Are you looking for the best e-ink reader for the year 2023? If yes, then you have come to the right place. I won’t bore you with fluff here (the fluff will come later). The tables below show some of the best e readers that are on the market in the year 2020. Hopefully, you will be able to find one that’s suitable for your needs! We have grouped the e-readers in this article according to screen size. Disclaimer: (Note that we are Amazon affiliates and may earn a commission should you decide to buy based on our recommendations).
Best 6 inch E Readers
We are going to start by looking at 6 inch e ink readers. This size is probably the most popular of all the ranges that are out there. Six inch e-ink readers, like the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Aura, tend to be easier to carry around, hence the popularity. They occupy the sweet spot between reading books on a mobile phone and reading books on a computer. Click on the image or button to see price on Amazon.
Product | Storage | Screen | Audio Books | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kindle Paperwhite | 8GB or 32GB | 300 ppi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Kindle | 4GB | 167 ppi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Kobo Libra 2 | 4GB | 212 ppi | ✗ | Check on Amazon |
Nook Glowlight 3 | 8GB | 300 ppi | ✗ | Check on Amazon |
Best 7-8 inch E Readers
The following are some of the best 7 to 8 inch e-ink readers that can be found on the market today. In my experience, this size is still quite comfortable when it comes to handling. Perhaps not as portable as those within the 6 inch range, but still portable.
Product | Storage | Screen | Audio Books | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kindle Oasis | 4GB | 300 ppi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Lifebook Mars | 16GB | 167 ppi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Boox Nova Pro | 32GB | 212 ppi | ✗ | Check on Amazon |
Best Large E-Ink Readers
Product | Storage | Screen | Audio Books | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boox Max | 128GB | 207 dpi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Remarkable | 8GB | 226 dpi | ✓ | Check on Amazon |
Sony DPT-RP1/B | 16GB | 207 ppi | ✗ | Check on Amazon |
If you are looking for a rather large e-ink reader, then you should check out the ones in the following list. One of the great things about large e ink readers is that they usually come with styluses and are more geared towards creative. So, not only can they be used for reading, but they can also be used for note taking. This makes them ideal for those that are involved in productive work, including college students.
Factors to consider when buying e readers
So, how do you go about choosing what e ink reader to buy? How do you determine which device to buy. If you are looking for a great e-ink reader, either for yourself or to gift someone, then the following tips should help you decide which to buy;
Determine whether or not you actually NEED an e-ink reader
Most people simply purchase e-ink readers because they have heard that they are THE big thing at the moment. Then they play around with the devices for a few days before putting them away from safekeeping. Point is, if you are not that much into reading, then you probably wont need one of these e-ink readers. Not that there is anything wrong with keeping one around as a status symbol!
Choose one that you can afford
One of the most interesting questions that I have gotten from people is; why are e readers so expensive? My answer to that is surprise. E ink readers are not expensive! Of course, it’s all going to depend on the brand and type of ereader that you are looking to buy. By why are e readers so expensive?
Not really!Entry level e-ink readers are affordable. So, the issue of cost does not really come into play when it comes to buying one. The Kindle, as an example, costs way less than $100. However, e-ink readers tend to be more expensive, the bigger their screen sizes.
Is portability important to you?
I actually discovered while carrying out research for this article that there are some e-ink readers out there that are over 13 inches big. I mean, there are probably instances where such screen sizes would be valuable. However, personally, I would rather stick with the smaller ebook readers. One of my e-ink readers is a Kindle Paperwhite. This is, by far, the best e ink reader that can be found out there in the year 2020. So, I have a personal bias towards 6 inch readers. One thing that I have against my Paperwhite; I have the 2018 edition, is that though the screen is 6 inches big, the reader has a huge bezel, making it bigger than the size of the screen would suggest. Anyway, you need to decide on the issue of portability before buying and e-ink reader. I personally prefer ones that fit into my pockets.
Are you looking for extras?
One of the most common questions that I get from people is; “does the Paperwhite play music or videos.” To be fair, if you are looking for these, you are probably better off buying a tablet. There are, of course, a number of e-ink readers that claim to offer all these features. However, the best e-book reader that can be found out there is one that does not resort to gimmickry. Pretending to be able to do things like play videos would probably only open an e ink reader up to the possibility of mediocrity. E-ink readers are designed to do one thing really good, and though others claim to be able to do other things, that’s as far as it goes.
Do you listen to audio books?
Of course, if you are a fan of audio books, the above disparaging remarks do not apply. You will want an e ink reader that allows you to listen to your books, either by connecting to headphones via Bluetooth or through a headphones jack.
Do you read in the dark?
Most of the e-ink readers that are entering the marketing today come with LED backlighting. This makes it possible for people to read even in the dark. If you only read in broad daylight, then you are probably not that much of a fan of e-books. I personally do a lot of reading at night, and having a reader that has backlighting means I wont be annoying others with glare in the dead of the night.
Battery life
This is another thing that you need to consider when choosing an e-ink reader. Generally speaking, e-ink readers have way better battery lives than other commonplace gadgets, such as tablets and phones. That’s because, for one party, they lack most of the gimmickry and, for another, they use a technology (e-ink) that’s well known for being frugal when it comes to power use. I do have to say, however, that the figures that are thrown around when it comes to battery life on such gadgets as the Paperwhite are something of an exaggeration. The Paperwhite’s battery is said to last for up to 6 weeks. However, that’s based on only 30 minutes of reading per day. When it comes to normal reading, you are likely to get a battery life that’s around 2 weeks.
Do you need Android and Google Play Store?
Whether or not it’s important to have Android on a e-ink reader is open to debate. It’s all going to, I guess, boil down personal preferences. Personally, I don’t think Android is needed on an e ink reader. E Ink readers are meant for reading books and not playing games or such. But then, I am minimalist. And I have been spoiled by the Kindle Paperwhite, which does books very well and nothing else. There is a minimal amount of gimmickry on there. I like it that way. If I need to browse the internet, heck, I have my tablet for that!
The ecosystem for your chosen brand of e-reader
That is, perhaps, one of the biggest things that you need to consider when choosing an e ink reader. When making your purchase, you don’t just buy the e-ink reader. Rather, you buy an entire ecosystem. But what do I mean by that? Well consider the following;
For a company such as Amazon, the ecosystem is composed not just of devices such as the Kindle, but also of the Kindle ebooks marketplace. The same thing applies for Kobo. And if you buy a Nook, you are also buying into the Barnes and Noble books ecosystem.
So, when buying an e-book reader, this is something that you need to take into consideration. The reason why I swear by my Kindle Paperwhite is that I have such a HUGE collection of books on my fingertips via the Kindle bookstore.
In reality, the books that can be found on one store can also be found on other. However, many authors choose to enroll for the KDP Select program, which means they wont be able to get published on any other platform for as long as they are in the program. So, you may find that your favorite author cannot be found on the Kobo books marketplace, as an example. Anyway, it’s something worth checking out beforehand.
You can still read your books on any device
However, before I scare you away from your preferred gadget, it’s worth pointing out that books can mostly be transferred to any device of your choice. You are able to read Kindle books on another gadget, such as the Kobo, as an example. But you are going to have to go through the process of transferring your books using you PC to make it happens.
Overall, this is entirely doable, so, if you have a device that’s not a Kindle that you have taken a fancy for, by all means, go for it. You can still buy Kindle books via your PC, before transferring them to a device of your choice. As you can see, all of the devices that are given in the tables above support the MOBI format, which is the default format for Kindles.
Best 6″ E Ink Readers 2020 Reviews
Now we have come to the section where briefly review each of the e-ink readers that are featured in the tables above. First, we are going to look at 6 inch e-readers. As already noted at the top, the biggest selling point for this category is the issue of portability. With a 6″ ebook reader, reading can be done anywhere.
The Kindle Paperwhite 4 is the best overall eBook reader 2020
If you are looking for a great e-ink reader, then you probably wont go wrong with the Kindle Paperwhite. One can safely say the Paperwhite IS the mother of all e-readers. I should probably point out here that I am something of a Kindle Paperwhite fan. I spend large chunks of the day reading one book or the other on the device. In fact, I have become something of a self appointed expert on everything Paperwhite. So, bear with the bias…
Buy it Now!
You can buy the Kindle Paperwhite by clicking on the banner below. It’s also where you can view the current price for the Paperwhite!
Kindle Paperwhite features.
The Kindle Paperwhite 2019 edition comes with the following features;
- 8/32 GB storage
- WiFi or 4G connectivity
- 1448×1072 screen (300 PPI)
- LED lighting for reading in the dark.
- Bluetooth, Audible, VoiceView
- Waterproof
- 2-5 weeks battery life.
Storage
The amount of storage that’s on the latest version of the Kindle Paperwhite (2019) is an improvement on the 2018 version. However, here is the thing; you are probably never going to use up 8GB on your device. I have already stated that I am an avid ebooks reader. I have hundreds of ebooks on my Kindle Paperwhite, yet they hardly take up any space. As it is, I am very far from using up even half of the 8GB of storage that’s on my device.
WiFi or 3G?
One of the decisions that you are going to have to make when choosing your Kindle Paperwhite is whether to buy the WiFi only version or the version that also has 3G. For most people the WiFi only version will be more than enough. I honestly don’t actually see the point of having the 3G version, unless you are prone to gimmickry, in which case you would probably be looking to use you e-ink reader as a tablet.
Screen resolution
Screen resolution is really important, though not as important as some people will have you believe. When buying, you are likely to want to go for a device that has a higher screen resolution, and that is fine. However, I need to point out that the Kindle Paperwhite has a black and white screen. You are never going to get anything of beauty on that! In fact, I have checked out the Kindle, which has a lower resolution than the Paperwhite, and there is really not that much difference in terms of how the screen looks.
LED lighting
Now, this is one really useful feature. Suppose you have gone camping and would like to read books on your e-ink reader. You are not going to be able do so without some back lighting on the device. Otherwise you will be force to light a torch in order to read.
The Paperwhite is the original e-book reader that came with LED backlighting. This allow you read whenever and wherever you feel like doing it.
Audio Books
Most people want to know whether or not it’s possible to listen to music on the Paperwhite. Well, the latest edition of the Kindle Paperwhite does support audio via Bluetooth. This is meant to enable people to listen to audible books. To be honest, people who want to listen to music on their Paperwhites are being needless unfair on the device. If you want music, why not listen to it on your phone or something? The Paperwhite is not the best e-ink reader for listening to music! E-ink readers are for reading books, and that’s it!
Waterproof
Yes, the Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation is waterproof. So, how waterproof is the Paperwhite? Well, according to Amazon, the device was designed to withstand being dipped in up to 2 meters of fresh water for 2 hours. And here is one funny piece of advise; should your Paperwhite get dipped in sea or soapy water, you are actually advised to rinse it using fresh water! Oh well…
Anyway, thing is, waterproofing is an important feature that I never even realized was important till I heard about it. I mean, I have commonsense and don’t go about dipping my phones, tablets and e-ink readers in the sea. And why would I get into the shower with my Paperwhite?
Of course, that doesn’t mean I am completely lame. I have dipped my Paperwhite in the tub for the simple reason that the instructions on the manual said it could be done without damaging the device. And it’s probably true. My Paperwhite didn’t suffer any visible damage due to the abuse.
Battery life
Here is something that will probably upset you; Amazon, along with all the other e-ink reader manufacturers, lie about the battery life on the devices. The Kindle Paperwhite reportedly has a battery life of 2-4 weeks. Bah! More like 5 – 7 days!
I mean, their claim is based on only 30 minutes of reading per day. That, clearly is unrealistic. Whenever I get hooked in a novel, I want to read it to the end. The question on my mind then is whether or not I am going to finish my book without having to look for a nearby socket.
Nevertheless, battery life on the Kindle Paperwhite remains remarkable, in spite of the advertising faux pas. Any, hope you have found this information useful. If you are interested, you can buy the latest version of the Kindle Paperwhite by following this link! To those who are still wondering, yes, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-ink reader that can be found out there!
The Kindle 2019 is the Best E Reader Under $100
If you are looking for the best budget e ink reader, then you probably wont go wrong with the Kindle 2019 edition. The Kindle 2019 is the best e ink reader under $100 for a number of reasons. One of the things that you will notice is that the Kindle is cheaper than the Kindle Paperwhite. Way cheaper, even though the thing that used to make the Paperwhite unique; the LED backlighting, is now also available on the Kindle!
The following review is for the Kindle 2019, which is clearly the best e-reader under $100 for the year 2020.
Why is the Kindle 2019 the best E Reader under $100?
If you are looking for a really cheap e-ink reader, then you will not go wrong with the all new Kindle 2019. The Kindle has long been the entry level eBook reader from Amazon. And it remains the most affordable. The latest version of the Kindle has undergone a complete revamp. That makes the Kindle 2019 one of the best e ink readers under $100 that you will be able to find on the market today.
But doesn’t this mean you will have to compromise in terms of features by opting for the Kindle instead of the Kindle Paperwhite, as an example? Well, that’s hardly the case. The Kindle 2019, of course, has some entry level features, but most of them are things that you will probably be hard pressed to notice. Think I am exaggerating? Well, let us take a look at the Kindle 2019’s features;
Price
Since price is the biggest of our considerations in this article, and we are looking at the best e-ink readers under $100 that can be found on the market today, we should take a look at that first. It’s worth noting that none of the other e ink readers on our list compare to the Kindle when it comes to pricing. You can check out what we are talking about in the table at the top. You will notice that the Kindle costs way less than it’s competitors. Indeed, this is the best e-reader under the $100 in terms of price.
Adjustable Front light
The adjustable front light used to be the thing that differentiated the Kindle from the Kindle Paperwhite. Previous versions of the Kindle didn’t have front LED lighting, meaning you couldn’t read books in the dark. That was the major draw for the Paperwhite, which came with front lighting.
But, apparently, Amazon has decided that LED front lighting needs to be standard across all Kindle e-ink readers. The result is that the all new Kindle 2019 comes with LED front light, meaning now you will be able to enjoy your books wherever and whenever.
Comparatively, the Kindle Paperwhite has 5 LEDs while the Kindle has 4. Lighting on the Kindle is still good, however. One actually gets the feeling that the difference in the number of LEDs was a half-hearted attempt by Amazon to differentiate between the two Kindle models.
167 PPI E Ink Display
The all new Kindle 2019 spots a beautiful e-ink display that guarantees that you will be able to enjoy reading your books even in direct sunlight. This makes it a great bet for those that are looking for an e-ink display that’s priced under $100. Again, I could go on and on about e-ink readers and how they are truly a cultural phenomenon when it comes to reading.
You may have noticed that the Kindle’s screen, at 167 PPI, falls short of the screen on the Kindle Paperwhite, which has 300 pixels per inch. If you are asking yourself if that doesn’t make the Paperwhite better, the answer is ‘yes, but not by much.’
Here is the thing; if you buy a Kindle and you have never owned a Paperwhite, the screen will look great to you. Even if you have previously owned a Paperwhite, it’s really hard to distinguish the difference between 300 PPI and 167 PPI using the naked human eye.
Battery last up to 4 weeks
Honestly, with batteries that can go for weeks without needing to be recharged, this is probably not such an important issue when it comes to this head to head of the best e ink readers under $100. I mean, I probably charge my own eBook reader way more than I should.
I suspect that I, as is the case with almost everybody else, have been conditioned by Smartphones and tablet devices. There is always this nagging fear on the back of my head that I will go incommunicado after running out of power.
That fear persists, even though I know that the battery on my Kindle will not likely get exhausted any time soon. Anyway, the fact that the battery on the Kindle 2019 can go for up 4 weeks without needing to be recharged makes it one of the best e-ink readers that are being sold on the market today for below $100.
Audible
The Kindle 2019 also comes with Audible, which is another feature that’s on the Paperwhite 4. This allows you to listen to audio books. Connectivity for the audio function is through Bluetooth. You, therefore, need to have Bluetooth speakers or Bluetooth headphones to listen to audio books.
4GB Storage
Storage is one area where the Kindle Paperwhite 2019 beats the Kindle 2019. The Kindle only comes with 4GB storage. However, before you flee, here is the thing; you are probably never going to fill up all that storage with books!
I mean, eBooks are not like videos. They are rather small. The average size for an eBook (novel) on my own device is about 620 KB. That means you will be able to store up to 5000 books on the device (the other 1GB being reserved for the OS). Now, who is going to read $5000 books?
So, you shouldn’t think that the Kindle is not the best budget e-ink reader on the market because it has less storage. I mean, unless if you are into serious magazine and comics, you wont need 4GB on your e-book reader.
WiFi connectivity
WiFi connectivity should be enough for syncing and buying books. I must confess here that I never really buy my books using the black and white e-ink reader that I own. I suspect I am rather prone to reading books by their covers. So, I need to see the cover in color before deciding to buy. What I do is I buy books on my laptop. They are then synced to my Kindle.
Kobo Aura: Best Kindle Paperwhite alternative
Kobo is one of the big names as far as coming up with the best e-ink readers is concerned. Forget all the other e book readers that are cropping up from China. Kobo is one of the original names in e-ink readers. So, it’s not really surprising, therefore, that the Kobo Aura features among the best e-ink readers that can be found on the market today.
Buy it Now!
You can buy the Kobo Aura by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The Kobo Aura comes with the following features;
- 4GB storage
- WiFi connectivity
- 1024×758 display
- LED front lighting
- E ink display
- 2-5 weeks battery life.
Features Explained
What do all these features mean when compared to the Kindle?
Storage
Storage on the Kobo Aura is adequate. 4GB, as I have already noted, is more than enough for most people. Books are not like movies that take up a lot of space. So, storage is not something that you need to worry about.
Connectivity
Again, the available WiFi connectivity should be enough. Remember, you only need to be connected for a few minutes at a time while downloading books. There are some, of course, who will try to do other things on their e-ink readers. Don’t! Maybe readers that are able to do that will come onto the market in a few years. Today, we can only be happy about the unspoiled beauty that’s an e-ink reader.
Battery life
Battery life on the Kobo Aura is good. However, you are not going to get the claimed 2- 3 weeks of battery life! But you will still be impressed.
Nook Glowlight: Best e-ink reader with physical buttons
The Nook Glowlight 3 is another great e-ink reader that you will be able to buy in the year 2020. It’s also a competitor for the Kindle Paperwhite. The device is usually priced along the lines of the Kindle Paperwhite. However, Amazon is always offering discounts on the Paperwhite, making the Glowlight more expensive.
Get it from Amazon!
You can buy the Nook Glowlight from Amazon by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The following are the Nook Glowlight features;
- 8GB storage
- WiFi connectivity
- 1072 x 1448 (300DPI)
- E-Ink display
- 2- 5 weeks battery life (claimed)
Nook Glowlight 3 features explained
One of the unique selling points for the Nook Glowlight is that it comes with physical buttons that make turning pages a breeze. At 8GB, storage on the Nook Glowlight is the same as on the entry level Kindle Paperwhite. You can get your books onto the Glowlight 3 using WiFi. The screen is actually very good, at 300DPI. And the E-Ink display ensures that battery life is measured in weeks, and not days.
Best E-Ink Reader 2020: 7-8″
This category is for those that are looking for real estate that’s a bit more substantial on their e ink readers. Though I much prefer the 6″ category, 7″ is still very much within the realms of functionality and comfort. The following are brief notes on the best e ink readers within the 7-8 inches category;
- Kindle Oasis 2019: Best 7″ e ink reader.
The Kindle Oasis is, perhaps, one of the best known e ink readers in the 7-8 inch category. The Oasis measures at 7″. In terms of marketing from Amazon, the Oasis has always been placed somewhere above the Kindle Paperwhite. It’s one of the premier products in the e-ink tablet categories from Amazon. As a result, you will find that the Kindle Oasis costs substantially more than the Kindle Paperwhite. But what will you be getting for the money?
Get it now!
If you are convinced that the Kindle Oasis is what you were looking for, feel free to get it from Amazon by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The following are the features that are on the Kindle Oasis;
- 8 or 32 GB storage
- WiFi or WiFi and 4G connectivity
- 1680×1264 (300 PPI)
- LED front lighting
- Audio via Bluetooth, Audible or VoiceView.
- Waterproof.
- Up to 6 weeks battery life.
Brief notes on the all new Kindle Oasis 2019
The Oasis costs almost twice the price of the Kindle Paperwhite, but which, between the two, is the best e-ink reader for the year 2020? The Oasis is probably the better device. However, for a device that’s only supposed to be used to read books, is the extra cost worth it? I don’t know. You may need to check both devices side by side to know which one is best for you.
- Likebook Mars: Best e-ink reader for reading comics
This is the next in our lineup of the best e-ink readers between 7 and 8 inches. After talking so much about Kindles in the preceding sections, I have to admit it’s refreshing to talk about another brand. The Likebook Mars is a bit bigger than the Kindle Oasis, at 7.8″. However, you will find that it is priced a bit less. If you are into comics, then this is the e ink reader that you should go for. The Likebook Marks comes with an octacore processor, which makes rendering of graphics a bit faster. If you have ever used a Kindle, then you will know that it is a bit sluggish in this regard.
Buy the Likebook Mars!
You can buy the Likebook Mars from Amazon by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The following are the Likebook Mars’ features;
- 16GB storage
- Android 6.0
- WiFi connectivity
- 1404*1872 (300 PPI)
- LED Front Lighting
- Audio/TTS via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm headphones jack
- 1-3 weeks battery life.
Features explained
The headphones jack is one of the things that make the Lifebook Mars outstanding. Advertised battery life is a bit less than on the Kindle Oasis. However, that may simply be because the Lifebook Mars is a bit more realistic in it’s estimates of daily reading times. The Mars supports a bit more formats when compared to the Oasis. It even supports the MOBI format, meaning you will be able to read Kindle books on it.
- Boox Nova Pro: Best e ink reader with Android
This is another non-Kindle ebook in the 7 to 8 inches range. Now, the thing to note here is that the Boox Nova Pro tends to be more expensive than both the Kindle Oasis and the Lifebook Mars. The Nova Pro is one of the few eBooks that support MP3 audio format. What this means is that you can even listen to music while reading your books. I don’t know what that will do to your battery life, though. Another unique selling point for the Boox Nova Pro is that it runs on Android. Whether or not all this is worth the extra cost is open to debate.
Buy the Nova Pro now!
Feel free to check out the Nova Pro on Amazon by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The following are some of the Nova Pro’s most notable features
- 32GB storage.
- MP3, WAV and other Formats
- Android 6.0
- WiFi connectivity
- 7.8″
- 1872×1404 (300 PPI)
- LED front lighting
- Audio/TTS via Bluetooth
- 1-4 weeks battery life.
Boox Nova Pro Features Explained
The Boox Nova Pro is clearly a great device. The only major setback is that it is a bit more expensive than other devices in its category. It does offer Android, though, which opens up a whole new ecosystem on the Google Play Store.
Best E-Ink Reader 2020: Large E Ink Readers
Now we come to the large e-ink readers category. This category is specifically for those that are serious about their reading AND doing some work. I mean, you will probably not require an eBook reader in this category if you are only looking for a gadget that enables you to read the odd novel once in a while. You will notice that Amazon does not have an eBook reader in the large segment.
That’s probably because it is not the best size for reading eBooks. Amazon makes a lot of profit from the eBooks market, and the e-ink readers that it sells are just a means to an end. If you were wondering why Kindle e-ink readers are so affordable, well, that is the reason. Amazon generates it’s profits from the sale of books. It, therefore, want’s to put out as many e ink readers out there as is possible.
One thing to note is that, in terms of pricing, the e-ink readers that are in this category actually cost more than the average laptop. Indeed, some of the devices that are featured here cost more than a Core i7 laptop computer! So, you are going to need serious justification to get one! I mean, they are not something that you are simply going to buy because you want one. You are going to have to NEED one in order to make a purchase! Anyway, let us look at the best e-ink readers that can be found out there that fall in the large category;
- Boox Note2: Best e ink reader 2020 with fingerprint recognition
The Boox Note 2 is the first e-ink reader that we will look at in this segment of the market. If you have ever handled one, you will understand that the thing is rather imposing. That doesn’t meant it’s heavy, however. It’s nice, not only for reading and doing work, but also for turning heads!
Check out the Boox Note2;
Feel free to check out the Boox Note2 by clicking on the banner below;
Anyway, the following are the specifications for the Boox Note2;
- 10.3″ screen
- 64GB storage
- WiFi connectivity
- Andoid 9.0
- 1872×1404 (227 PPI)
- No LED front lighting
- Audio/TTS via WiFi or Bluetooth 4.1
- 1-4 weeks battery life.
- OTG Support: Attach SD cards, keyboards and mice.
- Fingerprint Scanner
Brief Notes on the Boox Note2
As you can see, storage on the Boox Note2 is bigger than on the other of the best e ink readers that we took a look at above. Another distinguishing feature is that the Boox Note2 comes with Android 9.0. What that means is that you will be able to install apps from the Google Play Store on there. So, the 64GB of storage may be needed, after all, since apps tend to take substantial space on gadgets.
Another key feature for the Boox Note2 is that it comes with on-the-go functionality. What it means is that you will be able to attach peripheral devices, including mice and keyboards, on it. This make sit a must have for those that are serious about their productivity. A drawback is that the Boox Note2 does not have LED backlighting, meaning you are going to need a light source to read in the dark.
- Boox Max3: Best large e-book reader 2020
The Boox Max3 is another large e ink reader from the same stable. If you are wondering who makes Boox eBook readers, then you will be interested to know that they are manufactured by Onyx. Now, if you liked Boox Note2’s size at 10.3 inches, then you will be pleased to note the Boox Max3 is even bigger, at 13.3 inches. That’s the size of some the biggest tablets that can be found out there. It’s also the size of some of the small laptops that are out there. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Boox Max3 costs substantially more than the Boox Note2.
Check it out!
The Boox Max3 is the most expensive in our lineup of the best e-ink readers for the year 2020. Feel free to check it out by clicking on the banner below;
Key Features
So, what specifications are on the Boox Max3?
- 64GB storage
- WiFi connectivity
- Android 9.0
- 2200×1650 (207 DPI)
- Dual Speakers,
- Dual Microphones,
- USB-C earphone jack
- 1-4 weeks battery life
- OTG Capacity: supports extended devices such as SD cards, keyboards and mice. Plug and Play.
- Fingerprint recognition for security
- Flexible screen
Features explained
You can see from the specifications that the Boox Max3 is packed in terms of features. One thing to note, however, is that the bigger screen tends to be costly when it comes to the PPI. I personally don’t think this is enough to make the screen inferior, however. I mean, these e-ink readers mostly have black and white screens. Nobody is really going to notice the difference between 207 PPI and 300 PPI.
Anyway, key features on the Boox Max3 including a fingerprint scanner for added security. The device also comes with on-the-go functionality, meaning you will be able to connect mice, keywords and SD cards onto it. But, perhaps, the biggest selling point for the Boox Max 3 is the flexible screen which gives a unique feel, while also making it more durable.
- reMarkable: Best e ink reader for note taking
The reMarkable is another serious contender in the large e-ink readers category. One of the unique things about this device is the fact that it’s creators went to great length to design a gadget that feels like real paper. The entire thing is a bit nostalgic. But it’s also truly remarkable.
Check it out!
You can check out the reMarkable by clicking on the banner below;
Features
The following are some of the features that are on the reMarkable.
- 10.3″ screen
- 8GB Storage
- WiFi connectivity
- 1872×1404
- 226 DPI
- No Audio
- Canvas display
- Feels like paper
- Less than a week of battery life
Features explained
The unique selling point for the reMarkable is the fact that it feels like paper. Okay, based on the specifications, it would appear as if the only thing going for the reMarkable is the big screen. For one thing, this e-ink reader does not have Audio, meaning you cannot listen to Audio books. On top of that, it only supports two formats, PDF and EPUB. Another thing is the comparatively weak battery life.
However, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the reMarkable. The device is specifically targeted at those that wish to have a digital notepad. It can be used in the same way that you would real paper, and you can jot down notes that can later be converted into print format.There is also no shortage of free tools that you can use to convert your eBooks into the accepted format.
- Sony DPT RP1/B: Best thinnest e-ink reader 2020
This is the final of the e-ink readers that are featured in this article. Admittedly, there are a lot more out there. Feel free to point us in the right direction if you have used another brand that you think is great. Sony joined the e ink readers’ market a while back, and the company has never looked back ever since.
Features
The Sony DPT-RP1/B comes with the following specification;
- 13.3″ screen
- USB Cable
- Stylus Pen
- 16GB storage
- WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
- 2200*1650,
- 207 PPI,
- Paper like texture
- Thin and lightweight
Features explained
The Sony DPT is definitely competitive as far as the e-ink readers in the large category are concerned. If you are looking for the world’s thinnest and lightest e-ink reader, then this is the one that you should go for. I have checked it out, and reading is a marvel, even in direct sunlight. Storage is not a problem. The 16GB internal storage that’s on the device is capable of carrying up to 10000 PDF files!
Which one(s) should you choose?
I have given you the best of the e ink readers that can be found out there in the year 2020. The aim was to make it easy for you to compare the available models.
Disclaimer: Just to repeat this disclaimer: I am an Amazon affiliate and will be paid should you buy any of the products that are mentioned here using my links.
So, which one should you choose? To be frank, the choice when it comes to the best ebook reader is going to be entirely dependent on your needs and wants. I, as an example, only need an e-ink reader that I can use for reading books. If you are like me, then you will be well served within the 6-8 inch categories.
However, if you are a college student, as an example, you may wish to look for something that allows you to jot down notes during lectures. This type of eink reader can be found in the large category. One of the things that you will discover while shopping around is that, at the lower end of the spectrum, there is really nothing much that differentiates between the various available models and brands.
The Kindle Paperwhite, as an example, used to be unique in the Kindle family in that it had backlighting. However, now that Amazon has decided to introduce LED back lighting even on the entry level Kindle, is there reason to buy the more expensive Paperwhite? Or even the Kindle Oasis. I don’t know. It’s all going to depend on your preferences.
Does storage matter?
Let me just summarize another point that I have already made at the top. Storage does not really matter when it comes to ordinary e-ink readers. I mean, it matters but you are probably never going to use up 32GB on your Kindle Paperwhite. Heck, my model has 8GB and I am yet to use 4GB of that! And I am an avid reader. I read a novel every other day. Though I delete ones that I no longer need, I still have hundreds of eBooks on there.
How many eBooks can you store on a 4GB device?
Just to illustrate the point, the SONY DPT above has a storage capacity of 16GB, yet it’s advertised capacity is up to 10000 books (PDF). So, what it means is that you can have 625 books per available gigabyte. If you havve 4GB, you will likely be able to carry 1875 books on your device. That’s after excluding the 1GB that’s reserved for the OS. Now, PDF books tend to be heavier than other formats. So, in actual fact, you could probably store up to 3000 books on there! Now, who is going to read 3000 books? On average, a person only reads about 40 books per year. So, there is really no need for there to be 64GB storage on an eBook. Of course, if you are into audio books, that would be different. However, 64GB would still be too much!
So, unless your eBook has Android and some other bit of gimmickry, don’t be woed by the promises of excessive storage space. It’s not like you are going to watch movies on there anyway. I mean, I have a Google Nexus 7 tablet that has 32GB and I am hard pressed to use all of the storage, in spite of the fact that I am always downloading fail videos from YouTube. Anyway, my point is, 8GB is more than enough on an e-ink reader.
Get in touch!
Anyway, that’s it! This has been a rather long article, and I hope it will be useful in helping you choose between the available e-ink reader categories and models. Your feedback is very much welcome, so feel free to leave a comment below! What do you think is the best e-ink reader for the year 2020? And if you already own one, are you going to upgrade? Anyway, have a good day! Please subscribe to this site for updates on your favorite ebooks and more! Also look up Best E-Ink Reader Reviews on our Facebook Page!