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The best e-reader for 2021 – CNET [CNET]
While you can read a book with any phone or tablet if you have an app like Apple Books, Kobo, Kindle or Nook, a dedicated e-reader promises a far less distracting and much more enjoyable reading experience. You can access any ebook category with a quick download, whether you’re looking for classic literature or the latest guilty-pleasure thriller.
Dedicated e-readers don’t have the internet, email, social media or other entertainment options to lure you away from your book, and they have great battery life to boot. Unlike phones and tablets, which can get washed out in direct sunlight, many ebook readers use E Ink technology and are water-resistant, so they’re great for reading at the beach or by the pool without causing eyestrain. Your local library may offer free ebook downloads for its members, and free ebooks are also widely available online.
Are you looking for a better way to read all those digital books in your e-library? Time to upgrade your e-reader. While many people are still attached to their physical books, e-readers offer a wealth of advantages. You can search and highlight passages with a touchscreen and change the font size. And you’re never out of luck if you don’t have a reading light because all of the best e-readers on the market have self-illuminated screens.
This list, which I update periodically, is dominated by Amazon Kindle models, including the Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis and the classic Amazon Kindle, because I think that’s still the best digital “ecosystem” for reading. Amazon offers plenty of budget and subscription options, too. And while Barnes & Noble still makes its Nook reader, if you want to steer clear of Amazon then I’d suggest opting for a Kobo model instead.
So, ready to start reading? Whether you’re into biographies or graphic novels, you’ll find the best e-reader for your digital book needs on this list.
Note that the new version costs $10 more than the previous Paperwhite. And a step-up model, the Paperwhite Signature Edition, adds wireless charging and additional storage — 32GB instead of 8GB — as well an auto-adjusting light sensor for $190. A Kids Edition is also available. As with previous Kindle models, expect the new Paperwhite to go on sale sporadically throughout the year. It should cost around $100 during sales.
More e-reader and tablet recommendations
- Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kindle Oasis
- Amazon debuts its first Kindle Kids Edition
- Best tablets for 2021
- Best Android tablet for 2021
- Best budget tablets for 2021
- Best new health and wellness books to read in 2021
- Start your own work-from-home book club with these great reads
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