There are a whole bunch of different models of readers on the market now - from a variety of manufacturers, with a variety of characteristics. It is not surprising that many are lost among this diversity. In this article, I will talk about how to choose the reader that suits you best, what to look for when buying, which brands are better and which ones are worse.

When reprinting and / or copying, please indicate the name of the author and a link to the original. *** This article was updated on December 15, 2013.

Reader or tablet?

First of all, you need to determine what suits you best - a reader or a tablet. Both readers and tablets have their own characteristics, their advantages and disadvantages. So, readers are not suitable for reading books with color illustrations and an abundance of any graphics - it is better to read such literature on a tablet. The tablet is also better suited for reading magazines (especially in A4 format), typing, surfing the Internet and playing games, not to mention watching videos.

In other words, the reader is a fairly highly specialized device, primarily focused on reading fiction, to a lesser extent - reading scientific, technical, educational literature and using dictionaries. Everything else is side features, and if those side features are important to you, it's better to get a tablet.

If you have a large enough budget, then you can purchase both a reader and a tablet - this option, of course, is the most versatile. In any case, the tablet selection process is beyond the scope of this article; Here I consider only issues related to the choice of the reader. And if you decide that you need a reader, then I propose to answer the following question:

Media reader or e-ink reader?

This is a very important question. Media readers are cheaper than e-readers, they have a color screen, allow you to view photos, videos, but offer very limited functionality when reading books. A media reader is, in fact, a heavily cut tablet at a very low price, which results in a number of limitations: you cannot install additional programs on media readers, they usually have bad screens, uncomfortable touchscreens; there are other downsides as well.

For the sake of fairness, it must be said that now the so-called smart readers are also sold on the market - media readers with the Android OS; you can already install additional programs on them, but the screen quality still leaves much to be desired, and the hardware is quite modest in terms of characteristics. So if possible, it is better to choose a tablet, not a media reader. Yes, it will turn out more expensive, but also more comfortable, and more pleasant, and more useful (for the eyes and for the nerves). If the main task is to read books, choose an e-ink reader. Further in this article, I will go into detail about the parameters by which it is worth making a choice.

Which display is better?

This question worries a lot of people. If you want to study this topic in detail, I invite you to read here. Here I will briefly talk about the main types of displays and their features.

Readers usually have e-ink displays; occasionally there are devices with SiPix and O-Paper screens. SiPix is ​​worse, it is slower, grayer, so-called artifacts remain on it (image remnants from previous pages); however, readers with SiPix screens are no longer available. O-Paper is quite acceptable, but rare (an example of a reader with such a display: Texet TB-138). The most common paper-like screens are E-ink screens.

E-ink screens, however, are different; the following subspecies are put in modern devices: Carta, ClarityScreen+, Pearl, Vizplex. The whitest and most contrasting ones are Carta and ClarityScreen+; Pearl is a little worse. Vizplex has even less contrast and is also slower. However, you can still read comfortably on Vizplex; no need to think that this is some kind of completely terrible screen.

It should be noted that Carta screens are installed so far only in Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, and ClarityScreen + - only in Kobo Aura HD. Pearl screens are in most modern readers; Vizplex screens - in some models of PocketBook (Pro 912, Basic New, 515), many models of Wexler, Texet, PageOne and some other brands.

Yes, and one more important nuance: keep in mind that the screens of readers in black and generally dark cases seem whiter and more contrast than the screens of readers in white (light gray, beige) cases. This is such a feature of human color perception, I advise you not to lose sight of it.

Color screens

Almost all E-ink screens are black and white (more precisely, they support only 16 shades of gray). However, there is also a colored variety - Triton. Triton screens support 4096 colors and are installed only in Ectaco JetBook Color and PocketBook Color Lux readers. Unfortunately, the color quality leaves a lot to be desired; and the quality of the picture as a whole is very mediocre, inferior to the usual "black and white" Pearl screens. In addition, the resolution of the 8" E-Ink Triton is only 800 by 600 pixels, and now even many 6" E-Ink screens are higher resolution.

Screen diagonal

If you read fiction, then a device with at least a 5-inch screen, at least with a 6-inch one, at least with a 9.7-inch one, will suit you. But for reading scientific, technical and educational literature (in PDF, DJVU formats), a 9.7-inch reader is better; if you are very limited in funds, then a 6-inch will do, but not every one: you need to have good software on it, sharpened to read these formats. However, I will talk about the software in more detail below.

It is worth noting that now readers with a slightly non-standard screen size are also available: Kobo Aura HD (6.8 inches), Texet TB-138 (8 inches) and PocketBook Color Lux (8 inches). These are compromise options: for reading PDF, they are slightly better than their six-inch counterparts; at the same time, a slight increase in the display diagonal has little effect on the dimensions and weight of the device. After all, it is not always convenient to carry a ten-inch reader with you all the time due to its solid size.

Recently, very compact and lightweight readers with a 4.3-inch E-Ink screen have appeared on the market; in particular, Texet has such a model. The main advantage of such mini-readers is compactness.

Screen resolution

Six-inch readers with HD screens have appeared for a long time - their resolution is 1024 by 768 (758) pixels versus the usual 800 by 600. Such screens are good when reading PDF, DJVU, and also when reading fiction in small print. In other cases, increased resolution of special weather will not make you, although some say that the difference is very noticeable and even critical. So it's better to watch and compare devices with different screens live.

HD screens are installed in the following reader models: Digma and Gmini (all models with HD letters in their names); Onyx Boox С63ML/С63M, i63SL/i63SML, i63ML; Bookeen CyBook HD FrontLight; Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, PocketBook Touch 2; Kobo Glo Barnes&Noble Nook Glow Light.

In addition, in April 2013, a new reader from Kobo was released - Aura HD, which I have already mentioned above. The screen resolution of this device is outstanding: 1440 by 1080 pixels with a diagonal of 6.8 inches (i.e. 265 ppi). Today it is the clearest E-Ink screen in the world.

Well, the resolution of 9.7-inch E-Ink screens is 1200 by 825 pixels. Probably in the near future there will be ten-inch paper-like displays and with much higher resolution: perhaps even more than the Retina Display.

Backlight

The novelty of 2012 - e-ink readers with built-in backlight - no longer surprise anyone. These are the most versatile devices, they allow you to read both in bright sunlight (after all, the e-ink screen is reflective (reflective), and the backlight can be turned off), and in complete darkness. The backlight brightness is adjustable. I must say, however, that the presence of backlight negatively affects image quality (in particular, black color does not seem so black). On the other hand, when the backlight is on, the screen seems noticeably brighter and whiter.

Modern backlit readers: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Barnes&Noble Nook GlowLight, Bookeen CyBook HD FrontLight, Onyx Boox C63ML, i63SL/i63SML/i63ML, PocketBook Touch 2, PocketBook Color Lux, Kobo Gio, QUMO Libro Lux, some new Gmini, Digma and other brands.

Touchscreen (touch screen)

Four types of touchscreens are installed in readers. Here I will talk about them briefly. If you are interested in more detailed information about each of them, please read. At the end of it, by the way, there is a comparative tablet of touchscreens, which may help you make your final choice.

Touchscreen resistive- a film over the screen. Controlled by both stylus and fingers. Significantly degrades image quality. Now readers with a resistive touchscreen are no longer available, only used devices are sold. Examples: PocketBook 302, Wexler E7001, Explay TXT.Boox B67, Sony PRS-600/900, iRiver CoverStory. I do not recommend buying them, even at very low prices.

Touchscreen induction located under the screen, therefore it does not affect the image quality in any way. It is controlled only by a special stylus, which is not very convenient. In principle, a good option. Examples of devices with such a touchscreen: PocketBook 603/612/903/912, Onyx Boox М92М.

Capacitive touchscreen located above the screen, but does not degrade image quality as much as a resistive touchscreen. Adds a little sparkle. Controlled by fingers or a special capacitive stylus. Not a bad option. Examples of devices with it: PocketBook Touch and Touch 2, LitRes:touch, Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Bookeen CyBook HD FrontLight, Onyx Boox C63M/C63ML.

Touchscreen infrared is perhaps the best option. It does not affect the image quality at all, is easily controlled by fingers (including gloved fingers!) and does not add glare. The only negative is that it can podglyuchivaet in the sun. Device examples: Sony PRS-T2/T3, Onyx Boox i62ML/i63ML, Barnes&Noble Nook Simple Touch and GlowLight, Kobo Aura HD.

Devices with infrared and capacitive touchscreens may also have multitouch: Enlarge/reduce an image or font by simply pinching in/out. This is very convenient. Examples: Onyx Boox i62ML/i63ML, Amazon Kindle Touch, Sony PRS-T2/T3, PocketBook Touch 2.

Hardware: processor, memory...

Readers with powerful processors and large amounts of RAM may run slower than their less powerful counterparts, as the quality of the software also affects the speed. Therefore, I would not recommend choosing a reader based on processor power.

The only thing I note is that modern readers usually put a Freescale i.MX508 processor with a frequency of 800 MHz or a more powerful modification with a frequency of 1000 MHz. These are very good processors, fast and economical.

I do not advise readers with processors that have a clock frequency of less than 400 MHz. Also, you should not buy readers with 32MB of RAM, better 128 or 256, but 64 will do. In addition, if Android is installed on the reader, then it is better that the processor frequency is 1 GHz or more.

The amount of internal (permanent) memory. 1 GB is enough, e-books are usually "light" - the average novel usually weighs about 500-800Kb. I see no reason to overpay for extra gigabytes of internal memory, especially since most models have a slot for memory cards (up to 16 or up to 32GB). You can find out more about memory cards and their types in.

Operating time without recharging

A rather important parameter for those who often travel on business trips, tours and so on. Perhaps the champion in terms of battery life is the Barnes & Noble Nook Touch - up to two months! Lbook readers also have a very long life - more than a month, followed by PocketBook, Amazon Kindle, Sony, LitRes, Onyx Boox (those models on Linux, but not those on Android) - about a month. Digma, QUMO and Gmini (as well as Onyx Boox 63 series) have noticeably lower battery life - about one to two weeks. Things are even worse for Wexler readers - the charge can last literally for two or three days.

Reader weight

The lighter the device, the more pleasant it is to read from it. The hand gets tired of heavy devices. Perhaps the lightest readers are released by Sony (T2 / T3 models); Barnes&Noble Nook GlowLight and Onyx Boox C63ML Magellan differ very little. The modern PocketBook, Amazon Kindle, Digma, Bookeen models are somewhat heavier. Even harder are some Digma, Gmini and many Onyx Boox readers (especially older models).

Ergonomics, ease of use

This is a very important point. Ergonomics is a very subjective thing, so I advise you to play around with the device yourself before buying it. It happens that a reader that is perfectly suitable in terms of technical characteristics turns out to be completely unacceptable for a person from the point of view of ergonomics.

Software

Here we come to the most interesting and, perhaps, the most important point. Yes, I believe that the quality of the software can sometimes be more important than the quality of the screen. The comfort of reading, your mood and the safety of your nervous system depend on it. There is nothing worse than a device with slow and always buggy software that spoils all the pleasure of reading.

operating system

Most readers have a special version of Linux on board, on which additional programs can be installed, but they must be specially compiled for the device. For some devices, there are many additional programs (PocketBook, some Amazon Kindle models), for some - few (Onyx Boox), for some - none at all (Wexler, Ritmix, Lexand, Bookeen).

Some readers have the Android operating system (usually version 2.3); on them, of course, you can put additional programs. True, in most cases, for this it is necessary to first carry out an operation called "root", but there is nothing complicated in it. After root, you can install a variety of programs for reading documents, dictionaries, and much more. Readers with Android: Sony PRS-T1/T2, Barnes&Noble Nook Simple Touch and GlowLight, Onyx Boox i63SL/i63SML/i63ML/C63M/C63ML, Texet TB-138, QUMO Libro Touch Lux.

Applications can be installed on Onyx Boox "android" readers right away, no "hacks" or other tricks are required. But on the Sony PRS-T3, Android is so protected from user intervention that it has not yet been possible to hack it, and therefore it will not be possible to install additional programs on the T3.

An important nuance: Android will not be of much use if the reader is not equipped with a touchscreen. Indeed, in this case, most of the additional programs simply will not work on it (android applications are “sharpened” under the control of a touchscreen). However, a full-fledged AlReader, as well as some other programs, can be installed on such readers. Examples of readers with Android, but without a touchscreen: Onyx Boox i63SL/i63SML, Texet TB-138.

Russian interface

All readers officially imported into Russia and Ukraine have an interface in Russian. But there are also devices on sale that are imported in a “gray” way, not quite legally. These are usually models that are simply not sold in Russia; they ship from the USA. Examples: Barnes & Noble Nook, Amazon Kindle, a number of Sony models, as well as Kobo readers.

For all of them (except for Kobo), special cracks are available that you can install yourself. Many sellers, by the way, Russify the devices themselves, so the problem is solved very easily.

File formats

If you are going to read only fiction, it is enough that the reader supports one of the following formats: FB2, EPUB, MOBI. If you have to work with technical, educational, scientific literature, then you need support for PDF, DJVU, it is very desirable - DOC, DOCX.

I draw special attention to the fact that the file formats declared in the characteristics of the device are not always read properly. This applies to devices from not very well-known brands, usually of Russian-Chinese origin. So, I do not advise buying Wexler, Ritmix, Texet, Lexand readers - the quality of their software and format support is very mediocre.

It should be noted that readers with Android (and Texet, by the way, has such models) allow you to install additional programs for reading (AlReader, CoolReader, etc.), so if Android is installed on the device, then after certain manipulations, it will perfectly read almost all formats. Next, I talk about the levels of support for out-of-the-box formats.

The quality of FB2 support is very good for PocketBook, Lbook, Azbuka; Onyx Boox has it worse, even worse - officially sold in Russia Sony PRS-T1/T2/T3, as well as Bookeen, Digma, Gmini, QUMO. The rest are even worse.

The MOBI format is well supported by Amazon Kindle, PocketBook, Onyx Boox. EPUB format - Sony, PocketBook, Barnes&Noble Nook, Onyx Boox.

The best office document support is Onyx Boox M92M/M92SM/i62ML, these readers display formatting including lists, pictures, tables and so on. All office formats are supported: DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX. The situation with support for office formats is somewhat worse for Digma; PocketBook only supports DOC, DOCX, at a fairly primitive level. The same, alas, applies to the new Onyx Boox models (those on Android - but on them, on the other hand, you can install additional programs for reading office documents).

PDF readers read better than others Sony, PocketBook, Onyx Boox M92M/M92SM/i62ML; DJVU - PocketBook, Onyx Boox M92M/M92SM/i62ML. Onyx Boox readers (except for Android) and a number of Digma models also allow you to view comics in CBZ, CBR formats.

You can find more detailed information about book and document file formats in the article "", as well as in the materials on individual formats -,. You may also be interested in services and programs that allow you to translate books from one format to another.

Dictionaries

Perhaps the best implementation of dictionaries is in PocketBook devices. You can use dictionaries both as a standalone application and while reading books, selecting words for translation by simply touching your finger or stylus (or using the joystick). A number of dictionaries are preinstalled (on many models - ABBYY Lingvo), you can install additional dictionaries. There is a function "Similar words", word forms, usage examples (in dictionaries from ABBYY).

The implementation of dictionaries in Sony readers is very good (approximately like on PocketBook readers), but only English-language dictionaries are available (and there is no Russian-English and English-Russian!), which is very disappointing. Digma, Onyx Boox and Gmini have dictionaries implemented at a simpler level, they are not so convenient to use. Amazon Kindle is better at supporting dictionaries - I would put these readers in second place after PocketBook in terms of the quality of working with dictionaries. The Barnes&Noble Nook Simple Touch is somewhat inferior to the Kindle in this respect.

Internet and RSS

A number of readers have a Wi-Fi module (much less often - 3G), which allows you to access the Internet. This function, however, is rather nominal: the e-ink screen is very slow, and web surfing sometimes turns into a real torment. However, for example, you can download a book or check your mail. Some readers (in particular, PocketBook) have an RSS news reader on board - a very convenient feature.

Additional functions

Many devices are equipped with calendars, voice recorders, radios, image viewers, a player and games. As an example, we can cite Digma, Gmini, QUMO readers.

The player in e-books is usually simple, you can play audio books, but the bookmark functionality, in my opinion, is not supported at all in any reader! Some models support the Text-to-speech function (text-to-speech), PocketBook - including in Russian. It must be said that not everyone finds practical use in this function: many people forget about it after playing for half an hour.

Useful note functionality. For example, Sony and Onyx Boox allow you to create handwritten notes, as well as notes typed on a virtual keyboard using your fingers (stylus). Subsequently, notes can be edited, transferred to a computer. However, I warn you right away: e-ink readers are suitable for typing only short texts - that is, notes, but not novels.

Installing additional applications

As I said, Android devices after rooting allow you to install a huge number of programs. Another thing is that not all of these programs are adapted to the e-ink screen. So, for example, it makes no sense to put a number of games, video players and similar applications.

There is a very limited selection of programs for Linux readers; the exception, perhaps, are devices from PocketBook. There are already much fewer applications for Onyx Boox, and even fewer for Digma, QUMO, Gmini. For PageOne, Iriver, Texet, Wexler, Lexand and many other readers, there are no additional applications at all.

A couple of words about the configuration

Some readers are delivered in an extremely minimalistic version: a box, the device itself, a brief instruction and a cable for connecting to a PC. Meanwhile, the reader still needs a cover (if you are going to use it not only at home). The cost of the cover is from 500 rubles. For rare models (especially five- and eight-inch ones), it is difficult to buy a cover, and its cost can be high. I advise you to keep this point in mind.

Guarantee

Devices officially imported into Russia are guaranteed for a period of one year. The “gray” readers that arrived from America also have a guarantee, but an American one: if something happens, you will have to send the reader back to America, which takes time and money. Many sellers, however, give their own one-year warranty for devices that arrived "from over the hill" in a gray way. Specify when buying.

Just in case, I am reporting a list of brands of devices that come to us only illegally: Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo. We also sell quite a lot of “gray” Sony and Amazon Kindle readers.

(for reference: since October 2013, Amazon has officially shipped Amazon Kindle Paperwhite readers to Russia).

Prices and brands

Lower price segment and segment below average. Up to 4000 rubles. For this amount, you can buy "gray" Barnes & Noble Nook Touch, Amazon Kindle 4. Readers are not bad; in my opinion, the Nook Touch is better than the Kindle (and obviously more functional!). Also in this segment there is a whole bunch of "unknown animals" from China: Lexand, Ritmix, Wexler and so on - I do not advise buying them. But the younger models Digma and Gmini are already noticeably better. In addition, you should pay attention to LitRes: touch. This reader is well suited for reading fiction, has a Pearl screen with a touchscreen.

If the budget is very limited, then you can purchase a reader from inch - for example, A5i, which generally costs about 1000 rubles. Of course, inch devices do not have outstanding features, but their quality is well worth the price..

Middle price segment. 4000-6000 rubles. There are a lot of good models here: PocketBook 613 (Basic New), 360+, 515; Digma and Gmini with HD screens; Barnes& Noble Nook GlowLight (with touchscreen and backlight!), Sony PRS-T2/T3, Onyx Boox i63SML and C63M, Amazon Kindle Paperwhite.

Price segment above average. 6000-10000 rubles. Recommended models in this segment: PocketBook Touch 2, Onyx Boox i63ML, C63ML (the last two are with backlight and Android on board). But Bookeen CyBook HD FrontLight is not the best reader in terms of functionality and quality of components, although some people like it for good ergonomics.

In addition, this segment includes two readers with a large screen size: PocketBook 912 (9.7 inches, 16 shades of gray) and PocketBook Color Lux (8 inches, 4096 colors). Ambiguous models, but still worth paying attention to.

Upper price segment. From 10000 rubles. Models with a large screen diagonal (9.7 inches). I recommend Onyx Boox M92, M92S, M92M, M92SM.

Brands are average (you can buy; alphabetical order): Digma, Gmini, PageOne, QUMO. Kobo can be included in this category; this brand has weak software, good readers from a hardware point of view, especially the Aura HD model. And Texet models, those on Android, can be attributed to the same category.

Mediocre brands (from the lower price segment), but with a normal price-quality ratio: Inch, Texet. If possible, it is better to give preference to more expensive devices of recommended brands.

I strongly advise against: Wexler, Lexand, Nexx and many others.

Happy shopping and happy reading!

People who are not familiar with e-books tend to underestimate them - after all, there is a smartphone, you can also read books from it. The phone has a color screen, and it is at hand all the time - so why else do you need some kind of e-book? If it's a matter of screen size, then it's better to buy a tablet.

But those who think so do not understand that it is pointless to compare an e-book with a smartphone. Tablets and smartphones are devices of a completely different class, similar in functions and capabilities to personal computers. And an e-book is… a book. It can lie on a shelf for months, practically without losing its charge, and harm to the eyes from its screen is no more than from an ordinary printed book. The basis of this difference is that e-books use E-Ink technology - "electronic ink".

If you spend an hour or more reading almost every day, then an e-book is a must for you.

Compared to tablets and smartphones, e-readers are much less eye-straining. And compared to paper books, electronic books are much more economical - most of the masterpieces of literature have long been digitized and are available online absolutely free. The price of an e-book is comparable to the price of a dozen or two paper books, and more than one hundred of them will fit in the memory of even the most budgetary "reader".

It remains only to spend a little time and understand the parameters of modern e-books. How do they differ, and how their characteristics affect their convenience, features and price.

E-Ink screen device

The vast majority of screens for modern e-books are produced using E-Ink technology - “electronic ink”. A screen made using this technology consists of capsules containing many microscopic black and white balls.

The features of such screens are that they do not require electricity to maintain the image, and that the contrast in them is created by reflected light. Thanks to the first feature, e-books hold a charge for weeks even with active use, and the second feature allows you to maintain the contrast and readability of the text under the bright sun and significantly reduces eye strain.

The main disadvantages of the technology are a long response time (of the order of tenths of a second) and traces on the screen when redrawing individual characters - when the charge of the substrate pixels changes, not all colored balls change their position.

Characteristics of e-books

Screen diagonal- the parameter that most affects the price of the device. The larger the diagonal, the higher the price of the reader.

Most e-books have a diagonal of 6" (the size of a pocket paper book - poektbook). Today, this format can be considered optimal - small dimensions allow you to freely operate the device with one hand and carry it in your pocket, and the screen size is sufficient for comfortable reading.

But if you prefer large print and read quickly, it is better to choose among the larger screens - 8 "or 10" (the size of a regular paper book). The fact is that the smoothness and speed of redrawing the screen on the "reader" is several times lower than on tablets and smartphones. On some e-books, “turning” a page can take more than a second - like on a paper book. On a small screen, you will have to “flip through” more often.

The largest screens of "readers" have a diagonal of up to 13", but using this - especially in cramped conditions - will no longer be very convenient, and the price of such a device bites.

Screen resolution determines the clarity of the letters and the absence of visible "teeth" on them.

The production technology of e-book screens is different from that used in tablet screens - at the same resolution, the image on the screen of an e-book will look clearer.

But the requirements for image quality on the screen of an e-book are higher, so a comfortable value pixel density(the number of pixels per inch of the screen) e-books even have a little more than tablets - about 170. However, the most budget models of e-books with a resolution of 800x600 provide such a density - even on the cheapest "reader" the image will be clearer than on a tablet comparable class.

The screens of expensive e-books provide clarity beyond other gadgets and a pixel density of up to 300 ppi - to see the “teeth” on such a screen, you will have to use a magnifying glass.

E-Ink display generation.

The first generation of E-Ink Vizplex displays had a pixel density of 166 ppi at a resolution of 800x600 and a fairly low contrast ratio (7:1). But progress does not stand still, e-books with first-generation displays are practically never found on sale today, and the term E-Ink combines several similar technologies:

-E-Ink Pearl- the second generation of "electronic ink", characterized by a better response time, lower power consumption and increased contrast (10:1). The pixel density remained the same as on the first generation - 166 ppi.

- E-Ink Triton- color modification of E-Ink Pearl technology, allows you to display up to 4096 colors. The high price of screens made using this technology has led to the fact that devices based on them are not widely used.

-E-Ink Pearl HD- an improved version of Pearl, with a higher resolution - 1024x758 on a 6 "screen (211 ppi). On some models, the contrast has also increased - up to 12: 1.

- E-Ink Mobius (E-Ink Flex)- A variation of the E-Ink Pearl HD with a plastic rather than a glass substrate. Allows you to eliminate one of the disadvantages of standard E-Ink screens - their low strength. Such screens are especially in demand on large-sized "readers".

-e-ink card- the next generation of "electronic ink", with a higher contrast ratio (15:1) and reflectance. Screens of this generation began to use Regal technology, which allows you to abandon the complete redrawing of pages.

The screens of books of previous generations flicker strongly when changing pages: they are first completely painted over with black, then with white, and only then the text of the next page is displayed. This method eliminates the traces left on the E-Ink screens when redrawing a single character, but given the high response time, the page change process looks rather annoying.

Regal technology ideally intended to eliminate the appearance of artifacts when redrawing individual characters and significantly increase the speed of "flipping". Unfortunately, it was not possible to achieve a 100% effect, as well as to abandon the complete redrawing of pages.

A further development of the E-Ink Carta technology - E-Ink Carta 2 - today is presented in two practically identical versions: E-Ink Card HD Amazon and E-Ink Carta Plus Onyx company. Both options have the highest pixel density to date of 300 ppi and are equipped with page refresh technologies without full redrawing: Regal for E-Ink Carta HD and SNOW field for E-Ink Carta Plus.

Unfortunately, both technologies are still not flawless, so far none of them has been able to completely get rid of artifacts and refuse to completely redraw the screen.

Comparative tests show a slightly higher efficiency of SNOW Field technology, but at the same time, enabling SNOW Field increases redraw time and increases software requirements.

Comparison is also difficult because the effectiveness of each technology depends on the quality of the screen and can be very different on two copies of the same model.

Built-in memory determines how many books can be stored on the device itself. Built-in memory of 4 GB will store approximately 3000 books of 200-300 pages with 1-2 illustrations.

The amount of built-in memory significantly affects the price of the device, so it makes sense to pay attention to memory card slot. If it is available, you can not overpay for the built-in memory of the device, but organize the storage of the library on removable cards. If you choose this option, check the maximum size of the memory card supported by the device before buying a card.

Operating system.

The “readers” presented today for sale operate under the control of one of two systems:

- Android. Many e-books running this system allow the installation of third-party programs for Android. On such a device, you can change the standard program for viewing texts, install programs for viewing specialized graphic formats, spreadsheets, etc. This expands the capabilities of the e-book, bringing it closer in functionality to tablets, especially if the book has a touch screen.

However, far from every Android program will run on an e-book, and far from every launched one will have full functionality - nevertheless, the capabilities of "readers" and tablets are very different.

The frequently encountered statement that Android readers work much less without charging is only partly true, and this dependence is much less noticeable than on smartphones or tablets. Other parameters - features of standard programs, backlight and auto-off settings, additional installed programs and the presence of a touch screen affect the operating time much more.

- linux (µCOS and others). For e-books, adapted linux builds are used, devoid of many libraries included in the desktop versions of this system. Therefore, ordinary programs for linux on e-books will most likely not start.

Although there are third-party developments on linux specifically for e-books, their number is orders of magnitude smaller than programs for Android. Therefore, when choosing a "reader" running linux, you should pay the most careful attention to the convenience and functionality of standard programs - most likely, you will not be able to replace them.

The main advantage of linux is that it makes less demands on the hardware, and e-books running it usually cost less. For this reason, linux used to be more common on e-books. But the fall in prices for microprocessors and the increase in their performance have practically leveled this difference, so today there are more “readers” on Android than on linux.

Touchscreen simplifies device management and increases the functionality of "readers" running Android.

But we must not forget that the touch screen increases power consumption. A "reader" without a touch screen consumes energy only when turning pages and an open page can theoretically display forever. And the touch screen will consume energy even when the image is static, which will reduce the operating time.

Unlike tablets and smartphones, e-book screens do not glow, so reading from them will not work in low light. Availability built-in backlight will allow you to use the e-book even in complete darkness, but it should be borne in mind that the quality of the backlight for different models is different and often far from ideal.

WiFi support e-book allows the device to access the Internet and replenish the library directly from network resources. This feature is especially important if you do not have a computer or laptop. The main thing is not to forget to turn off WiFi after downloading books, otherwise the time of the "reader" will be reduced significantly.

If the e-book does not have case included, its purchase should be taken care of in the first place. Screens of electronic books (with the exception of E-Ink Mobius) are much more afraid of mechanical damage than the screens of the same tablets. Without the protection provided by a thick case cover, the life of the screen can be quite short. However, you should not think that buying a cover will completely protect the screen of the reader - the cover will not be able to protect against strong overloads and shocks (associated, for example, with the fall of the gadget).

Availability audio player means not only the ability to listen to music recorded on the device's memory - this will allow you to run third-party software on the reader that requires an audio processor. The sound on such devices is usually not of high quality, but it expands the functionality in the sense that it allows you to listen to audiobooks.

Choices

If you're on a budget, you can get a 6" e-reader with an E-Ink Pearl screen and 800x600 resolution - even at the lowest resolution, the e-reader will provide clarity at the level of the best tablets.

If you have a computer or other devices with which you can download books from the Internet, choose among models with WiFi support - this will allow you to download books directly from online libraries.

If you're looking for an e-reader with enhanced functionality and the ability to install additional apps, choose among Android touchscreen devices.

If you are worried about the safety of the screen from mechanical damage, choose a model with a case included.

If the standard 6" screen is not comfortable for you, choose among e-readers with large screens.

If you want the text on the screen of the "reader" to have no less clarity and contrast than the text on a sheet of paper, choose among devices with the E-Ink Carta 2 screen generation.

If you want the device to not only read books, but also listen to audio books or music, choose among e-books with an audio player.

If you have accumulated a really large library of books in digital form - more than 8 GB - and you want to transfer it to the "reader" memory, you will need an e-book with a large amount of memory.

This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

E-books are more convenient for reading text than tablets. These devices are equipped with an e-ink screen. Even with prolonged reading, the eyes do not strain from it - they are just as comfortable as when viewing text on plain paper.

In addition, e-books have a long battery life of up to 2-3 months and weigh up to 300 grams.

How to choose an e-book: main features

Its practicality and convenience depend on the technical characteristics of the e-book. Therefore, when choosing such a device, you should pay attention to:

screen type;

Compatible file formats;

Control method;

Additional functions.

Screen type

The electronic books on the market can be divided into two groups - equipped with an LCD screen and with an e-Ink matrix. The convenience and autonomy of the device depends on what technology is used in the display.

E-books in the budget price segment are usually equipped with TF or TFT matrix. However, LCDs are also found. Matrices of these types are dull, with large and noticeable pixels, and low detail. Reading from such screens leads to eye fatigue due to the strain of the organs of vision.

Models of the middle price segment are usually equipped with IPS matrix. It realistically conveys colors and shades, saturates them, makes images deep. The contrast of such a matrix is ​​1000:1, so the text is read easily and pleasantly. The disadvantages of IPS matrices are their "voracity" and excessive eye strain. The first leads to a quick discharge of the e-book, and the second leads to fatigue of the organs of vision, reddening of the corneas, dryness and discomfort (caused by the fact that the display is very bright and the light “hits” right in the face).

e-ink matrix usually installed in devices of the middle and top price segments. It is black and white, the contrast ratio is from 350:1 to 500:1, depending on the manufacturer. The matrix does not have its own backlight, so eye strain is minimal - as when reading from plain paper. In addition, it does not consume battery power when the "picture" is displayed - only when it is changed. This means that the battery life of the e-book increases to 2-3 months.

The disadvantages of e-Ink are its high cost, as well as the unpleasant “flickering” effect when changing the image (for example, turning pages).

Compatible file formats

The more file formats an e-book supports, the better. TXT, RTF, FB2 and EPUB are minimally required - it is into them that publications published on the Internet are converted. Models with many pictures, as well as magazines and scanned documents are packaged in PDF and DJVU. Comics - in CDR. Office documents and some e-books recognized after scanning with OCR - in DOC and DOCX formats, as well as ODT.

Other formats are rare.

If you plan to listen to music or audio books from your device, you should purchase a model that supports MP3, AAC and OGG formats.

Control method

Electronic books come with a touch screen and with mechanical buttons. And the first option is not the most useful solution. The touch display leads to rapid battery drain and accidental clicks.

Mechanical buttons are more convenient, although they take up more space on the device. Models with this control method are recommended for purchase.

Additional functions

Additional features that you may find useful include:

Wi-Fi connection is needed to download e-books and use special libraries by subscription;

The backlight of the e-Ink display is designed for reading in the dark;

The built-in dictionary will help in reading literature in foreign languages.

Additional features are helpful but not required.

Manufacturers

Perhaps the best manufacturer of e-books is PocketBook, which invented these devices. In addition, we included models from Sony, Onyx Book, Reader, Tesla and Amazon.

Rating of the best e-books

Nomination	place	Name of product	price
The best inexpensive e-books (budget up to 6000 rubles)	1		6 990 ₽
	2		5 990 ₽
	3		6 640 ₽
	4		5 299 ₽
The best e-readers with a screen of 6-7 inches	1		12 490 ₽
	2		14 990 ₽
	3		9 514 ₽
Best 8-10 inch e-readers	1		19 990 ₽
	2		13 690 ₽
	3		22 990 ₽
The best big screen e-readers	1		43 120 ₽

The best inexpensive e-books (budget up to 6000 rubles)

Why it's number one: 7.1-inch e-Ink touch screen e-reader.

Description: The Sony PRS-900 Daily Edition e-book opens the rating with a 7.1-inch e-Ink Vizplex screen, which is complemented by a touch coating. This makes page turning and menu navigation easy. The touch display is low power, so the battery lasts for 12,000 page flips.

The internal memory of the device is 1.75 GB. This is enough for several hundred e-books. In addition, the device is equipped with a slot for memory cards MicroSD.

The model supports TXT, DOC and RTF documents, as well as PDF and EPUB. Image and music files are also played.

Advantages

Large, touch display, made using e-Ink technology;

The battery has enough power to display 12,000 pages;

Tight assembly without creaks and cracks;

Flaws

Glossy display without backlight;

Inconvenient copying of books from a computer through a complete program;

Does not support FB2;

Why second place: 6-inch e-Ink Carta screen with touch controls and backlight, but the book itself runs on the Android operating system.

Description: Onyx Boox Vasco da Gama 2 combines the virtues of classic e-books with the features of tablets on the Android operating system. It features a 6-inch e-Ink Carta touchscreen with Moon Light soft backlight and 212 ppi pixel density.

The internal memory of the device is 8 GB, but most of it is occupied by Android files. There is a microSD card slot. The device connects to the computer as an MTP device, so you can copy new files to it directly in Explorer.

Out of the box, the model supports common text and image file formats, including DOC, TXT, FB2 and PDF. Additionally, you can install applications from the Play Store on it that support other types of documents.

The battery capacity is 3000 mAh, which is enough for 25 hours of operation with a backlit display. The model is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for connecting to the Internet and downloading applications.

Advantages

Screen with soft backlight and contrast enhancement mode Snow Field;

Expandable functionality through support for Android applications;

8 GB of permanent memory;

Flaws

Low battery life due to the Android operating system;

Uneven illumination;

Setting up an e-book because of the e-Ink screen can be inconvenient;

Why third place: Non-touch 6-inch screen with a resolution of 800x600 pixels, but a Carta screen and a solid body.

Description: The device from the company that created the "electronic books" - PocketBook - takes third place in the rating, because in terms of functionality it noticeably loses to other models. It is equipped with a 6-inch Carta e-Ink screen with a snow-white contrast substrate and a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels. The display is not touch, physical buttons are used to control the model. There is also no backlight.

Built-in memory - 8 GB, which is enough for several thousand files. The device displays text and image files in TXT, DOC, FB2, RTF, EPUB, PDF and many other formats. Memory cards by book are also supported.

Built-in battery capacity - 1300 mAh. This is enough for 1-2 weeks of battery life with active use.

Advantages

Reliable assembly and durable case;

8 GB of internal memory and microSD support;

Fast firmware and support for the most common file formats;

Flaws

No backlight;

Non-touch display;

Low screen resolution, which makes images look too “pixelated”;

Why No. 4: A 6-inch e-Ink Pearl e-reader.

Description: Closes the rating e-book Reader Book 2, which is equipped with an e-Ink Pearl display. It is equipped with a "mother-of-pearl" substrate, which does not burden the eyes, but at the same time has a low contrast. The screen is 6-inch, with a resolution of 800 × 600 pixels and a capacitive touch panel.

Internal memory - 4 GB. The device is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for downloading documents from the network. Support for memory cards is available. The model is compatible with TXT, DOC, FB2, RTF and many other formats, including archives and CHM directory files.

The device is equipped with a 1000 mAh battery, which provides up to 1-2 weeks of battery life with regular use.

Advantages

Laconic design and user-friendly "reader" interface;

Weight is only 140 grams;

Compatible with PDF and DJVU formats;

Flaws

Cheap, flimsy body materials;

Poor build quality;

Slow interface

The best e-readers with a screen of 6-7 inches

Why it's number one: An e-reader from PocketBook with a 6-inch backlit e-Ink Carta touchscreen with a resolution of 1448×1072 pixels.

Description: The flagship e-book PocketBook 631 Touch HD won first place in the ranking due to its display. It is made using e-Ink Carta technology with a snow-white substrate and maximum contrast. Also, the display has a resolution of 1448×1072 pixels, which provides a smooth and detailed image; equipped with a touch layer and soft uniform illumination.

Built-in memory - 8 GB. There is a microSD card slot. Wi-Fi module - also, and it is designed to synchronize the library via Dropbox. The device supports almost all e-book formats and can play music in MP3 files.

The model is equipped with a 1500 mAh battery, which provides up to 1-2 weeks of battery life with active Wi-Fi.

Advantages

High resolution e-Ink Carta screen;

Support for most file formats and synchronization via Dropbox;

Adaptive backlight;

Flaws

Slow, especially when navigating the interface;

Problems with the speed of work on some firmware;

Few settings;

Why second place: An e-reader with a high resolution e-Ink Carta screen, but with Android and more expensive than its predecessor.

Description: The Onyx Boox Cleopatra 3 e-book is a great competitor for the leader in the rating. The device is equipped with a 6.8-inch e-Ink Carta touch screen with a snow-white substrate and a high resolution of 1440 × 1080 pixels, as well as backlit.

The device is based on the Android operating system, which expands the functionality by downloading additional programs from the Google Play Store. Out of the box, the book is compatible with almost all text and image file formats, including FB2, PDF, and EPUB.

Built-in memory - 8 GB, but some of them are occupied by the operating system and additional files. MicroSD card slot available. The device connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth module is also available. A 1700 mAh battery charge is enough to display 10,000 pages.

Advantages

High resolution e-Ink Carta screen;

High performance;

Updating the picture with a flicker that is not conspicuous;

Flaws

Inconvenient, not optimized for electronic paper firmware;

high cost;

Android leads to a decrease in autonomy;

Why third place: An e-book from PocketBook, but with a smaller screen resolution than its predecessors.

Description: The PocketBook 641 Aqua 3 e-book has the smallest screen resolution in this rating segment. It is 1024×758 pixels at a diagonal of 6 inches. Nevertheless, it is enough for comfortable reading and viewing of graphic files. The display is made using e-Ink Carta technology with a snow-white substrate and high contrast, complemented by a touch layer and backlight.

The model supports almost all file formats, including FB2, PDF, EPUB and MOBI. Pictures and CHM guides are also played back. Built-in memory - 8 GB, there is a slot for memory cards and Wi-Fi support for synchronization via Dropbox.

The built-in battery of the device has a capacity of 1500 mAh. It will last for 1-2 weeks of battery life.

Advantages

High-quality display;

WiFi with reliable connection;

Dense assembly, waterproof case, pleasant to the touch materials;

Flaws

Slow startup and not very smooth interface;

1-2 weeks of battery life;

Not always successful firmware versions;

Best 8-10 inch e-readers

Why it's number one: An Android-powered feature-packed e-reader with an e-Ink Carta screen.

Description: Like the rest of the Onyx Boox e-books, the Chronos model is based on the Android operating system. The model is equipped with a 9.7-inch screen made using e-Ink Carta technology with a touch layer and backlight. The display resolution is 1200×825 pixels.

The model supports most file formats. Additionally, you can install "readers" for exotic types from the Play Store. The internal memory of the device is 8 GB, but some of it is occupied by the Android OS and service files. microSD cards are supported. Wi-Fi and cloud sync are available.

The model is equipped with a 3000 mAh battery, which is enough for 2-3 weeks of battery life with daily use.

Advantages

e-Ink Carta screen with high contrast and built-in backlight;

Protective case included;

Metal strong case;

Flaws

Relatively short battery life due to Android OS;

Low screen resolution with such a diagonal;

Relatively heavy;

Why second place: Budget e-reader with e-Ink Carta, backlight and touch input, but not always a quality build.

Description: The Tesla Logos e-book is equipped with a high-resolution e-Ink Carta screen - with a diagonal of 7.8 inches, it is 1872 × 1404 pixels and a dot density of 300 ppi. Touchscreen display with backlight. The book itself, like the Onyx Book models often found in the rating, runs on the Android operating system with a special interface.

Out of the box, the book supports most popular file formats and a few exotic ones, including TAR and TCR. But to read DJVU or EPUB, you will have to install additional software from the Play Store. Built-in memory - 16 GB, no microSD card slot. There is a Wi-Fi module, you need it to enter the Play Store and cloud library synchronization.

The capacity of the built-in battery is 2800 mAh. This is enough for 2-3 weeks of work.

Advantages

High resolution e-Ink Carta screen with backlight;

Good quality connection with Wi-Fi;

A lot of permanent memory;

Flaws

Not always high-quality assembly;

Uneven display backlight;

Relatively low screen clarity due to font smoothing;

Why third place: An e-reader with a QWERTY keyboard and an e-Ink Pearl screen, but no backlight.

Description: Rating the best e-books without a device from Amazon is a pointless exercise. The Kindle DX features a large and comfortable 9.7-inch e-Ink Pearl screen with a resolution of 1200×824 pixels. Backlight and touch layer, however, no. But the book has a built-in 3G unlimited Internet module for downloading new documents from Amazon.

The device is compatible with most formats, but does not support FB2, EPUB and DJVU. Can play MP3 music. Built-in memory - 4 GB, there is no microSD slot.

The built-in battery lasts for 4-5 weeks of battery life without shutting down and with daily use.

Advantages

High performance;

e-Ink Pearl screen with minimal eye strain;

3G to download books from Amazon;

Flaws

No backlight, no touch screen;

There is no Russian language in the interface, but it copes with encodings;

Does not support FB2 and EPUB;

The best big screen e-readers

Why it's number one: An e-reader with a 13.3-inch e-Ink Carta screen and stylus input support.

Description: Onyx Boox Max is an e-reader with the largest screen not only in our rating, but also in the world. The device is equipped with a 13.3-inch e-Ink Carta display. The display resolution is 1600×1200 pixels. There is a touch layer, and a stylus is included with the book, which simplifies the work with the interface.

The device, like other models from Onyx Boox, runs on an adapted version of Android. The operating system out of the box supports almost all file formats, and to open exotic ones, you can download the program from the Play Store. Built-in memory - 16 GB, there is a slot for microSD, WI-Fi - too. The device has a built-in mail client and dictionaries.

The device is equipped with a 4100 mAh battery, the charge of which is enough to display 20,000 pages.

Advantages

e-Ink Carta screen with high contrast and backlight;

Built-in dictionary and mail client;

16 GB internal memory;

Flaws

high cost;

There are versions with e-Ink Pearl;

Complete cover collects dust;

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

It used to be said that a book is the best gift. Today, when high technologies have tightly entered the life of each of us, we can make a small clarification to the well-known phrase. Now the e-book is the best gift. It is difficult to find a more versatile gadget. Read and schoolchildren, and students, and mature people, and pensioners. Read at home, in transport and on the beach. It's great when you can take a light, compact e-book with you on the road or a trip, in whose memory an entire library can fit! Another question is which e-book to choose so that it meets all the requirements, because the assortment in stores is impressive. Let's try to deal with this issue and highlight the best e-books of 2018.

We will not take your time with a long and boring description of technologies, their differences and other technical subtleties. We have prepared for you express guide to choosing an e-book so that you know how two similar models differ and understand which one is better.

So, when choosing and comparing, consider the following parameters:

• screen type. A real e-book is a book with E-ink screen. This is an electronic ink technology that allows you to replicate a regular paper sheet as accurately as possible. Such screens do not strain your eyesight, remain well readable in bright sunlight (like a regular book), they consume energy economically, so you will rarely charge your gadget. Today, some manufacturers are still trying to pass off a gadget with TFT- display. This is not a reader - it's a weak tablet. Yes, such a screen will transmit the entire palette of colors well (unlike E-Ink), but your eyes will get tired just like reading from a tablet or phone. The TFT display consumes more power, so get ready to charge your gadget every couple of days. The only plus is the lower price, but it does not justify this technology. Fortunately, such "e-books" are a thing of the past, so we will not consider it;
  
• color or black and white screen. A black and white screen will suffice for an e-book. The technology of color electronic ink is still developing poorly and has frozen on the display of about 4000 shades. A dim image comes out. There are almost no color books on electronic ink now - rare samples are represented by models that were released several years ago;
• backlight. The cheapest books are sold without built-in backlighting. You will have to read under a lamp or buy a clothespin flashlight - everything is the same as with a real paper book. If such reading is not entirely comfortable, you can take a book with backlight. The light source is located not behind the screen (as in TFT screens), but along the contour of the display. It turns out that the rays fall from above onto the screen, simulating sunlight. This means that the load on the eyes will be minimal;
  
• sensor or buttons. Finding a reader where the control is carried out only by buttons is no longer easy. Today, most models are equipped with a touch screen. Managing such a book is simple, fast and convenient, however, you will have to take care of the screen more carefully, because a fragile display is the weak point of all readers. The cheapest models have button control, and it will be enough if your main task is to read. The buttons make it easy to select a book from the list and flip through the pages. If you plan to go online with the help of a reader or use a dictionary, then it’s better to take a sensory model - save your nerves and time;
• screen diagonal. The most popular format is 6 inches. Such a compact gadget can easily fit in a bag, not to mention a backpack, and it is convenient to hold it in your hands. There are larger models, 8 inches and even 10 inches. This is a solution for those who view technical documentation, scans of A4 sheets or electronic versions of magazines;
• Memory. As a rule, most books have about 4-8 GB of built-in memory, and this is enough to fill yourself with books, if not for the rest of your life, then for a very long time. The average weight of a book is 1.5-2 MB, which means that 4 GB is enough for more than 2000 files. If this seems not enough, and you plan to store graphic files as well, then look towards books that support memory cards - there are a lot of them today;
• readable formats. In short: the more formats a book supports, the better. On the other hand, with the help of numerous converters, you can always convert a file from one format to another. This takes a little time. Many modern books, in addition to popular text formats (pdf, fb2, doc, mobi, djvu), also read image and audio files;
• Internet access most modern books have. Access is via Wi-Fi, 3G support is extremely rare. It is convenient that at any time you can download the necessary book or view the information of interest on the network;
• Battery capacity usually is 1500-3000 mAh, which is enough for 5000-15000 flips. In any case, you will have to charge an e-book infrequently.

The technology behind E-Ink has evolved before our very eyes. Modern readers use displays of different generations:

Additional features like voice recorder, alarm clock, calculator, radio and player, is up to you. They increase the cost of the model, but are not always necessary.

As for manufacturers, then the clear leader is Amazon. This is the Apple of e-books. Makes high quality but expensive products. Readers from PocketBook, budget models from Gmini and perfectly balanced in price / quality ONYX BOOX. Well, now let's move on to the most interesting - the rating of the best e-books. We tried to select models with a different set of functions and in different price categories. Go!

Best eBooks 2018

ONYX BOOX Darwin 4

The main attention in readers is always riveted to the screen. Reading comfort depends on its quality. In this case, we are dealing with a contrast display, which differs highest resolution (pixel density - 300ppi) , backlight and touch control. You can scroll through the pages with the usual buttons - this will reduce the load on the display. The book reads a lot of formats, so there will be a minimum of hassle associated with conversion. In the pluses, we also include a record autonomy and operating system Android- the functionality of the reader can be expanded with additional applications. The model turned out to be compact, can be charged from the network, has a good supply of memory and the possibility of its expansion. Comes with a case. All this allows us to call the model one of the best e-books on the market.

The manufacturer recently released a new book ONYX BOOX Robinson Crusoe 2. The parameters are the same, but water resistance has been added. The model costs about $215.

PocketBook 626 Plus Touch Lux 3

PocketBook, a well-known manufacturer of readers, used the most modern screen with good resolution, equipped it with backlight and touch control. You can also flip through the pages with special physical buttons - this is more convenient for many. The battery lasts for 8000 flips - a good, but not a record parameter. The book, like most modern readers, can be charged not only via a USB port, but also from the mains. Model sold with a set of useful pre-installed applications. Dictaphone and radio are not provided in the model. There are no complaints about the quality of performance, special thanks for supporting a huge number of formats. This is a great modern reader that is totally worth the money.

Model PocketBook 631 Touch HD has similar characteristics, but in stock it has 8 GB of memory and a screen with a resolution of 1448 * 1072 (300 ppi). The model costs about $220.

Amazon Kindle 8

Many books from Amazon (yes, most of them!) are obscenely expensive. We will touch on them later, but for now we will consider a budget reader from a reputable company. For a relatively small amount, you get a high-quality compact reader, in which there is nothing superfluous. The manufacturer dispensed with backlighting in the hope that the user will find a lamp or flashlight. There is no slot for memory cards, but native 4 GB is enough to download thousands of books. Read - do not re-read! The number of supported formats is small, but after conversion, you can view HTML, DOCX, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP files. Model received modulesWi– fi and Bluetooth, holds a charge for a long time, responds quickly to pressing, looks solid, lies well in the hand. In general, if you need a reliable device to read books, then you can safely take the Amazon Kindle 8. The model remains one of the best e-readers on the market, despite the fact that it was released in 2016.

PocketBook 614 Plus

PocketBook, Amazon's big competitor, also offers products with different feature sets and price points. This model is a great try. find a balance between price and quality. The manufacturer installed a screen made using the most modern and advanced technology in a fairly inexpensive device, equipped the model with the possibility of expanding memory and gave it real multi-formatness - the book supports more than a dozen different text and graphic formats, so you don’t have to convert anything. To save money, I had to abandon the built-in backlight and Wi-Fi module, use a low resolution. Management is carried out both using the touch screen and physical paging buttons. The result is a convenient inexpensive reader, which has collected a lot of positive feedback from users.

PocketBook 641 Aqua 2

This model will become a godsend for those who like to read in the bath, by the pool or on the beach where water splashes and dust particles are not uncommon. The book received protection against dust and moisture according to the standardIP57. This means that the gadget is completely dustproof and will withstand short-term immersion to a depth of 1 m. True, you will have to pay extra for such bonuses - devices with a similar set of parameters, but without protection, are cheaper. In the dignity of the reader we attribute modern screen, backlight, moduleWi– fiand support for 18 different formats- You don't have to worry about converting. Users also note decent autonomy and speed. For the sake of moisture protection, I had to abandon the memory card slot, but 8 GB should be enough. There is nothing to scold the gadget for. Except for the price, but it is also the lowest among protected e-books.

ONYX BOOX James Cook

This is one of the best inexpensive e-books, an excellent competitor to the Amazon Kindle 8. The model received contrast screen, good storage capacity, reads 17 formats and holds a charge perfectly. With daily reading, the battery will last for 3 weeks. However, a low price is always a compromise. The model cost without Wi-Fi, backlight and touch input, the resolution here is also not the highest. If you need a reliable read-only e-book, a workhorse of sorts, then the existing options should suffice. We hope that most readers will agree with us. The main thing is that everything works smartly, your eyes do not get tired, and the battery does not discharge for a long time - what else do you need from a reader? And Internet access and other bells and whistles are available today on any smartphone.

Gmini MagicBook S62LHD

Another a good solution in the budget segment. The compact and light book is equipped with a backlight, a slot for memory cards, can read 18 formats, works smartly, and is assembled with high quality. An option for those whose main task is to read. If you need the ability to access the Internet and other bells and whistles, you will have to pay 1.5-2 times more.

Amazon Kindle Oasis 2017

Amazon thought for a long time how to surprise users, because there were no revolutionary solutions in the field of E-Ink and, most likely, there will not be any more. It remains only to play with the design and additional features. A similar strategy was chosen by the company. Kindle Oasis 2017 (aka Kindle Oasis 2 and Oasis 9 gen) is niche device for those who care about image along with great functionality. Frankly, with similar characteristics, you can find a gadget a couple of times cheaper, but there is still a demand for an expensive novelty. Among its advantages is a 7-inch screen (still compact, but more text fits), Stylish metal case, moisture protection according to the standardIP X8 – the gadget can lie under water at a depth of up to 1 m for 30 minutes. Also here there is a voice recorder and scroll buttons.

There is no slot for memory cards, but users are offered a 32 GB version, so that everything you need will fit. Purchasing may be difficult. There are two options here: buy on the Amazon website and think about delivery, or go to a regular store, but in Russia the book costs a record $550 - prohibitively expensive. In neighboring Ukraine, the model is sold for $340.

Another expensive toy from the company - Amazon Kindle Oasis 3G. This is one of the few e-readers with 3G support. She has a 6-inch screen, resolution 1448 * 1072, the price is from $ 300.

PocketBook 740

Great option for those who need big e-book. The 7.8-inch display fits more text, making it easy to view spreadsheets and documents. On the other hand, such a book is still compact and easily fits even in a bag. The manufacturer equipped the model modern high-resolution screen, achieving a pixel density of 300ppi. Everything that may be required from a modern reader is here: backlight, internet access, touch control, excellent storage capacity, good autonomy, support for a large number of formats. Scroll buttons are provided for added convenience. It looks like the novelty will be a success.

ONYX BOOX Chronos

If, on duty, you constantly have to work with electronic documents, view tables, scans and other files that are more convenient to work with on a large screen, you can pay attention to ONYX BOOX Chronos. The model claims to be the best e-book among models with a large diagonal. For their money, the user receives a modern device with OSAndroid,bluetooth,dimmable, metal case and case included. The battery and support for a huge number of formats are undeniable advantages. A great option for reading technical literature.

If even 9.7 inches is not enough for you, then pay attention to another model of the company ONYX BOOX MAX Carta. Reader received touch screen in 13.3 inches(2200*1650, no backlight), support 18 formats, including MP3 and XLS, built-in voice recorder, speaker, an email client, a lot of dictionaries and a stylus. There is a cover included. A 4100 mAh battery is enough for 20,000 page flips, and 16 GB of memory is enough for a lot of useful literature and documents (there is a slot for memory cards). The device, of course, is niche and expensive - it costs about $1040. Which e-book is better to buy, Chronos or MAX Carta, depends on the purpose of use and budget.

In stores, you can also find readers released in 2016 and 2015. If you are satisfied with the screen, then you can safely take them. It is difficult to find color models for sale: those few devices that had a color screen have already been discontinued, and new ones are not being released - the technology is expensive and is not in demand.