The 9 best e-readers of 2026: I compare Kindle, Kobo, and iPad

Read our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite.

After several months of testing the Kindle Paperwhite against other e-readers, I always came back to the Kindle Paperwhite as my preferred e-reader. While the Kobo Clara Colour impressed me initially, the Kindle Paperwhite proved to be a faster device with better battery life.

If Amazon is pretty intrinsic to your spending, then going for a Kindle, specifically the Paperwhite, makes the most sense. Amazon promised that the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite would be the fastest yet, and it delivered. It turns pages without stuttering, never slowing down when you’re in the thick of the action.

The screen is vibrant and has adjustable brightness, meaning it can adjust when transitioning from reading in bright sunlight to dimmer indoors. It also comes with adjustable screen warmth, perfect for evening readers who want to give their eyes a chance to relax. It’s lightweight and fits comfortably in small crossbody bags. Plus, it’s waterproof, keeping it safe against poolside vacations and spilled water bottles in bags.

It's generally the best e-reader, but it's also the best e-reader for Libby. If you use Libby to its fullest potential, with your account loaded with multiple library cards, the Kindle allows you to read from all of those accounts at once, something you can't do on a Kobo e-reader.

Not a ton has changed between the 2022 (our previous pick) and 2024 models of the Kindle Paperwhite, but I can say for certain that the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite is the sleekest, fastest e-reader yet. It now has a slightly bigger screen at 7 inches compared to the previous 6.8-inch model, but the change is minuscule — besides the fact that the bigger model is slightly too big for my old Kindle case. 

The 2024 Paperwhite has gotten a slight upgrade in screen quality compared to the 2022 Paperwhite. While the resolution is still 300 ppi, it appears to have higher contrast, straying away from the like-paper look and edging closer to the look of a tablet. Don’t worry, though — unlike tablets, the Kindle Paperwhite still has a gloriously glare-free screen. It still has an IPX68 waterproof rating, so you can get some leisurely reading in the bath.

In his review of the 2022 model, Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder found only one extremely minor quibble with the Paperwhite Signature Edition, and I have to agree with him. On all Kindle models (besides the Scribe), the power button sits on the bottom, resulting in many accidental presses. This was the case with the prior Paperwhite model, and I was hoping that it'd move up top for the new model, but alas, Amazon has not made all the improvements it could have. Additionally, I wish this Kindle Paperwhite had page-turning buttons like the now-discontinued Kindle Oasis or the Kobo Libra Colour for a more ergonomic design.

A big reason why I came back to the Kindle Paperwhite as the best overall e-reader is its processor. It's exceptionally fast and updates quickly. With Kobo e-readers, I had to manually sync them to get my library books to appear. The only feature I wish the operating system of the Paperwhite had was the ability to recalculate the page count of a book when you adjust the font size or margins.

That said, the Kindle Paperwhite is still the best e-reader you can buy.

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Read our full review of the Kobo Clara Colour.

If you're just diving into the world of e-readers and not particularly thrilled about Kindles and their Amazon ties, then the Kobo Clara is the right answer. It offers a color display for those who enjoy manga and graphic novels, but it remains speedy with fast processing when turning pages or swapping between books.

It's especially great for Libby users, who want seamless integration with books that automatically load into your library as soon as you borrow them. It really is a great e-reader for anyone.

Having tried my hand at nearly a dozen e-readers in all shapes, sizes, and brands, I wasn't expecting to be so deeply impressed by the Kobo Clara Colour, but it is a wonderful e-reader. With a 6-inch screen, it's slightly smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite, but it allows you to hold it comfortably for multiple hours at a time without any wrist or arm fatigue.

In my previous testing with Kobo devices, I've really liked them, but one sticking point is that they're slower than Kindles. Initially, I found that the Kobo Clara kept up with the Paperwhite, but after several months of use, it had a tendency to lag. Compared to Kindles, I had to manually sync the Kobo Clara to get my library books to show up.

Its processing system is otherwise really smart and fixes one of my biggest e-reader pet peeves. When you adjust the font size on a Kindle, the device doesn't recalculate how many pages are in the book, making it inaccurate, so you don't know exactly how many pages you have left in a chapter. The Kobo Clara does recalculate page count accurately for a more exact reading experience. Though, one thing to note: Kobo counts the number of digital pages, whereas Kindle page numbers typically match up with physical book copies.

For the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Clara offers color displays, something you can't get in the Kindle lineup unless you're willing to spend $250. The colors aren't as bright as you'd experience in a physical book, but they're still vivid enough to enjoy a graphic novel.

Its Libby (aka Overdrive) integration is seamless, and e-books you borrow on your library card will automatically populate on your account. You can browse and borrow library books directly from the e-reader, instead of having to whip out your phone app. However, for users who use Libby to the max with multiple library cards, you can only log in to one account at a time.

The Kobo Clara's biggest downfall is its battery life. It's supposed to last up to 42 days, although many online users say it averages out at about two weeks. That's quite pathetic in the face of the Kindle's 12-week battery life; however, I'd trade in a better reading experience over a couple weeks of battery life any day.

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Read our full review of the Durobo Krono.

If your digital library is sprawling — you have books through Kindle, Kobo, Libby, and Audible — then you need an e-reader that can access all of them. Durobo's Krono e-reader is a compact e-reader that basically functions like a tablet. Most e-readers on this list are Androids, but none have open Android systems that let you download the apps you want, as the Krono does.

With access to the Google Play store available, you can download any app you read on to access your digital library. However, if you have a collection of EPUB files, you can also download them directly to Krono's library. Plus, for the audiobook lovers, the Durobo Krono also plays audio in addition to transcribing it.

Having tried several other open Android e-readers, I haven't been impressed. The Remarkable Paper Pro is way too big and the Boox Go is too slow and too difficult to get books on, so I wasn't expecting much from the Durobo Krono. Turns out, it is a phenomenal e-reader.

Since I test e-readers for a living, my digital library is spread out across all different platforms. Rather than balancing a bunch of different e-readers, the Krono puts both my Kindle and Kobo libraries on one device. The only library I don't have access to is Apple Books, since it's unavailable in the Google Play Store.

The Durobo Krono is the perfect size, with a 6.13-inch display, similar to the basic Kindle. It has a matte display with 300 ppi resolution. It also has a front light with adjustable brightness and warmth.

Powered by an octa-core processor, it moves quickly between apps and books. It easily competed with the speed of both Kindles and Kobos; however, it can get bogged down. It runs the Kindle app, Libby, and Libro.fm no problem. But some apps, like Substack, slowed it down with their high internet demands. Once I deleted the Substack app, though, it got back to normal.

As someone who loves to read while listening to the audiobook, I also love that I can do both on one device. I can listen to an audiobook on Audible while reading the EPUB file alongside it. The Krono also has voice transcription and note-taking capabilities, a nice bonus feature, but not essential in an e-reader.

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If you want an e-reader that you can have on you at all times and even slip in your pocket, there are so few options out there. That's what makes the Xetink X4 so special. It's a truly tiny e-reader with a 4.3-inch display; but with a built-in magnet, it can attach to MagSafe devices so you can keep it attached to your iPhone.

In such a little package, the Xetink X4 feels like it should be a toy, but it's actually a pretty good e-reader. It's the smallest e-reader we've tested, measuring 4.3 inches, so you can slip it in your pocket and go. That small display, while convenient on the go, won't be suitable for all eyes, especially if you like to crank up the text size on your e-reader or phone.

The resolution of the Xetink X4 is 220 ppi, which is lower res than you'll find on most e-readers. It also includes page-turning buttons along the bottom of the e-reader. Xetink has a great transfer system, too. It's similar to Amazon's Send to Kindle feature, in that you can send EPUBs and articles to the e-reader. The ability to send articles is particularly compelling, so you can send your reading list to your e-reader and enjoy them in one spot.

My biggest issue with the Xetink X4 is how few files it supports, as you can't access Libby books or any DRM files on it. If you are going to commit, you'll have to be OK with reading primarily free EPUB files.

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Read our full review of the Kindle (2024).

If you want to dip your toes into e-readers, the standard Kindle model is the best budget-friendly model. Like the Paperwhite, it has 16GB of storage, with room for thousands of books. It’s the smallest Kindle, and you won’t miss the size of the Paperwhite. Instead, you’ll be delighted that it’s genuinely pocket-sized. Plus, if you want an e-reader with some flair, it’s now available in black and matcha, a vibrant light green.

After testing the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Colour, I thought I’d be ruined for the basic Kindle, but I found it to be an equally great device. It comes in a smaller package, the lightest e-reader here. Plus, the six-inch size makes it practically pocket-sized. Generally, it feels nicer to hold in my hand and bring on the go with me — exactly what I want in an e-reader.

Sure, it’s not as high-tech as the Paperwhite, but I think it’s an even better size. The screen has the exact resolution as the Paperwhite, but just a bit smaller. You lose some screen space with its plastic casing, but I didn’t mind. I liked the rimmed front design, making it easier to hold while using. It also has the bottom power button, which is far less touchy than the other Kindle models, and it was harder to turn the device on or off accidentally.

Functionally, it’s comparable to the Paperwhite. The biggest feature the standard Kindle lacks is adjustable warmth, which I worked around by using Dark Mode at night. However, the standard Kindle would be perfect if it were waterproof. That’s the biggest downside to me, as someone who needs to be able to take it to the beach.

That being said, it is the most affordable, and it's a worthy sacrifice not to have waterproofing for its $109.99 price.

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