The 8 Best eReaders of 2023

Best Overall

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

We think the Kindle Paperwhite has the perfect balance of helpful features and straightforward navigation, making it the best choice for all types of adventurers. With a 6.8-inch display screen, the Paperwhite is slightly bigger than Amazon’s first Kindle but it has key functions like adjustable warm lighting to help with reading in the dark and an impressive 10-week battery life on a single charge. Readers will appreciate the glare-free touchscreen that puts Amazon’s massive library of ebooks at their disposal, too.

The device also has the option to pair with Bluetooth headphones so you can listen to an audiobook when you want to give your eyes a break. If you’re reading by a pool or on the beach, the water-resistant material will ward off damage in up to 2 meters of freshwater for 60 minutes or for 3 minutes in 0.25 meters of saltwater. The Paperwhite comes in two different storage capacities — 8 and 16 gigabytes — with the choice to get rid of the ad-supported lockscreen for an extra fee. 

Price at time of publish: $140

Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.32 inches | Display size: 6.8 inches | Weight: 7.23 ounces | Storage capacity: 8 GB or 16 GB | Waterproof: Yes

Best Value

Amazon All-new Kindle (2022 release)

If you’re on the fence about getting an eReader, Amazon’s basic Kindle released in 2022 is your best bet. Ringing in at just $100, the simple design and instant access to thousands of ebooks make it well worth the investment, even if you only use it while traveling. The glare-free display is a hair smaller than the Paperwhite, but readers can easily adjust the font size and light settings with its touchscreen, or listen to audiobooks via Bluetooth headphones. With up to six weeks of battery life, this Kindle model is the perfect compact and lightweight eReader for a beach vacation so you can easily pick up where you left off when it comes to reading your favorite novel. 

Price at time of publish: $100

Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches | Display size: 6 inches | Weight: 5.56 ounces | Storage: 16 GB | Waterproof: No

Best Splurge

Boox Note Air2 Plus

The Boox Note Air2 Plus is a great option for professionals, as it can be used for much more than reading ebooks on the go. With 64 gigabytes of storage, this Boox model can download large files to be read and annotated with the use of a stylus pen on the touchscreen display, and you can access podcasts, articles, books, and news through the PushRead app downloaded onto the device.

The ability to use the dual-screen function is a game changer for multitasking on the large 10.3-inch screen. You can also easily take screenshots or screen recordings and access a variety of shortcuts to various settings using the drop-down Control Center. Because of the larger size of this eReader, it weighs over 2 pounds which might be a little heavy to be on some business travelers’ packing list, but worth it for those looking for an eReader with a variety of premium features.

Price at time of publish: $480

Dimensions: 10.28 x 9.06 x 1.54 inches | Display size: 10.3 inches | Weight: 2.25 pounds | Storage: 64 GB | Waterproof: No

Best Waterproof

Kobo Libra 2 eReader

The Kobo Libra 2 is an excellent Kindle alternative that boasts key waterproofing features so you can read while lounging by the pool or ocean without worrying about water damage. With an IPX 8 rating, the eReader can be submerged for up to 60 minutes in 2 meters of fresh water before risking damage to the battery or side buttons. We like that the device is incredibly lightweight and has an impressive battery life for 21 hours of reading time.

While the Kobo ebook library is smaller than Amazon’s, readers can easily access OverDrive’s Libby app to download library and audiobooks, making the 32-gigabyte storage capacity extremely useful. The 7-inch touchscreen Ink Carta display has adjustable brightness, a glare-free finish, and Dark Mode settings for switching between a white background with black text and vice versa so you can read comfortably on the airplane or at the beach. 

Price at time of publish: $190

Dimensions: 7.01 x 7.64 x 1.18 inches | Display size: 7 inches | Weight: .013 ounces | Storage: 32 GB | Waterproof: Yes

Best for Students

Amazon Kindle Scribe

For students looking to take notes or annotate a book, the Kindle Scribe is the best option. The large 10.2-inch display is quite a bit bigger than the typical compact eReader design, but it’s perfect for reading dense textbooks and writing sticky notes. The included pen means you can write directly on the screen that can rotate vertically or horizontally depending on the text being read. Students can take notes, create lists, or write sentences using the templates built-in to the Kindle (and you can even email yourself the notes to transfer them to a laptop or phone). In addition, this upgraded eReader has adjustable white and amber light levels to cater to your eyes no matter the time of day. Thanks to Amazon’s massive library of ebooks and audiobooks, readers can access thousands of titles on the storefront or use the Libby app to access library books as well. 

Price at time of publish: $390

Dimensions: 7.7 x 9.0 x 0.22 inches | Display size: 10.2 inches | Weight: 15.3 ounces | Storage capacity: 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB | Waterproof: No 

Best for Reading in Color

PocketBook Color E-Book Reader

There aren’t many eReaders on the market that can depict images or text in color, so we recommend the Pocketbook Color for readers looking for more than just black and white text options. This ultra-compact eReader has a 6-inch Ink Kaleido HD touchscreen display that can show pictures and text in thousands of hues, making it the ideal eReader for comic and picture books. If you want to give your eyes a rest, the device supports Bluetooth headphones or speakers to play audiobooks or use the text-to-speech setting. Readers can access books through a variety of ebook websites, or download the file from a library Libby account, but there isn’t a PocketBook-specific app like with Kindle or Kobo. Keep in mind the 16-gigabyte storage capacity, so you may need to delete files to add more if you read often.  

Price at time of publish: $229

Dimensions: 0.31 x 4.25 x 6.35 inches | Display size: 6 inches | Weight: 5.6 ounces | Storage: 16 GB |  Waterproof: Not listed

Best for Kids

Amazon All-new Kindle Kids

Designed with little ones top of mind, the all-new Kindle Kids makes it easy for children to access ebooks for ages 3 to 12 years old. Kid-friendly features include the ability to use Vocabulary Finder and Word Wise, as well as the option to read books in the OpenDyslexic font for kids with dyslexia. While the eReader is geared toward kids, parents will appreciate the option to use the Parental Dashboard to add age filters and track reading goals with their children. Plus, the device has up to six weeks of battery life and comes with a durable case and a choice of three nautical and magical prints for the cover.

If you’re not already sold on this compact and lightweight eReader, it also comes with a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription so you’re avid readers can enjoy unlimited access to titles from the likes of National Geographic Kids and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians series.

Price at time of publish: $120

Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.5 x 0.53 inches | Display size: 6 inches | Weight: 9.03 ounces | Storage: 16 GB | Waterproof: No