you to adjust the font size for comfortable reading. If you prefer large print books, consider how many levels of font sizing or enlargement the device accommodates.
It’s worth checking the file compatibility, especially if you want to open PDF documents and view images on your device. Not all devices support all file types. Depending on your requirements, you may want to check for Kindle Format.
Something you may not have thought to check when choosing your reading device is how it connects to the internet to download your books, magazines, newspapers, and more. Most devices are Wi-Fi enabled and once your book is fully downloaded you don’t need to be connected to read it. This option is great if you mostly have Wi-Fi access.
A 3G connection allows you to connect the same way as your mobile phone, whether or not there is a Wi-Fi hotspot. This is beneficial for traveling, commuting, or if you are often in places where you may not have access to a Wi-Fi connection. Not all devices are 3G equipped. You will need a SIM card for this which may be a separate purchase.
All e-readers will offer you access to more books than you can dream of reading in your lifetime. The archive, time limits, and buying and sharing options do however differ. When choosing your e-reader check whether there is a free trial period for a subscription, whether you are allowed to share books, and what the archive, buying, and borrowing terms and limits are.
This will depend on the reader you purchase. Some pricier e-readers allow you to sync to other devices, watch YouTube, and check email while others are purely for reading.
All screen technology emits blue light. However, due to the electronic ink technology, many e-readers are much less obtrusive than television, tablet, or smartphone screens.
Light-emitting e-readers can cause difficulty falling asleep if used just before bed, however, some readers don’t have a back-lit screen and therefore shouldn’t have any negative effect.
Expandable storage has mostly been phased out of e-readers, so although you may find one or two models that support this, the majority don’t.
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