Of the two platforms, Amazon has substantially better accessibility tools. The checkout process is slightly clumsy, though-from the phone app you “send” the book to your Kindle, whereas with Kobo, the process all happens on the device itself. The app can accept multiple library cards from multiple libraries, an advantage over devices sold by main competitor Kobo. To check out ebooks from libraries to read on the Kindle, you use the Libby app on your smartphone. You can also subscribe to the Kindle Unlimited program, which gives you all the books you can read for a flat fee. epub file format, so you can add books bought on other platforms to a Kindle. Plus, Amazon has recently widened support for the common. The big draw of any Kindle is access to what is arguably the largest existing ebook platform in the world. The kids’ Kindle has no ads out of the box and a better warranty than the standard model: a two years “worry-free” guarantee compared with the adult version’s one-year “limited” warranty. For one thing, to turn off ads on the standard Kindle’s lock screen, you pay an extra $20, wiping out the savings already.

The reason to choose the kids’ edition over the adult version is that while it costs about $20 more than the basic Kindle, it gives you way more than $20 worth of extras. It has a 6-inch screen that’s bright, sharp and easy to read on, and it uses USB-C for charging, which is more future proof than the older Micro-USB that’s still found on a couple of models we looked at. It might seem surprising to choose a children’s device from Amazon’s broad Kindle e-reader lineup, but if you want to read within the Amazon ecosystem, the Kindle Kids offers a bevy of useful features at a reasonable price. It’s comfortable to read on, offers powerful accessibility features and has a stellar warranty. The Kindle Kids has the best blend of features and price, no matter your age. If you’d like to read how we vetted and tested these e-readers, scroll down for all the details. But if Amazon’s not for you, we have recommendations for Kobo and other platforms too.

Our top choice, the Amazon Kindle Kids (yes, even for adult readers), is the ideal combination of price, ecosystem, size and ease of use. (Barnes & Noble’s Nook is miles behind in functionality.) The more pressing question is Amazon or Kobo? They’re essentially the only players left in the game if you want decent bookstore integration and a significant level of technical support. And since most models are now water resistant, they’ll survive a trip to the beach too.Ĭhoosing the best ebook reader isn’t really a matter of weighing the features, because most of them are pretty decent. They’re as easy to read in bright sunlight as they are in bed at 2 a.m. Their battery life is measured in weeks, not days. The devices can store thousands of books, including library loans. Whether you read a book a month or plow through three in a week, an ebook reader is a handy companion.

Kobo aura one best buy