11 best e-books

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

E-books are more convenient for reading text than tablets. These devices are equipped with an e-Ink screen. Even with prolonged reading from it, the eyes do not strain – they are as comfortable as when viewing text on plain paper.

In addition, e-books have a long battery life of up to 2-3 months and weigh up to 300 grams.

We have compiled a rating of 11 e-book models that will undoubtedly delight readers.

How to choose an e-book: main features

Its practicality and convenience depend on the technical characteristics of an electronic book. And therefore, when choosing such a device, you should pay attention to:

1. Screen type;

2. Compatible file formats;

3. Control method;

4. Additional functions.

Screen type

E-books on the market can be roughly divided into two groups – equipped with an LCD screen and with an e-Ink matrix. The convenience and autonomy of the device depends on the technology used in the display.

1. E-books of the budget price segment are usually equipped with TF or TFT-matrix. However, LCD also occur. These types of sensors are dull, with large and noticeable pixels, and low details. Reading from such screens leads to eye fatigue due to eye strain.

2. Models of the middle price segment are usually equipped with an IPS matrix. It realistically conveys colors and shades, saturates them, makes images deep. The contrast ratio of such a matrix is ​​1000: 1, so the text is easy and pleasant to read. The disadvantages of IPS matrices are their 'gluttony' and excessive eye strain. The first leads to a quick discharge of the e-book, and the second leads to fatigue of the eyes, reddening of the corneas, dryness and unpleasant sensations (caused by the fact that the display is very bright and the light 'hits' right in the face).

3. The e-Ink matrix is ​​usually installed in devices of the middle and top price segments. It is black and white, with a contrast ratio ranging from 350: 1 to 500: 1, depending on the manufacturer. The matrix does not have its own backlight, so the eye strain is minimal – as when reading from plain paper. In addition, it does not consume battery power when the 'picture' is displayed – only when it is changed. This means that the battery life of the e-book is increased to 2-3 months.

The disadvantages of e-Ink are its high cost, as well as the unpleasant 'flickering' effect when changing images (for example, turning pages).

However, it is recommended to purchase a model with an e-Ink screen.

Compatible file formats

The more file formats the e-book supports, the better. The minimum required TXT, RTF, FB2 and EPUB – it is in them that the publications published on the Internet are converted. Models with many pictures, as well as magazines and scanned documents are packed in PDF and DJVU. Comics – CDR. Office documents and some e-books recognized after scanning with OCR – in DOC and DOCX formats, as well as ODT.

The rest of the formats are rare.

If you plan to listen to music or audiobooks from your device, you should purchase a model that supports MP3, AAC and OGG formats.

Control method

E-books come with a touchscreen display and mechanical buttons. And the first option is not the most useful solution. The touch screen will drain the battery quickly and cause accidental clicks.

Mechanical buttons are more convenient, although they take up more space on the device. Models with this control method are recommended for purchase.

Additional functions

Additional features that may be useful include:

1. Wi-Fi connection is required for downloading e-books and using special libraries by subscription;

2. The backlight of the e-Ink display is designed for reading in the dark;

3. The built-in dictionary will help you read literature in foreign languages.

4. Additional features are useful but not required.

Manufacturers

Perhaps the best manufacturer of e-books is PocketBook, which invented these devices. In addition, we have included models from Sony, Onyx Book, Reader, Tesla and Amazon.

Rating of the best e-books

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best inexpensive e-books (budget up to RUB 6000)	1	Sony PRS-900 Daily Edition	RUB 6,990
	2	Onyx Boox Vasco da Gama 2	RUB 5,990
	3	PocketBook 614 Plus	6 640 RUB
	4	Reader Book 2	RUB 5,299
The best e-books with a 6-7 inch screen	1	PocketBook 631 Touch HD	RUB 12 490
	2	Onyx Boox Cleopatra 3	RUB 14,990
	3	PocketBook 641 Aqua 3	RUB 9,514
The best e-books with 8-10 inches screen	1	Onyx Boox Chronos	RUB 19,990
	2	Tesla Logos	RUB 13,690
	3	Amazon Kindle DX	RUB 22,990
The best big screen e-books	1	Onyx boox max	43 120 RUB

The best inexpensive e-books (budget up to RUB 6000)

Sony PRS-900 Daily Edition

Rating: 4.8

Why first place: 7.1-inch e-reader with e-Ink touch screen.

Description: The rating opens with an e-book Sony PRS-900 Daily Edition with a 7.1-inch screen made using e-Ink Vizplex technology, which is complemented by a touch-sensitive coating. This makes page flipping and menu navigation easy. The touchscreen display is low power, so you can turn 12,000 pages of battery power.

The internal memory of the device is 1.75 GB. This is enough for several hundred e-books. In addition, the device is equipped with a slot for microSD memory cards.

The model supports TXT, DOC and RTF documents, as well as PDF and EPUB. Graphics and music files are also played.

Advantages

• Large, touchscreen display made using e-Ink technology;

• The battery is enough for displaying 12000 pages;

• Tight assembly without creaks or crevices;

disadvantages

• Glossy display without backlight;

• Inconvenient copying of books from a computer through a complete program;

• Doesn't support FB2;

Onyx Boox Vasco da Gama 2

Rating: 4.7

Why second place: 6-inch e-Ink Carta screen with touch control and backlight, but the book itself runs on the operating system Android.

Description: Onyx Boox Vasco da Gama 2 combines the advantages of classic e-books with the features of tablets on the operating system Android. It is equipped with a 6-inch touchscreen made using e-Ink Carta technology, with Moon Light soft backlighting and a pixel density of 212 ppi.

The internal memory of the device is 8 GB, but most of it is occupied by files Android. A microSD card slot is available. The device connects to the computer as an MTP device, so you can copy new files to it directly in Explorer.

Out of the box, the model supports common text and image file formats, including DOC, TXT, FB2 and PDF. Additionally, you can install applications from the Play Store that support other types of documents.

The battery capacity is 3000 mAh, which is enough for 25 hours of operation with a backlit display. The model is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for connecting to the Internet and downloading applications.

Advantages

• Screen with soft backlight and Snow Field contrast enhancement mode;

• Extensible functionality due to application support for Android;

• 8 GB of permanent memory;

disadvantages

• Low battery life due to the operating system Android;

• Uneven backlighting;

• Setting up an e-book can be inconvenient because of the e-Ink screen;

PocketBook 614 Plus

Rating: 4.6

Why third place: Non-touch 6-inch screen with 800×600 pixels, but Carta screen and solid body.

Description: The device from the company that created the 'e-books' – PocketBook – takes the third place in the rating, because in terms of functionality it is noticeably inferior to other models. It is equipped with a 6-inch Carta e-Ink screen with a snow-white contrasting background and a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels. The display is not touch-sensitive; physical buttons are used to control the model. There is also no backlight.

The built-in memory is 8 GB, which is enough for several thousand files. The device displays text and graphic files in TXT, DOC, FB2, RTF, EPUB, PDF and many others. Memory cards are also supported by the book.

Built-in battery capacity – 1300 mAh. This is enough for 1-2 weeks of battery life with active use.

Advantages

• Reliable build and durable body;

• 8 GB of internal memory and support for microSD;

• Fast flashing and support for the most common file formats;

disadvantages

• No backlight;

• Non-touch display;

• Low screen resolution, which makes images appear too 'pixelated';

Reader Book 2

Rating: 4.5

Why the fourth place: E-book with 6-inch screen e-Ink Pearl.

Description: The e-book Reader Book 2, which is equipped with an e-Ink Pearl display, closes the rating. It is equipped with a 'pearlescent' backing that does not strain the eyes, but at the same time has a low contrast. The screen is 6-inch, with a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels and a capacitive touch panel.

Internal memory – 4 GB. The device is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for downloading documents from the network. Support for memory cards is available. The model is compatible with TXT, DOC, FB2, RTF and many others, including archives and CHM reference files.

The device is equipped with a 1000 mAh battery, which provides up to 1-2 weeks of battery life with regular use.

Advantages

• Laconic design and user-friendly interface of the “reader”;

• Weight is only 140 grams;

• Compatible with PDF and DJVU formats;

disadvantages

• Cheap, fragile body materials;

• Poor build quality;

• Slow interface;

The best e-books with a 6-7 inch screen

PocketBook 631 Touch HD

Rating: 4.9

Why the first place: E-book from PocketBook with a 6-inch touch screen e-Ink Carta with backlight and a resolution of 1448 × 1072 pixels.

Description: The flagship e-book PocketBook 631 Touch HD won the first place in the rating thanks to its display. It is made using e-Ink Carta technology with a snow-white backing and maximum contrast. The display also has a resolution of 1448 × 1072 pixels, which provides smooth and detailed images; Equipped with a touch layer and soft uniform backlighting.

Built-in memory – 8 GB. A microSD card slot is available. The Wi-Fi module is also, and it is designed to sync the library via Dropbox. The device supports almost all e-book formats and can play music in MP3 files.

The model is equipped with a 1500 mAh battery, which provides up to 1-2 weeks of battery life with active Wi-Fi.

Advantages

• High resolution e-Ink Carta screen;

• Supports most file formats and Dropbox sync;

• Adaptive backlighting;

disadvantages

• Works slowly, especially when navigating the interface;

• Problems with the speed of work on some firmware;

• Few settings;

Onyx Boox Cleopatra 3

Rating: 4.8

Why second place: An e-book with a high-resolution e-Ink Carta screen, but with Android and more expensive than its predecessor.

Description: The Onyx Boox Cleopatra 3 e-book is an excellent competitor for the leader of the rating. The device is equipped with a 6.8-inch touchscreen display made using e-Ink Carta technology with a snow-white substrate and a high resolution of 1440 × 1080 pixels, as well as with backlighting.

The device is based on the operating system Android, which expands its functionality due to the ability to download additional programs from the Google Play Store. Out of the box, the book is compatible with almost all text and image file formats, including FB2, PDF and EPUB.

Built-in memory is 8 GB, but some of them are occupied by the operating system and additional files. MicroSD card slot available. The device connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi, a module Bluetooth is also available. A 1700 mAh battery is enough to display 10,000 pages.

Advantages

• High resolution e-Ink Carta screen;

• High performance;

• Refreshing the picture with non-conspicuous flicker;

disadvantages

• Inconvenient, not optimized for electronic paper firmware;

• High cost;

• Android leads to reduced autonomy;

PocketBook 641 Aqua 3

Rating: 4.8

Why third place: PocketBook e-book, but with a lower screen resolution than its predecessors.

Description: The e-book PocketBook 641 Aqua 3 has the lowest screen resolution in this segment of the rating. It is 1024 × 758 pixels at 6 inches diagonal. Nevertheless, it is sufficient for comfortable reading and viewing of graphic files. The display is made using e-Ink Carta technology with a snow-white backing and high contrast, complemented by a touch layer and backlight.

The model supports almost all file formats, including FB2, PDF, EPUB and MOBI. CHM images and guides are also reproduced. Built-in memory – 8 GB, there is a slot for memory cards and Wi-Fi support for synchronization via Dropbox.

The built-in battery of the device has a capacity of 1500 mAh. It will last for 1-2 weeks of battery life.

Advantages

• High-quality display;

• Wi-Fi with reliable connection;

• Tight assembly, waterproof case, materials pleasant to the touch;

disadvantages

• Slow startup and not very smooth interface;

• 1-2 weeks of battery life;

• Not always successful firmware versions;

The best e-books with 8-10 inches screen

Onyx Boox Chronos

Rating: 4.9

Why first place: Multifunctional e-book based Android with e-Ink Carta screen.

Description: Like the rest of the Onyx Boox e-books, the Chronos model is based on the operating system Android. The model is equipped with a 9.7-inch screen made using e-Ink Carta technology with a touch layer and backlight. The display resolution is 1200 × 825 pixels.

The model supports most of the file formats. Additionally, you can install 'readers' for exotic types from the Play Store. The internal memory of the device is 8 GB, but some of it is occupied by the OS Android and service files. MicroSD cards are supported. Wi-Fi and cloud sync are available.

The model is equipped with a 3000 mAh battery, which is enough for 2-3 weeks of battery life with daily use.

Advantages

• E-Ink Carta screen with high contrast and built-in backlight;

• Protective case included;

• Solid metal body;

disadvantages

• Comparatively short battery life due to OS Android;

• Low screen resolution with such a diagonal;

• Relatively heavy

Tesla Logos

Rating: 4.8

Why runner-up: A budget e-book with e-Ink Carta, backlighting and touch input, but not always a good build.

Description: The Tesla Logos e-book is equipped with a high-resolution e-Ink Carta screen – with a diagonal of 7.8 inches, it is 1872 × 1404 pixels and a dot density of 300 ppi. The display is touch-sensitive, supplemented by backlighting. The book itself, like the Onyx Book models often found in the ranking, runs on an operating system Android with a special interface.

The book out of the box supports most of the popular file formats and a few exotic ones, including TAR and TCR. But to read DJVU or EPUB you will have to install additional software from the Play Store. Built-in memory – 16 GB, there is no microSD card slot. There is a Wi-Fi module, you need to enter the Play Store and cloud library synchronization.

Built-in battery capacity – 2800 mAh. This is enough for 2-3 weeks of work.

Advantages

• High-resolution backlit e-Ink Carta screen;

• Good quality Wi-Fi connection;

• A lot of permanent memory;

disadvantages

• Not always good build quality;

• Uneven display backlighting;

• Relatively low screen clarity due to font smoothing;

Amazon Kindle DX

Rating: 4.7

Why third place: An e-reader with a QWERTY keyboard and an e-Ink Pearl screen, but no backlight.

Description: Ranking the best e-books without a device from Amazon is a pointless exercise. The Kindle DX offers a large and comfortable 9.7-inch e-Ink Pearl screen with a resolution of 1200 x 824 pixels. The backlight and sensor layer, however, no. But the book has a built-in module of unlimited 3G Internet for downloading new documents from Amazon.

The device is compatible with most formats, however FB2, EPUB and DJVU are not supported. Can play MP3 music. Built-in memory – 4 GB, there is no microSD slot.

The built-in battery lasts for 4-5 weeks of autonomous work without shutdown and with daily use.

Advantages

• High performance;

• E-Ink Pearl screen with minimal eye strain;

• 3G for downloading books from Amazon;

disadvantages

• No backlight, no touchscreen;

• There is no Russian language in the interface, but it copes with encodings;

• Doesn't support FB2 and EPUB;

The best big screen e-books

Onyx boox max

Rating: 4.9

Why first place: An e-book reader with a 13.3-inch e-Ink Carta screen and support for stylus input.

Description: Onyx Boox Max is an e-book with the largest screen not only in our rating, but also in the world. The device is equipped with a display with a diagonal of 13.3 inches, made using e-Ink Carta technology. The display resolution is 1600 × 1200 pixels. There is a touch layer, and a stylus is included with the book, which simplifies the work with the interface.

The device, like other models from Onyx Boox, runs on an adapted version Android. The operating system out of the box supports almost all file formats, and to open exotic you can download the program from the Play Store. Built-in memory – 16 GB, there is a slot for microSD, WI-Fi too. The device has a built-in mail client and dictionaries.

The device is equipped with a 4100 mAh battery, the charge of which is enough to display 20,000 pages.

Advantages

• E-Ink Carta screen with high contrast and backlight;

• Built-in dictionary and email client;

• 16 GB of internal memory;

disadvantages

• High cost;

• There are versions with e-Ink Pearl;

• The complete cover collects dust;

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.