Best Ereaders

What could be better than being able to carry a whole library with you? While there’s nothing that could replace the smell of books, there are certain advantages to ereaders that make them highly popular with bookworms of all ages. These practical gadgets allow you to enjoy your favorite books or discover new authors wherever you are: by the pool, on the commute, or traveling. They give you the luxury of having thousands of books at your disposal- in a single lightweight device.

Better yet, ereaders are designed to mimic the appearance of real paper so you won’t strain your eyes, but some added perks such as backlight allow you to comfortably read their “pages” in sunlight and dark both. There are plenty of more advantages to ereaders- all you have to do is pick the best one for your needs.

What to Look for in Ereaders

The basic function of ereaders or e-book readers is just what their name suggests: these are devices used to read digital books. However, despite having the same main feature, the design of different ereaders can vary significantly, and there are plenty of factors to consider to make sure you’re getting the best one for your needs. From basic models to those boasting various perks and possibilities in addition to reading digital books, there is a match for everyone’s preferences.

Backlight

Most e-book readers use special screen technology called e-ink screens, which mimic the appearance of regular paper and ink. This means that there is no unnatural (or any) lighting behind the screen itself to preserve the authenticity and retain the sought-after real paper effect. However, for some people, that defeats the purpose of the versatile and portability of an ereader: if you have to have a source of light to read it, it minimizes the list of advantages of ereaders over regular paperback book format. As a result, there are ereaders that have a built-in backlight, often adjustable, to allow you to comfortably read your digital book in the dark, without straining your eyes or taking away from the appeal of e-ink screens.

Battery life and charging

In most cases, ereader is a device dedicated solely to one feature- reading ebooks- and while the technology is perfected and packed with useful features, in comparison with app-loaded tablets, they have no bells and whistles that would drain their battery in the blink of an eye. Ereaders have rechargeable batteries that can last for a few weeks before they need to be charged- anything less than that shouldn’t be an option. Most devices use a standard micro USB cable for charging and syncing with your computer, so you don’t have to worry if you lose it as it is easily replaceable.

Format compatibility

Digital books or e-books come in a few different formats- there’s not just one type that any ereader can read. The most common types of digital book formats are .epub, .mobi, .iba, .azw and .azw3, as well as .pdf. Some of these formats are proprietary and can be read only by ereaders produced by a certain brand (e.g. .azw and Amazon’s Kindle) so make sure that the format you prefer is compatible with the reader you want to buy. You might already have a digital library in a certain format, or prefer to buy your ebooks from a certain place, such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and it can dictate the type of device you need to buy to be able to read certain formats. If you don’t have a particular preference in either case, it’s best to go for the one that reads the most popular and widely available digital book formats or those that support various different formats. If the ereader of your choice supports only less popular proprietary format, it can quickly become obsolete, or simply lack choices and have a limited-size library available.

Waterproof

What could be better than sipping cocktails by the pool, a great mystery novel in hand? Well, when you’re using an electronic device to read books, there’s always the fear of dropping the said gadget in water- which will be the last of it. That is unless you go for one of the improved, pricier models that boast waterproof properties. If you like to read in the bathtub or plan on taking your ereader with you on travels, it pays to invest a bit more and go for the waterproof option as it will give you a peace of mind and ensure your ereader is safe in all possible conditions.

Storage

If you want to store thousands of books in a single gadget, you have to make sure it has the storage for it. Luckily, most standard digital books take up very little virtual space, so most ereaders have more than enough internal storage to contain any bookworm’s library. Of course, if you think your appetite for reading surpasses the standards or simply have a lot of .pdfs in your library (which are larger files), it might be clever to look into ereaders with expandable storage. They usually have an SD card slot that can significantly expand their starting storage.

Features

As we’ve already mentioned, most people love e-book readers precisely because of their simplicity. They are made for the sole purpose of reading books and have perfected that function completely: from features such as backlight and e-ink screens to software solutions that allow you to organize your library in certain ways, increase and decrease font size, highlight sentences and whole passages, take notes, etc. Most ereaders have these practical features, but be sure to thoroughly read the specifications of the device to see if those that you require are on the list.

Size

You want the device to feel light and durable at the same time: a clunky design will not make the gadget feel good in your hand and you might have to use both hands to comfortably read it, which can defeat its purpose in some cases. Double-check the dimensions and the weight of the reader you have your eye on to make sure it won’t be impractical to use owing to its size. Another thing to pay attention to is the size of the screen. Ereader screens vary from 6 inches to 10 inches, with the larger being slightly clunkier but a better choice for those using them for reading comics or technical drawings and documentations. For regular use, though, 6 or 7-inch screens are more than enough.

Best Ereaders

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Bottom Line

Ereaders can completely transform the way you read- for the better. Lightweight, sleek, and able to hold thousands of books, they make the perfect choice for traveling, commuting, or eco-friendly bookworms that value the low footprint of digital books. With plenty of modern and innovative designs available, you can choose between varying ereader sizes and features: from those that light up to those that are fully waterproof.