


If you need to read more than books, tablets with color screens offer many other benefits. Frequent, startling screen flashes are really a thing of the past. If you haven't updated your ebook reader in many years, you might be stunned by how much more responsive the latest E Ink readers feel. Amazon's latest Kindles and Kobo's Libra 2 go one step further with Carta 1200 technology, which enables faster page turns and even better contrast. Some older Kindles use 167ppi displays that look rough and jaggy compared with the 300ppi displays on more modern models. Screen resolutions and quality also vary. We've found that you start to have balance issues with one-handed reading at a screen size above 7 inches. Most E Ink readers in the past had 6-inch screens, but the panel sizes are slowly growing: The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Libra 2 have 7-inch displays, the Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch screen, and Onyx sells larger-format models up to 13.3 inches. In all cases, E Ink is much easier to read in bright sunlight, while glossy color touch screens on tablets tend to wash out and show distracting reflections. On the lowest settings, you can read in the dark while your partner sleeps undisturbed next to you. You can often change the brightness level from barely there to flashlight-bright. But most ebook readers now include edge lighting that lets you see in the dark. On the least expensive models it's not backlit, so you need a light to see the text, just as you would with a printed book. E Ink, or digital ink (often manufactured by the E Ink company), looks a lot like paper, but it's easier on your eyes for reading over long periods. What's the Best eReader Screen Type and Size?īasic ebook readers use monochrome E Ink screens to display text.
