The E-Book Reader You Need for 2020
The E-Book Reader You Need for 2020 Photo by James Tarbotton / Unsplash
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If you're looking to buy your first e-reader, you've definitely come to the right place. Maybe you're looking for an e-reader to take with you to book club, or you need to lower that ever-growing stack of books in the corner --- you know, the one currently being used as an end table. Either way, the number of options can be daunting, but we're here to make your bookworm life a little easier!

Keeping Our Reader's in Mind

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As you've probably seen in your search for the perfect e-reader, there's not only a wide range of prices but also a great variety of "bells and whistles." Between name brands and lesser-known brands, it can be difficult to determine what will be the best fit.

A few extra features can be nice, but you're likely not looking to replace your laptop, phone, or tablet with some kind of super machine that can do it all. If you want just an e-reader that's easy to use and easy on your wallet, you've come to the right place.

After reading countless reviews and sifting through unnecessary fluff and gimmicks, we've pulled the perfect e-reader off the shelf.

The Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation

Features

The Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation has consistently been topping the charts as one of the top e-readers for this year. It's lighter and thinner than previous generations with a more modern design. It's extremely lightweight, and you should have no issues using it for hours on end.

It has a signature 300 PPI, glare-free Paperwhite display with crisp, customizable text that will help spare your eyes from unnecessary strain. Text can be adjusted by size and font, which is incredibly convenient (and fun if you're into customizing.)

The five built-in LED lights make pages bright for low-light environments, perfect for late-night readers.

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This generation is waterproof in up to 2 meters of water for up to 60 minutes, making it perfect for those days lounging at the lake or pool (especially if you drop it!) The Kindle Paperwhite also offers Audible compatibility and allows for a smooth transition from reading to listening via Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones.

Like most e-readers, the Kindle Paperwhite is compatible with Wi-fi, but with the added bonus of Wi-fi + free connectivity. This uses the same wireless signals as mobile carriers with no monthly fees or contracts, as Amazon pays for cellular connectivity. It comes with two storage capacities: 8 GB or 32 GB.

For about $30 more, we recommend splurging to get the bigger hard-drive, which will let you have hundreds -- if not thousands -- of books on hand. Nothing is more infuriating than running out of storage space.

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Bluetooth speaker or headphone compatible
  • Touch screen
  • Charges pretty fast

Cons

  • No headphone jack
  • Requires enabling airplane mode when not using the Wi-fi to really lengthen the battery life.
  • Reportedly does not support listening to an audiobook and reading along at the same time.

Reviews

With 71% of reviewers giving the Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation a 5-star review, it's one of the highest-rated readers. On top of that, it's super affordable and can fit comfortably into most budgets. Its overall 4.4-star rating makes it a sound purchase for someone who wants a simple but durable e-reader.

eReader Buyer's Guide

As consumers, we know that the most expensive or brand-name product is not always the best. It takes deliberate research and understanding of your needs to find whether or not something is a good fit. In this case, you aren't buying another smart device to surf the web or watch cat videos online. This e-reader is good for one thing, reading books, and man is it good for that.

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Comfort

An e-reader generally should be able to sustain a long battery life for many hours of high-octane reading action. At a minimum, an e-reader should run for 8 hours on a single charge, but most will run for up to a week, including the Kindle Paperwhite.

The shape of the Kindle is sure to fit wonderfully in your hands, making for a relaxing long-term reading experience.

Pricing

There's no limit to the money that you could spend on an e-reader, but there's not a whole lot of reason to shell out too much money, so pay attention to your budget. At $129.99 for the 8GB and 159.99 for the 32GB, the Kindle Paperwhite should be affordable enough not to feel buyer's remorse!

Our Verdict on Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, 10th generation

The Kindle Paperwhite 10th edition adds a whole new chapter to your reading experience. It's the best e-reader on the market, plain and simple. Whether you're getting it as a gift for a family member or a present for yourself, it offers great bang for your buck. If you want to read beside the fire or take it with you on your next beach trip, this e-reader is the perfect book buddy.