This insight looks at what e-readers are, their strengths and weaknesses, and popular makes and models.
E-readers/e-book readers/e-book devices are mobile electronic devices that look similar to tablets and are designed primarily to read digital e-books, newspapers and magazines, which the user downloads to the device. Ereaders mostly have ‘electronic paper’ screens to make them easy to read and give them a long battery life. For most users, a Wi-Fi-only e-reader rather than having a connection is usually enough.
Users typically pay a monthly subscription to read the e-books. In addition, e-readers are helpful as a relaxation or work tool.
The Two main companies currently dominating the e-reader market globally are Amazon (with its Kindle e-readers) and Kobo.
Following the development of electronic paper (by E Ink Corporation) in 1997, which allowed a display screen to reflect light like ordinary paper without the need for a backlight, the first commercial e-readers were introduced. These were Sony’s Data Discman and the Rocket eBook, followed by the Sony Librie (2004), Sony Reader (2006), and the highly popular Amazon Kindle, released in 2007. Finally, apple joined the market with its multi-function iPad, which included an iBooks e-reading app linking to the iBookstore. Ereaders have been improved with added features and vast numbers of publications available, ensuring sales of e-books and e-readers have increased. For example, in 2021, e-book revenue was $892.5 million in the US. Physical books, however, still outsell e-books. For example, in the US in 2021, only 23 percent of the population purchased an e-book, compared to 45 percent who bought a printed book (Statista’s Advertising & Media Outlook).
The main benefits of readers are:
– They’re portable like a book but can hold thousands of books while weighing less than a single book.
– There is a huge amount of choice, and e-books can be delivered to the e-reader as soon as they’re purchased with no waiting and no wasted journeys to find books that aren’t in stock.
– The cost of books can work out cheaper (no shipping and handling costs).
– E-readers incorporate other features that books don’t have, e.g. the screen/text size is adjustable, and they contain multimedia elements (audio and video).
– It’s easier to mark passages, save pages and search text.
–It’s easier to use an e-reader to read a book in the dark.
Some of the disadvantages of screen readers are:
– The cost of the e-reader and the subscription, e.g. if the user is a light reader anyway.
– They rely on electronic charging and battery life to function.
– The wide choice of different e-readers available may make it difficult to choose the right one.
– Books from one type of e-reader may not be compatible with another.
– E-book files don’t last as long as physical books.
– E-readers are harder to read in bright sunlight and may not be a good option to leave in the heat, e.g. reading them on holiday.
Some of the factors to consider (in addition to the price) when choosing which e-reader to buy could include:
– Screen type. It has an unlit, paper-like display like E Ink (it doesn’t drain much battery and reduces eye strain), an LCD screen like a phone, or a hybrid version.
– Size and weight. Whether you need a big screen or pocket-sized, portability, screen size and resolution.
– Which interface is preferable – buttons, a touchscreen, or a combination of both.
– The battery life.
– Which e-book stores they can directly access, which affects the choice available. For example, Kindle has access to Amazon’s online bookstore, but the Nook and Kobo have access to Barnes & Noble and Borders.
– Memory capability and capacity, i.e. how much media fits in the device / how many books they can hold at one time.
– Audiobook capability. Not every model offers audiobook capability.
– Compatibility of formats. For example, e-books purchased via one platform may not be compatible with another.
Popular makes/models of e-readers include:
– Kobo Libra 2. This touchscreen e-reader has 32GB storage, a 7-inch screen, battery life of up to 6 weeks, fast USB-C charging, and is priced at around £160. Kobo says it can take up to 24,000 eBooks, 150 Kobo Audiobooks, or both. Drawbacks include that it won’t take Amazon purchases (for Kindle) because it uses its proprietary format, and trying to make it do so involves using different apps to convert them.
– Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021). This touchscreen e-reader has 8GB storage, a 6.8-inch and battery life of up to 10 weeks, and fast USB-C charging. Amazon says that it has up to 20 per cent speedier page turns than its predecessor.
– Amazon’s Kindle Oasis (2019 version) is waterproof and is lighter than the Kobo Libra 2, and it comes with 8GB up to 23GB storage options.
– The Kobo Clara HD is regarded as being a budget e-reader with 8GB, as 6-inch screen, and a battery life of up to 4 weeks
– The Kobo Elipsa has been described as expensive, has a 10.3-inch, a touchscreen, a battery life of up to 4 weeks, and comes with a stylus.
– The Onyx Boox Max Lumi 2 has a 13.3-inch screen, 128GB storage, and a battery life of up to 4 days.
– The Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight Plus has a 7.8-inch screen, 8GB storage, and up to 2 weeks of battery life.
– The Sony Digital Paper has a 10.3-inch screen, 16 GB storage, and a battery life of up to 3 weeks.
The e-reader market is dominated by Amazon’s Kindle models and Canadian company Rakuten Kobo Inc (Kobo), and as such, their products are the most popular. E-readers can have access to thousands of books through something that is lighter and thinner than a single book. Ereaders haven’t yet made e-books more popular than physical books, but they have been growing in popularity since the first Kindle arrived 15 years ago. Although purchasing the device is quite expensive, users appreciate the convenience and that simply being able to download and store multiple (cheaper) books are attractive. Of course, they have disadvantages (battery life, incompatibilities between brands), and to some book consumers, they don’t have the charm of the real thing. However, the sales speak for themselves, and e-readers offer a convenient and flexible tech alternative to paper books.
