Best e-reader for 2020

With the Nook, Apple Books, Kobo or Kindle app options (to name just a few reader app options), you can easily read e-books on your phone or tablet. However, for a superior reading experience, many people would prefer to do their digital reading on e-book readers like Kobo or Kindle.

The dedicated devices are free from distractions from social media, email, the Internet and other entertainment options. Since e-book readers use e-ink technology, they have excellent battery life and – unlike tablets and smartphones – their displays are not washed out in direct sunlight, making them ideal for reading by the pool or on the pool . Many newer models are also waterproof.

Here are the best e-reader options available right now, all with self-illuminating screens. The list is dominated by Amazon Kindle models, including Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis, and Amazon Kindle, as we believe this is still the best digital “ecosystem” to read, with plenty of options for budget and subscription books. And while Barnes & Noble is still making its Nook reader, we recommend anyone who wants to stay away from Amazon choose a Kobo model instead.

Sarah Tew / CNET

If you’re looking for someone looking for the latest Kindle e-reader, this is Amazon’s Goldilocks and our current selection of CNET editors in that category. Here are some things we love about Kindle Paperwhite:

It’s 10% thinner and lighter than the previous version.
It has a “flush” design with a back made from a softer, non-slip material instead of hard plastic.
It’s a fully waterproof Kindle, like the high-end Kindle Oasis, and has a plastic screen that Amazon says is shatterproof and scratch-resistant.
It has built-in Bluetooth so you can download and listen to Amazon Audible audiobooks with wireless headphones.

While the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite is offered for $ 130, it is regularly reduced to $ 90 (and sometimes even $ 85). Then you should buy it. It is likely that Amazon will update Kindle Paperwhite in 2020, but it is unclear when or how much an upgrade will be. For example, USB-C charging could be added and the lighting scheme might be updated, but we would not expect any dramatic improvements.

Read our Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) review.

Sarah Tew / CNET

Amazon’s premium e-ink e-reader was easily updated in 2019. However, this device is essentially identical to the previous Kindle Oasis, with one major difference: it has a new color-adjustable built-in light that allows you to adjust the color from cool to warm, depending on whether you read during the day or at night. You can also set the screen warmth to automatically update at sunrise and sunset, similar to night shift mode on Apple devices.

At $ 250, the Oasis is expensive for an e-reader. Most people will be satisfied with the cheaper Paperwhite for reading Kindle e-books and the basic Kindle requirements. However, if you want the best of the best with an anti-glare screen for your reading experience, you have to pay a premium for it – the Oasis probably does when it comes to a premium e-book device. The Kobo Forma, which is also sold for $ 250, has a larger 8-inch screen size than the 7-inch Oasis.

Read our Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) review.

Sarah Tew / CNET

The latest version of Amazon’s entry-level e-book reader, which Amazon simply calls Kindle, now has a self-illuminating screen and an improved design. At $ 90, this book reader costs $ 10 more than the previous Kindle 2016 model, but this model is regularly sold for just $ 60. We prefer the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with a high-resolution display (text and images appear a little sharper), waterproof and with a slightly better lighting scheme. However, if you don’t want to spend a lot on an e-reader, the standard Kindle is a good option, especially if it’s discounted.

Read our Amazon Kindle (2019) test.

Kobo

Rakuten manufactures a range of Kobo-E readers that are not only supported by the Kobo-Store, but also natively support 14 file and e-book formats (EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ and CBR). In other words, when you get your e-books – or other digital documents – from anywhere Furthermore Amazon, this device will probably read it. Of course Kobo has its own E-book shop with thousands of books too – and it has built-in support for checking out e-books from local libraries through the OverDrive service. (You can transfer library books to Kindles via the OverDrive Libby app, but this isn’t as smooth.)

The Kobo Libra H20, which is retailed for $ 170, is in the middle of the row and, as the name suggests, is completely waterproof. It has a 7-inch HD e-ink display (1,680 x 1,264 resolution), built-in light, and no ads (you’ll have to pay $ 20 to remove it from Kindle devices).

They are available in black or white and can use the Kobo Libra in portrait or landscape format. Other Kobo options are those Kobo Clara HD ($ 120) and the flagship Kobo Forma ($ 250) with a larger high-resolution 8-inch screen.

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