If you’re passionate about reading, then it’s essential to identify the best tablet for reading books. That’s because having an e-reader puts most or all of your library at your fingertips.
Light, convenient and easy-to-use, e-readers are the wave of the future. We embarked on an exhaustive exploration of e-readers to find the top ones. This list is the result of this research.
Let’s dive in to find the best e-reader.
Contents
Our Recommended Devices for Reading Books
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Storage Capacity: 8 GB
- 300 ppi glare-free display
- Waterproof
- Fire HD 8 Plus tablet
- Storage Capacity: 32 GB
- 8" HD display
- 3 GB RAM
- Kindle Voyage E-Reader
- Storage Capacity: 4 GB
- 6" display technology with E Ink Carta™ 300 ppi
- Battery lasts weeks, not hours
9 Best Devices for Reading Books on the Market
1. Kindle Paperwhite
Review
This latest version of the Kindle Paperwhite is thinner and lighter. It boasts twice the storage capacity, but perhaps the most attractive feature is that it’s waterproof. That’s a huge advantage for people who like to read by the pool or with their favorite beverage.
However, what makes this the best tablet for reading is the glare-free display with 300 ppi. This means that the Kindle Paperwhite mimics the look of the pages of an actual book. That’s easier on your eyes so you can read for hours.
Reading in bright sunlight is never a problem thanks to the adjustable light, and one battery charge has the potential to last for weeks. Plus, this model is equipped with Audible so you can listen to your favorite books.
What Customers Are Saying
People generally love the Paperwhite because it looks fantastic and is easy to use. However, some customers complain that the included USB charging cable doesn’t fit the e-reader.
- No screen glare
- Huge storage capacity
- Long-lasting charge
- The charger cable may not fit
Summary
The Kindle Paperwhite is thin, light and easy on the eyes.
2. Fire HD 8 Plus tablet
Review
Equipped with an eight-inch HD display and 32 GB of memory, the Fire tablet functions well as an e-reader. However, it’s also a multi-function tablet, making it the best cheap tablet that you also can use as an e-reader.
A full charge will give you 10 hours of battery life, and each tablet is Alexa hands-free enabled. You can use this tablet with millions of different apps and games as well as streaming your favorite movies and shows.
This tablet is equipped with a Kindle app so you can read millions of ebook and magazine titles. If you’re a nighttime reader, you’ll appreciate the Blue Shade technology that optimizes the tablet’s backlight for an experience that won’t interfere with your sleep.
What Customers Are Saying
People praise this tablet for its affordable price and accessibility, but some comment on sluggish performance.
- A multi-function tablet
- Access to millions of ebook and magazine titles
- Affordable
- Sluggish performance
Summary
f you’re looking for an all-in-one device that’s also an ereader, this one is a good choice.
3. Kindle Voyage E-Reader
Review
Equipped with a six-inch, high-resolution display, the Voyage is advertised as being “Passionately Crafted for Readers.” Thanks to the 300 ppi display, this model mimics the pages of a book to keep your eyes comfortable.
This is the best ebook reader because of its adaptive front light, which can tell if you’re reading in darkness or sunlight. Another remarkable feature is the PagePress technology. This enables you to turn a page with a little extra pressure on the bezel.
What Customers Are Saying
Saying that they love the sharp, dark text, readers are impressed with the Voyage. However, some people are troubled by a yellow tint on the screen.
- A dedicated luxury e-reader
- Comfortable for hours of reading
- Fun innovations
- A yellow tint may mar the screen
Summary
If you want an upgraded experience with a dedicated e-reader, this should satisfy you.
4. Kindle
Review
This tablet for reading has a built-in front light that automatically adjusts to the light conditions around you. The glare-free display boasts 167 ppi, which is not as powerful as other models here, but nonetheless is restful to your eyes for hours of reading.
The Kindle allows you to highlight passages, adjust the text size, translate the page or look up a definition without leaving the book. Able to hold thousands of titles, you’ll never be without something to read.
What Customers Are Saying
Fans love that the Kindle can be paired with Bluetooth so that they can listen to books with Audible. Others find the 4GB memory rather limiting.
- Affordable
- PPI is sufficient for comfortable reading
- Lots of basic but useful tools
- Only 4GB of memory
Summary
If you don’t feel the need to carry multiple thousands of books everywhere you go, this is a great option.
5. Kindle Oasis
Review
The eight GB storage capacity Kindle Oasis is a seven-inch model with Amazon’s exclusive 300 PPI Paperwhite display. It’s waterproof, which means that you can read it in the bath or by the pool without worrying.
One of the innovations that makes this the best ereader is its adjustable warm light. It seamlessly shifts from white to amber for the comfort of your eyes or to suit the ambient light conditions. Convenient buttons make page turning a snap.
What Customers Are Saying
Users love that the Oasis has front light that automatically adjusts to suit the brightness of the environment as well as the ability to adjust font size and boldness. Others are troubled by having to pay extra to avoid looking at advertisements on a premium-level e-reader.
- Adjust from white to amber
- Page-turning buttons
- Good storage capacity
- You must pay extra to remove ads from a premium model
Summary
Readers who take their favorite pastime seriously are likely to fall in love with the Oasis.
6. Apple iPad Mini
Review
It’s admittedly a more expensive option, but the iPad Mini also isn’t a dedicated e-reader. Instead, this is a multitasking device with 64 GB of storage capacity and a nearly eight-inch Retina display. An A12 bionic chip keeps processing speeds buzzing along.
The iPad Mini is equipped with front and back cameras as well as stereo speakers. You’ll get as much as 10 hours of battery life if you’re a light user.
What Customers Are Saying
You can use the Kindle app on the iPad Mini or use an alternative app of your choice. Some people prefer having this type of flexibility. Still, those who are accustomed to the glare-free screen of Kindle devices may be disappointed.
- Fast and powerful
- A multitasking device
- Download any e-reader app
- Not equipped with a non-glare screen
Summary
People who like Apple devices and prefer a multitasking device may be drawn to this solution.
7. Kobo Clara Touchscreen E-Reader
Review
Like Amazon’s Kindle, the Kobo Clara relies on e-ink technology, guaranteeing a reading experience that is comfortable for your eyes. This model is equipped with an eight GB storage capacity and a six-inch touchscreen. The built-in comfort light helps to make this the best e reader tablet.
One of the better features of the Kobo is that it gradually reduces the amount of blue light that it emits as it gets later in the day. Plus, it’s compatible with Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook technology among many others so that you can use your favorite software.
What Customers Are Saying
The lack of ads and the ability to view a variety of document formats makes this model a winner for many. Others say that the device’s gesture-recognition ability is lacking.
- Use with your favorite e-reader technologies
- A 300 PPI e-ink screen
- No ads
- Gesture recognition can be clunky
Summary
If you’re looking for a highly functional and well-regarded alternative to Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble, then this is a reliable choice.
8. Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 3
Review
This six-inch model has an eight GB storage capacity and Night Mode technology to make it easy to read at any time of day. The bezel on the Nook is especially nice because of its soft touch finish. This makes for a comfortable grip.
Many consider this the best affordable tablet thanks to its page-turning buttons, which means that you don’t have to worry about touching the screen in a specific spot or gesturing to perform this essential task.
What Customers Are Saying
With enhanced contrast and crisper text, the Nook ensures a pleasurable reading experience that many people praise. Critics say that this e-reader has a slow response time when turning pages or performing other tasks.
- Comfort-grip bezel
- Excellent on-screen contrast
- Page-turning buttons
- Slower response time
Summary
This offering from Barnes & Noble is incredibly popular with many readers.
9. BOOX Nova2 7.8 ePaper Eink Tablet
Review
With its glare-free screen, this is an easy pick for the best inexpensive tablet. The front-lit display makes for comfortable reading day or night, and the adjustable color temperature system lets you set things up exactly as you prefer.
On this model, both capacitive touch and electromagnetic touch are supported so that you can use your fingers or a stylus on the screen. This Android-based device boasts 32 GB of storage, 3 GB of RAM and a 2.0G Octa-core.
You can view a wide variety of document and image formats with the Boox Nova. With four weeks of stand-by battery life, this device is always ready when you are.
What Customers Are Saying
Fans give this model especially high marks for the quick settings ball, which makes it possible to adjust settings from anywhere. Nonetheless, some are troubled by ghosting on the screen.
- Uses e-ink technology
- Convenient settings ball
- Fast, with lots of storage
- Screen ghosting
Summary
Many people swear by this fast and flexible e-reader alternative.
Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Tablet for Reading Books
If you haven’t used an e-reader before, then it may be easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices out there. You can certainly download an e-reader app onto any tablet, but these devices aren’t always optimized for reading.
Screen
That’s a critical distinction, because the most important factor to consider when choosing an e-reader is its screen. If you’re a voracious reader, then you’ll be looking at that screen hours.
Accordingly, how much glare that screen puts off is a major issue. Is a color screen right for you, or do you prefer e-ink technology that mimics the look for an authentic book page?
Backlighting
Also, do you prefer to have backlighting or would you rather dispense with it? Because these and other screen-related issues all may affect your enthusiasm for an e-reader, it’s actually critical that you do some test driving before you make a commitment.
Try to buy at least two or three contenders
If possible, try to buy at least two or three contenders, keeping in mind the return window for each. Dedicate a few hours to reading on each to see what you like best. A non-glare screen that can be viewed in every condition from bright sunlight to total darkness is a must for most people who read electronic books. 
Most people swear by e-paper or e-ink technology because it doesn’t cause the same kind of eye strain that is comparable to staring at a computer screen all day.
Pictures
You also may want to think about whether or not pictures are important to you. If your e-reader will be used with children’s books or comic books, then you want a device that can handle images with aplomb.
An e-reader that can handle graphics similarly is critical if you enjoy thumbing through magazines.
Consider a model that has an LCD screen. It will be heavier and have shorter battery life than an e-ink model, but if images matter, then it’s worth it.
Tablets for Reading Books FAQs
What is e-ink?
Also called electronic ink, e-ink is basically electronic paper. This display technology makes a device’s screen look just like the page of a book. Accordingly, there is no screen glare, and the screen is visible in any light environment. This technology even prevents the eye strain that is common with many electronic devices.
What is a front light?
Many e-readers rely on front light technology rather than the backlighting that is common with LCD screens. Because e-ink is opaque, backlighting doesn’t work with it.
This means that front lights must be used instead. These are LED lights that are placed along the sides of the screen to provide an even, diffuse illumination across the entire screen. Once again, this helps to eliminate eye strain.
How much storage capacity do I need?
Many common e-readers today can store 5,000 to 6,000 titles with ease. Most people won’t read that many books in a lifetime. Others may find this a bit limiting. It’s important to understand that eight or 16 GB of storage usually is more than enough for most people.
If you rely heavily on images with your reading, then you may want to step up to a 32 GB or larger device.
Making the Decision
After all of our research, we believe that the best tablet for reading books is Kindle’s Paperwhite. It’s an economical choice that performs under every imaginable circumstance. Reading it for hours is no problem thanks to the e-ink technology that it uses. Plus, the technology is super-accessible and easy-to-use.
If you don’t mind spending more money, then take the leap for the Kobo Clara. Between all-around reliable performance and a lack of ads, it’s hard to go wrong.
