In 2025, e-readers are no longer niche gadgets. They have become real substitutes for paper books and a practical tool for heavy readers. New models offer not only classic black-and-white E Ink but also color displays. They support handwritten notes. They integrate with libraries and cloud services. This review covers the best e-readers of 2025, including classic Kindles, as well as models from Kobo, Onyx, and ReMarkable.
Selection criteria:
- Display quality. Resolution and lighting technology matter.
- Battery life. From several weeks up to a month on a single charge.
- Formats and compatibility. Open vs. closed ecosystems, EPUB, PDF, and audio support.
- Convenience. Weight, size, page-turn buttons, stylus.
- Price. Whether the cost matches the features.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Updated in 2024, Paperwhite remains the gold standard for reading. It is lightweight, fast, waterproof, and has a sharp 7-inch E Ink display with 300 ppi resolution. The screen is evenly lit, and the text looks like print on paper.
- Dimensions: 7.0 × 5.0 × 0.3 in (17.8 × 12.7 × 0.76 cm).
- Weight: 210 g.
- Screen: 7 inches.
- Storage: 32 GB.
- Features: waterproofing, Audible support, Kindle Store library.
- Cons: lock screen ads (removable for extra fee).
Paperwhite e-readers are perfect for those who want a reliable and versatile reader. It is light, holds charge for weeks, and stores thousands of books.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids
This e-reader has the same hardware as the regular Paperwhite but comes with a child-friendly case, extended warranty, and access to Amazon Kids+. It includes hundreds of children’s books, fairy tales, and comics.
- Dimensions: 7.0 × 5.2 × 0.5 in (17.8 × 13.2 × 1.27 cm).
- Weight: 329 g.
- Screen: 7 inches.
- Storage: 16 GB.
- Features: protective case, 2-year warranty, ad-free, 6 months of Kids+.
- Cons: fewer free books compared to the adult Kindle library.
Paperwhite Kids e-readers are designed for young readers. Parents can be confident about both the device and the content.
Onyx Boox Go Color 7
An e-reader with a color E Ink screen and Android support via Google Play. This allows installation of third-party apps — from Kindle to comics and note-taking tools.
- Dimensions: 6.1 × 5.4 × 0.25 in (15.5 × 13.7 × 0.64 cm).
- Weight: 196 g.
- Screen: 7 inches (color E Ink).
- Storage: 64 GB.
- Features: physical page-turn buttons, Google Play, fast performance.
- Cons: plastic body feels cheap, some features limited to native app.
The e-reader Go Color 7 is an ideal choice for those who read not only books but also comics, magazines, or PDFs with color illustrations.
Amazon Kindle Scribe
The Scribe stands out with a large 10.2-inch display and stylus support. You can take notes while reading, save them in notebooks, and export them. This makes it convenient for students and anyone who likes combining reading with handwriting.
- Dimensions: 9.0 × 7.7 × 0.22 in (22.8 × 19.5 × 0.56 cm).
- Weight: 433 g.
- Screen: 10.2 inches.
- Storage: 16 GB.
- Features: Premium Pen stylus, handwritten notes, large screen.
- Cons: cannot write directly in book margins, notes saved separately.
Kindle Scribe e-readers are suited for professional readers, PDF users, or those who take study notes.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft
Amazon’s first e-reader with a color display. Great for comics and illustrated books. It is waterproof and supports wireless charging. Unlike other Kindles, it comes without ads.
- Dimensions: 7.0 × 5.0 × 0.3 in (17.8 × 12.7 × 0.76 cm).
- Weight: 218 g.
- Screen: 7 inches (color E Ink).
- Storage: 32 GB.
- Features: color display, waterproofing, wireless charging.
- Cons: no page-turn buttons, shorter battery life, more expensive than Paperwhite.
Colorsoft e-readers are for those who want color in the Kindle ecosystem. A solid choice for comic fans.
Kobo Libra Colour
The Kobo Libra Colour e-readers have a color display and integrate with libraries via OverDrive. This is a big plus for those who borrow e-books instead of buying them. It is lightweight, waterproof, and has strong battery life.
- Dimensions: 5.69 × 6.33 × 0.33 in (14.5 × 16.1 × 0.8 cm)
- Weight: 200 g
- Screen: 7 inches (color E Ink)
- Storage: 32 GB
- Features: library integration, multiple format support, waterproofing
- Cons: stylus sold separately, limited note-taking
Libra Colour e-readers are best for those who prefer borrowing books from libraries.
ReMarkable Paper Pro
A premium e-reader with a color E Ink display and a high-quality stylus. Writing feels natural with minimal lag. It functions more like a digital notebook that can also read PDFs and EPUBs.
- Dimensions: 10.8 × 7.8 × 0.24 in (27.4 × 19.8 × 0.61 cm).
- Weight: 525 g.
- Screen: 11.8 inches (color E Ink).
- Storage: 64 GB.
- Features: excellent stylus, color display, quality lighting.
- Cons: limited format support, paid cloud service, slower performance.
This e-reader is best for replacing paper notebooks and working with PDF documents.
Conclusions
In 2025, the main trend is the rise of color E Ink e-readers. These displays are suited for comics, magazines, and educational materials. However, the classic Paperwhite still remains the top choice for pure text reading.
Our picks:
- For all-around reading: Kindle Paperwhite.
- For children: Kindle Paperwhite Kids.
- For color books and comics: Onyx Boox Go Color 7 or Kindle Colorsoft.
- For note-taking: Kindle Scribe or ReMarkable Paper Pro.
- For library users: Kobo Libra Colour.
FAQ
6 inches is the most compact option for daily reading. 7-inch e-readers are a universal balance between convenience and text size. 10 inches is the choice for PDFs, textbooks, and those who like a big screen.
Kobo e-readers support these services. They allow borrowing books directly from libraries. Kindle does not support OverDrive natively.
Monochrome E Ink is better for long reading sessions with plain text. Color displays are better for comics, magazines, and illustrated textbooks but are more expensive and have shorter battery life.
