E-Readers these days are really solid investments for people who like to voraciously read and want to have options. Amazon and Kobo have many different screen sizes and allow you to tap into massive digital ecosystems. Independent companies in Asia, Europe and North America offer giant 13.3 inch models that not only allow you to read ebooks, but also take notes and write on PDF files. There are many common questions new people wonder when they are looking to buy an e-reader. Should I buy something cheap? Get the mid level or expensive version? What is the difference between a Paperwhite and a Nook Glowlight? The Kobo Aura One looks nice, I can borrow ebooks directly on it!
If you are new to e-readers and live in North America you want to look for a mid level model that is affordable. You want to good something that has high build quality and has most features you would employ, such as a front-lit display, lots of storage and a simple user interface. The Kindle Paperwhite, Nook Glowlight 3, Kobo Aura H2O edition 2 are all good investments.
Some people want to read the occasional book, but they primarily want an e-ink reader because of the long battery life and because it’s easy on the eyes. Sometimes this is because they want to do productivity tasks on it or need it for work. I would recommend the Remarkable, Sony Digital Paper, Onyx Boox Note and the Good e-Reader 13.3 Remarkable and Sony are really good at writing on PDF files and have lots of flexibility and control. The Onyx and Good e-Reader are running Android, which means not only can you read ebooks and write on PDF files, but you can install apps from Google Play.
I would not recommend entry level e-readers to someone who wants to buy one for the first time. The Kindle Basic, otherwise known as just the Kindle is many years old and still uses a Pearl display, this means the refresh rate and resolution is poor. There is lots of flickering when you turn a page of an ebook, which makes immersion. I would also not recommend the Kobo Touch or Kobo GLO or any of their bargain basement e-readers either.
What do you think is important to look for when you are buying an e-reader for the first time? SD cards? More internal storage? Closed or open ecosystem? Android or Linux? Big screen or little one? Light or no light? Drop a comment below and let people know what you think!
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
