The Best E-Readers
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Nothing will ever really replace a paperback or a hardcover book that you can touch, smell, or stack on your bookshelves or by your beside. But ebook readers (also called e-readers) are just so convenient—and they might just make you read more too. Rather than lumping two or three books in a bag, an e-reader lets you carry thousands of books or dozens of audiobooks in a single, slim, rectangular tablet. Their paperlike screens are easy on the eyes, and unlike an app on your phone, they won’t inundate you with distracting notifications. Books can also be expensive and take up a lot of physical space, but that’s not a problem with ebooks. Even better, you can check out digital books from a library without leaving your house.
Naturally, when you hear “e-reader,” you might think Kindle. Amazon makes the best ebook reader, which is why we have a separate Best Kindles guide that breaks down the entire lineup. But there are a few Kindle alternatives out there in case you don’t want to support Amazon or you just want a different set of features. WIRED’s Gear team has spent years reading on these tablets—these are our favorites.
Updated May 2025: We've added our thoughts on the Boox Palma 2 and an honorable mentions section.
How to Get Ebooks
Ebooks can be cheap, but as with regular books, the cost can add up if you're a big reader. You should take advantage of your library card and check out ebooks instantly from the comfort of your home. We have a detailed guide that explains how to get free library books, but the short version is that most libraries distribute books via OverDrive. You can access these books a few ways, through Kindle or directly from OverDrive with a Kobo, or you can download the Libby app. These ebooks are automatically removed from your device and returned to the library when they're due.
Each e-reader's own book service varies in quality. Our favorite is Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month, which includes millions of titles, including audiobooks and magazines. Amazon's Prime Reading also offers a handful of free books every month, which is good to know if you already have a Prime account. You can even lend books to friends and family for a short while (or have them share a book with you). We have a roundup of the Best Ebook Subscription Services here.
What File Formats Do E-Readers Support?
The most widely used format is ePub, which works natively with all the e-readers in this guide except for Kindle—technically. You can still upload ePub files to your Kindle, but you'll have use the “Send to Kindle” feature (through Amazon, your email, or the Kindle app) to convert it to Amazon's proprietary format called AZW (newer Kindles support AZW3 and KFX, specifically). Other formats that will work with these e-readers include PDF, TXT, HTML, DOC, and DOCX.
Can I Install Apps on an E-Reader?
The Kindle, Kobo, and Nook use proprietary operating systems that don't allow you to install third-party apps. The Boox, on the other hand, runs Android (mainly Android 11 and newer). So, that means you can use it to download any apps available in the Google Play Store or sideload apps from your computer.
You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet
You don't have to buy a separate device to read ebooks. Smartphones and tablets are perfect for this purpose. You can use Amazon's Kindle app to read ebooks (iOS, Android), and even download OverDrive's Libby app (iOS, Android) for library book access anywhere as well. However, the E Ink screens found in e-readers are just nicer to look at. I also like that these devices are one-trick ponies; there are no notifications to be distracted by or social media feeds to doomscroll through.
If you'd still rather have one smart device you can read on and use for other purposes, take a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for recommendations.
How We Test
The most important thing we do when testing e-readers is read on them! We spend hours reading books acquired in a variety of formats, from books purchased directly from each brand's store, downloaded from local libraries via OverDrive/Libby, or PDFs acquired for free from God knows where.
In the process, we evaluate battery life, brightness, lag, screen responsiveness, and text sharpness. We check for extra tools like annotation, and whether or not the tablet accommodates accessories like a stylus. We also note if the tablet has other features, like waterproofing or access to great exclusive subscription services.
Best Overall
The Kindle Paperwhite (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes in two versions, the regular Paperwhite and the Signature Edition, which costs $40 more but has perks like wireless charging and slightly more storage (worth it if you read constantly, like we do).
This model is slightly thinner than its predecessor (7.8 versus 8.1 millimeters) with a larger display. It also has a higher contrast ratio than previous Kindles, which means that text and images look sharper. The Signature Edition has the ability to auto-adjust brightness—important if you're, say, moving from a dimly lit subway station to a brightly lit bus stop—and the battery life has improved, to what Amazon says is three months on a single charge. (We're skeptical, but it's nice not to worry about weekly charging, anyway.) That's in addition to all the nice features that the Paperwhite had before, like waterproofing with an IPX8 rating and the ability to get books easily from the Amazon store. It's worth noting that Kindles go on sale pretty frequently during Amazon Prime Day and other sales holidays, so if you don't need it right now, it's worth waiting.
Specs Display: 7 inches, adjustable warm light | auto-adjusting front light available on Signature Edition Resolution: 300 pixels per inch (ppi) Storage: 6 GB (Paperwhite) | 32 GB (Signature Edition) Weight: 7.4 ounces (Paperwhite) | 7.55 ounces (Signature Edition) Battery and charging: Up to 12 weeks, USB-C | wireless charging available on Signature Edition Waterproof: Yes, IPX8 The Upgrade Pick
Don't feel like supporting Jeff Bezos' empire? Consider a Kobo. Even though Amazon released a color Kindle last year (see below), we think the Kobo Libra Colour (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a better option. Not only is it cheaper, it comes with page-turn buttons and stylus support. You can highlight and mark up book pages, and also utilize the notebook section for notes, to-do lists, or doodles. You will also need the $70 Stylus 2 for writing, but even with the stylus, it's still cheaper than Kobo's Elipsa 2E and the Kindle Scribe.
The Libra Colour is waterproof, rated IPX8, and is made from recycled materials. There's Bluetooth support so you can connect headphones and listen to audiobooks, and Kobo slates have Overdrive integration, which makes reading library books simple. You get 32 gigabytes of storage and a speedy 7-inch screen, which has an adjustable front light and even a dark mode that offers up white text on a black background to make reading in the dark easier on the eyes. If you prefer, you can even read it in landscape mode. It's also repairable, though we haven't come across anything that needs fixing yet.
Specs Display: 7 inches with dark mode Resolution: 300 ppi, black-and-white | 150 ppi, color Storage: 32 GB Weight: 7.03 ounces Battery and charging: Up to 40 days, USB-C Waterproof: Yes, IPX8
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A Tiny, Pocket-Sized Reader
Boox's phone-sized Palma 2 e-reader is mostly the same as its predecessor. It adds fingerprint recognition and has a faster CPU and a newer version of Android. When I click and swipe through the two side by side, the Palma 2 is noticeably faster and smoother than the original, but the bar is still low. It’s not going to replace your smartphone anytime soon, and E Ink is still less responsive than a touchscreen. I find it ever so slightly laggy to type and swipe, enough that I it’s annoying to check my emails or to google anything.
It’s egregious that this little pocket-sized e-reader costs $300, because if it cost $100, I would tell everyone to buy it. With the Kindle app, it’s a truly delightful thing to flip through a few pages on your tiny, palm-sized e-reader while standing in line to board a plane. It’s about the same size as the original Palma, at 6.3 inches long and 3.1 inches wide, has Bluetooth connectivity, can connect to Wi-Fi, and has 6 GB of RAM. If you’re going to buy this, I would also recommend the flip-fold protective case over the phone-style open-front case. Again, if there were a little half-size Kindle that costs $100, that would be great.
Specs Display: 6 inches, adjustable front light Resolution: 300 ppi Storage: 16 GB Weight: 5.56 ounces Battery and Charging: Up to 6 weeks; USB-C Waterproof: No A Budget Ebook Reader
Amazon's basic Kindle is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable and compact ebook reader. The latest model comes with a few upgrades, including a higher-resolution screen, a brighter front light, and a faster page-turn rate. But you’ll likely only notice a difference if you’re coming from an even older model (not the 2022 version).
It’s light, comfortable to hold with one hand, and small enough to fit into most bags. The changes are also very noticeable if you're coming from an older model (like the 2019 version). The performance is smoother, the brighter screen looks a lot better during both the day and night, and the text is sharper. The overall experience is just a lot more enjoyable, especially during longer reading sessions. The Matcha color is also super adorable. It's worth shelling out for the Paperwhite, but if your budget is tight, this one does the job.
Specs Display: 6 inches, adjustable front light Resolution: 300 ppi Storage: 16 GB Weight: 5.56 ounces Battery and Charging: Up to 6 weeks; USB-C Waterproof: No
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Best for Kids
The kid-friendly Kindles got an update in 2024 with the same features as the non-Kid variants. My 7- and 9-year-old have been using the Kindle Kids since the first versions launched. To my eye (looking over their shoulders), the images are noticeably clearer and sharper and the page turn speeds faster in the latest models.
The reason you get a Kindle Kids instead of repurposing your old Kindle is the kid-friendly case, which also has fun designs that my kids like very much. You also get six months of access to Amazon Kids+, the company's subscription service that includes tons of age-appropriate books, including lots of books in Spanish, and a two-year warranty. My 7-year-old likes the smaller size of the basic (and cheaper) Kindle Kids ($130), and he also likes the kid-friendly covers better. However, my 9-year-old likes the bigger display on the Kids Paperwhite, which is better for reading graphic novels. I also prefer the Paperwhite over the basic Kindle because it's waterproof, and she reads poolside at her brother's swimming lessons.
Specs Display: 7 inches, adjustable warm light Resolution: 300 PPI Storage: 6 GB (Paperwhite) Weight: 7.4 ounces (Paperwhite) Battery and charging: Up to 12 weeks, USB-C Waterproof: Yes, IPX8 For Heavy Note Taking
We’ve tried a few E Ink tablets meant for taking “handwritten” notes that can be organized and searched digitally. E-readers with that capability still prioritize reading. If the Kobo Libra Colour isn't big enough for your note-taking needs, you might prefer these. Right now, our favorite E Ink tablet is the $579 ReMarkable Paper Pro (7/10, WIRED Review), which lets you take notes with a responsive stylus on a color E Ink screen. However, it's not meant for reading—you can read PDFs on it, but the experience of getting books on it is far from seamless compared to Kobos and Kindles.
Specs Display: 11.8-inch color display Resolution: 229 ppi Storage: 64 GB Weight: 1.16 pounds Battery and charging: Up to 2 weeks, USB-C Waterproof: No
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Other Good Ebook Readers
Below, you'll find a few more e-readers we like but don't necessarily love as much as our top picks.
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Kindle Scribe 2024 for $400: The Scribe (8/10, WIRED Review) is a great option if you want an e-reader that doubles as a digital notebook, but also want to remain within the Kindle ecosystem. It has a 10.2-inch (300 ppi) paperlike display with features like adjustable warm light and an auto-adjusting front light. The included Premium Pen also has a soft-tipped eraser (mimicking that of a No.2 pencil). With Active Canvas and expandable margins, you can also mark up ebooks and write notes in the side panel.
Nook GlowLight 4 Plus for $180: The 4 Plus is the only waterproof Nook in the lineup, and it has the biggest screen at 7.8 inches, along with 32 GB of storage. It also has physical page-turn buttons and a headphone jack for listening to audiobooks (but you can also connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth). But it was often slower than my Kindle and tended to freeze. While the large library has cheap and even free ebooks, it's not as good a selection as Kindle Unlimited. The process of getting a book from the library on a Nook is also beyond frustrating. You'll need to download either Adobe Digital Editions or Android File Transfer before connecting the device to your computer physically and then transferring the files.
Kindle Colorsoft for $280: The Kindle Colorsoft (7/10, WIRED Review) is Amazon's first Kindle with a color screen. It has a screen with an oxide backplane, which Amazon says delivers better contrast and image quality along with custom-formulated coatings and nitride LEDs for brightness and color accuracy. But the screen is capped at 150 ppi for color images, versus 300 ppi for black and white, and the experience of reading is still a little fuzzier when compared to the latest Paperwhite. It takes noticeably longer to process color images, too. It's missing features that are by now standard on other color e-readers, like page turn buttons and stylus support. It's not a bad Kindle, and color does enrich the whole e-reading experience, but we suggest waiting for a discount during an Amazon sale event.
Kobo Clara Colour for $160: Kobo's Clara Colour seems to be disappearing from retail store, so it's likely that there's a successor on the way (or Kobo is just nixing it). It's a shame because I really like it, especially compared to the Kindle Colorsoft. It's more affordable, but you still get to see book covers or graphic novels in full color, and you can highlight in color too. In testing, I found that some books weren't as easy on the eyes, like the blue-and-yellow color scheme of Curious George, but that was one small gripe in an otherwise seamless reading experience. The Clara lacks page-turn buttons, but the 6-inch screen size is comfortable for one-handed use. It has 16 gigabytes of storage rather than 32, but that's still about 12,000 books. There's Overdrive integration and Bluetooth support. It's also waterproof, made from recycled materials, and is repairable.
Nook 9-inch Lenovo Tablet for $130: If you mainly read cookbooks or other color-intensive materials, and you want a dedicated reader, you might want to consider this affordable tablet from Nook and Lenovo, which has the Nook app built in (6/10, WIRED Review). As with the tablets mentioned above, you lose the E Ink screen and the distraction-free nature of an e-reader. You can at least turn off notifications while in certain apps, which I recommend doing for the Nook app. It ships with an old version of Android, and it's not built for heavy work like video or photo editing.
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