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The cheapest Kindle e-reader is $89, and a new perk makes it more interesting for bookworms on tight budgets. This E Ink device is lightweight and easy to use for hours, includes a touch-screen. Kindle Comparison: Which Kindle E-Reader Is Right for You? Courtney Jespersen. May 10, 2016. This e-reader offers more advanced features than the basic Kindle, while still keeping its price. Kindle eBook Reader Comparison 2018 In 2007 Amazon launched the original Kindle, achieving great success. Now more than 10 years later, the Kindle range continues to lead the way and dominate the market.
The Rundown
Our Top PicksMost Popular: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (Previous Generation)
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The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite offers a whopping eight-week battery life on normal use and a reading experience that far exceeds that of a tablet. The latest Kindle Paperwhite matches Amazonâs flagship Kindle Voyage at 300ppi. The black and white screen is noticeably crisper than previous iterations, with a more pronounced contrast, and thereâs no glare even under direct sunlight. For late-night reads, turn on the four built-in LED lights.
The new system font Bookerly has been designed from the ground up to reduce eyestrain while allowing for faster reading. This is not merely advertising fodder; the font is legitimately crisp, modern and easy to read. The typesetting engine has also received an update, so there are fewer awkward misplaced letters or words that plagued earlier models.
The relatively plain Kindle Paperwhite canât compete with the more expensive Kindle Voyageâs design. At nearly half a pound, it is a little on the heavy side, and thereâs no microSD slot. However, with 4GB of internal storage thereâs enough space to store thousands of books.
The Kindle bookstore is arguably the best online bookstore available, with over four million titles on offer. Itâs a little slow to navigate on the Paperwhite itself, but you can always browse the store on a laptop and send the e-book wirelessly to your device. The Kindle Paperwhite, at its lowest price point, has the right to show you advertising for unfettered access to the Amazon network via Wi-Fi. While these ads are unobtrusive, they might deter readers in search of a more traditional experience.
Read more reviews of the best Amazon Kindles available to purchase online. Best vst plugins free download.
Best Overall: 2019 Amazon Kindle
4.5
The Amazon Kindle has become a force in the portable electronics spaceânot because it has the flashiness of an iPad or the versatility of a flagship smartphone. It claims market share because the screen very closely approximates what itâs like to read an actual book. The newest 2019 version brings a lot of specs to the table.
First off, Amazon has included a brand-new front light that allows you to read in the dark, something that was previously only available on the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite. Youâll also get a decently crisp 167 PPI resolution, so not only can you read in the dark, but itâll look really close to words on an actual page.
Thereâs 4GB of storage built in which is enough storage for thousands of books. It connects via Wi-Fi and even offers Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to audiobooks as well as read. The battery is big enough to provide around four weeks of reading time, depending on things like light usage and how long you spend actually reading in a given session. Plus at only 0.34 inches thick, weighing only 6.1 ounces, and for a really affordable price, it is supremely portable, perfect for tossing into your beach or travel bag.
Best Waterproof: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (Newest Generation)
4.5
Ever since Amazon first introduced the Kindle Paperwhite back in 2012, itâs had a special place in our hearts. It radically improved on the original Kindle's readability and versatility with an improved screen and backlighting. The newest Kindle Paperwhite continues in the tradition of the first Paperwhite with another round of updates. This model has a six-inch, glare-free screen with five LED lights behind the screen so you can read it anywhere. Itâs also super portable at just 6.4 ounces and (finally) waterproof, with an IPX8 rating. That means you can read on the beach or by the pool without worrying about water damage.
The Kindle Paperwhite comes with a few configuration options. Youâll have to choose either 8GB or 32GB of storage, depending on how many books, magazines, comics, and audiobooks you need to store. Secondly, youâll have to choose between having just Wi-Fi connectivity or Wi-Fi and free cellular connectivity from AT&T. Most people will be fine with just Wi-Fi, but heavy readers may prefer the ability to get more books while on the go. Lastly, youâll have to choose whether to receive ads on your device or no ads. (Amazon calls ads âSpecial Offers.â) If you go ad-free, it will cost you $15 more.
Best for Audiobooks: Amazon Fire HD 8 with Alexa
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If you want the best of the eBook and tablet world, itâs going to be hard to beat the Amazon Fire HD 8. With over millions of eBooks, individual Kindle titles cost as little as $2.99 a month, but you can also sign up for Amazonâs Kindle Unlimited plan for $9.99 a month to read whatever you want for as long as you renew your subscription.
When it comes to reading on the Fire HD 8, Amazon has done its best to create a comfortable screen experience. The tablet has a specialized Blue Shade feature for backlight optimization that allows for a pleasing nighttime reading experience that doesnât fatigue the eyes. And when youâre tired of reading, you can instantly switch over to listening mode. Just ask Alexa to read aloud and itâll take over. With dual stereo mode speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, books sound loud and clear.
When youâre done with books altogether, thereâs so much more the Fire HD 8 can do. Stream millions of TV shows or movies with Netflix, HBO, or other favorite services. The Amazon app store offers hundreds of thousands of apps including sports, news, games, weather, and productivity for any kind of content you want.
Best Splurge: Amazon Kindle Oasis 2019
The Amazon Kindle Oasis 2019 aims to be the most advanced 'dumb' electronic you can find. Rather than trying to compete in a crowded field of multitasking smart devices, it instead helps you disconnect from tech by providing access to millions of books in an amazingly book-like package.
Continuing the same trend Kindles have been following for a while, the 2019 Oasis, with storage of either 8GB or 32GB, aims to recreate the feeling of reading a physical text with a comfortable, ergonomic design, page turn buttons, and new e-ink technology. The 7-inch, 300 PPI Paperwhite displayâs shade is adjustable for all lighting conditions. Night mode automatically tints the screen amber for midnight reading. Its waterproof IPX8 rating means it can survive a spill in the tub or pool, and you can enjoy Audible books by streaming through Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Best Budget: Barnes and Noble Nook 7'
While the Barnes and Noble Nook may not have the prominence of the Amazon Kindle in the e-reading world, itâs worthy of consideration because of two major factors: low prices and many in-store locations in the U.S. where you can get real-life support. The newest Nook 7-inch tablet costs about half the price of a Kindle and offers an extensive ebook library with more than one million titles that cost $5 or less. This base model has 16GB of internal storage, but you can add up to 128GB in additional storage with a microSD card. The Nook also comes pre-installed with the Barnes and Noble Browsery app, where you can discuss your favorite books with their online community and get recommendations for titles you might like. For those that need to take a break from books now and again, you can also access the Google Play store on your Nook and download apps, games, movies, and more. If you prefer a larger screen, Barnes and Noble also offers a 10.1-inch Nook tablet (although that model is more expensive).
Best Amazon Tablet: Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Amazonâs Fire 7 is so much more than just an e-reader â itâs also a full-fledged tablet equipped with Alexa. While you might not need all of its bells and whistles, there are plenty of features that make this device attractive to avid readers.
First off, its gorgeous seven-inch, 1024 x 600 IPS display has high contrast, vivid colors and sharp text to make reading for hours on end comfortable and enjoyable. Secondly, it boasts eight hours of battery life, so you wonât need to charge up between chapters. Thirdly, the Fire OS has an exclusive Blue Shade feature that automatically optimizes backlight for a better reading experience in dim lighting. And last but not least, Family Library links your Amazon account to that of your relatives to let you conveniently share books.
If youâre an on-the-go reader who doesnât hesitate to toss your e-reader in your tote, youâll also love the fact that the Fire 7 is highly durable. (It was rated as twice as durable than the iPad mini 4, not to mention, itâs cheaper, too!) For $30 more you can upgrade to the eight-inch Fire tablet, which will score you a larger reading screen and four more hours of battery life, but we find this seven-âincher to be a good balance between function and portability.
Best Apple Tablet: Apple iPad
Appleâs iPad has been a great choice for e-reading for a long time due to its large display and incredible versatility. We've picked the newest version of the iPad with a 9.7-inch screen as the best option. While this is definitely a more expensive option in the e-reader space, youâre getting a full-featured tablet on top of the reading functionalities. The iPad allows you to browse the web, work on projects on the go, draw with the Apple Pencil, play games, and use millions of apps from the App Store. The iPad is also uniquely suited for reading magazines, comic books, and regular books that are full of color (most designated e-readers are black and white). One other reason the iPad is great for e-reading is that you can use various apps for e-reading including Apple Books, Kindle, Bookari, Scribd, Google Play Books, and more, so no matter where you like buying ebooks, you can read them.
Best for Kids: Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition
In the realm of e-readers specifically meant for children, there isn't much to choose from â designated e-readers are generally made with adult audiences in mind. Fortunately, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is technically a tablet, but it's so versatile that it also makes a great e-reader for kids.
At its core, the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is a basic Fire HD tablet with an eight-inch display, 32GB of internal storage, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, and 1.5GB of RAM. It has up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, so it can get through a whole day (or two!) without being plugged in. But this model adds a few features specifically for kids, including a blue or pink âkid-proofâ case that protects it from drops and a two-year guarantee that it will survive whatever your kids to do it. This tablet also comes with one free year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, which gives you access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, and TV shows through Amazon. FreeTime Unlimited also gives kids the ability to listen to Audible audiobooks like Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, Peter Pan, and more.
Best for Work: Sony DPT-RP1/B Digital Paper
If youâre looking for an e-reader that is more suited for work tasks â including reading documents, drawing, or taking notes â you need to take a look at the Sony DPT-RP1/B Digital Paper. This device is one of the most interesting products on this list because it is so clearly meant for a future-facing work environment where you read and mark up documents on a single touch-screen reader (and it isn't an Apple, Google, or Amazon product). First and foremost, the Digital Paper is thin and claims to be âas thin as 30 sheets of paper,â so itâs easy to carry around to all your important meetings. The touchscreen, which can be either 10 inches or 13 inches in size, has high contrast and no glare, which means it's easy to read even in direct sunlight. When you pull up documents on the Digital Paper, you can highlight, annotate, or erase on them just like youâd do with physical pen and paper. To transfer documents, you can do so via USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. In terms of battery life, it can last up to three weeks on a single charge.
Tested byHow We Tested
We bought five top-rated e-readers that our reviewers tested for more than 130 hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these e-readers, from their screen size to their durability. Weâve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in an E-Reader
Screen type -Many e-readers, including Amazonâs Kindles, use a technology called E-Ink Carta to mimic paper and not harm your eyes in the same way an LED or LCD display does. For avid readers, itâs definitely the way to go. If youâll be reading in short spurts, though, an IPS display (which is common on most tablets) is another option. Just be sure to turn on the Blue Shade feature that optimizes backlight for a better reading experience in dim lighting.
Battery life -In general, e-readers have stellar battery lives. Because the screens take up dramatically less power than smartphones or tablets, they can go days or even weeks without a charge. Some Kindles claim a whopping eight weeks of reading time (on 30 minutes of reading per day), so if youâre forgetful when it comes to charging, youâll be set.
Durability -Planning to read at the beach? Youâll want an e-reader that can survive high tide. Some devices are designed to be waterproof and rated at IPX8, which means they can swim in depths of up to one meter for up to 60 minutes.
Test Results: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (Previous Generation) (Most Popular)
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
âThe battery life, screen, touchscreen interactions, store, Goodreads integration, etc., all make it the best possible Kindle experience,â one of our testers raved about the Previous Generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. Our reviewers also liked how lightweight and portable it is, making it ideal for travel. On the other hand, one of our testers felt it was an awkward size: âIt's not really necessary to hold in two hands, but it's also not comfortable to hold in just one,â he explained. One of our reviewers also wished for more storage space. Still, according to one of our testers, âit's worth buying, especially for the price.â
Test Results: 2019 Amazon Kindle (Best Overall)
4.5
What We Like
What We Don't Like
'This product is worth buying if you need a simple e-reader,' said our tester. It was also very portable: 'The 10th Generation knocked down the size slightly from the previous generation,' she explained, 'making it easier to tuck into a purse or bag on the go.' Other highlights were its long battery life and its 'useful' LED screen. On the other hand, she felt that its grip was 'a little too small for the average person.' She also thought that its pixel density was too low: 'The 167 PPI was a huge letdown since the previous generation boasted 300 PPI,' she said, 'and it's blatant when using the device.'
Test Results: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (Newest Generation) (Best Waterproof)
4.5
What We Like
![]() What We Don't Like
Monoton font free download mac. Our testers loved the improved 8 GB storage space and sleek, modern design of the Newest Generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. âIt's compact, which means it's easy to take on vacations, and the waterproof feature is a perk,â reported one of our reviewers. On the other hand, our testers felt there was too much glare on the screen and werenât fans of the experimental browser. One of our reviewers also wished you could read files from local libraries instead of being limited to the Kindle store. Still, our testers felt it was a worthwhile purchase, particularly because of all the extra storage space.
Test Results: Amazon Fire HD 8 with Alexa (Best for Audiobooks)
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Our testers loved the Alexa voice integration of the Amazon Fire HD 8. âHands-free Alexa is truly holistic, and the tablet can be mostly controlled with your voice,â one of our reviewers remarked. Our testers also thought it was super durable and kid-friendly. âItâs a great price for a multimedia streaming tablet,â one of our testers raved. On the other hand, our reviewers didnât find the audio to be high-quality and found it was best used with headphones. Overall? âThe tablet itself is seriously unremarkable due to its specifications, but if youâre not naive to that, this is easily one of the cheapest options on the market for a useful slate that will let you browse social media and stream content regularly,â declared one of our testers.
Not Just Kindles
With prices starting below the $100 mark, it's a great time to buy an ebook reader. But before you settle on a single device, you have some decisions to make. As you can see, Amazon's Kindle line makes up the bulk of our top picks, and for many people will be the perfect choice. But it isn't the only choice. Here's what you should consider when shopping.
What Screen Type and How Big?
Basic ebook readers use monochrome, E Ink screens to display text. E Ink looks a lot like paper, and it's easy on your eyes when reading for long periods. On the least expensive models, it's not backlit, so you'll need light to see the text, just as you would with a printed book. But most ebook readers now include edge lighting that lets you see in the dark. With each model, you can vary the intensity of the brightness from barely there to flashlight-bright. On the lowest settings, you can read in the dark while your partner sleeps peacefully next to you.
In all cases, E Ink is much easier to read in bright sunlight, while color touch screens on tablets tend to wash out, and their glossy displays can show distracting reflections.
The industry seems to have settled on six inches as the optimal display size for E Ink readers; this is what you'll find on most of Amazon's Kindles, for example. There are exceptions, though: Kobo's Forma is significantly larger, at 8 inches. And if it's clarity you're after, you're in luck: 300 pixels per inch seems to be the new standard among most recent ebook readers (aside from the base model Kindle).
Manufacturers are also improving the quality of these E Ink displays. A few years ago, page refreshes were sluggish, the entire screen flashed black with each page turn, and some early ebook readers had problems with text contrast, which made for difficult reading. That's all history. The latest readers have crisp, clear text, and employ caching schemes that almost never refresh the full page; most of the time, only the letters fade out and back in again. The page refreshes themselves are much faster than before. New os x update for mac.
Meanwhile, touch screens have an innate advantage: On-screen keyboards make it easy to take notes or run searches within the text of your books. Also, maneuvering a massive online bookstore on a device with a touch screen is a lot easier.
So E Ink is great for reading books, but tablet screens offer a bevy of other benefits. Their color screens mean you can read much more than books: magazines and comic books are just two examples. Best of all, even lower-cost tablets like the Fire 7 can browse the web, stream video from Netflix, Hulu or other sources, play music, and run apps.
Will You Read on the Beach?
If you like to read in the bath, by the pool, or on the beach, you might want to consider buying a waterproof ebook reader. You have a few options. The Amazon Kindle Oasis, the latest Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Forma, and the Kobo Libra H2O are all rated to withstand submersion in water to some degree. The Kindle Oasis even has page turn buttons so you can easily flip between pages when your hands are wet.
What Kind of Wireless Connection Do You Need?
An always-on cellular radio lets you buy and download books from anywhere, over the air, for free (aside from the cost of the book itself, of course). Most devices offer Wi-Fi as the base level wireless connectionâat a much lower costâwith 3G cellular data only available as part of a more-expensive model.
As long as you don't mind waiting until you're at home or near a hotspot to shop for new books, Wi-Fi should work for you. A select few may still prefer to pony up for 3G to buy a new book while, say, on a long train trip, or lounging at the beach.
Internal storage capacity is not much of a concern. Most every ebook reader you can buy today can store more than 1,000 books, with some offering room for thousands more titles. And if you have more books than that, each of the major vendors offers cloud storage, letting you download books to your device whenever you need them, assuming you're connected to Wi-Fi hotspot (or anywhere you have a cell signal, if you have a 3G-capable model).
How About the Books?
This is where things get a little complex, so bear with us for a moment. There's no single universal ebook format; essentially, when you choose an ebook reader, you're making a decision up front as to which ecosystem you'll support.
With free, public domain books, you have some more flexibility, but it's actually more complicated. For example, Google offers over a million free books in the popular, open ePub format, which many public libraries now use for lending books. However, Kindles don't support ePub. Amazon launched its own public library lending tie-in, which differs on a branch-to-branch basis. Amazon also has the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, which lets you borrow a book a month from a selection of over one million titles, but only if you pay $99 a year for the Amazon Prime service. It also gives you unlimited access to Amazon's Prime Reading library.
To make things even murkier, the ebook stores themselves aren't all the same. Book selection, size, and pricing varies from store to store. The best way through this thicket of digital underbrush is to spend a little time browsing ebook stores before you commit to a device. Free download quicken for mac 2007. You can access Amazon's, Barnes & Noble's, and Kobo's ebook stores online to see which carries most of the books, magazines, and newspapers you want to read. Or, if you're planning to borrow ebooks from the library, check your local branch to see what format is in use, and then make sure the reader you want supports it. If it uses Overdrive, Kobo is your best bet.
For more, see How to Get Free (or Cheap) New Ebooks and How to Put Free Ebooks on Your Amazon Kindle. And for an in-depth comparison of supported formats across various ebook readers, check out Wikipedia.
What About Ebook Apps?
One saving grace is that many of the major ebook reader vendors have developed an entire ecosystem of apps around their chosen format. For example, you can start reading a book on your Kindle Paperwhite at home; then, while waiting in line at the grocery store, you can fire up your iPhone's Kindle app and pick up exactly where you left off in the same book, but on your phone.
The size of the app ecosystem varies by format. The Apple iPad and iPhone both run iBooks, a flexible app that looks great, but doesn't have quite the same book selection as Amazon for digital books. Amazon also makes iPad apps, along with versions for iPhone, Android, and other devices; in addition it has a Cloud Reader that works on the iPad with a direct link to the Kindle Store, and several vendors also make PC and Mac apps.
In short, if you plan to read digital books on multiple gadgets, be sure to read our product reviews, and note each manufacturer's list of supported devices.
How Much Do You Want to Spend?Ebook Reader Ratings
This is one place where there's nothing but good news: Prices have fallen considerably across the board. While tablets are mostly a separate category of consumer electronicsâwith higher pricesâyou've got plenty of good options for less than $200, all of which are still great for reading. And on the higher end, Amazon's Kindle Oasis is expensive, but it's a good buy for dedicated bookworms.
With that in mind, these are our favorite dedicated ebook readers you can buy today. If you're getting a Paperwhite, check out our 13 Paperwhite Tips Every Reader Needs to Know. And if you'd rather do your reading on a color screen, head over to our top tablet picks.
Ebook Reader Comparison TableBest eReaders Featured in This Roundup:
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