Computers made digital reading possible for the first time, but it wasn’t until eReaders came along that it was considered preferable to getting paper copy. eReaders do have finite battery life, but provide instant access to books and can store thousands of titles on a small device. Opting for e-ink displays means it’s easier on your eyes than colour screens, too. But in the last few years, e-ink devices have become about more than just reading. First it was taking notes, but now there are fully fledged tablets that use the technology. To reflect that, this article isn’t all about Kindles and Kobos – the leading eReader brands. You’ll also find devices from reMarkable and Huawei here, plus a recent Kindle that’s designed for note-taking.
Best eReader 2023
Larger display with colour warmth Longer battery life Great Audible integration USB-C
Price rise compared to previous model Charging not the fastest
This comes at a slightly higher price than the last generation but it is justified and the Paperwhite won’t disappoint should you have enough budget to afford one. It’s also worth considering the Paperwhite below, but the extra features won’t be worth it for most people.
Lightweight and portable IPX8 water resistance OverDrive integration No ads
Sluggish performance Screen doesn't sit flush Can't sync eBooks with audiobooks
With IPX8 water resistance, strong battery life and no ads anywhere, the Kobo Clara 2E has a lot going for it. Sub-par performance is undoubtedly its main weakness, while the screen doesn’t quite sit flush with the bezels and you can’t sync audiobook progress with your eBooks. But despite these inconveniences, the Clara 2E is the best Kindle alternative.
Impressive display Solid performance USB-C charging Decent battery life
Must pay extra to remove ads No waterproofing Scuffs easily Hard to sideload content
Alongside an improved display with backlighting and solid performance, it’s easier than ever to recommend if you’re considering a Kindle. Battery life is measured in weeks, while 16GB of storage is plenty for most people. However, it’s not perfect by any means. There’s no waterproofing of any description, while the durable body is prone to scuffs. Kindles in general are mostly limited to the Kindle Store for content, while the likes of Kobos let you sideload easily. Its affordable price point makes the regular Kindle a great option for most people, although it’s disappointing that you still have to pay $10/£10 extra to remove ads.
Great display Stellar battery life Solid performance USB-C and wireless charging
Ineffective auto brightness Some software inconsistencies Expensive No 4G model
While many specs are the same as the cheaper Paperwhite, this model has extras like auto-adjusting light sensors and wireless charging. With the same 6.8in screen, it’s debatable whether those are worth the extra money. Still, it’s a solid eReader, especially if the Oasis – which is now three years old and adopts a very different design – isn’t for you.
Waterproof Nice design Large screen
Kobo store
But by compromising slightly on the size of that screen (at 7in) you can get the device for a far more manageable price tag. Kobo’s eBook store remains unhelpful in terms of genre curation and user recommendations, but the Libra supports ePub (so you can sideload free eBooks from Project Gutenberg) and OverDrive (so you can get eBooks from your local library). This is a great choice of eReader.
Large, high-quality screen Great for reading Excellent battery life Stylus included
Poor note-taking experience Hard to organise notes Clunky Kindle software
If you want to fit more text on a page or read comics and magazines, this is the Kindle for you. It’s a great Kindle for reading, but most people can get that from a device that’s significantly cheaper.
Thin and light design Large display Great pen input Excellent software support
Pen sold separately Best features require subscription No backlight
Its primary focus is note-taking rather than reading books (although it can do both), with a large 10.3in display and excellent pen support. However, the compatible stylus is sold separately. But ReMarkable’s stripped-back software experience is one of the big reasons why it’s so good. The tablet runs on a custom version of Linux, offering extensive customisation and easy exporting to other devices via the companion app. However, the latter is one of several features exclusive to the $2.99/£2.99 per month ReMarkable Connect subscription. Considering its already high price tag in comparison to other e-ink devices, the ReMarkable 2 is only right for certain people.
Includes case and Kids+ subscription Waterproof Can be shared with an adult
Fire Tablets can be cheaper Kids+ subscription lasts just a year
It has a larger 6.8in screen with a 300ppi resolution as well as the modern flush design and an adjustable warm light made up of 17 LEDs compared to the regular Kids model with just four. There’s also waterproofing which could prove very useful and the price includes a case and year of Kids+ subscription. Performance is also much improved and you can share the Kindle with your child easily making it a great value purchase.
Huge screen Stylus support Limited software
Expensive Small native book selection
For a start, that 10.3in E Ink touch-responsive panel serves up a respectable 227ppi, paired to a backlight with 32 brightness levels and if you add in the company’s second-generation M-Pencil stylus, the MatePad Paper becomes a serious note-taking device too, with a respectable 26ms of latency and integrated handwriting to text conversion. The main caveat here isn’t really to do with the Paper’s hardware, so much as the lack of compatible reading experiences up for grabs on the Harmony OS-based software out the box. Huawei’s own Books app is a little light on content, so you’ll have to spend more time side-loading supported media (including ePub and PDF files) than you do on competing eReaders. At least 64GB of storage for all your media, plus up to 28 days of battery life per charge.
Warm light Premium metal design Up to 32GB
Expensive Micro-USB
This might have the most to offer, but the other Kindles in the range offer far better value for money with the Paperwhite remaining as the best all-rounder. The e-ink device vs tablet debate is more complicated when it comes to note-taking, but the lack of distractions on the former is something you might prefer. E-ink screens look much like paper and are easier on the eyes than the colour LCD or OLED panels of a phone or tablet. It also shouldn’t stop you from going to sleep like the bright lights emitted from colour displays, although the science surrounding the benefits of e-ink displays isn’t conclusive. So while your tablet could conk out halfway home, creating a genuine cliffhanger at the most inopportune point within your novel, an eReader could keep going for weeks or even months without needing a recharge. Many devices also let you play audiobooks. Read our Kindle Store vs Kobo Store comparison to find out more. Kindles don’t support officially epub, but there’s still a way to put epub ebooks onto a Kindle. As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.
