On vacation, on a trip or at home, reading remains a very popular pastime. What better way to indulge your passion than with an e-reader? Able to store thousands of ebooks and equipped with a touch screen like a tablet, this device does not tire the eyes and has already convinced 1 out of 3 readers. Kindle or Kobo, read our guide to find the best e-readers on the market.
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Our selection
"Waterproof, the new 8GB Kindle Paperwhite allows you to read in the bathtub or by the pool. This e-reader is also more responsive than its…"
"The Kindle has a 6-inch screen that allows you to read in total darkness. This compact e-reader is powerful, simple and inexpensive. Like the Paperwhite,…"
"Simple, but very practical, the Kindle Oasis reader remains readable everywhere. Its screen is a bit small, offers a very well managed brightness. Very light,…"
"The Kobo Libra H2O delivers on its promise. Fully adjustable screen clarity, easy grip, reading comfort, large storage space and water resistance characterize this excellent…"
"It is a high-end e-reader that offers a compact, rather luxurious and elegant design. With its 155 grams of weight, it guarantees an easy grip…"
Waterproof, the new 8GB Kindle Paperwhite allows you to read in the bathtub or by the pool. This e-reader is also more responsive than its predecessor. And the 6-inch screen increases to 300 dpi resolution.
104 £ on AmazonFor its sixth generation, the Kindle Paperwhite offers a 6-inch screen with 300 dpi resolution without glare. The reading comfort is high, even in direct sunlight. In addition, its integrated and adjustable lighting allows you to read both indoors and outdoors, day and night. If Amazon ads and notifications put you off, prefer the "No Special Offers" version, which costs 10 euros more.
Like the Kobo Clara HD, the Kindle Paperwhite's battery life has improved. A single battery charge can last for weeks instead of hours. Another nice touch is that this e-reader with 8GB of storage is IPX8 certified. This means you can use it at the beach, by the pool or in the bath.
The Kindle has a 6-inch screen that allows you to read in total darkness. This compact e-reader is powerful, simple and inexpensive. Like the Paperwhite, the version without special offers costs more.
See priceLightweight and compact, the Kindle 8GB e-reader has a 6-inch, glare-free screen with 167 dpi resolution. Unlike the previous version, this one offers the possibility to read in total darkness. And for the features, we are not too disoriented: highlighting, definition search and translation are still available.
Given the price, the 4 GB of storage are correct. Indeed, it is equivalent to what the Kobo Nia offers. And if that's not enough, Amazon offers free cloud storage. In addition, Amazon Prime member users get unlimited access to over 1,000 titles. Finally, the battery life remains excellent, without reaching that of the Kindle Paperwhite.
Simple, but very practical, the Kindle Oasis reader remains readable everywhere. Its screen is a bit small, offers a very well managed brightness. Very light, it offers a grip of the most pleasant thanks to its thinness.
192 £ on AmazonThe Kobo Forma is the main rival of the Kindle Oasis. Like the Canadian manufacturer's e-reader, Amazon's top-of-the-line model offers 8 GB of internal storage. Its screen size is smaller, 7 inches against 8 inches for the Kobo e-reader, with a resolution of 300 dpi. In addition, the device supports splashes and immersion up to 2 m deep (IPX8).
Where the Kobo Forma has a curved design, allowing you to read for hours without getting tired, the Kinde Oasis remains in the classic form. The presence of an anti-reflective coating is a good idea, allowing you to read well under a leaden eye. You can adjust the color temperature to increase reading comfort or to help you fall asleep at night. It can be used with only one hand, it has 2 buttons for page changes and a large border on the right side.
The Kobo Libra H2O delivers on its promise. Fully adjustable screen clarity, easy grip, reading comfort, large storage space and water resistance characterize this excellent travel reader.
See priceMissing the Kindle Voyage? Here is the Kobo Libra H2O, a reader to take everywhere. Its 7-inch screen for 300 dpi resolution and its night mode ComfortLight Pr with integrated lighting, adjustable and anti-blue light are its main assets. Add to that a total waterproofness up to 2 m depth and an exceptional robustness.
A true technological concentrate, the Kobo Libra H2O is all about the reading experience. No games, no calculator function like the Kubo Glo HD. However, you will be able to share your favorite passages on Facebook via Wifi, but still not in 3G/4G. On the storage side, the 8GB of internal memory is equivalent to several years of reading.
It is a high-end e-reader that offers a compact, rather luxurious and elegant design. With its 155 grams of weight, it guarantees an easy grip and offers a wide variety of features that make reading fun.
117 £ on AmazonIt is a very complete e-reader with a wide variety of features that make reading more enjoyable, such as screen captures, note taking, access to a dictionary, etc. In addition to being able to read ebooks, it also allows you to listen to music and audio books. The brand has definitely not done things by halves when designing this little technological gem. It has thought of all user profiles, including dyslexics. The latter will be entitled to three fonts for an exemplary comfort of use.
While most e-readers on the market are equipped with 8 GB of storage, Vivlio has decided to spoil its users by offering them 16 GB, the equivalent of recording about 8,000 books. The Touch HD Plus also stands out from its competitors thanks to its "SmartLight" backlight which adjusts the brightness and colors according to the needs of the player. In terms of autonomy, the Vivlio provides one month of use.
Indulge in the HD display equipped with SmartLight and E Ink Carta™ technology of this e-reader. Also enjoy immense freedom in choosing your content and listen to music and audiobooks in mp3 and m4b formats.
126 £ on AmazonOrder and download your books directly from this powerful and easy-to-use e-reader that offers 16GB of storage. Using SmartLight technology, it promises a relaxing reading experience for the eyes, no matter what the light. You can use it day or night and still enjoy the comfort of your eyes.
The Touch HD 3 also supports all ebook formats except those from Amazon. Despite this, the device is quite complete: it even offers games and a calculator! Its small size (LxWxH: 10.8 cm x 0.8 cm x 6.1 cm) is also a great plus that allows it to fit easily in your handbag or backpack. In short, this Pocketbook reader is just a great find because of its lightness, its multi-format side, and its nice design.
This e-reader is very well made. Indeed, it offers 100% French immersion programs. It is the most logical choice for those who only want to read books in French because the bookstore is only populated with French titles.
111 £ on AmazonThe Bookeen Diva HD is an excellent choice for bookworms who want to access an ebook store with thousands of French titles, including all modern bestsellers. Easy to use and easy to handle, it integrates navigation buttons (power on, home, highlight and page turn) for more convenience. An ease of use within everyone's reach. You can access all the menus at the touch of a button.
On the software side, Bookeen uses Linux as its main operating system. In the upper right corner of the screen is the WIFI symbol, it is black when the device is connected and white when it is not. Overall, the Bookeen Diva HD is stable and very robust. Visiting the menus or submenus or accessing the store or library is super fast. The Diva HD's OS is even better than the Kobo's or Nook's.
Any specific needs?
The best entry-level e-reader in 2021
The best high-end e-reader in 2021
A great alternative to the Kindle Paperwhite
Your guide :
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| The best | LOW PRICE | Top of the range | Travelling bookcase | A very good choice | Excellent value for money | Excellent | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Kindle Paperwhite
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Kindle 4 GB
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Kindle Oasis
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Kobo Libra H2O
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Vivlio Touch Lux 5
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PocketBook Touch HD 3
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Bookeen Diva HD
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Waterproof, the new 8GB Kindle Paperwhite allows you to read in the bathtub or by the pool. This e-reader is also more responsive than its predecessor. And the 6-inch screen increases to 300 dpi resolution.
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The Kindle has a 6-inch screen that allows you to read in total darkness. This compact e-reader is powerful, simple and inexpensive. Like the Paperwhite, the version without special offers costs more.
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Simple, but very practical, the Kindle Oasis reader remains readable everywhere. Its screen is a bit small, offers a very well managed brightness. Very light, it offers a grip of the most pleasant thanks to its thinness.
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The Kobo Libra H2O delivers on its promise. Fully adjustable screen clarity, easy grip, reading comfort, large storage space and water resistance characterize this excellent travel reader.
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It is a high-end e-reader that offers a compact, rather luxurious and elegant design. With its 155 grams of weight, it guarantees an easy grip and offers a wide variety of features that make reading fun.
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Indulge in the HD display equipped with SmartLight and E Ink Carta™ technology of this e-reader. Also enjoy immense freedom in choosing your content and listen to music and audiobooks in mp3 and m4b formats.
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This e-reader is very well made. Indeed, it offers 100% French immersion programs. It is the most logical choice for those who only want to read books in French because the bookstore is only populated with French titles.
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Display
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6 inch, 300 dpi
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6 inches, 167 dpi
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7 inches, 300 dpi
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7 inch, 300 dpi
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6 inches (300 dpi)
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6 inch, 300 dpi
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6 inches
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Storage
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8 GB
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4 Go
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8 GB
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8 GB
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16 GB
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16 GB
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16 Go
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Waterproof ?
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Yes
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Non
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes (IPX7 rated)
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No
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Comfort of use
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Autonomy
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Kindle, Kobo, Likebook, Booken... Finding the right e-reader is not just a matter of brands. Here are the criteria to take into account when choosing.
All e-readers use the same "E-Ink" technology for their screen: E-Ink Vizplex or E-Ink Pearl. The only difference between these 2 versions is a slightly better contrast in E-Ink Pearl, but it remains negligible. The technology used for the screen of the e-reader is therefore not a determining factor.
What really counts is the screen resolution, i.e. the number of pixels for a given surface. This resolution is expressed in dpi or pixels per inch. The higher the resolution, the more precise and readable the characters.
Entry-level e-readers generally have a resolution of 167 dpi. More expensive e-readers have a resolution of up to 300 dpi. We recommend that you choose a reader with a resolution of at least 212 dpi.
Finally, unlike tablets, e-reader screens are not backlit by default. Therefore, if you plan to use your tablet at night, it' s best to check that the screen has built-in lighting.
This criterion is necessarily subjective, since the assessment of the level of comfort depends on the requirements of each user. However, it can be summarized in 3 questions:
There are big differences in autonomy between models, even within the same brand. The less autonomous ones can run for barely ten hours in intensive use, while the most autonomous ones last for several days, or even several months, without using the backlight.
The difference is also noticeable in the power of the devices. Again, there is a world of difference between e-readers that allow you to navigate quickly and those that give you the impression of waiting for each new page to load...
That said, since the readers with the longest battery life are usually the most powerful, you only need to choose a reader with good battery life, without paying more attention to its electronic components.
The question of compatibility is essential. Indeed, a reader can only display on the screen computer files coded in adapted formats. If your e-reader cannot read the format of the book you have purchased, it simply cannot display it on the screen!
Depending on the model, e-readers are able to read many formats (PDF, EPUB, TXT, RTF, LIT, PPT, DOC, CHM, FB2, PRC/MOBI, HTML, DJVU, TIFF, JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, etc.). However, for 99% of users there are only 3 formats that really matter:
Note: If the eBook is in a format unknown to your e-reader, simply convert it to a compatible format using free software like Calibre. This is a potentially tedious operation, as it requires you to connect the e-reader to your computer. But it's not complicated at all.
All major online bookstores have a digital book (e-book) catalog of tens of thousands of titles. No matter which online bookstore you use, you will easily find all the popular releases in digital format.
Moreover, since the price of the book is regulated, there is no difference in price between the different stores. The choice of a specific online bookstore only arises if:
In any case, Amazon's store is the best! With more than 175,000 digital books in French and more than 1,000,000 in English, it is by far the online store with the most comprehensive catalog.
In addition, all the major newspapers (Le Monde, Les Echos, Le Figaro...) are also available individually or by subscription from Amazon. Finally, Amazon offers hundreds of great classics and more than 4,000 other books for free.
What's the point of storing thousands of books on your e-reader if it's impossible to find the one you want to read? The software ecosystem of the e-reader is an essential criterion, too often neglected by buyers.
It is this system that will ensure :
Right now, Amazon's Kindle has the best software ecosystem. Unfortunately, it is also the most restrictive, a bit like Apple with its iPhone.The Kobo distributed by FNAC is the second best. The other e-readers are mostly one step below.
This is a "false criterion". In fact, the vast majority of e-readers have a storage capacity of at least 4 GB, enough to store more than 3,000 books in EPUB format or an equivalent format. We mention this only to show you that we haven't forgotten it. But as long as you get a big brand e-reader (Kindle, Kobo, Bookeen...), you won't have any storage problems.
An ultra-practical and revolutionary device, the e-reader allows you to enjoy a pleasant moment of reading wherever you go. It is, in fact, designed specifically for reading e-books. More precisely, it allows you to read thousands of books in a digital way, and this, in all comfort. Indeed, the reader has various interesting features that make its particularity.
Basically, the screen of a e-reader is equipped with a technology called electronic ink or E-ink. Thanks to this technology, it ensures a display of texts that looks like paper. Unlike the LED screens and backlighting of tablets, smartphones and computers that assault the human eye, especially when used for hours on end, the e-reader is friendly to the eyes and does not tire them.
Apart from that, with this device, you can absolutely read comfortably even in the sunlight, because reflections and light do not impact the screen of a reading light at all. It always guarantees a better reading quality. In addition, another feature of the e-reader is its low energy consumption of a e-reader. It offers the possibility to read different ebooks in peace and comfort for hours, even the longest ones.
This standalone device does not need to be recharged all the time. Once a month on average may well be enough, but this of course depends on how often you read. Finally, it does not require a long charging time, as the battery is full after only about 30 minutes.
Produced by Amazon, these e-readers are the best-selling in the world, and that makes sense! Like Apple with its smartphones and computers, Amazon has perfected its e-readers to make them as easy and pleasant to use as possible. The interface is much more intuitive than on Kobo, with a better software ecosystem (search, annotations, translation...). In addition, Amazon has a larger catalog and offers thousands of books for free, including many classics. Also, the reading experience (display speed, page turning...) is more enjoyable.Note also the sending of books directly to the reader via free 3G and the excellent management of the Cloud (synchronization of the library) to buy and / or read a new book without going through the Wi-Fi box.On the other hand, the Kindle of Amazon have a slightly lower autonomy than the Kobo to equivalent model. And for purely commercial reasons, the Kindle does not read EPUB, by far the most popular format for e-books! In addition, no Kindle is water resistant (unlike the Kobo H20). Finally, the size of the screens remains modest.
The Canadian company Kobo has partnered with Fnac in the UK to compete with Amazon's Kindle. From a purely technological point of view, this brand's e-readers are as good as or better than the Kindle. However, they suffer from a less powerful computer system, which makes them a little less intuitive to use.Kobo e-readers are compatible with all popular e-book formats, including EPUB. The advantages of the Fnac card (in addition to the 5% discount) also work for e-book purchases. And the quality of the Fnac after-sales service is no longer in question. Among other benefits, Kobo offers specific features such as waterproofing, a larger screen ... Thus, the Canadian manufacturer meets more diverse needs. On the other hand, the catalog of Fnac remains less provided than that of Amazon, especially for free e-books and / or less public. And for reading, you'll have more difficulty finding the books you want, handling a book ... Add to that a tendency to break down more often. Or the inability to display correctly some e-books from other bookstores, even in a compatible format.
There are 3 particular cases for which a Kobo e-reader is recommended:
For the other cases, the Kindle will adapt to your needs and will be more pleasant to use than the Kobo.
You should also know that the inability of the Kindle to read EPUB files can easily be circumvented. To do this, simply use a free software such as Calibre to convert your EPUB files to AZW files.
in the UK, the rate of e-reader equipment among readers has continued to grow. From 5% in 2011, it has risen to 32% in 2019. The following reasons explain this craze.
Unlike smartphones or tablets that "shine" and tire the eyes, the E-Ink technology of e-readers generates neither luminosity nor reflection.
In direct sunlight, you'll even feel like someone has slipped a real sheet of paper into your e-reader! It's exactly the same look and feel. As a result, you can spend hours reading without straining your eyes.
On average, a e-reader weighs 150 to 200 grams, the equivalent of a 100-page paperback. In comparison, an 800-page paper book such as each volume of the Lord of the Rings trilogy weighs 1.3 kg. You might as well say that your arms will quickly get sore while reading it!
As we have all experienced, as soon as the book is a bit big, the reader is obliged to regularly change hands or position to relieve his arms and wrists. Well, e-readers solve this problem!
Not only are e-readers light, but they are also ideal for reading in bed. Unlike a paper book that requires you to leave the bedside lamp on and potentially disturb the spouse, most e-book readers have a built-in light. This is a soft light, which provides excellent reading conditions.
There is nothing more unpleasant than reading on the train or in public and being judged by the cover of the book we are holding. Who says a 40-year-old woman can't read Harry Potter? Or that a man can't read 50 Shades of Grey? With a e-reader, you stay incognito, without having to endure the gaze of others.
A e-reader can usually hold over 3,000 e-books. You'll never run out of books again. And if you want to read the latest books, just download the digital version.
While it's impressive to have a nice library of paper books, it takes a lot and is a pain when you move. The e-reader reduces the size of an entire library to that of a small tablet. So you can use the space you save for something else.
Online stores, such as Amazon, offer thousands of digital books for free. Great classics of literature, special offers to discover new authors... It's a real treasure trove made available to you for free as soon as you pick up your e-reader.
If you don't use the built-in light, a e-reader can run for several weeks without recharging. Nothing to do with smartphones and laptops that have to be recharged daily...
If you have kids and you buy them the latest popular book in paper form, chances are they'll fight over who can read it first.
With e-readers, you can avoid this kind of conflict. Simply have one reader for each child and copy the new book onto each one. You will only buy the book once, but everyone can read it at the same time.
Read, annotate, highlight... forget it! Seriously, what's the point of spending so much time extracting the quintessence of a book if you're going to lose it all as soon as you put it in the cupboard?
With most e-readers, note taking, citations, etc., are all centralized. You can always find the notes you've taken and the passages you've highlighted in other books.
Many e-readers are compatible with comics in digital format. So you can enjoy your favourite titles. Just make sure you buy a device that supports BD blog files, PDF, EPUB for comics. In this regard, the upcoming EPUB 4 format is announced as a revolution for digital comics. Finally, if you plan to read content with images, go for 4 or 8 GB of internal memory.
In our opinion, the best brands of e-readers in 2022 are :
4 out of 10 e-readers are made by Amazon. This shows the hold of the American firm on the market of electronic books. Oasis, Paperwhite or Voyage, Kindle renews its devices every year to meet readers' expectations.
The Canadian brand is the number one rival of Amazon. Its e-readers offer a wider compatibility of formats, including EPUBs that the Kindle cannot read. If you're looking for a credible alternative, Kobo remains the best choice.
About 15 years old, the French brand has some interesting arguments despite an inferior pedigree to the 2 major players in the market. Its new Diva HD
e-reader allows free sharing of e-books in the open source LCP format.
Manufactured by the Chinese company Boyue, Likebook readers usually offer a large screen, very close to tablets. Its best-known models are the Likebook Mars and Likebook Muses
, which offer performances close to Kobo e-readers.
Here is another French start-up that works to democratize the digital book and free it from proprietary systems. In addition to its e-readers, Vivlio also offers an app for PC or Mac to read e-books in EPUB and PDF format.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Get a protective case.
A scratched or cracked e-reader screen can compromise reading quality. So it's worth investing in a case to preserve your device. Take the time to compare the advanced features of different cases: some have useful features like built-in reading lights.
Download the Kindle application to your smartphone.
With this app, you can easily pick up your reading where you left off. You'll be able to find all the books you started reading in the Kindle library, for ergonomic use of the app. The Kindle smartphone app can sync with your Kindle reader to create a unified experience on both devices. This is perfect when you have an engaging book that you don't want to leave even when you need to charge your e-reader, for example. Reading entire books on your phone isn't good for your eyes, but if you just want to pick up where you left off for a while, having a synced app is perfect.
Download Calibre.
Electronic books are available in a wide variety of formats, including .EPUB, .MOBI, and .PDF files. Calibre is an incredibly powerful tool that can handle all of these formats, and will help you keep track of your books and convert them to all the usual formats.
Save your library.
It's best to back up your library to Dropbox or a similar tool. First, because sometimes you'll buy books that are only downloadable once. Second, because the vendor might not give you access to that book anymore (this rarely happens, but just in case). Plus, it keeps a copy, which is very useful in case of accidental deletion.
Take advantage of the free service.
You can find free e-books compatible with your e-reader every day on several websites and on Reddit.
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