Best E-Readers of 2023
Looking for new e-reader? Here are BookRaid's recommendations for 2023:
- Apple iPad
- Amazon Kindle Oasis
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
- Kobo Libra 2
- Kobo Clara 2E
- Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight
Skip the narrative and compare the specs here.
Apple iPad
| Cost (USD) | $380 |
| Screen | 10.9" LED, backlit |
| Weight | 16.5oz (477g) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours |
This 10th generation iPad is much more than just an e-reader. For many, it's their primary home device with capabilities for movies, TV streaming, music, games, social media, and more.
The iPad is a great choice if you want all the functionality above packed into a single device, and don't mind reading on an LED screen.
The iPad might not be such a great choice if you do lots of outdoor reading. In very bright environments, the iPad's LED screen is less capable and its battery life is weak relative to all the e-ink competitors in this article. If you want to read for an entire day or won't have the ability to charge the device at night, then perhaps opt out of the iPad.
One major advantage to the iPad is that you aren't bound by any retailer. You can access your Amazon library via the free Kindle app, Barnes and Noble books via its free app, or side-load PDFs and ePubs to your heart's content.
With a range of iPad options, choosing the right one may come down to your screen size and capacity requirements. The base model we've selected here will suffice even for tens of thousands of eBooks!
If you're looking for a more heavy-duty ipad to stream high definition video or support pro applications, you can browse all the iPad products including Mini, Air, Standard, and Pro models.
Amazon Kindle Oasis
| Cost (USD) | $300 |
| Screen | 7" e-ink |
| Weight | 6.6oz (188g) |
| Battery Life | 21 hours |
The Kindle Oasis is the premiere e-reader on the market today, and is our top pick amongst dedicated e-readers.
Its seven inch display approaches the size of a physical book, the e-paper screen handles light of all types, and its 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) ensures ultra-crisp text.
The battery life is decently impressive, offering six weeks between charges when reading 30 minutes or so every day.
As with all Amazon e-readers, one of the big perks is the Amazon library of content &em; the biggest in the world. You'll find every book on the amazon store.
This device can also play your audible purchases via bluetooth headphones or speakers. Unlike the iPad, however, this is not a general purpose tablet device, so don't expect movies, music, games, apps, etc.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
| Cost (USD) | $140 |
| Screen | 6.8" e-ink |
| Weight | 7.23oz (206g) |
| Battery Life | 28 hours |
If the Oasis is outside your price range, you may be interested in the Kindle Paperwhite.
Last time we checked, the Paperwhite was about half the price as the Oasis, which makes it a very attractive choice. What does the Oasis have that the Paperwhite doesn't?
- Physical next/last page buttons.
- Enhanced screen lighting.
- A larger non-screen section for handling.
If those Oasis advantages don't aren't deal-breakers for you, then the Paperwhite is a great Amazon based e-reader.
The Paperwhite sports a ten week battery life with minimal daily use, compared to the Oasis' six.
The screen size is only 0.2 inches less on the Paperwhite, while nearly all other specs are the same.
Kobo Libra 2
| Cost (USD) | $190 |
| Screen | 7" e-ink |
| Weight | 7.58oz (216g) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours |
The Libra 2 offering from Kobo is a top tier choice fit to fight with Amazon's Kindle Oasis.
Both the Oasis and Libra 2 offer crisp 300 dpi resolution and seven inch screens. Both are similar in weight, support wifi and bluetooth, and are waterproof.
One main advantage of the Libra 2 is its selling price. At the time of writing, it's priced at just shy of $200, versus the Oasis at $300. The main disadvantages of the Libra 2 are its slightly weaker battery life (unpublished by Kobo, but report by users), and lack of access to the Amazon library of books.
Many Kobo loyalists prefer it for its open approach to reading. You can load your own PDFs, ePubs, and all sorts of other formats on it. On Amazon devices, by contrast, you're confined to its library, regardless of where or how you acquired your literature.
Kobo Clara 2E
| Cost (USD) | $150 |
| Screen | 6" e-ink |
| Weight | 6.03oz (172g) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours |
While Kobo's Libra 2 was positioned to battle Amazon's Oasis, Kobo's Clara 2E rivals Amazon's Paperwhite. It's asymmetrical warfare between Kobo and Amazon, however, as each brand has the upper hand in different areas of combat.
Supporters of the Clara 2E, as with other Kobo products, tout its open approach to loading files. If you have ePub or PDF files from any source, you can load them straight on. Conversely, no Kindle device allows this.
Detractors of the Clara 2E will point out that the interface feels slower to react. This can result in moments of unresponsiveness. Another common complaint is the batter life, which pales in comparison to the Paperwhite.
If you need the ability to load your own files onto the device, then whip out the checkbook and splurge for either the iPad or Kobo Libra 2. On the other hand, if battery life and official store selection is more important, then maybe Amazon's offerings will suit you better.
Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4
| Cost (USD) | $135 |
| Screen | 6" e-ink |
| Weight | 12oz (342g) |
| Battery Life | 15 hours |
We've left a spot here for the Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4, but only to say that it's generally considered a weaker option than Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo's Clara 2e.
It's smaller than its competitors with a less crisp resolution, shorter battery life, no audio capabilities, and a less capable e-ink display.
If you're a die-hard Barnes & Noble fan, then this model will still do the trick. One advantage of this model is the set of physical page-turning buttons.
Wrapping Up
As it turns out, the best e-reader of 2023 is dependent entirely on your situation!
Do you need to side-load books in different formats? Then Kobo or iPad.
Do you want to use your device to watch TV or movies? Then pick up an iPad, as long as you can stomach the shorter battery life and LED fatigue.
Do you have an existing Kindle collection, or prioritize battery life over all else? Then a Kindle product may be right for you.
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Apple iPad (10th gen) | Amazon Kindle Oasis | Amazon Kindle Paperwhite | Kobo Libra 2 | Kobo Clara 2E | Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4 | |
| Cost (USD) | $380 | $300 | $140 | $190 | $150 | $135 |
| Screen Size | 10.9" | 7" | 6.8" | 7" | 6" | 6" |
| Screen Type | LED, backlit | e-ink | e-ink | e-ink | e-ink | e-ink |
| Weight | 16.5oz 477g | 6.6oz 188g | 7.23oz 206g | 7.58oz 216g | 6.03oz 172g | 12oz 342g |
| Battery Life | 10 hours | 21 hours | 28 hours | 20 hours | 20 hours | 15 hours |
| Physical Buttons? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3rd Party Files? | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Movies, Games, Apps? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Shop | Shop | Shop | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Due to increased cost, we've purposely omitted e-readers with screen-writing ability. If you require writing ability on your screen, options are out there. Let us know if you want us to write up a comparison for the drawing-enabled models!