Whether you’re looking for a no-frills budget tablet or a high-end tablet with all the bells and whistles, here’s a roundup of the best tablets for reading digital books.
Best Tablet For Reading Books
If you love reading at the beach, by the pool, or in the bath, the Kindle Paperwhite is a tablet worth considering. It’s super light, with a flush, glare-free display that makes it ideal for reading outside. The backlight is also enough for late-night reads even if all the lights are off.
Kindle Paperwhite
You can hold the Paperwhite and flick to the next page with one hand. Plus, it’s easier to carry around in a stuffed backpack than carrying a 400-page book. Paperwhite has an IPX8 waterproof rating against accidental immersion in two meters of freshwater for up to one hour. Its battery life can go for weeks and there’s enough storage to hold up your comics, magazines, and audiobooks. You can get Paperwhite in four colors: Black, Twilight Blue, Plum, and Sage.
The Good
The Not-So-Good
No physical buttonsNo microSD slot
Kobo Libra H20
Kobo Libra H20 is a light, hand-sized tablet for reading books. It has a high-resolution display, responsive screen, and a refreshed interface that’s easy to learn and use. The Libra H20 also has a refreshed interface that’s easy to learn and use, physical page-turn buttons that press easily, and offers Pocket and Dropbox integration. It’s also waterproof, rated to IPX8, making it useful for the beach, pool, or bath. With 8GB of included storage, the Libra H20 makes it easy to store and read close to 3,000 digital books. Not only that, but the tablet also offers a broad file format support, and reduces eye strain using the integrated Comfortlight PRO backlight that adjusts to all lighting conditions.
The Good
Sturdy Reasonably pricedWaterproofPocket and Dropbox integrationBroad file format supportChoice of black or white color scheme
The Not-So-Good
Plastic shellLacks Bluetooth
Apple iPad (7th Generation)
Apple’s iPad is suitable for reading regular books, digital comics, and magazines that are full of color. It features a large display, colorful screen, and a variety of apps you can use to read digital books. While the iPad is a more expensive option than other tablets for reading, you’ll get more bang for your buck on top of the reading functionalities. You can use the iPad for light browsing, drawing with the Apple Pencil, playing games, doing a group FaceTime, or working on projects on the go. The iPad also has a large screen, Smart Keyboard support, a fast-enough processor, and Apple Pencil. The 32GB of included storage is enough considering you can stream videos and music, and store your media files in the cloud. If you plan to use your iPad for a lot more than just reading digital books though, you may want to spring for more storage.
The Good
Stellar hardware qualityLong battery lifeA wide selection of outstanding appsLarge screen
The Not-So-Good
Lacks anti-reflective screen coatingLacks True Tone display for adjusting color balance
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
If you want a multipurpose tablet from a trusted brand, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is a good choice. The Tab S3 is one of the best tablets for reading PDF documents, comics, and other digital books thanks to its large, high-resolution Super AMOLED display and long battery life. Inside the tablet is a quad-core processor with a base storage of 32GB, which is expandable to 400GB with a microSD card. You can enjoy your videos, music, and create media with the included S Pen, or attach the tablet to a keyboard and do some light work.
The Good
AffordablePlenty of premium featuresHas a microSD slotSolid performanceLong battery lifeRich and colorful displayPhysical button for navigationExpandable storage
The Not-So-Good
Dated hardware and software
Nook GlowLight 3
The Nook GlowLight 3 tablet is a great alternative to the Kindle. It’s simple, lightweight, affordable, with an extensive ebook library that holds millions of titles. The GlowLight Illumination in the tablet is powerful enough to read in the bright light of the sun, and you can switch to Night Mode for more comfortable bedtime reading. The Nook GlowLight 3 has a glare-free, scratch-resistant screen, and high-resolution display with crisper text, and enhanced contrast. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the best tablets for reading graphic novels and comics. If you want to store your digital books, the Nook GlowLight 3 comes with 8GB of internal storage, but you can still use the NOOK Cloud to store all your purchased ebooks for free. While the Nook GlowLight 3 tablet is specifically made for reading purposes, you can still access the Google Play Store on the tablet and download movies, apps, and games. If you like discussing books and getting recommendations for your favorite titles, the pre-installed Barnes and Noble Browsery app gives you access to their online community where you can interact with other readers.
The Good
Simple and LightweightOutdoor viewable displayLong battery lifeHuge libraryCan read PDFsAccess to online reader communityPhysical page-turning buttons for navigation
The Not-So-Good
Not waterproofWorks best with ePub file format
What To Look For In A Tablet For Reading Books
Curl Up With A Good Digital Book
Whether you want a basic tablet for reading books, or a more versatile tablet for multitasking, you can find the right one for your reading life. We’ve also listed the best places to find free books for kids who love to read on their mobile devices, and the best places to find audiobooks for free. Which tablet do you use to read digital books? Sound off in the comments below.
