The most effective ereaders for 2025

Display measurement: 6” | Show sort: Black/white and colour E Ink | Decision: 300 dpi black & white, 150 dpi colour | Capability: 16GB| Battery life: As much as 42 days (30 min. day by day, 30% brightness, Wi-Fi/BT off) | Waterproof score: IPX8 (submergible to six ft for 60 minutes) | Heat gentle: Sure | Lock display screen advertisements: No | Textual content codecs: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR

Learn our full Kobo Clara Colour review

Our earlier decide for this class, the Kobo Clara 2E was a wonderful ereader with a crisp show, a heat glow and responsive, intuitive contact controls all housed in a water-resistant design that felt premium. When Rakuten introduced the Clara can be up to date, I frightened we’d see Kobo system with superfluous revamping to justify an inflated worth. Fortunately, that’s not the case. The Kobo Clara Colour not solely provides colour and a sooner processor, it’s simply $10 greater than the earlier era.

Because the identify suggests, this ereader provides colour to the web page, lending a bit vibrance to ebook covers, tables and graphs, and even the panels of graphic novels. The know-how comes from E Ink, within the type of the Kaleido 3 module that includes a colour filter layer on high of the usual black and white microcapsule layer. That ends in two completely different resolutions on one display screen: 150 dpi for colour and 300 dpi for textual content.

Full-color pages remind me of comedian ebook artwork from the ‘60s, muted however saturated. Shade makes ebook covers extra engaging and provides a bit selection to headings, and tables in some non-fiction books. It’s actually not a vital characteristic, but it surely provides vibrance and it’s enjoyable. 

There’s a slight distinction in readability between the colour and non-color model of the Clara. In case you look intently, you’ll be able to see a little bit of noise on the white components of the web page. That is as a result of added colour filter layer. It is not distracting and solely one thing I seen when evaluating the 2 generations side-by-side. but when absolute readability is your main aim, you might be higher off with a non-color ereader.

Most likely the extra helpful improve right here is the twin 2GHz processor, a bump from the Clara 2E’s 1GHz CPU. There’s a noticeable enchancment within the pace of the web page turns and navigating from the menu to the web page and again once more is almost instantaneous. As with the 2E, the Color hardly ever errors a swipe for a faucet or a web page flip gesture for a menu request.

The adjustable heat entrance gentle remains to be right here (it’s really a bit hotter on the Color) and makes studying at evening straightforward on the eyes. The working system is identical, with intuitive entry to the Kobo retailer, your private books and titles out of your native library by way of Overdrive. You possibly can customise your studying expertise with choices for font, font measurement, line spacing, margins and so forth. Kobos don’t have a solution to save a bunch of show settings just like the Kindle does, so I’d like to see that added with future OS upgrades. However for now, the customizations are simply sufficient to get your ebook the way you need it to look.

The Color is almost an identical in form and measurement, and has the identical premium really feel because the 2E, although the plastic has a grainier end. The bezels are noticeably much less flush with the display screen now, although that didn’t alter my studying enjoyment.

Now that it prices $150, the Kobo Clara Color is $40 greater than the bottom mannequin Kindle. However the waterproof construct, heat entrance gentle, responsive controls and lack of advertisements (which value $20 to eliminate on Amazon’s system) make it price it. And, in nice information for the right to repair crowd, it’s even designed to be user-repaired as soon as it falls outdoors of guarantee via a partnership with iFixit. 

Rakuten nonetheless makes the Kobo Clara BW, which is almost an identical to our earlier “greatest total” decide. It would not endure from the slight readability loss that the colour overlay presents, but it surely additionally nonetheless has the older processor.   

In fact, in case you already personal a mountain of Kindle books, you might need to keep on with Amazon’s system. In that case, the very best Kindle is Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite. It prices $160 and was not too long ago up to date with a extra highly effective processor and new E Ink tech that makes it exceptionally speedy whereas displaying high-contrast textual content. The nice and cozy gentle is nice and the flush entrance display screen feels premium. Yet one more consideration, now that Amazon now has its personal colour mannequin too, is the Colorsoft, however at $280, it’s considerably costlier than the Clara Color and even the Paperwhite Signature Edition.

Display measurement: 6” | Show sort: Black/white E Ink | Decision: 300dpi | Capability: 16GB | Battery life: 6 weeks | Waterproof score: None | Heat gentle: No | Lock display screen advertisements: Sure | Textual content codecs: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP via conversion

In case you simply need to learn books, and haven’t any want for the perks that the fancier ereaders convey (colour, waterproof score, heat gentle, and many others), then the bottom mannequin Kindle is for you. The six-inch, non-flush show is housed in a textured plastic that feels much less premium than, say, the Paperwhite and even the 2 Kobos on our listing, however nonetheless feels lots sturdy. And it’s sufficiently small to slot in a coat or again pocket making it very travel-friendly.

It’s unlucky that the 2024 mannequin is $10 greater than the 2022 mannequin when not a lot has modified, but it surely’s nonetheless the most cost effective ereader from any of the main producers. And if we all know one factor about Amazon, it’s that the corporate loves a great sale, so that you’ll probably discover it on low cost in case you can maintain out for Prime Day or Black Friday offers.

The reader is a no-frills gateway to the very best of what the Kindle ecosystem has to supply, together with Kindle Exclusive titles, with books by established authors in addition to newer, self-published writers; Kindle Unlimited gives the widest choice of any subscription-based studying service on the market; and Audible Originals is made up of narrated titles and podcasts you’ll be able to solely hear via a Kindle system or Amazon-owned app.

In case you like to change between audiobooks and ebooks, Kindle is the way in which to go. While you purchase each iterations of a title, you not solely get a reduction, however the Whispersync characteristic strains up the place you might be within the e-printed model with the narration, too. Say you hear for an hour after which need to learn – the synchronization permits you to decide up on-screen the place you left off audibly. (Although we should always level out you can’t hear and skim concurrently on the identical system.) In assessments, the characteristic was pretty correct, getting me shut sufficient on the web page or within the audio to determine my spot.

Web page turns are faster on the brand new mannequin however I’m dissatisfied that there’s nonetheless no solution to regulate the zones and responses to touchscreen gestures, like there may be on each Kobo and Boox units. Kindles all have a really slim strip on the left for going again a web page and I’m continually lacking it and going ahead as an alternative. Although swipes usually work properly.

Most likely probably the most noticeable lacking characteristic is the 6-inch display screen’s lack of heat gentle. In comparison with any ereader with that possibility, the display screen on the usual Kindle seems harsh and bluish, but it surely’s nonetheless far simpler in your eyes than a telephone or pill display screen. There’s loads of customization for the font, measurement and margins, too. You possibly can even save your settings as a “theme,” one thing not provided by different units. I created one with bigger textual content and wider line spacing known as “drained eyes.”

Some folks gained’t be bothered by the lock display screen advertisements that come normal on this Kindle (until you pay $20 to take away them). They’re pretty innocuous, largely selling Kindle ebook offers or particular titles (it’s not such as you’ll see promos for TVs or robotic pool cleaners). Personally, I like with the ability to set the sleep display screen to the ebook cowl of what I’m at the moment studying, but it surely’s straightforward to recover from that if all you need is a extra handy solution to eat books on the lowest worth.

Display measurement: 7” | Show sort: Black/white and colour E Ink | Decision: 300 dpi black & white, 150 dpi colour | Capability: 32GB | Battery life: Weeks | Waterproof score: IPX8 (submergible to six ft for 60 minutes) | Heat gentle: Sure | Lock display screen advertisements: No | Textual content codecs: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR

When Kobo got here out with the brand new Clara Color, it additionally debuted the new Libra Colour, which may be the extra thrilling of the 2 units. Along with colour know-how from the E Ink Kaleido panel and an upgraded processor, the Libra now has stylus help. It’s the one ereader on this listing with that characteristic, making it loads like a small E Ink tablet — however all of its new options really make it a greater ereader.

Once I wrote concerning the earlier era ereader, the Libra 2, I used to be impressed by how comfy it was for studying. None of that has modified; the buttons and auto-rotating display screen adapt the system to only about any studying place you selected and the skinny design, textured again and soft-touch plastic give it a premium really feel.

Kobo’s interface is almost the identical right here as with different fashions, properly organized to allow you to simply discover your present reads or browse and search new titles from Kobo’s retailer or your native library within the Overdrive tab. The customizations for gentle and textual content allow you to get the web page wanting simply the way you prefer it, however there aren’t so many choices that it feels such as you’re writing code.

The brand new options add to the expertise. In colour, ebook covers all look extra engaging — although, in case your TBR listing is already three ft lengthy, this gained’t not assist issues. The brand new processor makes waking from sleep, turning pages, navigating the menu and altering orientation zippy quick.

Then there’s the standing compatibility. Strive as they may, some new applied sciences don’t yet beat their real-world counterparts. That’s largely how I really feel about styluses — I’m only a large fan of pen on paper. However Kobo’s stylus makes it so enjoyable to spotlight textual content and scribble notes within the margins of a ebook that I’m beginning to come round. Plus, it neatly and magnetically attaches to the facet so it doesn’t get misplaced.

Urgent and holding the button on the facet of the stylus highlights textual content whereas flipping it round erases. I by accident pressed the button just a few instances after I was attempting to write down, however I obtained used to the position after a couple of minutes of utilizing it. You possibly can decide from 4 completely different highlighter colours and consider your written notes and spotlighted textual content within the notes part of any title — which I may see being fairly helpful for ebook membership reads, college assignments or simply refreshing your self on a previous learn earlier than you dive into the sequel.

Writing within the margins or straight on the textual content labored on each ebook I attempted. Although I ought to level out that in case you change the font measurement in a ebook, your handwritten notes will probably be transformed to a sticky note-type field. Going again to the unique font restores your authentic scribbles.

The Kobo Libra Color is $30 costlier than the Libra 2, however you get loads for $220. If it had been simply an ereader, the beautiful colours, responsive studying expertise, quick web page turns and straightforward highlights would make it definitely worth the worth. However you additionally get options that make it extra than simply an ereader, like Dropbox and Google Drive integration, a beta internet browser and free-writing and text-converting notebooks.

In fact, the stylus prices additional and also you gained’t get options like notebooks and writing within the margins with out it. Collectively, the set prices $290, which is a substantial $110 cheaper than the not too long ago updated (and hottest) stylus-enabled ereader the Amazon Kindle Scribe. It is also cheaper than Kobo’s personal 10-inch mannequin, the Elipsa 2E. The Scribe has a, 10.2-inch display screen and the Elipsa 2E has a ten.3-inch display screen. That is a pleasant measurement for writing however, for me, is a bit large for an ereader. The Libra Color then again has simply the correct options on the proper measurement, plus some extras that stretch its usefulness.

Display measurement: 6” | Show sort: Black/white E Ink | Decision: 300dpi | Capability: 32GB | Battery life: 12 weeks | Waterproof score: IPX8 | Heat gentle: Sure, auto adjustable | Lock display screen advertisements: No| Textual content codecs: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP via conversion

Learn our full Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review

Once I reviewed the brand new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, I used to be struck by the elevated studying expertise it offered. It’s remarkably quick, the textual content is splendidly crisp and it has a premium design that feels nice to carry. Amazon was in a position to enhance web page flip and scrolling speeds for each the usual Paperwhite and the Signature Version by giving them new processors and utilizing an oxide thin-film transistor layer to allow sooner modifications on the web page. The layer additionally permits for higher show readability than different transistor layers.

Each the usual and Signature fashions have heat entrance lights that forged a stunning glow throughout a display screen that’s a bit bigger now at 7-inches (up from 6.8 final time). The battery life is longer, promising as much as 12 weeks (as an alternative of 10), which means you’ll hardly ever have to cost your ereader. Regardless of that, the Paperwhite fashions are literally three millimeters thinner than the earlier era (and only a contact heavier).

With the Signature Version, you additionally get auto-adjusting entrance lights that dim or brighten as daylight fades otherwise you transfer from room to room. The storage capability goes up from 16GB to 32GB, so even in case you obtain a complete bunch of audiobooks, you aren’t more likely to run out of area too shortly. And at last, you get a wi-fi charging possibility for the periodic events when it’s time for a refill. All of these options are good to have, although not vital — however for anybody who needs to learn ebooks in probably the most luxe means doable, the Signature mannequin is the one to go for.

If you need an expertise that’s almost as deluxe, however don’t want the wi-fi charging, auto-adjusting lights and additional capability specs, the non-Signature Paperwhite remains to be noticeably extra premium than the usual Kindle, with a bigger display screen, ultra-crisp textual content and an opulent construct. Plus you continue to get entry to all of the perks that solely Kindles provide, like Goodreads integration, Kindle Unique titles, Kindle Limitless subscription books and Whispersync tech that strains up your audio and e-book reads so you’ll be able to swap between the 2 codecs. 

There’s additionally the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids, which is identical gadget, however comes with a canopy, an extended guarantee and a six-month subscription to Amazon Children+. 

Display measurement: 7” | Show sort: Black/white and colour E Ink | Decision: 300 dpi black & white, 150 dpi colour | Capability: 64GB | Battery life: Weeks | Waterproof score: splash-resistant | Heat gentle: Sure | Lock display screen advertisements: No | Textual content codecs: PDF, CAJ, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, EPUB, EPUB3, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, CHM, RTF, HTML, ZIP, PRC, PPT, PPTX, PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF

Shade E Ink screens are the “new” factor in ereaders — though the tech has been commercially obtainable since around 2010. E Ink introduced its Kaleido 3 show in 2022, and with the correct mixture of colour saturation and readability, it’s now interesting sufficient for common consumption. Now Boox, Kobo and, at last, Amazon all have fashions with colour screens.

The Boox Go Color 7 (obtainable from Amazon and Boox) is a pure option to supplant our earlier winner on this class, the Boox Web page. The Go Shade 7 not solely provides colour, it additionally comes with double the storage capability, an additional gig of RAM and ships with Android 12. The again is now textured as an alternative of slick, an improve my accident-prone fingers are grateful for, and the processor is quicker too, going from a 2.0Ghz octa core CPU to a 2.4Ghz chip. This all comes on the identical $250 listing worth because the Web page. The battery has the identical 2,300mAh capability, however ereader batteries final the order of some weeks, so an improve in that division wasn’t actually vital.

Because the Go Shade 7 runs on a fork of Android 12, it acts extra like a pill than a standard ereader. Like all Boox units, this strategy is greatest suited to the tech-savvy. In contrast to a Kindle or Kobo, which come preconfigured with a retailer to purchase books, in addition to straightforward borrowing out of your native library system, Boox ereaders provide little hand-holding in setup and utilization. Whereas there’s a retailer, it’s made up of public area titles — most individuals will learn books by importing ePubs manually. Or, extra probably, you’ll learn on a third-party ereader app like Kobo, Kindle, Libby and others, which you’ll obtain from the built-in Google Play retailer.

Boox’s built-in ereader app, NeoReader, is properly featured with a great quantity of management over the look of the textual content. Nevertheless it solely handles DRM-free ePub information from websites like Challenge Gutenberg or publishers like Tor. If you wish to learn ePubs with digital rights administration, which make up the overwhelming majority of present ebooks, you’ll want to make use of a distinct app. Sarcastically, I’ve been utilizing the ereader app from PocketBook (a rival firm) to learn the DRM ePubs I buy from third events.

The Go Sequence readers are impressively customizable, with programmable buttons and fine-tunable settings. Boox users have created APK information to tweak and enhance the expertise additional. The system even has a microphone and audio system, and might run apps like Spotify. In brief, the Go Shade 7 can do way over a typical ereader can, in case you’re prepared to experiment.

The expertise is enhanced with a mushy, adjustable entrance gentle with temperature management that makes for nice low-light studying and the flush, glare-free, display screen is lush and detailed. Like all colour ereaders, you do hand over a modicum of readability to accommodate the colour array, and the heat is noticeably extra yellow. I solely seen the distinction after I set comparable ereaders side-by-side and, actually, it’s the distinction between a tremendous duper crisp display screen and solely an excellent crisp display screen.

The mushy and muted colours have a saturated seem like watercolors or outdated comedian ebook illustrations. Evaluating the identical ebook cowl on the Kobo Clara Color and this, the Boox hues do look a contact grainier and fewer wealthy. However that’s a small sacrifice in case you want an ereader that may do way over simply carry your books round.

Display measurement: 6.13” | Decision: 300 dpi | Capability: 128GB | Waterproof: Sure, splashes and spills | Heat gentle: Sure | Lock display screen advertisements: No | Textual content codecs: PDF, CAJ, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, EPUB, EPUB3, AZW3, MOBI, TXT, DOC, DOCX, FB2, CHM, RTF, HTML, ZIP, PRC, PPT, PPTX

Boox has the widest vary of codecs of any ereader firm I’ve examined — and the Boox Palma is probably the most enjoyable. It’s the identical measurement and form as a smartphone and, in a number of methods, it acts like one, too. The house display screen is a muted black-and-white model of what you may discover on a typical Android telephone — you’ll be able to even add widgets. Like most Boox units, it will probably obtain and run apps from the Google Play Retailer and has audio system to play music and movies. The E Ink display screen (a Carta 1200) renders textual content crisply, however photos, significantly transferring ones, look grainier and rougher than they’d on an actual telephone’s LCD or OLED display screen. That mentioned, the video high quality is the very best I’ve seen on an E Ink display screen, due to a software program enchancment Boox calls Tremendous Refresh Expertise.

The most recent era of the Palma provides an upgraded processor, a fingerprint unlock button and ships with Android 13, all of which ought to make it much more succesful. However make no mistake, it’s not going to interchange your telephone. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the one connectivity and the 16MP digital camera is only for making doc scans you’ll be able to convert to PDFs. However the phone-like construct is comfortingly acquainted and the E Ink display screen is beautiful to learn. At $280, it’s costlier than a typical ereader — and even some E Ink tablets — but it surely’s a extremely moveable solution to learn Kindle, Kobo, Google Books and different ePubs, whereas additionally dealing with easy video games and apps like a smartphone. In case you’re sick of the glow of your handset, the Boox Palma is an enthralling different.