I DEARLY LOVE a paperback book that I can bend, touch, odor, and display screen on my bookshelf when I'm done. But there's no doubt that ebook readers ( likewise called e-readers) have actually made life simpler. They let you bring countless books or lots of audiobooks in a single, slim, rectangle-shaped tablet; they have paperlike screens that are easy on the eyes, and they won't flood you with distracting notifications. Books can likewise be pricey and use up a great deal of physical area, however that's not a problem with ebooks. Even much better, you can check out digital books from a library without leaving your home.

Naturally, when you hear e-reader, you may believe Kindle. Amazon makes the best ebook reader, which is why we have a separate Best Kindles guide that breaks down the entire lineup. There are a few Kindle alternatives out there in case you don't want to support Amazon or you simply desire a different set of functions. WIRED's Gear team has actually invested months, if not years, continuing reading these tablets-- these are our favorites.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Best Overall
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation).
It's dead simple to get brand-new ebooks from Amazon directly, and the Overdrive integration makes it easy to check out books from a local library instantly. It's worth noting that Kindles nearly always see steep discounts a few times a year, especially on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so try to wait for a sale.
Any of the models in Amazon's existing lineup is better than the competition, however the newest Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite. Both are waterproof, so you can read in the swimming pool or tub without concern, and the 6.8-inch screens also have adjustable warm lighting so you can check out in bed. There's a Paperwhite Kids Edition too, which comes with a totally free cover, a two-year worry-free warranty, and a year of Amazon Kids+ offering access to kid-friendly content.


Best Kindle Alternative.
Kobo Libra 2.
Don't wish to offer your hard-earned cash to Amazon? A Kobo is your next-best alternative. The company (owned by Japanese seller Rakuten) has a tremendous 6 e-readers for you to select from, all of which sit someplace in between $100 and $400.
Kobo slates have Overdrive integration, which makes reading library books easy, like on the Kindle. If you choose, you can even read it in landscape mode. WIRED editor Adrienne So states the Kobo is still slower than the Kindle's screen-- it took her quite some time to type up her account credentials and log in.

Nooks Are Fine Too.
Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4e.
Barnes and Noble put its Nook e-readers on the back burner for a while, however two releases in 2022 show it's giving it the old college try once again. The Glowlight 4e is a satisfaction to continue reading, and I enjoy the physical page-turn buttons. The bookstore also uses a lot of inexpensive ebooks-- after binging the True Blood TV series, I found the books that motivated it for just $3.
The process of trying to get a book from the library on a Nook is so frustrating that I had to put it down and come back at a later time with a cooler head. I suggest reading the complete description in the booklet that is available in package, however essentially, you'll require to install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer and make certain you're checked in to your Adobe ID on your Nook prior to linking it physically and transferring files. It feels older school.

• Honorable Mentions.
Other Good Ebook Readers.
The listed below choices are ones we likewise actually like if the above options aren't doing it for you. However, it's worth considering old Kindles, Kobos, and Nooks if you can discover them for dirt cheap (or totally free). They're most likely fine for reading, though the older they get the slower they might be, with less effective batteries and laggy screens. If you can check it out first in person prior to you purchase, see.
Amazon Kindle for $90: The basic Kindle (8/10, WIRED Recommends) costs $110 without ads and is a couple of years old now. It's not waterproof, however it has a front light that makes it legible in a dark room, and it consists of Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks with headphones.
Kobo Elipsa for $400: This e-reader is just plain fun thanks to the included stylus, which lets you mark up books and PDFs , or produce note pads. Perfect for English class. Its big 10.3-inch screen is especially good, but it comes at a heart-stopping cost.
Barnes & Noble Glowlight 4 for $150: This ebook reader has 32 gigs of storage, which is a good deal more than the Glowlight 4E (8 GB), and it has a night mode for more comfortable reading.
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You Can Use Your Phone or Tablet.
You Don't Need Another Screen.
You do not have to buy a different gadget to here check out ebooks. Smartphones and tablets are perfectly practical 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 also. However, the E Ink screens discovered in e-readers are simply plain better to take a look at-- there's no get more info navigating that fact. I likewise like that these gadgets are one-trick ponies; there are no notices to be distracted by or social media feeds to doomscroll through.
Take a look at our Best Tablets and Best iPads guides for suggestions if you 'd still rather have one clever gadget you can read on and use for other functions.