Nothing will ever happen really replace the paperback or hardcover book that you can touch, smell, or place on your bookshelves or around you. But ebook readers (also called e-readers) are a lot easier—and they might even make you read more.
Rather than carrying two or three books in a bag, an e-reader allows you to carry thousands of books or dozens of audiobooks on one, small, rectangular tablet. Their paper-like screens are easy on the eyes, and unlike the app on your phone, they won’t bombard you with distracting notifications. Books can also be expensive and take up a lot of physical space, but that’s not a problem with ebooks. Even better, you can check out digital books at the library without leaving your house.
Naturally, when you hear “ie-reader,” you might think Kindle. Amazon makes an excellent ebook reader, which is why we have a separate Best Kindles guide that breaks down the entire lineup. But there are a few Kindle alternatives out there if you don’t want to support Amazon or just want a different set of features. WIRED’s Gear team spent months, if not years, studying these tablets—these are our favorites.
Updated November 2024: We’ve added the latest Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Colorsoft, ReMarkable Paper Pro, Kindle Kids and Kindle Kids Paperwhite, and details on the Boox Palma 2.
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The most important thing we do when we test e-readers is read on them! We spend hours reading books found in a variety of formats, from books purchased directly from the individual brand store, downloaded from local libraries via OverDrive/Libby, or PDFs available for free from God knows where.
In this program, we test battery life, brightness, lag, screen responsiveness, and text sharpness. We look at additional tools such as annotation, and whether the tablet accepts devices such as a stylus. We also note if the tablet has other features, such as waterproofing or access to special special services.
Ebooks can be cheap, but as with regular books, the cost can add up if you’re a heavy reader. You should use your library card and check out ebooks right away from the comfort of your home. We have a detailed guide on how to get free library books, but the short version is that many libraries distribute books through OverDrive. You can access these books in several ways, via Kindle or directly from OverDrive via Kobo, or you can download the Libby app. These ebooks are automatically removed from your device and returned to the library when needed.
Each e-reader book service varies in quality. Our favorite is Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month, which includes millions of titles, including audiobooks and magazines. Amazon’s Prime Reading also offers a handful of free books each month, which is great if you already have a Prime account. You can even borrow books from friends and family for a while (or have them share a book with you). We have a collection of Great Ebook Subscription Resources here.
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