Best E-Readers of 2026: 7 Picks Worth Buying

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Choosing among the best e-readers is mostly a choice of bookstore first and hardware second. Kindle books stay on Kindle devices, Kobo reads EPUB files natively and builds library borrowing into the device, and the screen size, warm light and waterproofing decide how pleasant every evening of reading feels. Our picks are based on manufacturer specs and documentation, warranty terms, independent review consensus and the patterns that show up in owner feedback.

Quick picks

Product	Best for	Our verdict	Typical price
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024 release)	Most readers	Buy	about $134–$169
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	Previous generation, only on discount	Buy at a discount	about $150–$190
Kobo Libra Colour	Library readers and comics	Buy	about $200–$230
Kobo Clara BW	Library borrowers and EPUB readers	Buy	about $129–$139
Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release)	Budget and compact	Buy	about $89–$109
Amazon Kindle Scribe	Reading and handwriting	Consider	about $340–$450
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition	Comics and cookbooks	Consider	about $249–$279

Prices move often, especially around sales events, so check the current price before you buy.

The best e-readers in 2026

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite is the safest e-reader recommendation for almost anyone who reads regularly. It has a 7-inch, 300 ppi glare-free screen, an adjustable warm light for evening reading, IPX8 waterproofing for the bath or the pool, and 16GB of storage, which holds far more books than most people will ever load. Amazon rates the battery at up to 12 weeks, and owner feedback consistently describes page turns and menus as noticeably quicker than older Kindles.

In the US, you can borrow library books through Libby and send them to the Kindle, which covers a big part of what used to be Kobo’s advantage. The trade-offs are small but real: lock-screen ads appear unless you pay to remove them, and there are no physical page-turn buttons, so you tap or swipe the screen. Neither is a reason to look elsewhere unless buttons matter a lot to you.

Who it suits best: people who read a book or more a month, travelers who want one device for a whole trip without hunting for a charger, and anyone moving up from an older Kindle with a smaller, slower screen. Because it reads well in direct sun and in a dark bedroom, it is also the model that fits the widest range of reading habits.

Skip it if most of your books are EPUB files bought from other stores or if you want buttons for one-handed reading. In that case the Kobo Libra Colour or Kobo Clara BW is a better match.

This listing is the previous-generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. The 2024 release is the newer model, with the bigger, faster 7-inch screen. The older version is still a very good e-reader: it has a sharp, glare-free screen, waterproofing, adjustable warm light and weeks of battery, and it makes a solid gift or a first e-reader for a student.

The catch is price. Its typical range of about $150–$190 overlaps or even exceeds the newer model, and at that price there is no reason to buy it. It is worth it only at a clear discount, well below what the 2024 Paperwhite costs on the same day. It shares the same downsides as other Kindles: ads unless you pay to remove them, and you are tied to Amazon’s store. If you borrow mostly from libraries outside the US, a Kobo is the more flexible choice.

The Kobo Libra Colour is the e-reader for people who want buttons, color and freedom from Amazon’s store in one device. It uses a color E Ink screen, so book covers, comics and highlights show up in color, and it has physical page-turn buttons that make one-handed reading in bed or on a train easier. It is a 7-inch device, so it sits in the same size class as the Paperwhite rather than the smaller Clara. Like other Kobos, it has library borrowing built in, so you can search your local library’s catalog and borrow directly on the device.

Set expectations on the color: it is muted, closer to a printed newspaper than a tablet. That is fine for comics and highlights, but it will not make photos pop. Kobo’s store is also smaller than Kindle’s, though EPUB support means you can load books from many other sources.

Skip it if you already own a big Kindle library, since those books will not open on a Kobo. If you want Kobo’s library features for less money and do not need color or buttons, the Kobo Clara BW costs about $70 to $100 less.

The Kobo Clara BW is the best value pick for library borrowers and anyone with an EPUB collection. OverDrive library borrowing is built in, it reads EPUB natively, and it covers the basics a good e-reader needs: a 6-inch 300 ppi screen, IPX8 waterproofing, warm light and 16GB of storage. At about $129–$139, it costs about the same as a Paperwhite on a good day while keeping you out of Amazon’s ecosystem.

The trade-off is size. Six inches is noticeably smaller than the Paperwhite’s 7-inch screen, which means more page turns, especially at larger font sizes. The Kobo store is also smaller than Amazon’s, so occasional new releases may be easier to find on Kindle. There are no page buttons and no color, which keeps the price down.

It is a strong pick for heavy library users who want to browse, borrow and return without switching between a phone app and the reader, and for anyone who simply prefers not to buy into a single company’s store.

Skip it if your books already live on Kindle. Those purchases will not transfer, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the better buy for you.

The Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release) is the cheapest good Kindle and the most pocketable e-reader on this list. It weighs 5.6 oz, fits in a jacket pocket and still gets a 6-inch, 300 ppi screen, so text looks just as crisp as on pricier models. It charges over USB-C and has 16GB of storage. For commuters, travelers and anyone who reads mostly in dry places, it covers what matters for about $89–$109.

The two cuts are waterproofing and warm light. This model is not waterproof, and the front light is cool-toned only, which some readers find less comfortable late at night. It has no page buttons, so it is tap-to-turn only.

As a gift for a new reader, a student or a commuter, it is hard to beat on price per year of use. The small size is a real advantage for one-handed reading on a crowded train.

Skip it if you read in the bath, by the pool or at the beach, or if you prefer an amber tone in bed. Spending a bit more on the Paperwhite gets you both.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is a different kind of device: a large paper-like screen with an included pen for writing notes, sketching and marking up PDFs. For students, people who review documents for work, or anyone who keeps a paper notebook, it can replace a stack of printouts. Owner feedback is especially positive about PDFs, which are painful to read on a 6- or 7-inch screen.

It is a weaker choice if you just read novels. It is heavy for reading in bed, and at about $340–$450, it costs more than twice as much as a Paperwhite.

Skip it if you will not use the pen. The Kindle Paperwhite is lighter, cheaper and better for long reading sessions.

The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition brings color E Ink to Kindle. It has a 7-inch screen at 300 ppi for black and white and 150 ppi for color, IPX8 waterproofing, 32GB of storage, an auto-adjusting warm light and wireless charging. Comics, cookbooks, children’s books, magazines and color-coded highlights all benefit, and you get color without the glare and eye strain of a tablet.

The trade-offs are price and contrast. At about $249–$279, it is expensive for an e-reader, colors look muted next to a tablet, and black-and-white text looks slightly less crisp than on a Paperwhite.

Skip it if you read mostly novels, because color adds nothing to plain text. If you want color but not Amazon’s store, the Kobo Libra Colour adds page buttons and library borrowing for a little less.

How to choose e-readers

Pick your bookstore first

This is the decision that matters most. Kindle books open only on Kindle devices and apps, and Kobo books stay with Kobo. If you already own a large Kindle library, buy a Kindle: the Paperwhite for most people or the basic Kindle on a budget. If you buy EPUB books from various stores or want to avoid Amazon, choose the Kobo Clara BW or Kobo Libra Colour.

Think about how you borrow library books

US readers can send Libby loans to a Kindle, so a Kindle works with most US library systems. Kobo builds OverDrive borrowing into the device itself, which some readers find simpler, and it can be the better choice outside the US. If library books are most of what you read, lean toward a Kobo.

Screen size, light and color

Six-inch screens are smaller and lighter; 7-inch screens show more words per page. Warm light makes evening reading more comfortable, and the basic Kindle lacks it. Color E Ink is muted, so it pays off only for comics, cookbooks and highlights. If you mostly read novels, black and white looks crisper and costs less.

Waterproofing

If you read in the tub, at the beach or by the pool, buy an IPX8 model. The Paperwhite, Clara BW and Colorsoft list IPX8 ratings in the data we reviewed. The basic Kindle is not waterproof.

Writing and PDFs

A standard e-reader can display PDFs, but small screens make them hard to read. If your reading includes documents, textbooks or note-taking, the Amazon Kindle Scribe is the one built for it. Everyone else should save the money. A larger screen also means more weight, so think about where you read. Long sessions in bed favor a 6- or 7-inch reader.

Budget and generations

Prices on this list start at about $89 and run past $400. Where two generations of the same model are sold side by side, buy the newer one unless the older one is clearly cheaper. The older Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is worth it only at a clear discount.

Accessories worth adding

A cover protects the screen in a bag and many wake the device when opened. Browse Kindle Paperwhite 2024 cases or Kobo Clara BW sleep covers once you choose. If you read on long flights, a pair of good headphones pairs well with Kindle audiobooks; see our best noise-cancelling headphones guide. If you want an e-reader for a child, a kid-focused tablet can also handle reading apps; our kids tablet and LEGO picks cover one option.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Kindle or a Kobo better?

Neither is better for everyone. A Kindle is the better choice if you already own Kindle books or want the biggest store, and US readers can still borrow library books through Libby. A Kobo is better if you read EPUB files, want library borrowing built into the device or prefer to avoid Amazon. Your existing library should decide it.

Is the new Kindle Paperwhite worth it over the old one?

Yes, at similar prices. The 2024 release has a bigger 7-inch screen and is faster, so it is the one to buy. The previous-generation Paperwhite is still a good e-reader, but it is worth it only at a clear discount below the new model’s current price. Compare both before you check out.

Do I need a waterproof e-reader?

Only if you read near water. If you read in the bath, by a pool or at the beach, waterproofing protects against the drop that ruins a non-waterproof device. The Paperwhite, Kobo Clara BW and Colorsoft list IPX8 ratings. The basic Kindle does not, which is the main reason to spend more.

Is a color e-reader worth it?

For comics, cookbooks, children’s books and color highlights, yes. For novels, no. Color E Ink is muted compared with a tablet, and black-and-white text can look slightly less crisp on color screens. If you read mostly text, the Kindle Paperwhite or Kobo Clara BW gives you a sharper page for less money.

Can I get rid of Kindle lock-screen ads?

Yes. Amazon sells Kindles with lock-screen ads and lets you pay to remove them, either at purchase or later from your account. The fee varies by model, so check it when comparing prices. Kobo e-readers do not show lock-screen ads, which some buyers count as part of their value.

Who should buy the Kindle Scribe?

Buy it if you want to write notes, mark up PDFs or replace paper notebooks while also reading books. It is heavy and expensive for novels alone, so readers who will not use the pen are better served by a Paperwhite.

The bottom line

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024 release) is the best e-reader for most people: a bigger, faster waterproof screen with warm light and weeks of battery at a fair price. Library borrowers and EPUB readers should get the Kobo Clara BW, and budget buyers who read in dry places will be happy with the basic Kindle.

Pay for color or a pen only if you will use them. A good e-reader lasts for years, so the store and features that match your habits matter more than saving a few dollars today. Check current prices before you buy, especially when choosing between Paperwhite generations.

Check price on Amazon: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024 release)
Paid link. Typical price about $134–$169; check the current price on Amazon.