Best ebook reader device 2012

For audiobook lovers, this e-reader offers a seamless e-book to audiobook transition that allows you to listen to audiobooks without needing to install additional apps.

Besides that, you can also easily buy new titles or transfer digital books to your Kindle via Bluetooth and WiFi. It has a 6-week battery capacity but tends to diminish very quickly if you keep these features turned on. Your eBook collection can contain to eBook titles on the 8GB version, while the 32GB version can hold beefier audio files. Besides a storage capacity upgrade, this e-reader also allows you to use dark mode, set up individual reading profiles, and reading presets.

To accommodate the sleeker and slimmer design, this Kindle eBook reader omitted the beloved navigation button. The waterproof Amazon Kindle Paperwhite delivers tons of value with its upgraded storage space, larger battery, and sharper display. Although the page-turning button is omitted, it compensates with its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. With Bluetooth and WiFi connection, this e-reader provides both an affordable and comfortable reading experience to avid readers.

Clara HD is the latest release in a value eBook reader line up from Kobo devices. The eReader is designed to be a direct competitor to a highly successful Amazon alternative, Kindle Paperwhite. The front of the e-reader features a sharp six-inch touch screen that offers a pixels per inch resolution. At the back, Kobo Clara HD has a unique textured grip that feels nice in the hand and improves grip and comfort allowing you to hold it with your fingertips. The eReader is very comfortable to hold over long periods of time due to its ergonomic and lightweight design.

Despite being a budget eReader, it features an impressive three to four weeks of battery capacity given an hour a day usage. The smart technology allows you to adjust the color warmth setting to suit your liking and environment.

You can pick a color tone between a standard blue and a softer yellow backlight. In addition, the backlight can dynamically change color based on the time of day and the amount of light available. Borrowing eBooks from your local library has also been made easier with the Overdrive integration. You can see the contents of the eBook library on your device so you are able to borrow most books from your reading lists by virtually downloading them. Kobo Clara HD is the lightest eReader in our review.

Despite being a value eReader, it comes with all the important features. The adaptive LCD screen backlight is smart and can automatically adjust the display color temperature based on the environment to ensure the least amount of strain is put on your eyes.

Unlike its older sibling — Nook GlowLight Plus, the new version looks and feels basic, which actually happens to play to its advantage. It does not have an aluminum body, glass screen or water resistance rating, but comes with a stunning level of practicality for indoor reading. The screen features a PPI resolution providing a crisp display with a real paperback book feel.

The touch screen is complemented by an advanced backlight system which has 7 white and 6 yellow LED lights. LEDs allow the e-reader to change the tone from cool white to warm orange in order to make your night reading experience more pleasant.

The tone adjustment can be done manually or you could let the eReader seamlessly adjust it for you. It does not have an ambient light sensor to control the tone level, as it uses the timezones and time of the day instead. The thick bezel has actually allowed the placement of two physical page-turning buttons on each side.

Tapping the buttons flips the pages forward or backward, whereas double tapping flips the whole chapter. We have actually liked those buttons so much, that despite it being such a simple feature — it made all the difference for us.

On the down side, the PDF reading experience is mediocre and inconsistent. The e-reader takes too long to respond to zoom commands or sometimes does not even register them. If you are planning to extensively use PDF files, there are better options from Kobo to choose from. Overall, the rubbery coating, lightweight design and thick bezel with physical buttons have created an exceptional level of comfort and ergonomics. It feels easy and comfortable to use, especially at night.

The comfort light feature is the icing on the cake, which makes the Nook Glowlight 3 one of the best value eBook readers for home use we have ever reviewed. Kobo Forma is a premium reader that was specifically designed for ravenous booklovers who spend more time reading eBooks than others.

The asymmetrical design, similar to Kindle Oasis, puts page-turn buttons on the right side of the device. Kobo eReaders are known for being innovative as they were the first to make eReaders waterproof, pioneered the backlight color temperature adjustment system, and support almost all eBook formats you can think of.

The result is an impressive pixel density with the best screen size and weight ratio we have seen in eBook readers. The display uses both Carta HD and Mobius technology which is not common. Utilizing both technologies allowed the eReader to deliver extremely crisp image quality, yet remain lightweight at grams and thin at 0. Most eReaders allow users to control the text format by using presets that change line spacing, font sizes, and margins. This time, Kobo takes the text format customization to a whole new level as each parameter can be fine-tuned using individual sliders.

In addition, the CBR and CBZ file format support is great and allows manga, graphic novels, and comic books to be displayed cleanly and well-formatted. Lastly, the oversized eReader features a unique Overdrive integration and Pocket support.

It allows users to browse local public libraries and make them available on the eReader. Pocket, however, allows website and blog content to be pushed onto the eReader.

Kobo Forma has all the features you can expect a premium eReader to have. It is waterproof, extremely light, has an amazingly clear display and allows you to customize the settings to get the best reading experience like no other eReader on the market. If you consume lots of graphic content, read in low or no light conditions, Kobo Forma is the reader to buy.

It does come with a hefty price tag, but for some of us, it will be worth every penny. Based on the basic Kindle, Amazon Kindle Kids Edition provides a safe and distraction-free reading environment for your little bookworms. It features a 6-inch screen with PPI and weighs about 10 ounces — the perfect dimension for kids to tote around.

The parental pin allows you to set age filters, daily reading goals, and add media for your children. You can also use the pin to access the standard Kindle software and adult content. The battery lasts about 4 hours on a single charge. It also includes a headphone port that allows your kids to read and listen audiobooks purchased separately at the same time. Alternatively, you can wirelessly connect Bluetooth headphones for even more comfortable listening experience.

The downside is, Kindle Kids Edition, just like the basic Kindle has a mediocre screen resolution compared to the other Kindle products. Although it is not very fast, it is one of the best e-readers to get your children interested in reading. With a flat-front e-ink PPI screen, it delivers sharp and crisps texts that rival the mid-range Kindle.

The BOOX Max3 is ideal for students as it provides a wide range of features for studying, such as sketching tools and full-page translation for foreign language books. In addition to a stylus that makes it easy to take hand notes, there are other tools that take it a step further, such as an AI-based handwriting recognition function and annotation features.

Besides that, it offers tons of customization options to personalize your reading experience, like font sizes, brushing through text, and searching for a specific word in an eBook. You can read pretty much any text format on the market with this device. The device is based on the Android operating system which comes with Google Play Store integration and multiple apps. For reading proprietary formats and other things that the Max3 cannot do out of the box, you can browse the app store library for solutions.

It features crisp texts, an impressive number of personalization options for reading, and robust note-taking tools. Although it can be temperamental to use, its long list of useful features and connectivity options make it one of the top reading tablets for students.

If you enjoy ebook reading, chances are you would like to have your library organized and have it with you on the go. If you do, there are a couple of options to consider for your digital library. There are both public libraries and paid ones and picking one may dictate your device choice. Although some may question the eReader practicality and debate about eReader vs tablet thinking that if you have the former, you do not need the latter. Others may even convince you to go back to your favorite paper book.

We believe the two devices have been intentionally designed for two different purposes and should not be compared as equivalents.

There are multiple reasons that make modern eReaders a better reading choice:. Overall, if it is reading you are after, no tablet can really beat an eBook reader and we can help you pick the top eReader of For more details, see below:. Alternatively, you can always opt for ebook reader apps such as a Kindle app or others compatible with your mobile device, iPad or a tablet. They provide the most cost-effective solution to e-reading but deliver the least impressive experience of all.

There are a number of factors you would need to consider before shortlisting your top picks and ultimately buying an eReader that fits your needs. Below I have listed some handy tips for you to consider. In terms of the type — basic e-readers use monochrome, E Ink technology screens to display text, and some basic graphics. However, most eBook readers these days include edge lighting that helps you see in the dark. Also, most models, allow you to vary the intensity of the brightness from being quite dimmed to flashlight-bright.

In case you are someone who likes reading outside, then sun glare and water exposure may not make it easy for you. If you are an outdoor book lover reading out on a sunny day, then having a screen that is glare resistant is not only a better option but a must.

If on top of that you like reading on the beach or next to a pool, then some level of water resistance would be highly recommended. Most modern eReaders come with Wi-Fi and some even with cellular internet support. And ereader screens are more like the latter in important ways. According to a report from the Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning, we've trained our eyes to skim and dart on screens thank you, internet , constantly hunting for specific bits of information we're after — a non-linear behavior the Stanford paper calls 'surface reading'.

When reading from a paper book, by contrast, our brains switch to a more concentrated form of information processing — dubbed 'deep reading' — that actually helps us better absorb and comprehend what's on the page, even if it's a digital page that mimics the real thing. To us, that sounds like a great argument for giving ereaders their own space, away from the distractions of apps and constant notifications on our modern do-all devices.

With a dedicated ereader, you can even browse for new books without leaving the house. Admittedly, ereaders are simpler devices made for the singular purpose of reading, but they have advantages that you won't find on more versatile tablets, such as batteries that last weeks rather than hours and much clearer legibility in direct sunlight thanks to their glare-free screens.

There are several brands of ereaders on the market today, but availability is spotty. Neither are available in Australia. Two companies, though, have risen to own the ereader market globally — Amazon with its range of Kindle ereaders and Kobo. We've divided this page into two sections to highlight the best both companies have to offer, then go on to compare the two to help you make your buying decision.

If money is no object and you want the most luxurious reading experience a digital ebook reader can give you, then it doesn't get any better than the version of Amazon's Kindle Oasis. While the older model can be found on Amazon, the new model is lighter than its predecessor, and its IPX8 waterproofing means it can easily handle an accidental dunk in the bath or the pool. The backlight can be adjusted from white to warmer yellow hues to reduce eye strain, and it can even be scheduled to become warmer at bedtime say, pm for example.

There's also the usual Kindle Oasis features we saw in the previous generation — a high-quality and large 7-inch display with E Ink technology that makes words on the page crisp and clear, and a 'ridge' on one side of the sleek-looking aluminum chassis that has been designed for easy and comfortable single-hand use.

The buttons to turn pages are within easy reach of the thumb even if you have small mitts, and the device can be turned upside down for use with either hand, with the pages swapping automatically to suit. WhisperSync support means you can stop reading on your Oasis and pick up reading where you left on the Kindle app, or another Kindle device, although this will require your devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

There's also plenty of storage space onboard, with 8GB being the starting point, but you can get a 32GB version of the Oasis if you've got or planning on having a large digital library. The base model comes with Wi-Fi enabled, but there is an LTE option as well, which allows you to download ebooks from the Kindle Store no matter where you are. It's the ereader that comes with all the bells and whistles, if you can stomach the premium price.

Read the full review: Amazon Kindle Oasis. There was a time when Amazon had a Kindle called Voyage, but that has been discontinued. Instead, some of the features from the Voyage have been added to the Kindle Paperwhite, making it one of the best, affordable Kindles till date.

The latest edition of the Paperwhite is thinner and lighter than the previous generation, and offers 8GB of storage on its base model — twice that on the predecessor. Like the Oasis, though, you can opt for a 32GB flavor as well, in case you'd like to store a staggering number of ebooks on the device. And, like the Oasis, there are Wi-Fi and cellular models available too.

The 6-inch screen is a gorgeous HD display with ppi pixel density that makes the words on the page appear sharp and clear, even in bright sunlight. The built-in light can be adjusted from white to warmer hues to reduce eye strain, although you can't schedule the light to change for nighttime reading as you can with the Oasis. Compared to the Oasis' sleek, premium design, the Paperwhite's chassis is rather boring and feels plasticky in the hand, but it's remarkably functional, as long as you don't need to use it with a single hand.

Thanks to its IPX8 waterproofing, you can safely relax in the bath or lounge by the pool with your favorite titles and not worry about it falling into the water. Battery life doesn't seem to be as good as it was in the older version, but you'll still get days of use out of a single charge with the current model of the Paperwhite.

Read the full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. These are unprecedented times and everyone is budget conscious at the moment. So if you'd like an ereader that won't burn a hole in your pocket, then Amazon's latest basic Kindle is for you. It's an entry-level, no-frills device that comes with a backlight that has no blue light filter. The 6-inch display is glare-free but it's not the sharpest screen an entry-level Kobo called Nia has beaten Amazon on that regard — see below for more details.

That said, the screen is adequate for reading indoors, the battery will see you through a couple of weeks of reading and you'll get up to 8GB of storage. The Kindle isn't waterproof, so you'll need to be careful if you're a poolside, beach or in-the-bath reader. Despite being a basic ereader, the latest iteration of the Kindle comes with Bluetooth support, so you can connect a set of wireless headphones and link your Audible account if you're keen on listening to audiobooks when you're unable to read.

The user interface is basic but intuitive and makes reading digital books and magazines a breeze. It's also slim and light, making it a highly portable library for all the titles you own. Read the full review: Amazon Kindle. While traditional tablet-like ereaders like the Kindle Paperwhite mentioned above and the Kobo Nia and Clara HD below are the most affordable ebook readers you can get, they're uncomfortable to use single-handed.

And so the asymmetric design that the Kindle Oasis pioneered is becoming more popular, with Kobo introducing the Libra H2O in late as a more affordable option to both the Amazon counterpart as well as the bigger Kobo Forma. But it's not just the Libra's relatively affordable price tag that makes it a compelling ereader alternative — it's also more durable than the expensive bigger brother listed below, and it boasts an improved user interface that offers a better reading experience than what you'd get on a Kindle.

With a 7-inch screen compared to the Forma's 8 inches , it's smaller than its bigger brother, but that makes it more portable and it's a much faster device besides. With the latest E Ink technology, the Libra H2O matches the Oasis in speed and responsiveness — whether you're just turning a page, selecting words for dictionary look-up or entering a Wi-FI password to set up the ereader.

The Libra H2O debuted improvements to the user interface, like a new ebook navigator accessed by either swiping upward from the bottom or tapping in the centre of the screen. You can even use the Libra to read in landscape mode if you prefer.

We were already partial to Kobo's user interface and these changes have made it more streamlined than the cluttered UX of the Kindles. Thanks to its hard plastic body, the Libra has a more premium and rugged look than the Forma.

The page-turn buttons feel a lot more sturdy with good feedback, while the power button on the rear is easy to locate as it sits in a recess that's quite deep. That said, the buttons on the Oasis are, by far, the best of the three. And while the Oasis' metal body gives it a very premium look and feel — and carries a price tag to match its status — the Libra's affordability and usability make it easy to recommend — especially in countries where OverDrive support means you can borrow ebooks from you local public library.

Read the full review: Kobo Libra H2O. Kobo's Clara HD ereader is more than capable of giving its direct competition — Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite — a run for its money. Priced cheaper than its Kindle counterpart, the Clara HD manages to outperform Amazon's most popular ereader in almost every area that matters. Key among those is the screen. The Clara HD's 6-inch front-lit display matches the Kindle for sharpness both are ppi but integrates a blue-light filter which uses your timezone to automatically change screen brightness at night to reduce your exposure to sleep-disrupting blue light.

It fits that display into a compact body that's lighter than the Paperwhite, making it easier to slip into just about any bag. Cover art and text are rendered at a higher DPI dots per inch on the Clara HD than other older Kobo ereaders, making them appear significantly sharper in comparison. The Clara HD also introduced a 'rapid page turn' engine that allows you to quickly move forward in an ebook by holding down the bottom left corner of the screen.

The responsiveness of the E Ink screen is also much faster and more precise than we're used to seeing on either Kindle or Kobo ereaders, which makes things like text selection for dictionary look-up or highlighting and note-taking much less hit-and-miss than before.

It also has wireless OverDrive functionality, so you can browse and borrow from your local library's ebook collection directly on the device. The lowest-priced Kindles use ppi displays that look rough and jaggy compared with the ppi displays on most other ebook readers. E Ink also keeps improving its screens' contrast and refresh rate. The new Carta technology, used in Amazon's latest Paperwhite and Kobo's Elipsa, Libra 2, and Sage, has noticeably faster page turns and a bit better contrast than even the previous ppi Carta displays.

If you haven't updated your ebook reader in many years, you'll be stunned at how much more responsive the latest E Ink readers are. Frequent, startling screen flashes are really a thing of the past; the screens flash much more subtly, much more quickly, and much less frequently. If you need to read more than books, tablets with color screens offer a bevy of other benefits. Magazines and comic books look great on larger tablets.

Even lower-cost tablets like the Amazon Fire 7 can browse the web, stream video from Netflix, Hulu, or other sources, play music, and run apps. Because of its high-quality screen and general power, though, we recommend the base-model iPad for most people trying to read rich, full-page color content. Unfortunately, we can't recommend them yet; the screen technology is relatively dim, with low full-color resolution and occasional ghosting.

LCD tablets are far superior. 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 several options. The Kindle Oasis and the Kobos have page turn buttons so you can easily flip between pages when your hands are too wet to use a touch screen.

All ebook readers let you highlight or tag particular phrases for later reference. Some have digital pens that let you take notes directly on the screen. In general, they let you annotate on PDFs and sometimes other kinds of documents, and they let you take freehand notes on a blank page. The Onyx Boox Note Air 2 is our favorite E Ink tablet for pen use because of its paper-like feel and strong document format support. It's also worth mentioning the Remarkable 2 tablet here.

The Remarkable 2 is a dedicated digital note-taking tablet with a passionate following. Sometimes you'd rather listen than read. Sometimes you'd like to read and listen at the same time. Kindles now have the ability to connect to Bluetooth headphones to play Audible audiobooks. Many Amazon books will synchronize with Audible audiobooks on Kindle ebook readers.

Kobos have their own audiobook format. Onyx ebook readers have built-in speakers and the ability to use multiple audiobook apps.

Oddly, Amazon saves its slickest audiobook feature, Immersion Reading, for its Android app, which means you need an Onyx ebook reader to use it.

That feature synchronizes words displayed on the page while also narrating through audio. 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 connection—at a much lower cost—with 4G cellular data only available as part of a more-expensive model. As long as you don't mind waiting until you're near a hotspot to shop for new books, Wi-Fi should work for you.

A select few may still prefer to pony up for cellular to buy a new book while, say, on a long camping trip or lounging at the beach. Internal storage capacity is not much of a concern.

Every ebook reader you can buy today can store more than 1, books, and some have room for thousands more.