Kindle, Nook, and Kobo! Oh, My! A Quick Guide to eReaders From a Reluctant User

Choose the best eReader for your needs!

As I’ve been hunting for eReaders—which I normally don’t like…at all…ever—I’ve amassed a basket of opinion-based and technical details profiling which are the best or most preferred. Per user, choosing the best eReader (options, comfort, portability) will depend on your needs. Below is a quick guide to eReaders I’ve researched, each with their features:

1. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

• Pros:

• Compatible with Audible (This is becoming important for me)

• High-res display (300 PPI)

• Waterproof (Need it!)

• Long battery life

• Adjustable warm light (Yes, please!)

• Large selection of books on Amazon

• Cons:

• Limited to Amazon only (could be an issue for those of us who frequent other book sources)

• Physical page-turn buttons are not an option

2. Amazon Kindle Oasis

• Pros:

• Ergonomic grip

• Physical page-turn buttons

• Adjustable warm light

• Waterproof

• High-resolution display (300 PPI)

• Cons:

• Expensive

• Limited to Amazon only

3. Kobo Clara HD

• Pros:

• Affordable

• High-res display (300 PPI)

• ComfortLight PRO (adjustable color temperature)

• Supports a variety of formats (ePub, PDF, etc.)

• Integration with OverDrive for library books (Big plus!!)

• Cons:

• Not waterproof…Ugh.

• Smaller book selection compared to Amazon

4. Kobo Libra 2

• Pros:

• Physical page-turn buttons

• Waterproof

• ComfortLight PRO (adjustable color temperature)

• High-resolution display (300 PPI)

• Supports multiple formats (ePub, PDF, etc.)

• Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than the Clara HD

• Smaller selection of books compared to Amazon

5. Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 4

• Pros:

• Affordable

• High-resolution display (300 PPI)

• Adjustable color temperature (has the cream color page option I personally prefer)

• Physical page-turn buttons

• Cons:

• Limited ecosystem compared to Amazon and Kobo

• Not waterproof

6. PocketBook InkPad 3

• Pros:

• Large 7.8-inch display

• Adjustable color temperature

• Supports multiple formats (ePub, PDF, etc.)

• Audio support for audiobooks

• Cons:

• Expensive (as far as I can tell, this is THE most expensive)

• Seems to be larger and heavier than other eReaders

Important Considerations:

1. System: If you’re loyal to a particular bookstore (I’ve got series books on Zon and BN I’d like to finish), it might make sense to stick with an eReader that integrates with that specific store (Kindle for Amazon, Kobo for OverDrive/library books).

2. Display Quality: Eyes going bad? Need sharp text like I do? Look for high-resolution displays (300 PPI). Each brand seems to have this as standard.

3. Waterproof: I read in the bathtub, so this is a biggy for me!

4. Adjustable Lighting: Helps reduce eye strain (another biggy for me) by adjusting the color temperature.

5. Physical Buttons: Some people prefer physical page-turn buttons for ease of use.

6. Format Support: If you need support for multiple eBook formats, from this quick guide to eReaders, and as far as I can tell, Kobo and PocketBook are probably better choices.