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The short answer
Pick the ecosystem first, because it determines where you buy books and how easily you can move them later. Then choose size: 6 inches for pockets, 7 inches for comfort, 10 inches for PDFs and note-taking. Warm front lighting and waterproofing are the two features most people end up glad they paid for.
An e-reader does one thing, and the hardware differences between current models are smaller than the differences between the shops they connect to. A device that reads library books easily and accepts open formats is a different proposition from one tied to a single store, even if the screens are made by the same supplier.
What actually matters
Screen size
- 6 inch: pocketable, light, the classic size. Fine for novels, cramped for anything with layout.
- 7 inch: the comfortable middle. Noticeably more text per page and still one-handed.
- 10 inch: for PDFs, technical books, sheet music and note-taking. Too large to hold for long periods in bed.
Front lighting
All current readers light the page from the front rather than behind, which is why they remain readable in sunlight. What differs is whether the light can go warm. Adjustable warmth makes evening reading considerably more comfortable, and once you have used it, a cold white-only screen feels harsh.
Waterproofing
An IPX8 rating means the reader survives a bath or a pool edge. If you read in the bath, it is the difference between relaxing and being careful, and it is one of the few genuine reasons to pay more.
Physical page turn buttons
Underrated. Buttons let you hold the device in one hand without shifting your grip, which matters when reading for hours or in bed. Not every model has them.
Colour e-ink exists and is not like a tablet screen. Colours are muted and the resolution for colour content is lower than for text. It is genuinely useful for comics, magazines, textbooks and highlighting, and it is not a reason to buy if you read novels.
Readers worth considering
Kobo Clara Colour, 6 inch colour e-reader with adjustable warm light
The strongest case for Kobo is openness: it handles EPUB directly and integrates library borrowing in most regions, which means your reading is not tied to one shop. Colour is a bonus rather than the reason to buy. At six inches it is the one that goes in a coat pocket.
Kobo Libra Colour, 7 inch e-reader with physical page turn buttons
Seven inches with physical buttons is the configuration most long-term readers settle on. The extra screen area reduces page turns noticeably, and the buttons mean your thumb never crosses the screen. Waterproof, warm light, and open formats make this the default recommendation for someone buying their main reader.
BOOX Note Air 5 C, 10.3 inch colour e-ink tablet with stylus support
The right device if you read technical PDFs, academic papers or sheet music, where a six inch screen is unusable. Running Android means you can install whichever reading apps you already use, which sidesteps the ecosystem question entirely. Heavier and more expensive, and a different category of device.
PocketBook Verse Pro, waterproof 6 inch e-reader
Worth considering if you have years of accumulated files in assorted formats. PocketBook opens more of them without conversion than anything else, which saves a great deal of tedious work. The store is smaller, and the device is aimed at people who bring their own books.
BOOX Go Color 7 Gen II, 7 inch colour e-ink tablet with stylus support
A middle path between a dedicated reader and a large e-ink tablet. Because it runs Android, it can hold your library from several stores at once, which is the practical answer if you already own books in more than one ecosystem.
What we liked
- Readable in direct sunlight
- Battery measured in weeks
- Far easier on the eyes at night than a tablet
- Library borrowing works well on open devices
What we didn't
- Store lock-in matters more than hardware
- Colour e-ink is muted and lower resolution
- Page refresh is slower than a screen
- PDFs need a large screen to be usable
The ecosystem question
Books bought from a store with digital rights management can generally only be read on that store’s devices and apps. That is fine until you want to change, at which point the library does not come with you.
Two things reduce the risk. Devices that read EPUB directly let you use any shop that sells open files, and library borrowing through public library services works on most non-locked readers, which is free and covers a great deal of reading. If you expect to own hundreds of books over a decade, this is worth more thought than which screen is marginally sharper.
Check your local library service before choosing. In many countries, borrowing e-books through the library is integrated directly into certain readers and requires side-loading on others. If you are a regular library user, that integration will affect your daily experience more than any hardware specification.
Is an e-reader better than reading on a tablet?
For long reading sessions, yes. E-ink is readable in sunlight, does not emit light into your eyes, and the battery lasts weeks. A tablet is better for anything involving colour, layout or interaction.
Is colour e-ink worth it?
For comics, magazines, textbooks and colour highlighting, yes. For novels, no. Colour panels have lower text resolution than equivalent monochrome ones, which is the trade-off.
Can I read library books on any e-reader?
On most non-locked readers, either directly or by transferring files from a computer. Integration varies by country and device, so check your library service before buying.
How long does the battery last?
Weeks of normal reading, because e-ink only consumes power when the page changes. The front light is what drains it fastest, so heavy night reading shortens it considerably.
Are e-readers good for PDFs?
Only large ones. A PDF has fixed layout, so it cannot reflow to a small screen. For technical documents, a 10 inch device is the minimum that works comfortably.
How to choose
Decide where your books will come from, because that outlasts the device. Then choose seven inches with physical buttons if you read a lot, six if you want it in a pocket, and ten if you read PDFs. Insist on adjustable warm lighting, and pay for waterproofing if you read in the bath. Colour only if you read comics or textbooks.
