Best e-readers in 2023: Kindle, Kobo, Boox, and more

Kindles may be synonymous with e-reading at this point, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a handful of worthy competitors out there, from lesser-known brands like Boox, to juggernauts like Rakuten’s Kobo. The beauty is there are plenty to choose from. However, it can be challenging to know which e-reader is worth your time and money, especially when a few offer plenty of features that you’d find even in the best Android tablets.

Some of you may prefer to build your own library of DRM-free e-books from numerous sources, which means a Kindle is probably the wrong choice. Still, for others looking for simplicity with the largest e-book selection, the Kindle hits the spot perfectly. If you’re on the hunt for a new e-reader, you’ve come to the right place. Below we’ve ranked the top e-readers on the market and have broken down exactly what makes them great.

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1. Amazon Kindle Scribe

8.00

/ 10

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Amazon hasn’t offered a large-screen Kindle since the DX was discontinued, with the Kindle Scribe now reigning as the latest and greatest Kindle with a large screen. At 10.2 inches, the Kindle Scribe’s screen is plenty big enough to display manga with aplomb, and since there’s a Wacom layer, the device supports pen inputs for note-taking and drawing. This is handy for taking notes in books, but it’s also great if you tend to read PDFs for work, as you can annotate them on the Scribe. While the software still feels a little barebones, if you need an e-reader with a large screen and don’t want to leave the Kindle ecosystem, the Scribe is your only choice. Luckily, it’s a solid one.

Of course, greatness doesn’t come cheap, so you’ll have to shell out a minimum of $340 for the 16GB mode and basic pen. If you’re looking to max things out with the premium pen and 64GB of storage, you’ll have to spend $420. While these prices are high, there are comparable to competitors, plus you can rest assured the best e-book market in the world is available on the device anytime you need to pick up something new to read.

Specifications

Screen: 10.2-inch Carta 1200, 4:3
Resolution: 2480 (H) × 1860 (V)
Storage: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, bluetooth
Front Light: 35 LEDs, cool and warm
Battery: 3000mAh lithium-ion
Buttons: Power button
Weight: Device: 15.3oz, Basic Pen: 0.49oz
Dimensions: 196 x 230 x 5.8mm
Format Support: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX)
CPU: MediaTek MT8113
RAM: 1GB

Pros

The only large-screen Kindle
Great for manga
Stylus for notetaking is convenient

Cons

Expensive, with tiered pricing for better gear
Notetaking software is lacking
Large bezel that serves no purpose

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Amazon Kindle Scribe

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Best value

3. Amazon Kindle

8.00

/ 10

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If you’re looking to get in on the ground floor of Amazon’s Kindle E Ink e-reader line, then the base Amazon Kindle is the model you’re looking for. Recently refreshed with front-light support for all your nighttime e-reading needs, this device packs 8GB of storage. If you don’t mind lock screen advertisements, you can snag one for $90, which is about as cheap as e-readers get, even Amazon’s.

While plenty of other e-readers offer all kinds of exciting features, like the ability to take notes with a stylus, the base Amazon Kindle is a no-frills device. It’s best for those who are only interested in reading on a portable 6-inch unit that can easily fit inside a purse or back pocket. At the very least, you do get Bluetooth support. If you’d like to listen to your Audible audiobooks over a Bluetooth headset, the base Amazon Kindle now supports Bluetooth connections for this very purpose. It’s a nice touch for such an affordable device.

Specifications

Screen: 6-inch E Ink Carta
Resolution: 600 x 800, 167 ppi
Storage: 8 GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, bluetooth, micro USB
Front Light: Yes, manual adjustment
Battery: 890mAh
Buttons: Power
Weight: 6.1 ounces
Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.5 x 0.34-inches

Pros

Incredibly affordable
Small size is very portable
No distracting features
Front lighting for nighttime reading

Cons

Feels cheap
Pixelated text due to low ppi
Raised bezel, the screen is not flush
Still no USB-C

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Amazon Kindle

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4. Kobo Clara 2E

8.00

/ 10

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The Kobo Clara 2E replaces the Kobo Clara HD, packing plenty of improvements over the previous model, such as Bluetooth support for audiobooks and an improved screen resolution for clearer text. E-books can be purchased directly on the device, straight from Rakuten’s Kobo e-book store, and the quality of the books stacks up to the likes of Amazon. SO if you’re looking for a solid Kindle competitor, especially at the low end, the Kobo Clara 2E is an excellent choice at $140.

What really sets the Kobo Clara 2E apart from competitors is its grippy back and auto-adjusting warm lighting. You can also expect competent epub support, so if you prefer to build your library of e-books from several sources, the Kobo Clara 2E is much more versatile than a locked-down Kindle and supports a wide range of formats. All around, Kobo is about as close as you can get to a polished and worthwhile competitor to Amazon, and the Kobo Clara 2E easily blows the base Kindle out of the water.

Specifications

Screen: 6-inch HD E Ink Carta 1200
Resolution: 1448 x 1072, 300 PPI
Storage: 16GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ac/b/g/n (dual band), Bluetooth® wireless technology, USB-C
Front Light: ComfortLight PRO
Battery: 1,500 mAh
Buttons: None
Weight: 171 g
Dimensions: 112.05 x 159.02 x 8.66 mm
Format Support: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR
CPU: 1 GHz
RAM: 512MB

Pros

Lightweight, easy to carry
Clear text that’s easy to read
Auto adjusting warm lighting
Bluetooth support for audiobooks

Cons

Slow navigation
No londscape mode

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Kobo Clara 2E

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5. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

8.00

/ 10

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Kindles are the most well-known e-readers on the market, and for a good reason. Amazon spearheaded E Ink devices, polishing them to the point that mass adoption is now a reality. This is not only because of quality hardware designs that don’t break the bank, but also Amazon’s incredible e-book store. These e-books lean heavily on a proprietary format, but that’s how Amazon delivers the best e-book formatting in the business. With the 7.8-inch screen on the Kindle Paperwhite, you have plenty of room to display this well-formatted text.

Of course, this version of the Paperwhite is the Signature Edition, which means you get a few extra features over the base Kindle Paperwhite, including a choice of extra storage (32GB), warm lighting, and wireless charging. All these features add just a bit more polish to an already exceptional E Ink e-reader. Plus, with the E Ink Carta 1200 screen, there’s hardly any ghosting, especially if you utilize the new page turn animation in the latest Kindle firmware.

Specifications

Screen: 6.8-inch E Ink Carta 1200
Resolution: 1236 x 1648, 300 ppi
Storage: 32 GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB Type-C
Front Light: Yes, auto-adjusting
Battery: 1700mAh
Buttons: Power
Weight: 7.3 ounces
Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x .32-inches

Pros

USB-C port, finally
E Ink Carta 1200 cuts down on ghosting in combination with a new page turn animation
Proprietary e-book format offers the best formatting in the business
IPX8 waterproof rating
Front lighting plus warm light support

Cons

7.8-inches isn’t large enough for some manga, let alone comic books
No speakers despite audio support through bluetooth
UI is getting worse

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

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6. Kobo Elipsa

7.50

/ 10

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Since there are so few large E Ink e-readers, it’s nice to see Kobo offering a 10.3-inch device. It’s designed to be a competitor for note-taking E Ink devices. Still, it also excels as an excellent e-reader, thanks to its connection to the Kobo store (which offers excellent formatting for its e-books) and ePub support. This way, you can bring your own library and purchase books from other storefronts, greatly expanding the device’s versatility.

What’s really nice is that this is an all-in-one package that comes with an e-reader, a case, and a stylus. So even though the $400 price point is high, you actually get everything you need, unlike purchasing a Kindle, where you’ll have to pick up a case separately and even possibly pay to remove ads from your lockscreen. Kobo has no such issues with the Elipsa. Since you get everything you need in one fell swoop, it’s a great device to gift to family members, so they can hit the ground running.

Specifications

Screen: 10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200
Resolution: 1404 x 1872, 300 ppi
Storage: 32GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ac/b/g/n, USB-C
Front Light: ComfortLight
Battery: 2,400mAh
Buttons: Power
Weight: 13.5 ounces
Dimensions: 193 x 227.5 x 7.6 mm

Pros

Large 10.3-inch screen is a rarity
Good for editing PDFs, thanks to stylus support
Includes all needed accessories, including the stylus and case

Cons

Expensive
No warm lighting

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Kobo Elipsa

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7. Amazon Kindle Oasis

7.50

/ 10

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The Kindle Oasis has faded a little into the background with Amazon’s new Paperwhite models, which offer a similar screen size as well as USB-C. So the benefits of jumping up to the Oasis over a Paperwhite are growing smaller, though you still get physical page turn buttons, which could be worth the upgrade alone if you demand tactility with your e-readers. The ergonomic design is also a selling point, as the e-reader is very comfortable to hold in hand. Plus, you can splash out on a 32GB model to store even more books or audiobooks, though expandable storage sure would be nice to see in this premium e-reader.

If you’re looking to stay within Amazon’s ecosystem but require the cream of the crop when purchasing your devices, the Oasis is still the top dog under the Kindle brand even though the Paperwhite is encroaching, especially if you require physical page turn buttons, which coincidentally feel great to click as you read.

Specifications

Screen: 7-inch E Ink Mobius
Resolution: 1,264 x 1,680, 300 ppi
Storage: Up to 32 GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G cellular, micro USB
Front Light: Yes
Battery: 1130mAh
Buttons: Page turn, power
Weight: 6.6 ounces
Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.6 x 0.13-.33-inches

Pros

Comfortable to hold
Physical page turn buttons
Warm lighting
32GB option for extra storage
Waterproof

Cons

Still micro USB
No external speakers
Designed hasn’t changed for three generations
Needs a larger screen to justify the price

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Amazon Kindle Oasis

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8. NOOK GlowLight 4e

7.00

/ 10

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The Nook GlowLight 4e is Barnes & Noble’s competitor going up against Amazon’s affordable base Kindle model. Of course, Barnes & Noble has offered ePub support since the beginning, which means the Nook is a great device for those who own or plan to purchase a library of ePub e-books. It’s a much more open market than the proprietary formats used by Amazon and Rakuten, so you aren’t beholden to the prices on the default store built into the e-reader.

But even though the Nook is excellent for those who have invested in a library of ePubs, since you also get access to the Barnes & Noble e-book store, you can easily treat the Nook just as you would a Kindle. It’s a no-muss, no-fuss device, perfect for anyone at any age, especially now that Barnes & Noble has fully embraced physical page-turn buttons. That feature is a fantastic addition since the buttons are way more accessible than tapping on a screen. So not only is the Nook GlowLight 4e competitively affordable, but it also offers tons of accessibility.

Specifications

Screen: 6-inch E Ink Carta HD
Resolution: 1024 × 758, 212 ppi
Storage: 8GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB-C
Front Light: Yes
Battery: 1400mAh
Buttons: Page turn, power
Weight: 5.95 ounces
Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.8 x 0.2-inches

Pros

Physical page turn buttons
Very affordable
USB-C
ePub support, great for bringing your own collection along

Cons

Big bezels
Still more expensive than Kindle
Pixelated text thanks to the 212 ppi screen

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NOOK GlowLight 4e

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9. Onyx Boox Max Lumi 2

7.50

/ 10

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Onyx isn’t a household name; not yet. But it’s been plugging away behind the scenes pumping out some quality E Ink devices, including the gigantic Boox Max Lumi 2 at 13.3-inches. This is an expensive device, so it’s not something you’ll buy on a whim. Still, if you require a large E Ink screen that runs on Android and supports stylus input for editing documents like PDFs, the Max Lumi 2 is one of the few devices on the market at its size. You’ll certainly pay for the privilege, but since so few bother to make e-readers in such large sizes, it’s nice to see somebody out there filling this gap.

Much like other Boox devices, you get Android app support through the Play Store, with external speakers built-in, perfect for chilling to some tunes as you edit another PDF or read through the latest e-book in your collection. While nighttime reading in bed will be a little outlandish at 13.3-inches, and you certainly won’t be bringing this device to the pool or beach since it’s a pain to carry around, it excels at providing tons of room to get some serious work done. This is more a device for lawyers or teachers, people who push paper all day but are looking to go digital.

Specifications

Screen: 13.3-inch E Ink Carta
Resolution: 2200×1650, 207ppi
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz + 5GHz, bluetooth 5.0, USB-C
Front Light: Front Light with CTM (Warm and Cold)
OS: Android 11
Battery: 4300mAh
Buttons: 2 (Power and Home)
Weight: 20 ounces
Dimensions: 310 x 228 x 7.9 mm
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
RAM: 6GB LPDDR4X

Pros

Gigantic 13.3” Carta E Ink screen
Great for editing and taking notes
Perfect for large-form B&W content
Exceptional battery life

Cons

Inconvenient for travel with thanks to the size
B&W screen can be limiting when viewing color content like magazines and comic books
UI untranslated in spots, not very intuitive
Very expensive

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Onyx Boox Max Lumi 2

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10. Kobo Sage

7.50

/ 10

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Kobo’s Sage e-reader is the latest release from Rakuten, a competitor to Amazon’s Kindle Oasis. This device offers physical page turn buttons (on one side) and a large 8-inch screen with the latest E Ink Carta 1200 screen, which means you get the least amount of ghosting in an E Ink screen yet. You also get Bluetooth support for audiobooks and stylus support for taking notes; though the stylus isn’t included, you’ll have to purchase it separately. This is how Rakuten can undercut Amazon’s price for the Oasis, with the Sage retailing for $20 less at $260.

While Amazon’s e-book store is the best out there, the runner-up is the Kobo store, thanks to it also employing a proprietary format for its e-books that allows for excellent formatting on the screen (something ePub can’t claim). But you also get ePub support if you’d prefer to purchase your e-books from a selection of stores to maintain your own library of e-books instead of relying on a single store that may not be around in 20 years. So you get the best of both worlds, awesome formatting with the built-in store, with the option to purchase your own ePubs elsewhere to maintain your own library.

Specifications

Screen: 8-inch E Ink Carta 1200
Resolution: 1440 x 1920, 300ppi
Storage: 32GB
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ac/b/g/n (dual band), Bluetooth, USB-C
Front Light: ComfortLight PRO
Battery: 1200mAh
Buttons: Page turn, power
Weight: 8.5 ounces
Dimensions: 160.5 x 181.4 x 7.6 mm

Pros

Physical page turn buttons
8-inch screen is great for text books and manga
Bluetooth support for audiobooks
Stylus support for taking notes ad light editing work

Cons

Larger size might not be for everyone
Stylus is an extra purchase
External speakers would be nice to see
UI can be buggy

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Kobo Sage

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The best E Ink e-readers are easier to find than ever

Now that everyone has had a chance to look over our guide for the best e-readers on the market, hopefully, you’ve come away with something worth buying in mind. The Kindle Scribe is certainly a fresh standout thanks to its large 10.3-inch screen, and since it can take notes with its included pen, it’s perfect for office work and play at home. Then again, if you prefer more control over your device and e-books, then the Onyx Boox Nova Air C may be more your style since it supports a wide range of e-books and isn’t connected to any one particular store and formatting.

So whether you’re deep into the Kindle ecosystem or have been living life on the fringes with Boox, there’s undoubtedly an e-reader in today’s guide that will suit your needs. So grab your reading glasses and get ready to sit down for a nice leisurely read in your comfiest chair with your brand-new e-reader.