Best Reviewed
eBook Readers
- Best e-book reader Amazon Kindle *Est. $110
- Best touchscreen e-book reader Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch *Est. $100
- Color e-book reader Barnes & Noble Nook Color *Est. $200
- Tablet computer/e-book reader Apple iPad 2 *Est. $500
- Best iPhone e-reader app Stanza *Est. $0
Get info about new reports and updates
Best e-book reader
- Outclasses rivals and costs less
- Easy to read, even in direct sunlight
- Slim and light
- Large e-bookstore
- Battery lasts for weeks between charges
- Improved PDF viewing
- No built-in lighting
- Limited mostly to Amazon books
- Can't read ePub library books
- Integrated web browser is a bit clunky
- Page flip buttons could be bigger
The Amazon Kindle e-book reader was already a favorite among critics, and reviews say its latest updates make it even better. Compared with the old Kindle -- and its closest rival, the Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch (*Est. $100) -- the new Kindle is slimmer and lighter, with a sharper E Ink screen that's easier to see in mediocre light, a better battery (you can read for up to a month between charges, if you turn off wireless) and a very low price, especially if you choose the ad-supported Special Offers version (*Est. $80). You purchase and download books wirelessly from the enormous Amazon e-bookstore, although only Wi-Fi is available in the base Kindle. Navigation is handled via buttons beneath the screen. Reviewers say they perform well, but the page forward and page back buttons would be improved by a slight increase in size. The more expensive Kindle Keyboard (*Est. $100 and up) or Kindle Keyboard with Special Offers (*Est. $100), and Kindle Touch (*Est. $150) or Kindle Touch with Special Offers (*Est. $100) offer different interfaces, audio capabilities and twice the memory. Users can also get those step-up models with 3G capabilities, and free 3G connectivity, for $40 more.
The Kindle has an integrated web browser, but experts say it's unimpressive; if you want to read and browse online, reviews say the Apple iPad (*Est. $500 and up) tablet computer is your best bet. The Kindle's main drawback in reviews is its limited file support; the widely used ePub files cannot be read without converting the files. So while it's fast and convenient to download e-books from Amazon.com, Kindle owners have few other places to conveniently download books, although library and Kindle-to-Kindle lending are now included in the device. Amazon has also begun a program allowing owners of Kindle readers to borrow one book per month from its Lending Library, but the number of participating publishers is limited and you must also be a member of the site's Amazon Prime program (*Est. $80 per year). Also, while testers say the Kindle's new 16-shade grayscale screen renders type and pictures clearly and beautifully, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color (*Est. $200) impresses critics with its full-color touchscreen.
The most up-to-date Amazon Kindle reviews are from September 2011 or later, covering the latest version. ConsumerReports.org includes this Kindle version in its latest e-reader rankings. Other recent and thorough reviews of the Kindle can be found at Laptop Magazine, CNET, PCMag.com, Wired and Engadget.com. Britain's Pocket-Lint.com and TrustedReviews.com offer their opinions as well
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Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
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Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
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| Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers | |
(35,674 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org includes various versions of the latest Amazon Kindle in its current eReader report. Testing is done, and ratings provided, but discussion is on the short side.
Review: E-book Readers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
This very thorough and lengthy review includes lots of illustrations and a dissection of almost every aspect of the e-book reader. "What's not to like?" reviewer Anna Attkisson asks, then answers her own question. "Just the lack of a usable keyboard and tiny page turn buttons." As such, the Kindle Keyboard scores slightly higher with the publication.
Review: Amazon Kindle eReader (2011) Review, Anna Attkisson, Oct. 11, 2011
3. CNET
David Carnoy runs through the Amazon Kindle's design, features, display technology, specifications and performance in a direct, no-nonsense manner. The result is a balanced, thorough and nicely comparative review, complemented by photographs of the Amazon e-reader and a brief video overview. An overall rating allows for comparison to other e-readers. He finds typing "cumbersome" due to the lack of a keyboard or touchscreen interface, but still gives the Amazon Kindle a "Very Good" rating and a space on the publication's list of the top e-book readers.
Review: Amazon Kindle 2011 (with Special Offers, Wi-Fi), David Carnoy, Sept 29, 2011
The Amazon Kindle wins the Editors' Choice award for best e-reader at PCMag.com, supplanting the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch. It's smaller, faster and lighter than before – at a lower price. Jamie Lendino wishes there was ePub support and a memory card slot, but otherwise comes away very impressed. "If you don't need a touchscreen or hardware keyboard, and just want to read books, there's little reason to pay more," he writes.
Review: Amazon Kindle (2011), Jamie Lendino, Oct. 11, 2011
Wired's Michael Calore is bothered by the lack of a keyboard more than most other reviewers, finding it difficult to type much of anything on the e-reader. He recommends the Kindle Touch or Kindle Keyboard over the base model because of their improved interfaces. In every other aspect, he's fairly happy with the Amazon Kindle, though. "However, as an e-book reader, this new Kindle has everything else you'd want," he writes. "It's lighter, faster, cheaper, and easier to carry around."
Review: Amazon Kindle: Look, But Don't Touch, Michael Calore, Oct. 11, 2011
6. Engadget.com
Brian Heater covers the Amazon Kindle in Engadget.com's typical in-depth fashion. He finds the e-book reader "snappy" and easy to read, and while he bemoans the lack of a better keyboard interface and other bells and whistles, Heater says it is still a very good e-reader overall --especially for less than $100.
Review: Amazon Kindle Review (2011), Brian Heater, Oct. 3, 2011
Harris finds the Amazon Kindle lighter, faster and smaller than previous models, and loves the inclusion of library lending. Like others, he misses the keyboard, but isn't as bothered by it as some. The combination of strong performance and a low price wins him over. "Amazon must be congratulated for creating the perfect e-book reader for today's hard times," he writes, giving the e-book reader a 4.5 (out of 5) star rating.
Review: Amazon Kindle (2011) Review, Mark Harris, Sept. 30, 2011
Andrew Williams' review of the Amazon Kindle is exhaustive, with three pages of hands-on testing, a comparison against the previous model, and a video review of the device. He gives the Kindle a score of 9 out of 10. "It misses out on a handful of periphery features, like MP3 playback, but as a device to simply read books and newspapers on, it can't be beaten for under £100," he writes. "Or at any price, in fact."
Review: Amazon Kindle 2011 Review, Andrew Williams, Oct. 12, 2011
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