Best e-readers of 2024

Though nothing will replace the raw heft, smell, and smooth paper texture between your fingers as you turn the page of a good book, a good e-reader can replicate a similarly comfortable feeling. Some e-readers even offer IPX8 hardware -- so they can survive a quick dip in the water -- and software tools for in-book notes, definition readings, and highlighting, allowing you to save a list of new words and build up your vocabulary.

With the saturated e-reader market today, it's challenging to decide which one will work best for you. Below, I've compiled our list of the best e-readers that suit the needs of any reader, from affordable models with crisp, clear displays to expansive memory devices that can store an Alexandrian-Library amount of books.

Best e-reader overall

The Boox Go Color 7 is the ultimate e-reader. This lightweight portable device is great for anyone just starting out and getting more familiar with the digital reading world. It provides an intuitive, thin, book-like design with a clear, easy-to-read, and adjustable illuminated display. Its battery life is superb, outlasting most e-readers.

One of the best features of the Boox Go Color 7 is its Android 12 operating system. The Android base provides access to the Google Play Store and opens up the device to just about any reading app you could want, including Kindle, Libby, Viz Manga, Koreader, and more. It supports nearly open-ended compatibility for text formats, from comic books to textbooks to EPUB novels, so you can easily switch between all types of content.

The Go Color 7 also provides audio support with Bluetooth connectivity. You can easily pair a set of headphones and listen to audiobooks or your favorite reading tunes through Spotify or whatever music app you prefer. The built-in speakers aren't the best in quality, but they can help with pronunciation or listening to content in a pinch. Overall, it's an extremely well-rounded e-reader with many customization options and flexibility in how and what you read, making it the best choice for most people.

Best e-reader for students

Reading a novel isn't any less impactful on a color screen, but textbooks, non-fiction, and children's books are an entirely different story. The Kobo Libra Colour offers color pages, yet still uses e-ink technology. That means the Reader is easier on the eyes than traditional tablets and has an excellent 40-day battery life that tablets can't compete with.

However, the color screen isn't the only reason to consider the Kobo Libra Colour. The e-reader also has note-taking abilities, though you have to fork over another $70 for its stylus. Still, the Colour's notes answer complaints I had about models like the Kindle Scribe by integrating compatibility with Google Drive and the ability to scribble notes directly on book pages. Both these Colour and Scribe abilities are key features for students.

While I loved the Colour's unique features, it has a few downsides. Chief among them is the price, which will be upwards of $300 by the time readers add the stylus and a cover. Other features are in beta and are less refined, including Google Drive compatibility and Kobo's web browser tool. Still, for students looking for a well-rounded tablet that can be used for fun and school, the Kobo Libra Colour is a great option.

Best compact e-reader

With a six-inch screen, the Kobo Clara B&W is one of the few e-readers that can fit in something as small as a fanny pack. Despite its portability, it still has the space to store thousands of digital books. The screen can automatically adjust to the surrounding light, even adjusting the color temperature, allowing for glare-free reading and a better reading experience at night.

Another perk of the Clara is that it's waterproof, so it's more than capable of handling beach reads. The Reader supports books from the Kobo store, Kobo Plus subscription, and library books as well. It also allows you to read online articles without the glare of your smartphone with Pocket.

The Kobo Clara B&W impressed me with its long battery life as well, with one charge lasting for weeks. It's an excellent option for readers who need something compact and long-lasting.

Best e-reader for reading and writing

If you like to read with a book in one hand and a notebook in the other, an e-reader that allows for both reading and writing is the ideal choice. The Onyx Boox Go 10.3 is an e-reader that supports books as well as handwritten notes. While the Go 10.3 isn't the only device to support reading and writing, the number of third-party integrations answers some of my complaints about the Kindle Scribe. With support for Android apps thanks to its Android 12 OS, you can customize the Go 10.3 with apps like Libby, Kindle, Audible, and more. The Go 10.3 even supports Google Drive and OneDrive, so sharing your notes to your laptop or smartphone is painless.

The Go 10.3 also wins points for its design and writing experience. The e-reader has a sturdy build, and I found note-taking to feel just like writing on paper, with only a minor lag for line drawing. Unlike writing with pen and paper, text recognition turned my handwritten notes and markups into typed text. The Bluetooth connection also made listening to audiobooks from headphones easy.

One of the key features that impressed me is battery life. I read two books, listened to a 14-hour audiobook, and took extensive notes, and still had a 25% charge remaining after all of that. That impressive battery life is one of the biggest reasons to choose an e-reader with note-taking abilities over a fully-fledged tablet.

Best e-reader for kids

"If it breaks, we replace it," is a nice two-year warranty guarantee offered with their Amazon Kindle Paper White Kids e-reader, in the event that, well, your child destroys it. Amazon specifically designed this e-reader for children's use, with a durable exterior and a magnetic cover to resist scratches. It even offers learning tools and built-in parental features.

However, this tablet is not a toy despite its durable form factor and overall friendly UI.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids is an e-reader made for reading. It does not include any apps, videos, or games, and instead is built to establish healthy reading habits. It contains The Parent Dashboard, allowing parents to add books from their account to the child's library, see their reading progression, set a bedtime, and adjust age filters.

A large 16GB storage capacity means they can put all their favorite books on the device and read at any time of the day using the adjustable front light and dark mode reading feature that inverts the colors to a dark background with white text for easier reading at night. The device includes a Vocabulary Builder and Word Wise app to help children build an extensive vocabulary by learning new words and their meanings. There's also an OpenDyslexic app to help children with dyslexia. Plus, you can choose from various kid-friendly designs like Ocean Explorer, Space Whale, and Unicorn Valley.

The bottom line: What is the best e-reader?

The Boox Go Color 7 offers the best of what e-readers have by providing a welcoming shift for hard copy book readers to an approachable and comfortable digital alternative reading. It provides lengthy battery life, a clear and legible color display, Android OS, and a lightweight design that makes for a well-rounded e-reader.

Everyone's needs differ.

Of course, everyone's needs differ. For portability and travel, the Kobo Clara B&W is a fantastic small option. For note-taking purposes, either the Kobo Libra Colour or Boox Go 10.3 are fantastic options, depending on whether you would prefer a color display or an Android OS -- both offer great writing experiences and compatibility with digital loaning services at libraries. You also can't forget the kids; the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is packed with options designed to improve young readers' skills and durable enough for most minor accidents.

How we picked the best e-reader

Pocket-lint's staff has reviewed dozens of the latest e-readers from multiple brands. We selected each device on this list based on our own hands-on testing. After choosing our top-ranked e-readers, we sorted out the different features to find what sets each one apart. That makes it easier to find the e-reader that matches your reading priorities, whether that's price, size, or features.

FAQ

Q: How do you choose an e-reader?

When selecting an e-reader, consider your relationship with books. Do you own a lot? Do you like large sans-serif fonts? Do you tend to read everywhere and have to find good lighting or escape the rainfall?

If you're like me, with an extensive library of hundreds of books (and know you'll buy more), you'll want to look into an e-reader with plenty of onboard storage and the option to add an SD or microSD card for additional storage. If you don't want to worry about constantly charging your device and want to hone in on immersive reading instead, be sure to look for a device with a long battery life. A color screen will be best for those who like reading all sorts of content. Finally, if you want a more all-purpose device, choose an option with note-taking capabilities and access to additional apps.

Q: What's the difference between e-readers and tablets?

E-readers are like tablets, except they are specifically designed for reading digital books and other e-book file formats. Most use e-ink technology -- a type of display that does not emit light -- to simulate the feeling of reading a book. E-readers usually have anti-glare displays, a lightweight and more compact body, a lower price, and a higher battery life. You'll also notice that a few e-readers are waterproof, which is less common with tablets.

Tablets are multi-use devices with LCD or OLED displays for high-resolution images and videos. They have multiple applications that are unrelated to an e-reading experience. Though tablets can have apps designed for reading eBooks (Apple's Books, Amazon's Kindle App, Libby/Overdrive), they're more often used for multifunctional features like streaming videos, playing games, web browsing, or social media.