The best e-readers of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

The Kindle Paperwhite is a top-notch e-reader. It has all the familiar features that a Kindle has (300 ppi e-ink screen, long battery life, and auto-adjusting light). The Signature Edition model is also ad-free and has wireless charging.

The reading experience on this e-reader is crisp and clear, and if you’re reading in direct sunlight or at night, the screen will automatically adjust based on your surroundings. It’s also waterproof (how many tablets can say that?), so you can read by the pool or in the bath without worrying about stray splashes. 

Read the review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

ZDNET contributing writer Jason Cipriani reviewed the Kindle Paperwhite and said the boost in performance is noticeable in the latest generation. “According to Amazon, the new Paperwhite has 20% faster performance when it comes to turning the page in a book,” Cipriani wrote. “There’s almost no delay after tapping on the screen before the text refreshes with the next page, ready for action.”

The main differences between the regular Paperwhite e-reader and the Signature Edition are 8 GB versus 32 GB of storage, auto-adjusting light, and wireless charging. If you don’t find these features very worthy, you can forgo the Signature Edition for $50 less. 

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition tech specs: Display: 6.8-inch 300 ppi e-ink screen | Storage: 32 GB | Colors: Black | Weight: 7.3 ounces | Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x .32 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery life: Up to 10 weeks 

Amazon last updated its basic Kindle model in the fall of 2022. The upgraded 11th generation Kindle offers 16GB of storage instead of 8GB, 300 ppi instead of 167 ppi, six weeks of battery life compared to four weeks, and charging via USB-C instead of a micro-USB. It’s also under $100. 

The new Kindle is the smallest and most lightweight Kindle. The previous generation clocked in at 6.1 ounces, but this new one weighs only 5.56 ounces, and it’s drastically easier to carry and hold than an actual book (especially those thick hardcovers). 

Review: Amazon Kindle (11th generation)

I went hands-on with the base-model Kindle and it made me excited to read again. I was impressed by how you can customize the page layout, the text size, what you see on each page, and how your Kindle looks when turned off. I also like that the Kindle learns your reading speed and can show you how long you have left in the chapter, which is helpful when deciding, “Should I stop here or finish the chapter?”

Its 300 ppi is the same display as the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Oasis. The anti-glare display makes it easy to read in any light, and dark mode is a warm welcome when you’re trying to read at night without letting blue light interrupt your sleep cycle. 

Amazon Kindle tech specs: Display: 6-inch, 300ppi glare-free | Storage: 16GB | Colors: Black or denim | Weight: 5.56 ounces | Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery: Up to 6 weeks

What sets the Kobo Libra Colour apart from other e-readers is its color display: a 7-inch Kaliedo 3 display with 300 ppi for black and white content and 150 ppi for color content. Now make no mistake–the color images on this e-reader will not blow you away like an iPad. I would most commonly compare it to what colored images look like in a newspaper. This color display makes it great for reading any book with colorful pictures in it, such as cookbooks, children’s books, or graphic novels.

I also went hands-on with the Kobo Libra Colour, and one thing I particularly appreciated about the Kobo Libra was its note-taking capabilities. This meant that I could download a journaling prompt book that allowed me to write down my thoughts–plus, the Kobo Stylus 2 allows you to take notes and highlight a book using color, something that the Kindle Scribe can’t do. 

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Libra is rated IPX8 for waterproof, meaning it can last up to one hour in up to 6.5 feet of water. It also has page-turning buttons, which might not seem like a big deal, but when reading a book for hours on the couch, this simple feature really makes a difference in comfort and ease of use. 

Just keep in mind the ghosting effect (a lag and remaining of the picture that is common in e-readers). You also won’t get as many book options as the Kindle store, but Kobo’s library offers more independent authors as well as more graphic novel options.

Kobo Libra Colour: Display: 7-inch, E Ink Kaleido screen | Storage: 32GB | Colors: Black or white | Weight: 7.04 ounces | Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.3 x 0.32 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery: 2050 mAh

Boox is an e-reader and drawing tablet with a vivid color display, so your e-book’s illustrations will pop as you read, and so will your color-coordinated notes. Speaking of which, the note-taking templates on the Tab Mini C are handy. Whether you’re a student taking notes, a desk job employee making an hourly plan for your day, a musician crafting a piece of sheet music, or a historian drafting a timeline, the Tab Mini C offers a template for that. 

With adjustable warm and cool lights, you can customize your desired blue light level to tone the display before bedtime for an easier-on-the-eyes reading experience. While Boox itself does not have an e-book library, you can download apps to your Boox device, meaning it can access the Kindle store or Libby (to borrow and read library books). 

ZDNET editor Nina Raemont, has been using the tablet to manage her work-life calendar, build lists for grocery shopping, meeting agendas, and more. It’s become Raemont’s deskside companion and staple note-taking device. Because of its lightweight and effortless portability, it has replaced the trusty Moleskin notebook she avidly used to plan her day. 

The robust battery life lasts many days to a week or two, and the e-reader comes with a magnetically attached stylus with pressure detection for drawing. The tablet’s sleek design has a minimalist feel and careful use of popping colors. However, Reddit users note that you may have to tinker with the tablet’s settings to maximize your experience. 

Boox Tab Mini C specs: Display: 7.9-inch screen, electronic ink | Storage: 64GB | Colors: Black | Weight: 11 ounces | Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.33 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery: 5,000mAh Li-ion Polymer

For those tried and true Barnes and Noble fans, the Nook is another e-reader option. The Nook first debuted in 2009 to compete with Kindle, but it’s since been upgraded to feature more modern features. The GlowLight 4 Plus has a waterproof design (IPX7), a 300 ppi screen with GlowLight technology that’s easy on the eyes, and audiobook access via Bluetooth or a headphone jack. 

The Nook also has physical buttons to turn pages and go back to the home screen, which is great for those who are less tech-savvy with touchscreen devices. 

It’s also the only e-reader on this list with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which means you’ll be able to listen to audiobooks via wired headphones without having to connect to Bluetooth–another plus point for those who are less tech-inclined. 

Reddit users note that this is by far the best design Nook has had so far, saying, “This Nook model has probably the best build quality I’ve ever seen on a Nook. It has that premium feel and a very nice step up from the more plastic-y [Glowlight 4]. I also appreciate the symmetric design.”

Nook GlowLight 4 Plus tech specs: Display: 7.8-inch  high-resolution 300-ppi | Storage: 32GB | Colors: Black | Weight: 10.05 ounces | Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x .31 inches | Connections: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery: Up to 3 weeks