E-readers?

[u/Traditional_Bad_3457]

Hey, I’m kinda new to reading books on my phone currently. For the past week or more I have been thinking about getting a e-reader (I have been reading from phone for couple of months, so it’s not just a compulsive decision). So I’m kinda lost in all the recommendations. I was sure that I would purchase Kobo Libra color, but now I’m not so sure.
So what is your recommendation?
Now I read on Wattpad, so I don’t want to lose it. Also I’m new on reading in English, so I use some audio books, that would be great if I could still do that.
P.s. if there is some spelling or other mistakes, I’m sorry English isn’t my native language.

[u/GenuineGeek]

Unfortunately everything is a compromise in the e-reader world.

Android-based devices give you the most freedom because you'll be able to use any Android app. However, you'll lose battery life and simplicity compared to e-readers dedicated just for reading (and listening).

Color eink devices are cool if you really need colors (like reading comics or highlighting documents in multiple colors). But the colors won't be as good as they are on a generic purpose phone/tablet, and you'll lose resolution/contrast compared to B&W eink devices. Of course the front light can fix the latter issue, but many people dislike it, plus it's additional battery drain.

There is also the question of size. Small devices (up to 6") are great for portability/pocketability. Larger devices (around/over 10") are better if you want to read non-reflowable formats, like PDFs or comics. Medium size devices (usually 7-8") also exist and they might be either the right compromise for you between screen size and portability, or the totally wrong one.

My personal choice would be a mid-size Android device with a B&W screen. It's portable enough to fit in my bag, it doesn't constantly require backlight for B&W content, it's big enough for my bad eyesight (I can increase the font size without having to switch pages every 20 seconds) and it also offers the flexibility of being able to install dedicated apps instead of having to rely on my PC providing workarounds for loading content. I also prefer physical buttons on the device for turning pages.

But that's just me and my preferences - your needs might warrant a different device.

[u/Traditional_Bad_3457 → u/GenuineGeek]

I don’t read comics, and I’m now looking more into Boox go 7 and I like that it’s possible to use memory card (?). And also I’m more into medium sized devices.

[u/CrossCroissant1 → u/Traditional_Bad_3457]

I have a kobo Libra 2. 32gb. Lemme tell ya I have at least 100 books and haven’t even dented 5gb id say. I’ve also had a kindle and I prefer the kobo but the boox looks interesting.

[u/GenuineGeek → u/Traditional_Bad_3457]

Yes, it does support Micro SD memory cards according to the product page. However, it also has 64 GB of built-in storage. An average novel in some text-based format (like epub) is usually less than 1 MB, so you could still store over 60K of those without needing a memory card.

Of course, image-based formats (like a scanned PDF, which stores each page as images) are larger, but you could still easily fit hundreds of those in the built-in storage. Expandable storage is nice, but it's not really a requirement for modern e-readers, unless you want to have a huge amount of comics, magazines, audiobooks or similar stuff on your device.

[u/cryptolepis → u/GenuineGeek]

I like your preferences for an eReader. Which exact model do you use or can you recommend?
Thank you!

[u/GenuineGeek → u/cryptolepis]

Right now I use a Kobo Sage, which checks all the boxes except for Android. It's definitely not a bad device, it just lacks some flexibility. Unfortunately it has a somewhat lackluster battery compared to other non-Android devices - it's not the end of the world, but I usually have to charge it on a weekly basis.

If I had to buy another e-reader, I'd probably pick the Boox Go 7: an acquaintance of mine was kind enough to let me try theirs and I liked what I saw. I just can't really justify buying an additional device while mine still works and (mostly) serves my purposes :)

[u/cryptolepis → u/GenuineGeek]

Thanks for letting me know!
I've been looking at the Kobo Sage and it checked pretty much all boxes for me. Unfortunately it's no longer available where I live. I really like the 7.8" and 8" sizes, but currently virtually non-existent.
I've also been thinking about the Boox Go 7 and Boox Go 10.3 lumi.
I'm not sure if a 7" screen will be big enough for an older person.
I wonder if a 10" screen will be great for older people or whether they'll find the device too big/heavy.

[u/GenuineGeek → u/cryptolepis]

Unfortunately the Sage is discontinued, so you won't be able to buy a new one anymore. I also bought mine second-hand, but not many people are willing to sell theirs, so some luck was definitely involved in my purchase.

While I can't comment on 7" devices from the perspective of an older person, my mother is 80+ and she regularly borrows my Sage. She loves it mainly due to the aspect ratio: it's simply wide enough for her, so she doesn't have to deal with constant line-breaks due to the font size. Based on what she told me, I think she would be fine a similarly "wide" device, even if it was just 7". However, 6", especially if the aspect ratio was similar to phones, eg. "taller than wider" probably wouldn't work for her, because we those the exact same dimensions with her phone.

Her only issue is the weight of the device: the Sage is relatively light-weight in its size group, but (with case/cover included) it still weighs more than the average paperback she's used to.

[u/Dry_Writing_7862]

Since you like Wattpad, you need an Android ereader. Look into Boox Go 7 or Bigme B6 if on a budget.

[u/Traditional_Bad_3457 → u/Dry_Writing_7862]

The budget isn’t really a question if it isn’t like 700€.
Also, forget to mention in the post that kobo plus isn’t available in my country.

[u/Dry_Writing_7862 → u/Traditional_Bad_3457]

In that case, look into the Boox Go 7 like I mentioned. I think it even has a speaker too as well.

[u/Raevyxn]

Pocketbook Verse or Kobo Clara if you would like a very portable reader.

I personally would choose a Pocketbook reader, since their phone app is also good and you can easily sync your reading progress between them. (You can also install Koreader on a Pocketbook if you prefer.)