http://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/amazon-kindle-is-the-best-ebook-reader/

The Best Ebook Reader

Updated July 8, 2022

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July 8, 2022

With an ebook reader, you can carry thousands of books at a time and access a library of millions more on a device that’s smaller than a paperback, lasts for weeks on a single charge, and gives you a better reading experience than a tablet or phone. After testing every competitive ebook reader available in the US, we can say that the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the right choice for almost everyone (yes, even for adults).

Our pick

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (11th generation)

The best ebook reader for most people

The Kids version improves on the Kindle Paperwhite’s great display, adjustable color temperature, even lighting, and waterproofing with a cover, a longer warranty, and no ads.

~~$160~~ $105 from Amazon

You save $55 (34%)

The Kindle Paperwhite Kids’s 6.8-inch screen has the same 300-dots-per-inch pixel density as every comparable and premium ebook reader, meaning it displays crisp, easy-to-read text and clear images. The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is light and small, with a side-lit screen that allows you to read in dim lighting and adjustable color temperature that may be easier on your eyes. Amazon also offers the most impressive catalog in terms of scope and price, as well as partnerships that, for example, let you check out free books from many public libraries. This model is waterproof and includes Bluetooth so you can stream audiobooks, both nice extras. The Kids edition of the Paperwhite is identical to the standard Kindle but comes with a case, a two-year warranty (versus the standard’s one-year), and no ads, for only $20 more.

Also great

Kobo Clara HD

A non-Kindle option

If you don’t want an e-reader from Amazon, this is the next-best choice. It’s not waterproof, there’s no Bluetooth, and the device isn’t tied into the Amazon ecosystem, but the hardware is otherwise nearly identical, and the book selection is similar.

$90* from Walmart

$120 from Kobo

*At the time of publishing, the price was $130.

Amazon makes the best e-readers, but if you don’t like the Kindle devices or Amazon as a company, the Kobo Clara HD is the best alternative. It’s equipped with a similar, 300 ppi screen; it has adaptive backlighting; and the hardware looks and feels as good as a Kindle, with a plastic body that feels light but not cheap. The big difference is that the Kobo lacks Amazon’s tightly integrated ecosystem, so you can’t (for example) toggle between reading and listening to your books.

Upgrade pick

Kobo Libra 2

Physical page-turn buttons and a larger screen

The Libra 2 matches almost all the features of Amazon’s high-end Kindle Oasis for less money, minus the Amazon ecosystem. It’s waterproof, includes physical controls and Bluetooth, and has a 7-inch screen, as well as screen light color-temperature adjustment for late-night reading.

$160* from Walmart

$180 from Kobo

*At the time of publishing, the price was $180.

If you’re looking for a bigger screen and a physical page-turn experience, the Kobo Libra 2 is the best option for a high-end e-reader. It matches the features of more expensive Amazon options at a fraction of the price, with a comfortable design and durable construction.