I’m pretty sure you have heard of eBook eReaders, extremely mobile devices that can hold thousands of books and last very long on a single charge. The eReader is a relatively new type of gadget, made popular by Amazon with their Kindle brand. In an era where people don’t like to read it’s amazing how these types of devices made it to market and become extremely popular in a very short time.
That has to do with the fact the price is something almost everyone can afford, with sub $200 pricing at start, while today’s prices have started to slide again, reaching two digits in some cases. It you think that a good meal for two can come at over $100 you understand why everyone with a passion for reading has an eReader. Amazon made it very easy to download eBooks for their Kindle line of eReaders (the 3G versions feature subsidized data transfers included in the price of the eBook) and can even deliver new magazines issues at your ‘door’ when they’re released. Amazon also sells Kindles with ‘special offers’ which basically is a subsidized version that displays ads on the bottom of the screen from time to time (not in the reading mode). It’s easy to understand then why Amazon Kindle is considered the best eReader on market.
Most eReaders can be used to listen to music and even browse the web, while mode advanced models (basically tablets) can be used for other multimedia purposes. But there’s a price to pay for multimedia eReaders: they come with normal LCD panels that drain battery at a faster rate; we’re talking hours here, while top eInk eReaders can last one-two months on a charge. Here’s why:
Probably the most important piece of technology in a classic eReader is the eInk display, a type of LCD panel that’s grayscale in nature and only consumes power then images are refreshed. Since text on a book is refreshed once every two-three minutes you begin to understand why they last so long (one-two months between charges are not uncommon).
The main disadvantage of eInk technology is that you can’t display moving images, so you can forget about watching movies on one (it would also kill battery life since the page is refreshed 24-30 times per second). Also eInk lacks backlight, so you can’t read in the dark. But the lack of backlighting also makes it easier on your eyes and provides with huge contrast ration that works wonderfully for outdoor reading.
All in all you have to understand the limitations and advantages of eInk displays before decide which is the best eReader for you. I invite you now to take a look at our list of favorite eReaders for 2012, compared and reviewed (links to our full coverage of each model). We’ll be updating this comparison eReader list with new models as soon as they become available. Until then enjoy the current top models.
Amazon Kindle TouchTech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl with 600 x 800 px and 16 level grayscale, Size: 6.8? x 4.7? x 0.40? (172 mm x 120 mm x 10.1 mm), Weight: 7.5 ounces (213 grams), Storage: 4GB, Battery life: 2 months
The Amazon Kindle Touch eReader benefits of the forth generation E Ink display technology (Amazon was a fan of this technology since the first Kindle), which makes its screen crystal clear, just like paper. That is an important detail, because it will not fatigue your eyes more than paper does it.
The innovations that Amazon Kindle Touch eReader or its producers propose to the reader are the following: multi touch screen (you don’t have to press any buttons to turn the pages or check your mails etc), the improved memory (it can store around three thousand books) and the (even more) reduced dimensions. Other than that, we ought to mention that the Amazon Kindle Touch eReader uses the Wi-Fi technology, so you can download books in sixty seconds (plus or minus), but if you are familiar with ereaders that should sound familiar.
In terms of performances, this particular ereader is an improved version of the older Kindle devices of its kind, but the black and white display is still there. It lets you customize the text (enlarge the letters) for improved visibility and that is nice.
Buy from here, Buy from here 3G version – Read Review
The price of the Amazon Kindle Touch eReader is listed at 100 US dollars (with special offers ads, but without it the cost is 139 US dollars). It’s a nice device, but the older one was given more thought to (my opinion). However, the choice is yours!
Amazon Kindle 4Tech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl with 600 x 800 px and 16 level grayscale, Size: 6.5? x 4.5? x 0.34? (166 mm x 114 mm x 8.7 mm), Weight: 5.98 ounces (170 grams), Storage: 2GB, Battery life: 1 month
The Amazon Kindle 4 eReader weights almost six ounces, so its light weight makes it easy to handle. But, what is more, the E Ink display makes its screen as easy to read as paper. This ereader incorporates the Wi-Fi technology, which allows you to download a book within no longer than sixty seconds.
The storage capacity of Amazon Kindle 4 eReader allows you to carry around 1,400 books in a device small enough to fit into your pocket, which I find very nice! What if its battery dies when you were in the middle of an interesting passage? No problem, considering half an hour as daily reading time, your battery should last a month.
In terms of performances, the Amazon Kindle 4 eReader is not only an elegant device, but also a very simple to use one. You don’t have to do any settings before using it and that is very nice!
Buy from here – Read Review
The price of the Amazon Kindle 4 eReader is listed at almost 80 US dollars (109 without the special offers ads). This is, from my point of view, the best ereader one can get for less than 100 US dollars and I honestly recommend it. It’s simple and elegant, as well as practical and it provides good money value!
Nook Simple Touch eReaderTech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl wich 600 x 800 px and 16 grayscale levels, Size: 6.49? (165mm) x 4.48?(114mm) x 0.4? (10mm) , Weight: 6.5 ounces (186 grams), Storage: 1GB + MicroSD, Battery life: 1 month
The Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch eReader is for certain one of the best ereaders one can buy within a 100 US dollars budget. The reasons for affirming that are simple. It has a six inches touch screen that incorporates the E Ink® display technology, which makes ereading very similar to reading! It has good battery autonomy (you can read almost two months without having to recharge the machine). But, the best possible thing about it is that it is very easy to use (I bet my grandma can do it, too).
In terms of performances, the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch eReader brings consistent advantages, such as: enlarging font sizes, the machine remembers the last page you have read so don’t have to turn a lot of pages to get there (try to imagine what it would be like if would have forgotten the page number you were at), but it is fast, too (you don’t have to wait ages until the pages turn). And here’s another thing to mention: it has a built-in Wi-Fi, so you can download books and check your email!
Buy from here – Read Review
The price of the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch eReader is listed at 99 US dollars. Fair enough!
Kobo eReader TouchTech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl, Size: 6.5? x 5? x 0.47? , Weight: 7.48 ounces (205 grams), Storage: 2GB + MicroSD, Battery life: 2 months
The Kobo eReader Touch ereader is a very interesting device, because it gives the user the opportunity to enlarge the memory of the ereader, by offering a slot card and a 2.0 USB port, although you can store approximately one thousand books within the already given 2 GB.
Its six inches screen is equipped with E-Ink Display technology, therefore what you get is a rather small device that makes an ebook as easy to read as a regular book, its maximum resolution being 600×800 pixels.
What even more, the Kobo eReader Touch ereader hooks you up with an internet browser and ten dictionaries, but the not as good thing about it is that the battery life doesn’t last longer than two weeks!
In terms of performances, the Kobo eReader Touch ereader is a very competitive touch device and its innovations rely on the connectivity aspect (the card slot and the USB port). The way that this ereader looks is not bad at all; in fact its design could be the decisive factor in buying it.
Buy from here: Black, White – Read Review
The Kobo eReader Touch ereader is listed at almost 160 US dollars. Although that is a very decent price, I would check the alternatives. The choice is yours!
Nook TabletTech specs – Screen: 7? IPS touchscreen with 1024 x 600 px, Size: 8.1? x 5? x 0.48? , Weight: 14.1 ounces, Storage: 16GB + MicroSD, Battery life: 11.5 hours
The Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet eReader is, probably, the most evolved ereader. First of all, because it brings color to the reader; second of all, it has got the widest touch screen (which is a seven inches one) and third of all, it is the best entertainer of its kind.
Try to add that to the partnership with The Barnes &Noble stores, where they treat you with tea and there you have it: an ereaders party!
Here are some quick specs of this product: it incorporates Wi-Fi, it allows you to read nine hours without recharging the battery, it’s memory is very large (16 GB and it stores approximately 10,000 ebooks), but if that is not enough, you can enlarge it with 32GB with microSD memory card. It also incorporates a dual-core processor (1 GB RAM) and that makes it quite fast when browsing the internet, for instance.
I earlier mentioned that the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet eReader is a very good entertainer. I sustain my affirmation with the following arguments: access to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Pandora internet radio, Chess, Crossword, Sudoku, Media Gallery, NOOK Friends™, and Email.
Buy from here – Read Review
In terms of performances, the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet eReader resembles in many ways a tablet, but is actually an ereader. Its price is 250 US dollars. I find it a little bit spiced up, but I expect it to drop in a few months!
Nook ColorTech specs – Screen: 7? IPS touchscreen with 1024 x 600 px, Size: 8.1? x 5? x 0.48? , Weight: 18.8 ounces, Storage: 8GB + MicroSD, Battery life: 8 hours
The Barnes & Noble NOOK COLOR eBook Reader is color screen (7-inch color touch screen) ereader that provides access to internet (so one can easily connect to social networks etc), through a built in Wi-Fi, so from this point of view, we could say that it resembles, somehow to a tablet.
The inside of the ereader looks like this: 1 GB SanDisk, that what sets it in motion (virtually speaking) and you get to connect a micro SD card, if its memory is not enough for you (although it can store around six thousand books, magazines, comic books or newspapers).
But, generally speaking, the Barnes & Noble NOOK COLOR eBook Reader is a very good entertainer. You have read enough books? Perfect, search Google for something interesting or maybe play crossword puzzles, Sudoku, Chess and Pandora internet or listen to the radio.
Buy from here – Read Review
The price of the Barnes & Noble NOOK COLOR eBook Reader is listed at 200 US dollars (50 bucks less than the Nook Tablet). What you get is a smarter ereader, but its price is almost doubled. I would go for one of the alternatives (and there are some pretty interesting ones), but the choice is yours!
Amazon Kindle KeyboardTech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl, Size: 7.5? x 4.8? x 0.34?, Weight: 8.5 ounces, Storage: 4GB, Battery life: 2 months
The Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader is an interesting ereader because it also provides a keyboard, so one can access better its functions and menu. So, if you are not a fan of touch devices, this one might actually suit you.
The Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader has got an E Ink Display, which should make its screen as easy to read as paper, in other words, it doesn’t exhaust your eyes as much as other types of displays. Its storage capacity allows you to walk around with approximately 3,500 books in your pocket or purse, which is not bad at all, it is in fact, very good.
The battery of Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader lasts about two months and the ereader incorporates Wi-Fi technology, so you can download books (actually, ebooks) in sixty seconds. Quite fast, isn’t it? One of the best things about the Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader is that is very simple to use: there is nothing to install and no setup to run before using it!
Buy from here, Buy from here 3G version – Read Review
The price of Amazon Kindle Keyboard eReader is listed on Amazon at 140 US dollars. It is somehow a fair price to pay, but there are better alternatives as you can see!
Sony PRS T1Tech specs – Screen: 6? eInk Pearl wich 600 x 800 px and 16 grayscale levels, Size: 6 7/8 x 4 3/8 x 3/8 inches (H/W/D) , Weight: 5.9 ounces, Storage: 1.3GB + MicroSD, Battery life: up to 1 month
Now, among all the ereader existing on the market, the Sony PRS-T1 eReader with Wi-Fi is, probably, the most sophisticated one. And you can tell that just by looking at it. It is a light weighted (less than six ounces), entirely black and touch ereader!
Its six inches screen is equipped with E-Ink Pearl V220 anti-glare technology, which is a sophisticated way to tell that its display is as easy to read as paper and one doesn’t have to worry about the annoying shades that occur in sun light!
Its storage capacity is 2 GB wide, which equals around 1,200 ebooks. The good thing, tough is that they give ten dictionaries (among which two are for the English language). It incorporates, Wi-Fi technology, as well, so you can search Google any time.
In terms of performances, the Sony PRS-T1 eReader with Wi-Fi is quite a cute ereader that could best be described by two words: educated and stylish. Therefore it would suit best the persons that are accustomed to reading in foreign languages, but all the others, as well.
Buy from here: Black, White, Red – Read Review
The price of the Sony PRS-T1 eReader with Wi-Fi is listed at almost 130 US dollars. And that is a fair price to pay!
If you ask me I believe in 2012 we’ll see a small shift from 6 inch eInk eBook eReaders to small size tablets (7-8 inches), because the slates have gone down in price significantly in the past year, so the $200 bucks entry level is something consumers can easy pay for a pocketable device that’s able not only to display eBooks, but also browse the web, listen to music and watch videos online. For the rest of us, the sub $100 eReaders make sense from the battery life and extreme portability point of view. What’s your opinion on this? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.