Listen, I, too, tried to be loyal to physical books. While you can’t replace the feel of paper, the beauty of bound hardcovers, and the ritual of turning the page, an e-reader brings convenience and portability that, yes, a book can’t beat. Sure, you can throw a book in your tote bag, but what about an entire library?
When you think of e-readers, your first thought is likely an Amazon Kindle, and while it wasn’t the first e-reader to hit the market, it is indeed the one that dominated it. While Kindles are great — there’s certainly no denying that — you can find a couple of equally wonderful alternatives.
If you’re gearing up to read more books in 2025, an e-reader will help you get there, and these are the best ones you can buy.
Which e-reader is the best?
From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Unless you’re trying to avoid the Amazon ecosystem at all costs, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader for most people. (And if you want to de-Amazon your life, opt for the Kobo Libra Colour). However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best e-reader for you.
Choose an e-reader based on price, special features, and where you get your books. For instance, most e-readers and tablets are easily compatible with Libby, but Kindles and iPads work best with the popular library app. And if you use Kindle Unlimited, your choice is even easier.
Consider the overall design that best suits you as well. Is a touchscreen okay, or do you need buttons? If you want to take your e-reader near water, whether it be a bathtub or a pool, you’ll also need to make sure you have a waterproof device.
Plus, it’s worth considering special features. Are you an annotator who wants to scribble, doodle, and write in the margins of your e-book? Or would you prefer a tablet that you can read and stream on? All of these questions help you determine which e-reader or tablet will blend into your habits.
However, I can definitively tell you what is not the best e-reader. Among all the e-readers I’ve tested, the only device I can’t recommend is Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Compared to the other e-readers here, it has slow and glitchy performance, no Libby integration, and short battery life.
Can you read on an iPad?
The iPad Mini is just the right size for reading compared to a larger model like the iPad 9th generation.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Yes, you can read on an iPad, and as an iPad reader, I highly recommend it. iPads come with the Apple Books app. However, other reading apps, including Libby and the Kindle app, give access to the world of books.
For this reason, I included an iPad in my testing. The iPad Mini made my list because it is the perfect size to feel like you’re reading a paperback novel versus larger iPad models like the 9th generation (pictured above), which feel like reading a clunky magazine.
How we tested
Over several weeks, I tested each of these e-readers, reading at least one book per device. I evaluated their ease of use on every level, from the size of the e-reader to the user interface and overall design.
I used the e-readers at different hours of the day, from bright sunshine to a dark bedroom, adjusting the brightness and warm tone settings. I also explored all of the font and display settings to see how customizable each was.
I also took into account how easy it is to get books on each e-reader. All e-readers came with a built-in bookstore, but I primarily read using the Libby app to bring my library books to the e-readers. That also helped me assess how easy it is to get library books on each e-reader.
Since each e-reader’s battery life supposedly extends over several weeks, I was able to assess how long the batteries lasted during testing.
I also looked into special features, including note-taking abilities.
Other e-readers to test
My colleague has tested the Kobo Clara Colour and had positive things to say about it, but I am in the process of testing it myself, so I left them out of my recommendations for now. While I was able to test most of Amazon’s 2024 Kindle models, I’ve yet to test the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition or the redesigned Kindle Scribe.
I’m also in the process of testing Astropad’s Bookcase, an attachment that turns your smartphone into an e-reader. Once I complete my tests with these devices, I’ll update this page with my thoughts.
Previously included in this list was the Barnes and Noble Nook. After further testing, I’ve taken it off the list as I think its short battery life and glitchy interface make it an e-reader to avoid.
We have not and will not be testing Onyx devices in this round-up. After reading the company’s privacy policy, we have major concerns about the brand’s security.
