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Title: The best ereaders for 2025

Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:01:26 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-...

After testing around a dozen ereaders, we think the best bet for most people
is the Kobo Clara Colour. But the base-model Kindle is also good, offering a
cheap and easy entry point into ebooks. And Boox makes a few E Ink readers
that do more than just display books. Now that most ereader companies also
offer color models, the field is wider than ever. In short, there are a few
things to consider before buying your next (or first) ereader and this guide
covers product recommendations alongside advice on how to get the most out of
your new device.

Table of contents

Best ereaders

What to look for in an ereader

How to get books for your ereader

How we test ereaders

Ereader FAQs

Recent updates

The best ebook readers for 2025

What to look for in an ereader

Plenty of apps, including the Kindle app, will let you download and read
digital books on an iPhone, Android Phone or tablet. But what makes ebook
readers different is the screen: nearly all of them use technology from a
company called E Ink. It manufactures electronic paper displays (EPD)
composed of three sheets: one containing millions of microcapsules filled
with black and white ink particles sandwiched between transparent electrode
layers. When a charge is applied, either the black or white particles shift
to the top, forming letters and the whitespace around them.

Color ereaders add a color filter array on top of the standard black and
white microcapsule layer. The result is two different resolutions on one
screen ΓÇö the color clarity is 150 dpi while black and white images and text
are still 300 dpi.

Because these displays are so different from standard backlight LED panels,
you can expect most good ereaders to do a number of things well. TheyΓÇÖll be
easier to stare at for long periods of time and easier to read in direct
sunlight. Also, since E Ink displays only require power to rearrange the ink,
these devices have much longer battery lives than even the best tablets:
weΓÇÖre talking weeks on a single charge, not days.

The ereader market is not as saturated as, say, the smartphone market, but
there are still plenty of options out there and they do have small but
important differences among them. They tend to range from around $100 to more
than $400, though usually the higher end options are stylus-enabled
read/write E Ink tablets like the Kindle Scribe. Beyond price, you should
consider physical properties like buttons, lights, storage and resolution, as
well as how the software lets you find and access books.

Reading features

With any ereader, youΓÇÖll navigate the OS via taps and swipes, and some add
physical page-turn buttons. Most with built-in buttons have an auto-rotating
screen so you can press with your right or left hand.

As E Ink technology has advanced, resolution has greatly improved ΓÇô even
the budget Kindle ereader has a 300 ppi display. You can still find models
with lower resolution, but we donΓÇÖt recommend them.

Some ereaders have front LEDs that support light temperature adjustment. That
means you can switch to a warmer light after the sun goes down, which will
feel easier on the eyes. If youΓÇÖre concerned about blue light, you should
go for a reader with that feature. Finally, dark mode is available on most
later model ereaders, allowing you to invert the black and white text and
background, which some people find easier to read in low-light settings.

Other features

The capabilities of these pocket libraries have advanced considerably since
the early days. In addition to storing books, some let you browse the web,
run apps and play music. The screenΓÇÖs frame rate canΓÇÖt handle gaming, but
itΓÇÖs good enough to show you the Wikipedia entry for StriverΓÇÖs Row while
you read Crook Manifesto.

If you listen to audiobooks, you may want a Bluetooth-enabled ereader capable
of playing them. Most of the models we tested have that ability, with the
notable exception of the Nook ereader we tried. Keep in mind that audiobook
files can take up more space than print files so you'll probably want a
device with a higher storage capacity if you plan on doing a lot of
listening.

Above all, you should consider where and how you intend to find books to
read. Most ereaders make it easiest to shop through their own digital
bookstores, but all of them (even Kindles) will now let you download titles
from other sources, like libraries, unaffiliated ebook sellers and free
public domain sites.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How to get books for your ereader

Kindle, Nook and Kobo all have their own stores that you access directly from
each brandΓÇÖs devices. Prices are the same among all sellers, too.
Publishers set the price of an ebook, not the retailer, so a title will cost
the same at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBooks.com and the Kobo store.

Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited for $12 per month, and it includes four
million titles from which you can pick your next read. It includes audio and
ebooks, but you wonΓÇÖt find many big, new releases or older bestsellers.
Kobo has a subscription called Kobo Plus with about 1.3 million titles: it
goes for $8 per month for ebooks only, $8 for audiobooks only or $10 for
both.

Buying a book from a proprietary store instantly delivers it to your device,
provided youΓÇÖre connected to WiFi. It also syncs your reading across
devices and apps, so you can pick up where you left off on your phone if you
forgot your ereader at home. It truly is the most convenient way to go, but
if you donΓÇÖt want to be locked into one brandΓÇÖs store, or if you opt for
an ereader without its own marketplace, you do have options.

How to upload ePubs onto an ereader

Stores like ebooks.com and Google Play have millions of ebooks for sale as
digital rights-managed (DRM) ePub files, which Kobo, Nook and PocketBook
readers can read in their native ereader apps. Kindles donΓÇÖt support DRM
ePub files at all and Boox devices require third party reading apps (of which
there are many) to read those files. Titles from Apple Books are only
readable in iOS devices.

Titles from some publishers like Tor and public domain classics from sites
like Project Gutenberg are also sold as ePubs, but without the added DRM.
Consequently, Kindles and the Boox Neoreader do support those files. Books
you get from third-party sources will look just like ones you bought from a
proprietary store, thanks to the flowable, formatted nature of ePub files.
While these device-agnostic ebook collections give you extra options for
finding your next read, they require a few additional steps to get the files
onto your ereader.

To do so, youΓÇÖll typically need a computer running a free program called
Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). After buying and downloading the ePub file,
open ADE and plug your ereader into your computer (all readers here have a
USB-C port for charging and data transfers). Your device should pop up in the
left panel. Drag and drop the ePub file from your downloads folder into the
main panel in ADE. The file will display as an image of the book cover. Drag
that image onto your device on the left panel. If the file includes digital
rights management (which protects against unauthorized copying) youΓÇÖll need
to authorize your ereader, which requires using or creating a free Adobe ID.
Once youΓÇÖve finished adding files to upload, eject the reader from your
computer to complete the transfer process.

Kindles use a web-based uploader instead of the ADE method. But since Kindle
uses its own proprietary DRM technology instead of Adobe's, the only files it
can accept from third parties are non-DRM files, such as from Tor Publishing
or Project Gutenberg. After downloading a compatible ePub file, drag and drop
it into your browser with the Send to Kindle page open. As long as youΓÇÖre
signed into Amazon, this wirelessly transfers the files to your associated
device.

Boox also uses a browser uploader called BooxDrop (along with many other
methods) to deliver ePubs to the device. Open it from the Boox App menu and
youΓÇÖll see a device-specific url. Type that into your browser to access a
file delivery portal that uploads to your library. BooxΓÇÖs built-in ereader
app, NeoReader, also doesnΓÇÖt support files with DRM, so you wonΓÇÖt be able
to read current titles from most publishers using that app. Fortunately, Boox
devices run nearly every ereader app out there, Kobo and Kindle included,
letting you access ePubs any number of ways.

Recently, Bookshop.org, the online seller of physical books that supports
indie bookstores, started selling ebooks and up to 100 percent of the profits
will go to local booksellers. The company uses a different rights management
system than ADE so, right now, you can only read titles you buy from them on
the Bookshop.org app, but the company is working with the makers of both
Kindle and Kobo to extend compatibility to those ereaders.

How to read library books on an ereader

Your local library card lets you borrow audio and ebooks through a program
called Overdrive and its companion app Libby. On a Kobo, you have have built-
in access to Overdrive in a separate tab. Once youΓÇÖve linked your public
library card, the search function will include results for titles available
from your local library system; a few taps will upload your selections to
your device for the length of the loan. I personally find it easiest to
borrow the title I want through the Libby app on my phone. After that, the
book pops up on my KoboΓÇÖs home screen once the device syncs.

To read library books on a Kindle, you can either go through the Libby app or
the Overdrive section of your libraryΓÇÖs website. Once you click Borrow,
youΓÇÖll see the option to ΓÇ£Read now with Kindle,ΓÇ¥ which takes you to
AmazonΓÇÖs site to sign in. After that, the book will be delivered to your
device the next time it connects to WiFi.

For other ereaders, youΓÇÖll go through your libraryΓÇÖs Overdrive portal and
download the ePub after clicking the Borrow button. You can then use the ADE
process we described above. Devices that run external apps, like Boox's Page,
Go Color 7 or Palma, allow you to read library books via the Libby app, just
as you would on a smartphone or iPad.

You can also use the Libby app to borrow audiobooks, but you wonΓÇÖt be able
to access them through your ereader. (The exception is an ereader, like a
Boox device, that allows external apps). I found it was easier to listen to
an audiobook on my phone anyway, regardless of whether I borrowed it through
Libby or bought it from Kindle or Kobo.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How we test ereaders

When putting together any guide, the first thing we do is spend hours
researching the field. We look at whatΓÇÖs available, whatΓÇÖs new, and what
shoppers and professional reviewers have to say. Then we narrow a list to the
best candidates for hands-on testing.

Over the course of the past two years, IΓÇÖve tested just over a dozen
ereaders, representing five different brands: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble,
Boox and PocketBook. I bought, borrowed and uploaded books for each device
using the methods above. I used each one for between a few days to a few
months. I evaluated each one in the areas of book access, ease of reading,
extra features and overall value. HereΓÇÖs everything we tested so far:

Amazon Kindle (2022)

Amazon Kindle (2024)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024)

Boox Go Color 7

Boox Leaf 2

Boox Page

Boox Poke 5

Boox Palma

Kobo Libra 2

Kobo Libra Colour

Kobo Clara 2E

Kobo Clara Colour

Kobo Nia

NOOK GlowLight 4

PocketBook Era

Other ereaders we tested Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

AmazonΓÇÖs first color Kindle impressed with its quick page-turns and load
times, auto-adjusting front light and, of course, a decently striking color E
Ink display. But at $280, itΓÇÖs more expensive than all of the other color
ereaders in its size range, including the Kobo Libra Colour and the Boox Go
Color 7.

Also, some Colorsoft owners reported seeing a yellow band at the bottom of
their ereaderΓÇÖs display. This issue did not affect our first review unit
during the original testing period, but it eventually appeared. An Amazon
spokesperson told Engadget: "A small number of customers have reported a
yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our
products seriouslyΓÇöcustomers who notice this can reach out to our customer
service team for a replacement or refund, and weΓÇÖre making the appropriate
adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving
forward."

Amazon sent us a new Colorsoft ereader at the end of 2024 and it does appear
that the fixes the company made resolved the yellow-band issue. The screen on
our second review unit appears warmer overall, but not overly so. ItΓÇÖs more
akin to the screen on the Kobo Libra Colour, and thatΓÇÖs a good thing.

Boox Go 7 stylus-enabled ereader

Boox recently released two new stylus-enabled generations of their seven-inch
reader: The monochrome Go 7 and a color-screen Go Color 7 (Gen II). After
trying out the stylus-enabled Go 7, I still like the standard, non-stylus
enabled version better. True, I liked the Notebook app with its array of
handwriting templates and I appreciated the low-to-no latency with the
stylus. It also offers a good assortment of brush, pen and style options. But
outside of the Notebook app, I didnΓÇÖt find much use for the stylus.

I was able to doodle in the margins of DRM-free books in BooxΓÇÖs native
NeoReader, but it doesnΓÇÖt work in other apps or on any rights-managed
books. There's a FreeMark option that allows you to draw or write atop any
app, but it saves your doodles as separate images, as opposed to allowing you
to mark up the page itself. I also found enabling the stylus to be a little
glitchy. If you plan to do a lot of writing, youΓÇÖll probably be better
served by an E Ink tablet, but if you want an ereader that can mark up your
books, I suggest going with the Kobo Libra Color, detailed above.

Ereader FAQs What's the difference between an ereader and an e-ink reader?

Really, they are the same thing. E Ink is a company that designs and
manufactures the paper-like screens found in most ereader devices.
Technically, anything you read ebooks on can act as an ereader, so your
phone, iPad or Android tablet could all serve that purpose, but theyΓÇÖre not
considered dedicated ereaders. While there are some devices marketed as
ereaders that have LCD or OLED screens instead of E Ink, they arenΓÇÖt as
common. One of the benefits of ereaders is the E Ink screenΓÇÖs paper-like
quality, which causes less eye strain for many people.

But there is a difference between ereaders and E Ink tablets. These larger e-
ink devices also employ E Ink screens, but they have stylus input and are
often used for note taking and other tasks in addition to reading ebooks. We
have an entire guide devoted to helping you pick out an E Ink tablet.

Are there ads on my ereader?

The base model Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite come with ads by default, but you
can opt to pay $20 to remove them, either at the time of purchase or after
you start using the device. The ads are limited to the lockscreen and are
typically for other books or Kindle services. Kobo and Boox ereaders donΓÇÖt
come with ads.

Which ereader has the longest battery life?

Of the devices we tested, the Boox Go Color 7 has the largest listed battery
capacity at 2,300mAh (Amazon doesnΓÇÖt list the capacity of its Kindle
devices). But thanks to the nature of E Ink screens and the relatively
limited processing power required to display e-books, nearly all ereaders can
go for weeks before they need a recharge. That means battery life probably
isnΓÇÖt as much of a deciding factor in buying an ereader as it would be with
a tablet or smartphone.

Which ereaders can read Kindle books?

AmazonΓÇÖs Kindle ereaders are the obvious answer, but other devices capable
of running apps can also read titles from the Kindle store. For example, you
can download the Kindle app on a Boox ereader through Google Play (the store
comes standard in the Boox app menu). You can then sign into your Kindle
account and access all the books in your library ΓÇö the same way youΓÇÖd
read Kindle books on your phone or tablet.

Can you buy Kindle books without a Kindle?

Yes. You can buy Kindle books through the Kindle app or through AmazonΓÇÖs
website via a browser. You can read those titles on a Kindle or any device
that can run the Kindle app, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer. Just
be aware that Kindle titles can only be read through one of AmazonΓÇÖs
ereaders or the Kindle app. The company uses proprietary digital rights
management on all ebooks it sells that canΓÇÖt be read by other ereader apps
like Kobo or Adobe ADE.

What's the difference between Kindle and Kobo?

Both Kindle and Kobo are brands of dedicated ereaders that support searching,
buying, downloading and reading ebooks from their own stores. Both also
support borrowing books from your local library via Overdrive and Libby.

The difference is that Kindle is owned by Amazon and uses the Kindle store,
whereas Kobo is owned by Rakuten and its books come from the Kobo store. Both
stores come pre-loaded as a tab on their respective ereader and both carry
most in-print books. Each store also carries their own exclusive ebooks as
well, but AmazonΓÇÖs library of Kindle-only books is much larger than
KoboΓÇÖs. Amazon also offers Amazon Original stories to read on the Kindle,
which are free short fiction and nonfiction reads that are free to Prime
members.

Which ereader is best for library books?

Both Kobos and Kindles have simple systems for borrowing library books. Other
ereaders, like Boox, let you borrow books after downloading the Libby App.
Only Kobo ereaders let you search for and borrow books directly on the
ereader, with a dedicated Overdrive tab. Kindles, on the other hand, utilize
a convenient ΓÇ£read on KindleΓÇ¥ function from the Libby app or website. You
can send a borrowed book to your Kindle just by signing into your account.
Both methods are pretty easy, so which is the best for you probably depends
on other factors than just the library-book feature.

Recent updates

August 2025: Included new frequently asked questions covering battery life, E
Ink screens and ads on ereaders. Mentioned AmazonΓÇÖs release of a cheaper
Colorsoft Kindle.

July 2025: Added our impressions of the new stylus-enabled Boox Go 7 series.
Updated our Boox Palma recommendation to account for the upgrades to the Boox
Palma 2. Included text formats to our specs and the battery life of the Kobo
Clara Colour.

March 2025: Added news about Bookshop.org getting into the ebook market.
Updated information about price-setting by publishers.

January 2025: Updated the "Others we tested" section to include impressions
of the second Kindle Colorsoft review unit we received.

August 2024: Replaced our Android tablet pick with the new Go Color 7 ereader
from Boox. Updated book titles to current examples. Added an FAQ section to
explain the difference between Kobo and Kindle ereaders and further detail
library-book support on different models.

November 2024: Following the release of Amazon's new Kindle ereaders, we
tested and reviewed the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, the base-model
Kindle and Amazon's new color ereader, the Kindle Colorsoft. Accordingly, we
updated our budget pick, added a premium pick and noted our experience with
the Colorsoft.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-...

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