eReader buying guide (updated)
With the release of e-readers, below is an updated list of recommended e-readers.
This article is an updated e-reader buying guide. The guide is divided into Android-based and non-Android-based e-readers. A separate article will be dedicated to e-notes.
Android-based e-readers
Since e-readers are single-purpose devices, choosing an e-reader with an operating system designed for reading e-books is preferable as battery life is compromised with Android. Nevertheless, an Android e-reader has benefits, e.g., installing apps like Pocket, a web browser and other third-party reading applications like Kindle.
The selection of Android-based e-readers is restricted as most are e-notes. The pick of the bunch is the seven-inch Onyx BOOX Page. Before the release of Page, BOOX released two previous generations of the device - first, they released Leaf 1 in November 2021, followed by Leaf 2 in October 2022. As there is little to differentiate Leaf 2 and Page, it is worth purchasing the previous generation if it is discounted. Leaf’s main distinctions are a slightly improved processor, extra RAM and a 15% increase in battery life.
BOOX Page is similarly designed to Kobo Libra 2 and Kindle Oasis 3 with its asymmetrical ergonomics and physical page-turning buttons. Its use of Carta 1200 technology, 32GB storage, 3GB RAM and a capable processor means it meets the needs of reading, installing applications and streaming audiobooks. Further, BOOX's feature-rich software makes PDF reading viable on a smaller device like Page. One drawback is the $250 price - to put things in perspective, that puts its pricing close to the larger Kobo Sage. So, as noted before, choosing a discounted Leaf 2 is preferable.
There are more six-inch Android-based e-readers to select from (which is saying little considering the sparse selection of seven-inch devices). Xiaomi produces e-readers in this category, but they are difficult to find outside China. In terms of seven-inch size, there is the Xiaomi Moaan Mix 7 and the smaller six-inch Xiaomi Moaan Air. Boyue also makes the Meebook P6 Pro; in general, Boyue uses processors that are too weak for third-party applications, and their software is buggy.
BOOX is also the best source for six-inch Android-based e-readers. Like the Leaf/Page series, BOOX has a rapid release cycle with its six-inch Poke. Poke 5 is its current model that was released in May 2023. Before Poke 5, there was Poke 4 Lite (released in June 2022) - a model with watered-down specifications, including a lower 227 PPI screen. BOOX did release Poke 4, but it was available in China only.
Like BOOX's other e-readers, Poke 5 has high-end specifications, including a capable processor, 32 GB storage (expandable with a micro-SD Card) and a 300PPI screen (though it appears not to use Carta 1200).
Non-Android-based e-readers
Kobo Libra 2 stands first in this category. Several reasons make it at the top of the e-reader buying list:
The device comes in one 32GB storage configuration. Kindle and Pocketbook e-readers only have 16GB storage (Pocketbook Era has a model with 64 GB but at a higher price).
Libra 2 has a Carta 1200 screen with excellent contrast (while Kindle Paperwhite also uses Carta 1200, I found Libra 2’s display to have slightly better contrast).
For a seven-inch e-reader with physical page-turning buttons, the Kobo Libra 2 is priced competitively.
Kobo supports Overdrive in a wider selection of countries. Kindles only supports Overdrive borrowing in the United States.
The Kobo Plus subscription service is better than Kindle Unlimited, with a deeper inventory and no restrictions on the number of e-books that can be added to an account. Though, Kobo Plus is only available in a select number of countries.
Kobo Libra 2 is relatively open to hacks to install third-party software. For example, KOReader can be installed for PDF support.
Kindle Paperwhite is the next best option for the platform-neutral buyer. Like Libra 2, it is priced competitively. Arguably, its software and services are superior to Kobo with features like wireless transfer of documents (Libra 2 does not support Dropbox or Google Drive), syncing for personal e-books, creating notebooks from highlights and annotations and integration with Kindle’s much better mobile application. Kindle Paperwhite would be preferable to Libra 2 for users that read on multiple devices.
At the six-inch size are the entry-level Kindle Basic and Kobo Clara 2E. Again, like Libra 2, Clara 2E is preferable due to its access to Overdrive and Kobo Plus. Compared to Kindle Basic, Kobo Elipsa 2E is priced higher but has better hardware with Carta 1200, a superior front light, and waterproofing.
As Basic is the only six-inch e-reader in the Kindle line-up, it is the solitary option for those already invested in the Amazon platform and want a compact device. It is also the preferable e-reader for those outside countries who do not have access to Overdrive or Kobo Plus, who want to read on multiple devices and don't need the hardware extras available on Kobo Elipsa 2E.
Pocketbook is another option, but their e-readers are less widely available, and the pricing is higher (including postage and delivery) than Kobo and Amazon Kindle. Nevertheless, it is an option for users who want an e-reader that supports a wide array of file formats and is not locked to a specific store. Considering the range of e-readers Pocketbook produces, Inkpad 4 is relatively unique. It has a 7.8-inch screen with no note-taking capabilities and page-turning buttons at the bottom (usually anything larger than seven inches is reserved for e-notes).