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It doesn’t get more convenient than a slim e-reader — and there’s more than just Kindles out there.

The idea that I could have an entire library filled with thousands upon thousands of books of my choosing, stored all on one slim and portable device, was too much for this beleaguered book toter to resist any longer. An e-reader can also make reading more comfortable in nearly all positions, like lying on your side in bed, which is difficult to do with a traditional volume.

Before deciding on which one I wanted, I had of course already heard of the household name that is Kindle. But, never happy with settling for the most popular option of anything, I wanted to know about all the e-readers out there and their distinctions.

Spoiler alert: You can learn more about the one I ended up choosing (The Boox Palma Pro 2) and the e-reader that’s our overall pick (The Kobo Libra Color) in the list ahead.

It really depends, as some models support third-party mobile apps or have SIM cards to operate as phones or have tablet-like functionality, while others are very basic and just store and display digital copies of books. But generally, the main consistency is that they all use e-ink and paper-esque displays that are matte and feel surprisingly page-like. This is important because, unlike the LED screens on your phone or computer, e-ink screens offer a glare-free experience that is very comfortable on the eyes, use significantly less battery and can even be read clearly in the sun.

That being said, e-ink doesn’t translate to lightning-fast refresh times like your phone or tablet, which means something called “ghosting” occurs. This is just a faint visual residue of previously displayed content and a slight text delay. Don’t let this deter you, however, as you get used to it very quickly and it doesn’t really impact your reading experience. 

My online e-reader research revealed that, not only are there way more than just Kindles out there (though these are great options), but there are also an overwhelming number to choose from. We made the selection a bit more digestible for the average shopper in the list of seven e-reader models below. They range in brand names, capabilities, price points and sizes to fit all types of book lovers out there. And yes, don’t worry, there are a few Kindles included. 

Highlights: An affordable tablet-style e-reader with relatively fast response times and decent storage that's a solid pick for anyone who doesn't want to be locked into the Amazon-only ecosystem. 

The Kobo Clara in black and white isn't the most affordable e-reader on this list (though it comes in close second), but it is the most affordable out of the Kobo lineup, an e-reader brand with a very similar interface and functionality to that of the better-known Kindle. But unlike Kindle, which has ads and is specifically made for Amazon content, Kobo e-readers support more than just its native reading app for book purchases and digital book copies.

You can also install Nook (Barnes & Noble's book app), Google Play Books, Kindle Books and Libby, which connects your local library so you can checkout book with a library card. This 6-inch, touchscreen tablet has a fairly decent amount of storage for the price — enough to store up to 12,000 e-books — and a 1300 HD black and white e-ink display that promises faster page turns, crisp text and color temperature options to fit your reading environment. Readers can enjoy up to two weeks of battery life per charge, and feel safe knowing that, if it falls in the water while reading by the pool or bathtub, it's fully waterproof for up to 60 minutes. And if your tech-averseness is what's been keeping you from getting an e-reader for so long, Kobo Clara owners insist that it has a user-friendly operation. 

If a color screen is something important to you, Kobo offers this exact model with color functionality for just $20 more.

Drawbacks: Doesn't have all the bells and whistles that an e-reader can potentially offer, and has limited storage.

Highlights: A splurge-worthy and expandable-storage e-reader that mimics the user experience of a phone and offers much more than just the standard digital reading. It's good for anyone who likes to keep all of their book-related notes, content and annotations easily organized and accessible while enjoying the full range of available reading and third-party apps.  

This pocket-sized device is my personal e-reader of choice and after owning it for about two weeks now, I can confidently say that I love it. I really wanted something unobtrusive enough to fit in my smallest handbag, but also a reader that wasn't going to completely lock me into the Amazon ecosystem, like with a Kindle (though I do have the Kindle app installed on this e-reader because there are some non-transferable books on there).

And if you're thinking that this looks exactly like a phone, you wouldn't be completely wrong. The Boox Palma Pro 2 — the latest of the Palma models — is mobile data-enabled with a hybrid SIM slot that doubles as expandable storage. In terms of the interface, it is also very reminiscent of a phone as it features customizable and movable widgets like an internet search bar, and supports any third-party app that a regular phone can, like my Substack, news apps and more. You can even scan documents on this thing!

I personally find the user experience very intuitive, but that could be because I'm already an Android user and the Boox Palma actually uses an Android 15 operating system, which allows for a very inclusive selection of document formats. This means I can purchase a book from my Google Play Books app and send the file to my computer, for instance, as a document if I want. I was shocked at how fun and comfortable it is to read on. I adore the annotation features that allow me to just click on a word or segment of text and automatically define, highlight, add notes, translate, save or look up any piece of copy, which can all be filed away in designated apps so it stays organized. If you want, this e-reader is also compatible with the Boox InkSense stylus (sold separately) to make capturing handwritten notes in real time a true breeze.

Drawbacks: It's on the more expensive side and might offer too many features that the average reader might not have use for. 

Get it from Amazon for $399.99 (available in two colors).

Highlights: A full-color, integrated notebook-style e-reader that's comfortable to read with and offers physical page-turning buttons, as well as a great system for annotations and physical note-taking. It's our overall pick for e-readers.

This is one of Kobo's most popular e-reading devices. The Kobo Libra Color is unique among other options on the market because it uses both a touch screen and has physical buttons on the curved, ergonomic edge that can be used to turn pages back or forth. With a 7-inch, rotatable and full-color display, the Kobo Libra Color might be one of the most comfortable devices to read with, according to reviewers, and also middle of the pack in terms of size.

It's great for graphic novel lovers, multitaskers and people who are fans of annotating their texts, as it's stylus compatible (sold separately) and has a variety of note-taking features, as well as spaces to write to-do lists, journal, or function as a daily planner. Like other Kobos, it's fully waterproof for up to an hour, yet offers more storage (up to 24,000 e-books) than the Kobo Clara.   

Drawbacks: Although still reasonably priced, it's venturing into that over-$200 mark and doesn't offer expandable storage.

Get it from Amazon for $229.99+ (available in two colors).

Highlights: A compact and AI-assistive e-reader with phone-like functionality and an Android 16 operating system for fast response times, reduced ghosting and all third-party support — all at a more affordable price than a comparable option on this list.

If the above-mentioned Boox Palma Pro 2 (my e-reader of choice) sounded the most appealing to you, but you just can't simply justify the $400 price tag, the Viwoods AiPaper e-reader is a very similar option for $120 less and with AI integration that provides quick solutions, learning tools or helpful summaries with just one press of the side button.

Like Palma, the Viwoods is ultra slim and compact and is designed for saving and organizing your texts or annotations, incredibly easily. Powered by Android 16 (a newer operating system than the Boox Palma Pro 2), it supports any third-party app and features 4G connectivity when paired with your WiFi for fast downloading times. This knowledgeable tool uses the advanced Carta 1300 E-Ink display, a user experience that means crystal-clear text with faster refreshing rates and response times, plus 20 levels of adjustable cool light.

Drawbacks: Still relatively expensive compared to other e-readers, and it doesn't have a warm light option, nor does it support handwriting or have a built-in speaker.

Highlights: A trusted e-reader with less ghosting than other iterations before it, a very user-friendly and straightforward operation, with one of the most impressive battery lives compared to any other device on this list. 

The latest model of the Kindle Paperwhite is possibly the most popular e-reader on this list, and for good reason. For just over $150, this next-generation reader, featuring a 7-inch display and ultra-thin design, promises 25% faster page turns and less ghosting. You can also expect a glare-free and paper-like experience that offers a full spectrum of brightness and color temperatures from white to amber, so it's more comfortable to read in the dark. This waterproof reader has 16GB of storage and the most impressive battery life out of any of the devices on this list — 12 weeks on just a single charge.

As we noted earlier, Kindle designs don't support any third-party apps that are not specially designed for Amazon content. However, some people appreciate this feature because they find it less distracting while they read.

Drawbacks: Like all Kindles, you can't access or download other book apps, so you're locked into the Amazon-Kindle ecosystem, and you have to pay extra for no lockscreen ads.

Get it from Amazon for $159.99+ (available in three colors).

Highlights: It's affordable, lightweight and delivers well on its basic promise.

If you're looking for an entry-level e-reader with barebones functionality that still gives you a place to read all your downloaded books and texts, PocketBook's Basic Lux 4 is for you. The most affordable and slimmest of e-readers on this list, the Basic Lux uses a 6-inch E Ink Carta display with high-resolution and supports over 25 book and graphic formats. It's pre-loaded with a native web browser, allowing you to download digital copies from your local library, or you can download your books via USB or from the PocketBook cloud service. At 8G, it's pretty limited in internal storage, however, it supports a microSD card to expand access to your e-book files.

Drawbacks: Limited internal storage and no built-in apps to purchase e-books. 

Highlights: It combines all of the user-favorite features of the cult-favorite Kindle Paperwhite — like battery life, less ghosting and user-friendly functionality — but with a new display optimized for reading in color.

If you love the sound of the Kindle Paperwhite featured above, or you currently have a Kindle and just want an upgrade, the new Kindle Colorsoft has been a recurring reader favorite that managed to sell in droves for the better part of last year. And it's easy to see why, as all of the streamlined and revered functionalities that you get with the Paperwhite can still be enjoyed on the Colorsoft, but with a beautiful soft color display and the capability of highlighting your key words or favorite sentences in different colors.

Drawbacks: The price jumps nearly $100 from the basic Paperwhite model.