Read our Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review. As with previous Kindle models, expect the new Paperwhite to go on sale sporadically throughout the year. And a step-up model, the Paperwhite Signature Edition, adds wireless charging and additional storage - 32GB instead of 8GB - as well an auto-adjusting light sensor for $190. Note that the new version costs $10 more than the previous Paperwhite. It's our CNET Editors' Choice Award winner in the e-reader category. Though we can give Amazon credit for enhancing it with new features - namely, a larger 6.8-inch display with an upgraded lighting scheme and USB-C charging - that offer just enough improvements to tempt you into buying one, whether you're an existing Paperwhite owner or not.
Not surprisingly, then, the new 11th-generation Kindle Paperwhite (2021) ($130) isn't a huge upgrade over the Kindle Paperwhite 2018. But with an e-reader, you're dealing with a limited feature set and a core technology, E Ink, that seems pretty much stuck in neutral. The same might be said for Apple's iPhones and plenty of other devices. One of the problems with having a sophisticated, already excellent e-reader like the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is that it's hard to make it much better. So, are you ready to start reading again? Whether you're big on biographies, freak out over fantasy, get stirred up over sci-fi or go for the grit of a graphic novel, you'll find the best e-reader for your digital book needs on this list. If you want to steer clear of Amazon products, I'd suggest opting for a Kobo model instead. And while Barnes & Noble still makes its Nook e-reader, I wouldn't be in a hurry to recommend it. Amazon offers plenty of low budget and subscription options, as well. The list below (which I periodically update) is mostly populated by Amazon Kindle e-reader devices, including the classic Amazon Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Oasis, because I believe that it's still the best digital "ecosystem" for your best e-reader experience. All of the best e-readers on the market have self-illuminated screens. Many also come with an accompanying stylus for note-taking, and you'll never be out of luck if you don't have a reading light. But with an e-reader, not only do you have the freedom to take as many books with you as you like, you can also search for and highlight passages of text and easily change the font size. Many people are still attached to their physical book collections, and I can't blame them.
, and free e-books are widely available and easy to find online. You might find that your local library offers free e-book downloads for its members The best e-reader models are now water-resistant, so they're perfect for reading at the beach or by the pool.
The glare-free touchscreens make reading on a device a pleasure again. That's probably the best e-reader feature if you have sensitive vision, since it's much kinder on the eyes. I love E Ink displays because the suspended layer and non-glossy screen make your e-reader resemble printed paper. Unlike popular phones and tablets, which can get washed out in direct sunlight or boast a mighty and painful glare, many e-readers use E Ink technology, which produces something of a monochromatic text display. The thing about dedicated e-readers: They don't have email, the internet, social media or other distracting entertainment options to lure you away from reading. Sure, you could use your phone, but that's not an ideal experience. And if you're someone who enjoys reading in bed or lying down, a well-lit e-reader is much easier to handle than an unlit book that requires you to turn pages. Thankfully, e-readers present a better option that keeps all of your books stored on a single device (or in the cloud), making it easy to read a book and then move on to the next one without worry. That can make reading difficult as you're often having to pause to unload books on other people or secondhand stores. Of course, not everybody has the room for a stack of books, let alone a library. Nothing beats a relaxing evening in your home with a good book.