The best e-reader of 2026 — chosen by a writer who reads on one

I read a lot. As a writer that comes with the job — but I was reading long before I published a word. Over the past years much of that reading moved to e-readers: on the train, on the sofa at night, on holiday with thirty books in a jacket pocket. This guide compares the six models that actually matter in 2026, and tells you which one I would buy depending on how you read.

Short version: for most readers the Kindle Paperwhite is the best buy. Prefer not to lock into Amazon? Choose the Kobo Libra Colour. Want the cheapest solid option? The basic Kindle. The details below explain why.

At a glance

Kindle Paperwhite — the best pick for most readers

If someone asks me which e-reader to buy, this is the answer nine times out of ten. The 7-inch screen is large enough to read comfortably and small enough to hold in one hand. Warm adjustable lighting means evening reading without that phone-screen glare. It’s waterproof, and the battery lasts weeks, not hours.

The trade-off: you’re in the Amazon ecosystem. Books come from the Kindle Store — huge and convenient — but EPUB files from elsewhere don’t transfer as easily. For novels and thrillers, that’s usually a feature, not a bug.

Best for: Anyone who wants to read a lot and make one solid choice.

Kindle (basic) — the smartest entry point

The cheapest Kindle has quietly become excellent: the same sharp screen type as the Paperwhite (300 ppi), light as a paperback, USB-C, and weeks of battery life. You give up waterproofing, warm lighting, and an inch of screen compared with the Paperwhite.

Honest advice: if the price gap with the Paperwhite doesn’t matter, take the Paperwhite. If you’re still testing whether e-reading sticks, this is the low-regret start.

Best for: Sceptics, students, and anyone trying e-reading first.

Kobo Libra Colour — freedom, colour, page-turn buttons

Kobo is the brand for readers who want freedom: EPUB files, library loans via Adobe Digital Editions, and no locked-in store. The Libra Colour adds a colour screen and physical page-turn buttons — a pleasure if you read with one hand on the train.

Colour e-ink is still a little greyer than the best black-and-white panels. For novels alone, black and white stays sharper and cheaper. For comics, magazines, or illustrated books, colour earns its keep.

Best for: Readers who want EPUB, libraries, and life outside Amazon.

Kobo Clara BW — compact Kobo without Amazon

The Clara BW is the smaller sibling: 6 inches, black and white, with a very sharp modern screen. Waterproof, light, and open to EPUB and library books — without Amazon’s store.

Choose this when you want Kobo freedom in a pocketable size and don’t need colour or physical buttons.

Best for: Travel readers who want a small open e-reader.

Kindle Scribe — large screen with a pen

The Scribe is a different kind of device: 10.2 inches, with a pen for margin notes that feel close to paper. Ideal if you annotate non-fiction or want one device for reading and handwritten notes.

It’s larger and pricier than a Paperwhite. If you only want novels in a bag, skip it.

Best for: Note-takers and non-fiction readers who annotate heavily.

Kindle Colorsoft — colour inside Kindle

If you read comics, magazines, or illustrated books and already live in Kindle, the Colorsoft is the logical step. Waterproof, long battery, and direct access to the Kindle Store.

Colour e-ink costs more and looks a shade greyer than top black-and-white screens. Pure novel readers usually don’t need it.

Best for: Kindle readers who want colour covers, comics, or marked-up study texts.

How to choose: three questions

1. Where do your books come from? Buy from a major store: Kindle. Prefer EPUB files or library loans: Kobo — Kindle does not support those protected library books the same way.

2. Black & white or colour? For novels and thrillers: black and white, always. Sharper, cheaper, longer battery. Colour is for comics and magazines.

3. How much do you want to spend? Entry model to try it out; Paperwhite or Libra Colour once you know you'll keep reading.