eReaders 101

Let’s talk eReaders.

First, some context. Not only am I chronically online, but I tend to frequent the same handful of places. One of the side effects of that is that I tend to encounter the same discussions over and over. Sometimes, a topic will pop up for the umpteenth time. I remind myself that not everyone is as chronically online as I am and does not hear the same conversations on repeat. And honestly, good for those people. Being chronically online isn’t always the best thing. 

All this to say that some of the questions that I see pop up frequently relate to eReaders. So I thought I’d take a moment to answer some commonly asked questions regarding eReaders. If you’re new to eReaders, maybe you’ll find this helpful?

Some caveats: a lot of my answers are going to be based on my own personal opinions and experiences. Also, I’m based in the US and some of my answers will be based on that (why this is important will become clear shortly). 

So let’s talk about some common eReader questions, shall we?

I already read ebooks on my smartphone or tablet. Do I really need a dedicated eReader?

Maybe? This is probably not going to be the answer you’re looking for, but let me explain.

In my opinion, there are two primary reasons why a dedicated eReader is worth it. 

First, I personally have a hard time reading large chunks of text on a traditional smartphone or tablet. EReaders that use eInk technology (for example, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo, or Boox) more closely mimic real paper and are easier for me to read for longer periods.

Second, I personally tend to get very distracted when trying to read on a device that can do multiple things. A notification might pop up that grabs my attention, I might start thinking about some random useless tidbit that I just have to Google just then (even though I don’t really have to). You get the idea. It gets so bad that I can’t have my phone in my arms whilst reading, lest I be distracted by, well, the internet. 

If either of these apply to you, you may want to consider an eReader.

Ok, I want to buy an eReader. Which should I buy?

I’ve had personal experience with three different eReader brands, so let me try to break them down for you. 

Kindle Paperwhite

Kindles are among the most popular eReaders, mostly because everyone knows Amazon. The Paperwhites have really long battery life, so that’s a definite plus. 

Additionally, if you’re someone who likes reading self published books, you might be interested in Kindle Unlimited. This is a subscription service, which costs about 12USD per month. A lot of self-published authors have their books exclusively on Kindle and/or Kindle Unlimited, which is why I say that fans of self-published books may like the service. 

In short, you might like a Kindle if you’re sold on the Amazon ecosystem and/or want to read Kindle Unlimited books.

Kobo

I’ve used a number of Kobo devices over the years, and as far as I know, they all use eInk. So if you’re thinking of going the Kobo route, my advice would be to pick the one that best suits your needs and budget. 

Personally, I prefer the user interface on Kobo to the Kindle to the point where I think it’s a much nicer reading experience. 

Kobo also offers a subscription service called Kobo+. It doesn’t seem to offer as many self-published works, but it is cheaper. That said, I want to emphasize that self-published books can be found on Kobo+, so it’s just a matter of checking out the catalogue and seeing if it has what you want to read.

Full disclosure, I subscribe to Kobo+ and buy self-published books on Amazon a la carte when I come across one I want that’s only available on Amazon. That’s just what works for me. Your mileage may vary.  

Some people will buy Kobos because they don’t want to support Amazon. While I’m not going to tell you that boycotting Amazon is right or wrong, I also think it’s relevant to point out that Kobo is also owned by a billionaire. 

That said, Kobo might be worth it if you want a non Amazon option and because of the (again, in my opinion) better interface. 

Boox

This is the newest device I’ve tried. I don’t have as much experience with it as Kindles or Kobos, but so far, I think this is probably my personal favorite option.

What I like about Boox is that they work kind of like traditional tablets, but they use eInk. As such, you’re not locked into any particular ecosystem. Simply download whatever reading apps you want – Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Netgalley, etc. The eInk is easier on my eyes, and I treat my Boox as a dedicated reading device, meaning I don’t have anything not reading related on there (so no social media or whatever). I don’t get distracted this way.

You might like Boox if you don’t want to be locked into a single ecosystem.

Other eReaders

There are, of course, other eReaders out there. This includes Nook (from Barnes and Noble) or the reMarkable. However, I’ve never used those devices and can’t speak to them.

A note about Libby

Libby is an app that lets you connect your local library card(s) and borrow ebooks. This is a very convenient way to borrow ebooks from the library.

As an American, I can send ebooks I borrowed from Libby to my Kindle if I want to. However, from what I understand, this might not be available in all countries. From what I understand, Canadians can read Libby books on Kobo but not Kindle. 

My advice? If you’re looking to buy an eReader, you don’t live in the US, and Libby is important to you, do some research into what devices support Libby in your country. 

I still want to read physical books. How do I decide what to read in physical form and what to read in ebook form?

This is something that only you can answer. 

As someone who also enjoys reading physical books, I can understand the dilemma. In fact, there was a time I said that I’d never get an eReader because I thought I preferred physical books. 

The fact of the matter is that I can’t afford to buy all the books I’m interested in nor do I have the space to store all of them. So I have to make compromises. 

Here are some things I tend to consider when deciding what format to go with

I think that’s everything. 

Do you agree/disagree with my thoughts about eReaders? Are there any other questions I didn’t get to? 

Updated: Dec 3, 2025 @ 1:02 am