Number 1: Kindle Voyage
Pros
The Kindle Voyage has a full HD e-ink display that is great for magazines, newspapers and comic books.
Cons
The 3G and ad-free versions cost close to $300.
Amazon consistently produces the best eBook readers available. The new Kindle Voyage continues this trend of innovation with its glass HD touchscreen and adaptive front lighting. There are several improvements to the Kindle line of eReaders, including touchpad page turns and excellent software improvements. With the launch of the Voyage, Amazon will introduce family sharing, which means you and a family member will be able to download each other's purchases.
The base version of the eReader costs close to $200. If you want to remove the advertisements or access Amazon's free 3G data, you'll have to spend an extra $90. Also, for as many years as eBook readers have been available, it's odd that Amazon hasn't adapted a color e-ink screen. Still, of all the eBook readers available, the Kindle Voyage is the best.
Number 2: NOOK GlowLight
Pros
The NOOK GlowLight offers easy access to millions of eBooks through the Barnes & Noble store.
Cons
The screen resolution isn't as high as other top eReaders.
The latest NOOK from Barnes & Noble doubles the storage capacity of its predecessor and presents more-than-adequate front lighting, making the NOOK GlowLight an ideal and convenient eBook reader. You can easily find and buy books in the online store, and the many features make it a great choice for any book lover. Its screen resolution isn't as great as other eReaders, but it does have a front-lit touchscreen that allows you to easily navigate the device and read in day or night. The GlowLight can store about 2,000 books in its 6.2-ounce body and let you read for up to eight weeks on a single charge.
Number 3: Kobo Aura H2O
Pros
The Kobo Aura H2O is waterproof, so you don't have to worry about taking it to the beach or pool.
Cons
This eReader does not support audiobooks.
Whether reading a paper book or an eReader, water has always been the greatest threat to your books. Fortunately, the new Kobo Aura H2O is a durable eBook reader with excellent waterproofing and a wide range of excellent features. Its 6.8-inch touchscreen is easy on the eyes, thanks to its high resolution and front lighting. It also has the capability to store up to 2,000 eBooks, and if you should happen to fill up the device, you can add an SD card for even more storage space. The Aura H2O does not support audiobooks, even though they are available on the Kobo store. The Kobo bookstore is a bit cumbersome to use, especially directly from the eReader. Still, because of its durability and excellent screen resolution.
Number 4: Kindle Paperwhite
Pros
The Kindle Paperwhite has a front-lit touchscreen.
Cons
There is no way to listen to audiobooks on the device.
When it comes to eBook readers, Amazon's Kindle line has become synonymous with the product category. The Kindle family owns significant market share in the eReader space, and even its mid-range Paperwhite is better than most flagship eBook readers. The base model is extremely affordable, but for an additional fee, you can also enjoy free 3G data and no ads.
The name Paperwhite stems from the eReader's unique e-ink screen. The 212 pixels per inch look amazing on a white screen as opposed to the grayscale typical of most eBook readers. The result is sharper text that is easier to read and more closely replicates paper books.
The display also yields high readability in any environment. Most notably, you can comfortably read the Paperwhite in bright sunlight without any glare, which is one of the biggest advantages to using a dedicated eBook reader over a tablet or smartphone. The screen is front lit, which means LED lights along the edge of the display shine down onto the digital page, not from the back of the screen like many other eBook readers and tablets do.
The Paperwhite does not have any tactile buttons. Instead, all controls are mapped to parts of the touchscreen, which you can adjust to your liking. By default, the top part of the screen hides the menu controls, and tapping that area will show all available choices.
Perhaps the only real drawback we can find with this device is its lack of support for audiobooks. With no headphone jack, listening to audiobooks simply isn't an option.
This isn't the lightest eReader we reviewed, but it still scores high marks for portability. The device weighs just over 7 ounces and is thinner than a pencil. The rubber casing is comfortable and easy to hold, and the wide variety of covers help protect the device.
The Paperwhite's impressive battery life further augments its overall portability. You won't be tethered to an outlet with this device, which boasts nearly an eight-week battery life. It connects to the internet via Wi-Fi, and when online, the Whispersync feature will download purchases and upload bookmarks across all Kindle devices. If you need to access the bookstore outside of your home network, you can pay extra for a device with free 3G data. You can also pay for an ad-free version of the Paperwhite.
There are a handful of extra features and reading-specific apps built into the eReader. The most useful feature the Paperwhite offers is automatic syncing across all of your devices. When you start reading a book on your Kindle, the Whispersync automatically synchronizes your last page location across all of your devices that have the Kindle app. For serious readers, the Paperwhite also allows you to add margin notes, create bookmarks and highlight text. There's even a built-in dictionary you can use to look up words without losing your place.
Number 5: Kobo Aura
Pros
The Kobo Aura can store around 2,000 eBooks.
Cons
The touch controls are sporadic and sluggish.
The Kobo Aura is yet another eBook reader that is largely unknown to the book-loving masses. That could all change soon though, as the Aura proves to be an impressive piece of hardware that handily contends with the major players in the eReader sphere. The device isn’t without a few glaring limitations, but overall, it is worth a serious look, particularly if you haven't yet bought a dedicated eReader.
The first thing you’re likely to notice about the Aura is its smooth display; the screen is completely flush with the surrounding bezel. On the backside, the device is coated in a gripable rubber-like material that enables a firm but comfortable hold. Aside from logos, not much physically distinguishes eBook readers these days, but the Aura is notably elegant and sleek.
If the aesthetics don’t impress you, the readability of this device certainly will. The integrated edge lighting of the Kobo Aura is among the best we’ve seen and permits easy reading in any environment. Additionally, its resolution of 212 pixels per inch is higher than most of the other digital readers in our lineup. This means the text appears crisp and dark, without the soft edges or slight blurring you may see on a lower-resolution eBook reader.
Another standout feature of the Aura is its portability. When you compare eBook readers, this one is definitely among the lighter and smaller reading devices on the market. It also boasts much more local storage than eReaders of comparable size: a whopping 4GB that can hold approximately 3,000 titles. If you are a heavy reader who wishes to carry your entire library with you, the Aura has expandable memory. It’s hard to imagine needing more space than what is already included, but the option to expand is definitely nice.
The Kobo Aura is an impressive eBook reader, but the device has a few limitations that are hard to ignore. In our testing, touch responsiveness was slightly inconsistent. Every once in a while, page turns seemed sluggish, and it took a few seconds for page swipes to register.
There’s also the issue of the Kobo eBook store. Of all the eBook systems, Kobo is the weakest. Its selection isn’t as vast, and we found some titles to be more expensive than competitors. Oddly, the eReader doesn’t support periodicals. The Kobo Aura also costs quite a bit more than other leading digital readers, so for the price, we’d expect access to more reading material, including newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
Number 6: Kobo Glo
Pros
The Kobo Glo's screen resolution matches the Kindle Paperwhite and Nook GlowLight.
Cons
This eReader's battery lasts half as long as other digital readers.
Compared to other eReaders, Kobo probably isn't a name that most people recognize. The Canadian company is a smaller manufacturer of e-ink devices, but with its wide variety of digital readers, Kobo has something for everyone. The Kobo Glo is a front-lit eBook reader with many of the features that you find in devices like the Kindle Paperwhite and the Nook GlowLight, but it does not have the same level of simplicity and functionality of those devices.
Illumination is clearly the next frontier for cutting-edge eReaders, and Kobo wasted no time capitalizing on this growing trend with the Glo digital reader. The device is outfitted with Kobo's proprietary ComfortLight, which uniformly distributes ambient light across the screen. The Glo’s lighting is right on par with other leading front-lit readers, though the company claims the uniformity of the lighting transcends that of its competitors. We didn’t notice that much of a difference between the competing devices in that regard, but the Kobo Glo undeniably delivers an impressive reading experience. The light is remarkably even, with no irregular blemishes or bright spots, which makes the device completely readable in any environment. The screen also has a high contrast ratio – among the highest of any eReader we reviewed – that renders ultra-sharp text. We particularly like that turning the light on and off is as simple as pressing a button at the top of the eReader.
The only minor drawback in terms of readability is the Glo's minimum brightness; it’s a little too bright for the lowest setting, which might bother some people.
Like most dedicated eBook readers, the Kobo Glo was built for portability. Its small, featherweight design is ideal for long reading sessions at home or on the go. Additionally, integrated Wi-Fi enables you to connect to any wireless network to download new books. From a design perspective, the Glo is highly aesthetic, with an attractive chassis that’s available in four colors.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the Kobo Glo and other well-known eBook readers is its shorter battery life. The Glo’s battery can last approximately one month, assuming roughly 30 minutes of use each day. While it’s not probable that you’d go longer than 30 days without the ability to recharge, it is nearly half of what some other competing devices offer.
Kobo isn’t particularly known for its eBook store. However, you can instantly connect to it on your Kobo device and download new books. The eBooks are more expensive than the competition and, not surprisingly, Kobo’s selection isn’t quite as vast as big-name retailers, particularly when it comes to periodicals. Beyond that, you can sign up for 14-day trial subscriptions to magazines and newspapers but cannot purchase single issues.
The device has an approximate book capacity of 1,000 titles, which is typical of dedicated eReaders. For the rare bibliophile who fears that capacity simply won’t suffice, the device offers expandable memory up to 32GB.
If a highly customizable eReader and reading experience are important to you, the Kobo Glo is an excellent option to consider. The reader offers all of the basic features we look for in stand-alone eBook readers, including adjustable fonts, bookmarking and automatic eBook syncing across all of your devices.
Some of the unique reading features available on the Glo include Kobo Picks and Reading Life. Kobo Picks makes recommendations for books based on your past selections and preferences. Reading Life connects to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, so you can share what you’re reading, notes you’ve taken, and favorite quotes or passages. Kobo is definitely ahead of the curve in terms of social features on an eBook reader.
Number 7: Kindle
Pros
The Kindle has a touchscreen display.
Cons
The screen resolution is only 800 x 600.
The old versions of the Kindle were always affordable, but their design was ages apart from the current trend in mobile devices. Fortunately, the new Kindle has some big improvements without the higher price. Its controls and features are similar to the Voyage and Paperwhite, so if you're curious about eBooks, the new Kindle is a low-cost entry.
When compared to the Fire tablets, the Kindle does not offer nearly as much content. It is great for eBooks, magazines, newspapers and even comics, but its low-resolution screen doesn't do justice to images. It has a low-functionality web browser, so you cannot stream movies, play games or listen to audiobooks.
Although the new Kindle has a touchscreen display, its resolution hasn't improved. It still has a 6-inch screen, with only 800 x 600 resolution. Also, the battery has not improved with this new design, though with a 28-day charge, it is still far better than the Fire tablets.
While its flaws are evident, they also keep the price low. For those who've never used an eReader, the low-priced Kindle is a great point of entry. The charm of eReaders is the focus on reading. You don't have to worry about distracting apps or games. If you like the simplicity of the dedicated eBook reader platform, you can upgrade to something with more features, like a Voyage, with your next purchase.
Number 8: ECTACO jetBook Color 2
Pros
The ECTACO jetBook Color 2 has a full-color e-ink screen.
Cons
You don't have access to an online bookstore.
The ECTACO jetBook Color 2 is hardly your garden-variety eBook reader. Originally designed for educational markets, the device is the first dedicated eReader with a color e-ink screen. ECTACO deserves credit for such an ambitious and uncharted effort, but the color screen fails to impress for an eReading device, particularly considering the hefty price tag.
The 9.7-inch screen is a no-glare, front-lit display, offering readability in virtually any environment. Add to that the color-enabled screen, and the jetBook Color 2 delivers a unique reading experience that sets it apart from its monochromatic counterparts. Unfortunately, the color screen isn’t that impressive and doesn’t justify the price that rivals a high-end LCD tablet. The colors appear dull, and the background is noticeably gray. This is simply a flaw of e-ink technology and its inability to render high-contrast colors.
Another issue with the jetBook Color 2 is that it is the least portable device in our eReader reviews. It weighs roughly a pound and a half, so most people will find it takes two hands to comfortably hold the device. The device also doesn’t have its own eBookstore, so you’ll have to download non-proprietary eBook files on your own.
Despite its drawbacks, the ECTACO eBook reader delivers some unique and appealing features, particularly for students and other educational readers. Aside from its ability to display picture books in color and highlight text, the eReader comes preloaded with dictionaries, a vocabulary builder, a graphing calculator and comprehensive file support. Additionally, it supports audiobooks and has a text-to-speech feature that will read content aloud to you. Multi-language support also makes it a good option for international or multilingual readers. Considering these features and others, there’s no denying that the jetBook Color 2 can be a useful device. But the leisure reader certainly won't get the most enjoyment out of it.
Number 9: Onyx Boox M96
Pros
You can download multiple popular reading apps, including Kindle.
Cons
The interface is difficult to use, especially if you’ve downloaded several eBooks.
Most eBook readers send you to a single digital storefront, and you have to hope the books and magazines you want are available for a good price. The Onyx Boox M96 is an Android eReader, which means you can download a variety of reading apps, rather than using the built-in reader. If you like a particular store, you can download the reading app affiliated with that store and use it to purchase and read books. This freedom also allows you to download third-party eBooks that may not be on a major digital storefront. Unfortunately, the M96 is plagued with a poor design and a difficult user interface. While this eReader gives you access to the most variety, it's more cumbersome to use is priced much higher than most other eBook readers we reviewed.
The Onyx Boox M96 has a huge screen at 9.7 inches, but its resolution is not as great as other eReaders. Also, it lacks a front-lit screen, so you cannot read in the dark. The device itself is surprisingly hefty for its relatively small size. At less than half an inch thick and under 10 inches long, it looks small, but it weighs over a pound, more than most other eBook readers.
The best aspect of the M96 is its open platform. With its Android 4.0 operating system, you can download multiple reading apps, which then give you access to digital storefronts. For example, you can download the Kindle reading app and then buy eBooks from Amazon’s bookstore. The eReader comes with 4GB of storage space, allowing you to download about 3,500 books.
Unfortunately, if you download and store several books, you’ll quickly learn that navigating the menus and finding books is a pain. The interface is clunky, and most of the apps do not work properly with the M96’s unique design. Even though there are buttons to move forward and backward, if you are reading a book through the Kindle app, you can only turn pages with the included stylus. In addition to the disappointing interface, the battery lasts half as long as other eBook readers. You can read for roughly two weeks with the Wi-Fi turned off, compared to the standard 30-day battery life we’ve become used to.
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