Our Experts Written by David Carnoy Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Amazon or not? There are a lot of Amazon-made e-readers out there, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for your personal needs. Budget Depending on the time of year, e-readers can range from as low as $75 to more than $400. Waterproofing Are you planning to read poolside or in a bath tub? Make sure you know your e-reader can handle that. Screen quality The resolution and pixel density of an e-reader display dramatically impacts how easy it is to read different fonts and text sizes. Physical buttons Do you want to be able to swipe to turn a page or press a button? It makes a bigger difference than you might think. Table of Contents Our Picks Best all-around e-reader Kindle Paperwhite (2024) View details $160 at Amazon View details Best value e-reader Amazon Kindle (2024) View details $110 at Amazon View details New Kindle color e-reader Kindle Colorsoft View details $280 at Amazon View details Best jumbo Amazon e-reader you can draw on Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) View details $400 at Amazon View details Best Kobo color e-reader Kobo Libra Colour View details $230 at Rakuten View details Best value non-Amazon e-reader Kobo Clara BW View details $140 at Kobo View details Best non-Amazon tablet e-reader Kobo Elipsa 2E View details $400 at Kobo View details Table of Contents Whether you're an avid reader or someone who is trying to read more in 2025, a great e-reader can make a huge difference. Easily getting your hands on new books alone makes it more likely that you'll read more, not to mention the enhanced portability an e-reader offers. While it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that Amazon's Kindle lineup is the only viable option, you might be surprised by how many alternatives there are.I've been reviewing e-readers since 2007 when the first Kindle was released. Most e-readers use E Ink, which is an energy-efficient display technology designed to resemble printed paper. As a result, these e-readers look great when you're using them outdoors on a sunny day, unlike phones and tablets with screens that can get washed out in direct sunlight. E Ink displays used to be exclusively monochromatic, but now there are E Ink color displays, available in some e-readers like the new Kindle Colorsoft and Kobo Libra Colour.If you're looking to shop new e-readers, Amazon still has the best digital "ecosystem" for ebooks and many of the best e-readers out there. The recently refreshed Kindle Paperwhite (2024) is our current favorite e-reader, and it's the best option for the money if you find it on sale. If you want a more basic model, however, Amazon's slightly improved entry-level Kindle (2024) is a great choice. For those who want to opt for non-Amazon e-readers, the Kobo models on this list are excellent options. Read more:How to Get Free E-Books From Your Local LibraryBest e-readers of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros Slightly larger 7-inch 300 ppi high-resolution display Higher contrast ratio and faster page turns More advanced lighting scheme than entry-level Kindle Fully waterproof Cons No dedicated page-turn buttons Power button still on bottom of device Costs $20 to remove ads Full Review Read full review Like the entry-level Kindle, the new Kindle Paperwhite also costs $10 more than the previous Paperwhite base model. But the changes to the Paperwhite seem more substantial. Amazon has reduced the size of the bezel around the screen (at the bottom of the device), so instead of a 6.8-inch diagonal E Ink display in a similar-sized chassis, you get a larger 7-inch screen. The device itself is also slightly thinner, has the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle and 25% faster page turns. Amazon is touting it as the fastest Kindle yet -- the page turns and refresh rates do seem noticeably quicker.Aside from the larger screen and more advanced lighting scheme than the entry-level Kindle, the Paperwhite is fully waterproof, while the Kindle isn't. The Paperwhite also comes in a Signature Edition, which offers 32GB of storage, wireless charging and an autoadjusting front light for $200. Both the standard Paperwhite (16GB of storage) and Signature Edition are available in metallic raspberry, metallic jade and metallic black colors.