Do you like reading? Can't spend a day without fiction or do you prefer magazines? Now it is not at all necessary to carry books with you, because a whole library with a huge, almost unlimited number of volumes can fit in your bag or pocket, thanks to the so-called "reading room". To figure out how to choose an e-book is quite simple, the main thing is that it meets your expectations on all points: autonomy, convenience, support for popular formats?
Manufacturers offer many models based on different technologies. It is very easy to decide which one is better to choose a reader, the main thing is to understand what basic characteristics you should pay attention to so as not to overpay for unnecessary functions. Read also ranking of the best e-books in 2020
Content
Budget
When choosing an e-book for yourself, start, first of all, from the finances allocated for it. But do not forget that it is better to spend a little on a really high-quality model than regret buying a cheap reader in a week. The process of choosing and purchasing an e-book is very similar to buying a smartphone or tablet: it is recommended to give preference to a more well-known manufacturer, since such companies closely monitor the quality of products, listen to the wishes of buyers and worry about their reputation.
Choosing an e-book by the main parameters
You can buy an inexpensive, but high-quality book for reading by carefully studying its most important characteristics, such as:
- diagonal and screen resolution
- display type
- built-in backlight
- amount of memory
- availability of interfaces (USB, SD-card slot, audio jack, Wi-Fi)
- support for popular formats
- battery capacity
- control type
Which company to give preference to depends on your budget and requirements for the e-book, but it is worth noting the quality devices from manufacturers such as Onyx, Amazon, Ritmix, Tesla and PocketBook. Their assortment includes both budget and multifunctional models.
Display size
When choosing a good quality e-book reader, first of all, we recommend focusing on the display diagonal, on which the dimensions of the device depend - choose the model that is most convenient for you. The diagonal of the screen can vary from 4 to 10 inches. The smaller the device, the more compact and lighter in weight it is. However, a screen that is too small has a negative effect on vision - the eyes strain much more when trying to see the text on it. Large ten-inch books are more suitable for home use due to their size and weight.
We recommend taking a closer look at models with an average diagonal of 6-7 inches. They are lightweight, compact, comfortable, and most of all resemble an ordinary printed book.
Screen type
By screen type, devices are divided into two categories:
- With electronic ink
- With liquid crystal display (LCD)
Electronic ink devices (E-Ink) are best suited for fans of classic reading. According to experts, the image on such a display looks completely different compared to an LCD, and it affects the vision much less, imitating a page of a paper book, therefore it is best suited for an elderly person, a child or a lover of paper books.These models also have other advantages: high autonomy, compactness, low weight. Remember that this screen displays only gray tones.
A gadget with an LCD display (LCD, TFT) looks more like a tablet. The color screen provides an opportunity not only to read books, but also to watch pictures, photos, videos. If you like literature with colorful illustrations, then you cannot do without such a reading room. The high power consumption is worth noting, so be prepared for regular recharging.
Consider the fact that when reading a reader with an LCD display, the load on the eyes is much higher than from E-Ink.
Screen resolution
It is very important to pay attention to the screen resolution, especially when choosing an e-book for a student, since the image quality on the display depends on this parameter. Resolution is especially important for liquid crystal displays. The higher the resolution, the better - according to user reviews, it should match the diagonal:
- 4-5 inches - 800 by 600 pixels
- 6-7 inches - 1024 by 758 pixels
- 8 inches and above - 1600 by 1200 pixels
Built-in backlight
If you decide to buy an inexpensive but good e-book for a student or student, find out if it has a built-in backlight feature. This is especially important if you are most likely to read in the dark, such as before bed. Most often these are liquid crystal models.
E-Ink devices, as a rule, are not equipped with such a function, so you can read either in natural light or with the lamp on. There is another solution - to purchase a special lamp for the device, which is attached to it and illuminates the display.
Memory
The amount of built-in memory depends on how many e-books and other files you can store in the device. The most common options are 2 or 4 GB. Considering that files are usually very small, 2 GB is enough to store more than 1000 e-books, so for reading it is better to buy an e-book with such a volume or even less.
If we are talking about a device with a color display on which you plan to watch multimedia content, then 2 GB will not be enough. There are two options: buy a model with 4 GB of memory or higher, or get a 16 or 32 GB memory card (a microSD slot is present in almost all readers).
Interfaces
All connectors that extend the functionality and capabilities of the device belong to the reader's interfaces. One thing has already been mentioned above - a slot for a microSD memory card. To connect the reader to a computer, a USB input is required. This will allow you to upload files for reading. Another way is to download literature directly from the Internet into the device's memory using the Wi-Fi module, but it is not provided in all models.
If the device supports audio formats, then it must have a headphone jack, and maybe not even one.
Battery capacity
Battery capacity is perhaps one of the most important parameters - few people will like it if the e-reader runs out of power on the road or has to be charged every day. The higher the capacity indicator, the more autonomous work. According to the advice of experts, if autonomy is in the first place for you, then the battery capacity should be at least 2500 mAh. Mostly you read at home, and the model itself is small in size - you can limit yourself to 950 mAh.
When choosing a battery, you need to build on the type of screen manufacture and its size. For the LCD display, choose a battery that is more powerful, for electronic ink, a small capacity is enough.
Formats
An e-book is a file in a certain format, and according to thematic forums, the most popular among them are:
- FB2
- EPUB
- DOC
- TXT
- DJVU
It is important that the e-book you choose supports these formats, although almost all devices are able to recognize a large number of files with different resolutions. Very often, files are packed into .zip or .rar archives. This can be a problem if the reader does not have a built-in archiver. However, you can unpack the archive in advance, for example, using a PC.
Some models are equipped with graphic and audio format recognition functions.These are most often readers with an LCD display. If you love audiobooks, this feature comes in handy.
Control
Electronic books can be equipped with one of two types of control - mechanical or touch. Mechanical control is realized in the form of buttons, joystick or keys. This option is considered more durable and reliable. It is better to give it preference if you are going to just read your favorite works of art.
A touch-sensitive device is suitable for those who occasionally make notes in the text, make changes, and more. Keep in mind that the sensor is less durable and breaks more frequently.
Rating of the best e-books 2020
Buying a reader is not worth saving, and choosing only a trusted manufacturer who monitors the quality of their products. Considering budget models, you should understand that the quality of the screen and additional functions may not meet your requirements, and to prevent this from happening, we decided to present our rating of the best models of e-books that are beyond doubt in terms of price and quality in 2020. You will only have to decide on the amount that you are ready to spend on this device.
Best e-books with e-ink 2020
- PocketBook 626 Plus Touch Lux 3
- PocketBook 615 Plus
- Reader Book 2
- PocketBook 840-2 InkPad 2
- Barnes & noble nook simple touch
- PocketBook 641 (Aqua 2)
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
- PocketBook 615
- ONYX BOOX Columbus 2
The best model in terms of quality and functionality for 2020
PocketBook 641 (Aqua 2) is a waterproof waterproof reader with a backlit screen from the leader of the Russian e-book market (about 2/3 of all readers sold in Russia).
The only reader in the world with 100% protection against water ingress into the case. The latest generation E Ink Carta display allows you to read in bright sunlight during the day, while eye-safe backlighting in low light. The rugged case makes it possible to use the reader in almost any environment - even on the beach, in the kitchen at breakfast or lying in the bathroom. In this case, accidental dirt (for example, spilled coffee) can be easily washed off with water under the tap - and immediately continue reading.
PocketBook 641, like all pocketbooks, is distinguished by its omnivorous nature - it reads any electronic book formats without the need to convert. The high quality of PocketBook devices is evidenced by the fact that the manufacturer gives them not one standard year of warranty, like all other manufacturers, but two whole years. Or even three years - if you buy from the PocketBook branded online store.
We recommend watching a video about modern readers:
Conclusion
Many people are sure that e-books have long faded into the background due to the advent of tablet computers, because it is enough to install a good reading application, and no reader is needed anymore. The main advantage of the reader is the high quality of the display, as well as its features that make the reading process more comfortable, pleasant and not so harmful to the eyes. We hope you figured out how to choose a good e-book, what characteristics you must look at, and which ones are secondary. With the right choice of a reader, no tablet can compare with it in terms of usability and autonomy.
