The 9 Best E-Readers and Tablets for Reading Books, From Budget-Friendly to Screens for Power Bookworms

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Tablets are the perfect all-in-one mobile entertainment center, but not every busy bookworm wants to watch movies, play games, read email or take notes on their device. E-readers offer a distraction-free way to binge on books with Hollywood appeal, soak up page-turners that have been translated for the small screen or listen to audiobooks without having to lug around heavy tomes.

That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best e-readers, including HD tablets that let avid readers soak up e-books anywhere. Our top picks include Amazon’s best-selling Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets as well as worthwhile competitors from Kobo and Rakuten, plus stellar screens from Apple and Samsung for those who want a more versatile device. Many of these options are also compatible with audiobooks so you can listen to your favorite titles, too.

What to Consider When Buying the Right E-Reader

Whether you’re a budding bookworm or a regular e-reading pro, there are a few things to consider if you’re buying or upgrading to a new reading tablet:

Where to Buy E-Books Online

Upgrading your digital bookshelf? You can buy e-books online from Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Ebooks.com Rakuten-owned Kobo eBookstore, Google Play and more.

What Are the Best E-Book Readers?

Below, we’ve rounded up the best e-book readers and tablets for reading, including some that are also great for mobile gaming, taking notes and watching movies. Bonus: Many are on sale during the holiday season, making them an affordable gift for bookworms.

1. 2022 Amazon Kindle Tablet

BEST ENTRY-LEVEL E-READER

The 2022 Amazon Kindle is perfect for book lovers on a budget. Available with or without lockscreen ads (the difference is just $20), the latest 11th gen model now boasts double the storage of its predecessor at 16GB and an upgraded 300ppi glare-free display. An adjustable four-LED front light and the new dark mode feature lets you read comfortably indoors and outdoors at any hour of the day. It comes with four free months of Kindle Unlimited, which offers more than three million titles, thousands of Audible audiobooks and more.

Younger readers can use this Kindle with their Amazon Kids+ subscription ($5 monthly and up), and Amazon Prime members can also use their subscription to access an ever-updated catalog of magazines, comics, e-books and more content. Note that the fabric cover ($30) is sold separately.

2. Rakuten Kobo Sage E-Reader

BEST KINDLE ALTERNATIVE

Amazon isn’t the only maker of excellent and accessible e-readers. Japanese retailer Rakuten’s Kobo line is giving the Kindle a run for its money, and the Sage 2 e-reader boasts added features such as stylus compatibility ($40; sold separately) for taking notes and Dropbox support.

The eight-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen delivers glare-free reading with deep contrast, and the device’s Dark Mode feature helps to reduce eye strain. The ComfortLight Pro feature also lets you control the brightness and blue light. Readers who appreciate a tactile experience can turn pages with ergonomic buttons on either side of the screen, and the lightweight e-reader boasts an IPX8 rating and is waterproof for up to an hour under up to two meters.

Note takers can use the separate Kobo Stylus and Kobo Sage’s built-in notebook to write and convert notes into text, or write comments on PDFS and e-books. Eco-conscious bookworms will be happy to know that Kobo buys carbon offsets on every shipment. Two cover options ($50 to $80) help to keep your screen protected.

3. Amazon Kindle Oasis

MOST CUSTOMIZABLE KINDLE E-READER

Amazon’s tenth generation Kindle Oasis ($280 with lockscreen ads, $300 without ads) is the best slim e-reader for avid bookworms who want to quickly turn pages, adjust the screen shade from bright white to amber and read worry-free in the bath or by the pool — and in one lightweight device. The 6.6-ounce water-resistant tablet has a seven-inch 300ppi Paperwhite e-ink display, which is slightly larger than Amazon’s standard and signature Paperwhite e-readers. The font size and face, line spacing and margins can also be adjusted to suit your preferences.

The 25-LED front light (the second brightest of Amazon’s e-readers) can automatically adapt to your lighting conditions, and the device also has an automatic rating page orientation, physical page turn buttons and a more ergonomic design compared to other Kindle models.

It can withstand being dropped in two meters of water for up to an hour, and comes in 8GB or 32GB storage options, allowing users to store thousands of e-books or 35 to 160 Audible audiobooks, respectively. A single charge gets you up to six weeks of battery life, depending on your usage. The water-resistant fabric cover ($40) is sold separately.

4. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

BEST PAPER-LIKE E-READER

For a reading experience that feels like you’re looking at paper, Amazon’s 11th generation Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition features no lockscreen ads and is the best option if you’re looking for a durable device for on-the-go reading. This e-book reader boasts a 300ppi glare-free waterproof display that’s easy on the eyes (even in bright sunlight) and the battery can last up to 10 weeks on a single charge. You can adjust the screen’s warmth for better reading during the day or at night, and you can store thousands of books on the built-in 32GB storage.

It comes with three free months of Kindle Unlimited, which offers more than two million titles, thousands of audiobooks and more. Fabric and cork covers are sold separately for $35 to $50.

5. Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 4

E-READER WITH BEST BATTERY LIFE

Barnes & Noble’s latest Nook GlowLight 4 e-reader (one of four in the bookstore chain’s lineup of devices) is another worthy Amazon Kindle competitor, thanks to its battery that can last for up to one month. The six-inch 300ppi display is glare-, scratch- and fingerprint-resistant to mimic the experience of reading real paper, and it offers a generous 32GB of memory (29GB of that space is for content storage).

The Nook’s Night Mode makes the screen comfortable on the eyes in the evening, while the Illumination feature is great for indoors and outdoors. You can also set it to adjust the lighting automatically depending on the time of day. Covers are sold separately for $20.

Regular Barnes & Noble customers will appreciate free Wi-Fi at the bookstore chain’s stores and AT&T hotspots, and B&N members save 10 percent on purchases. The device also comes with free lifetime in-person support at any B&N store.

5. 2022 Kindle Kids Tablet

BEST E-READER FOR KIDS

While all of Amazon’s other Kindles (including the Paperwhite editions) are compatible with Amazon Kids+, the 2022 Kindle Kids e-reader was designed specifically for distraction-free reading for ages 7 and up. The 11th generation model features 16GB storage (double its predecessor) that can hold more than a thousand Amazon Kids+ books, a larger six-inch 300ppi display and up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge. Since it’s geared toward reading books, it does not have any games, ads, videos or other apps. It’s compatible with Audible and can be easily paired with Bluetooth headphones or speakers so kids can listen to their favorite stories.

It comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+ ($5 monthly for Prime members, $8 for non-Prime members) and its own cover. Plus this device has a two-year worry-free guarantee in case it breaks, so you can return it and replace a new one for free.

7. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Tablet

BEST ANDROID TABLET FOR READING

MORE BUYING OPTIONS (from $570, reg. $700 and up): Samsung | Amazon | Best Buy

Enjoy the all-day battery and get the ultra-large screen experience with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8. This tablet is easy on the eyes and has a crisp and brilliant 11-inch LCD screen. Whether you use it for reading, gaming or streaming movies, the dynamic display gives you a 120Hz refresh rate that brings out the best in your content and makes it extra smooth. It also has built-in Quad speakers with rich Dolby Atmos surround sound tuned by AKG, and you can choose from silver, graphite or gold colors.

You can use the tablet to multi-task, plus read or listen to audiobooks. Storage starts at 128GB and you can upgrade to up to 1TB with a microSD card (sold separately) if you need more space for your e-books or audiobooks. Accessories such as cases, Bluetooth keyboards and styluses are sold separately.

8. Apple 2021 iPad Mini

BEST IPAD FOR READING

While Apple’s latest 2022 iPad Air and the colorful new iPad are now available, readers who prefer portability (say, a smaller screen that can also handle web browsing, checking emails and watching videos), the 2021 iPad Mini might be a better option. If you’re not looking for a powerhouse of a tablet, the 8.3-in. Liquid Retina display with True Tone and Apple’s A15 Bionic chip combine to give you more than enough screen and speed to let you go from listening to audiobooks to watching movies to soaking up best-selling novels on Apple Books (or other e-book apps).

It’s compatible with 5G and works with the second-gen Apple Pencil, the Smart Keyboard Folio and non-Apple Bluetooth keyboards, so it’s also a great tablet for taking notes.

9. Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet

BEST FIRE TABLET FOR READING

For an affordable tablet and e-reader combo, Amazon Fire HD 10 is a zippy, wallet-friendly device that’s also ideal for reading. The battery gives you up to 12 hours of reading and the device comes in four colors: black, denim, olive and lavender. The durable 10.1-inch 1080p HD screen is made with strengthened aluminosilicate glass and it comes with a 10 percent brighter display compared to its predecessor.

It comes with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage (the microSD card slot lets you expand up to up to 1TB) and a powerful octa-core processor and 3GB RAM for seamless multi-tasking. Upgrade to the Fire HD 10 Plus if you want the option to charge wirelessly. Bluetooth keyboards and fabric and durable kid-friendly cases are also available.