Kindle vs. Nook vs. iPad: Which e-book reader should you buy?

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cnet.com - 10/2/2011
John Falcone

Editors' note: This story was updated October 2, 2011 to reflect the latest product announcements and to address upcoming rumored products.

Amazon pretty much invented the mainstream e-book market, so it's no surprise that the company's recently announced fall product line-up has turned the market--and this buying guide--on its head. Meanwhile, imminent new products from Sony, a big new iPad software update, and rumored products from Barnes & Noble are altering the consumer e-book reader market as well.

We're in the process of updating this story from top to bottom. In the meantime, however, here's a quick cheat sheet on what you need to know about upcoming products:

New Amazon Kindles: Amazon announced three new e-ink Kindle models for fall 2011, including new touch-screen models. All are affordably priced from $79 to $189. The company has also generated huge buzz with the debut of its new color 7-inch tablet, the $199 Kindle Fire. However, most of these new products won't be out until mid- to late November. (In the meantime, the 2010 Kindle has been renamed the Kindle Keyboard, and is selling at a discount while supplies last.) Verdict: Worth waiting for. There's a lot to like about the new $79 Kindle, so we'd hold off on any buying decisions for a few weeks until we can review the step-up models--including the Kindle Fire.

New Sony Reader: Sony, a pioneer in the e-reader space, is releasing its 2011 Sony Reader Wi-Fi PRS-T1 in October for $149. Verdict: Needs a price cut. We know this model offers a touch-compatible e-ink screen, Wi-Fi, audio playback capability, and support for reading library books--but the forthcoming Kindle Touch matches all of those features for $50 less.

Rumored new Barnes & Noble Nook Color: The original Nook Color was launched in October 2010, so it wouldn't be at all surprising to see a new model hit now (about a year later). There are rumors--completely unconfirmed, we must point out--that we'll see a refreshed 7-inch Nook Color, and/or a larger Nook Color for $349. Verdict: B&N needs to go big or go home. Barnes & Noble's Nook Color and $139 Nook Touch were the best readers in their respective price classes for months--with an emphasis on the "were." Amazon's aggressive new pricing means that B&N needs to announce and release any updated products ASAP, and do so at lower prices than Amazon, regardless of how it hurts profits.

Apple iPad gets iOS 5: At $499, the iPad is two to six times more expensive than the e-reader products listed above--but as a full-fledged multimedia tablet that competes with some laptops, it's really a different class of product. Nevertheless, an upcoming software update (to iOS 5) will bring even more reading options, most notable of which is the new Newsstand app--basically an app store for magazines and newspapers. Verdict: An excellent tablet is only getting better, but the iPad's comparatively large price--and size--will give bargain hunters pause as cheaper competition looms.


CNET's current recommendation: Wait The next six to eight weeks--from early October to mid-November--will completely overturn the e-book and tablet product categories. The new and updated products listed above offer the potential for more choices and better values than we've ever seen. We strongly recommend that you hold off on any buying decisions until we've gotten a chance to fully review all of these new products, and update our recommendations accordingly.

Shopping for an e-book reader? The good news is that you have more choices--at better prices--than ever before. The bad news? There are more choices than ever before. In the realm of dedicated e-book readers, the market has consolidated around a handful of major players: mainly Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with Kobo and Sony bringing up the rear. But every major tablet--including the Apple iPad 2 and nearly every Android tablet--also doubles as a reader.

So, should you get an inexpensive e-ink reader or go for a more versatile color tablet? Should you wait for rumored new versions of the Kindle or the Nook Color? Those are the dilemmas facing any shopper today. But don't worry; CNET's here to help. If you're an experienced shopper, you can jump straight to our current recommendations-or check our lists of top e-book readers and top tablets. If you're looking for a more in-depth discussion, read on to consult this quick guide, which boils the purchase decision down to seven questions:


1. Reader vs. tablet: Do you want more than just reading?


Start by asking yourself what you're really looking for. Do you just want to read books? How about magazines and newspapers? What about browsing the Web? Want to add multimedia to the mix--music, audiobooks, or video? Do you need Flash support? E-mail and messaging? Gaming?


If you want to stick with "just reading"--books, and maybe some newspapers and magazines--an e-book reader ($114 to $189) is probably your best bet. Every additional feature you add will put you on the road to a more full-featured tablet (an iPad or one of the growing number of Android tablets). A tablet is much more versatile and can replace a laptop for many tasks--but it will cost you upward of $300 to start.

Splitting the difference is the Nook Color. It's primarily a Barnes & Noble reader, but it's got a color touch screen and such tablet-esque features as e-mail, calendar, to-do lists, Web browsing, and even Flash video. The curated app store has dozens of apps--not the tens of thousands you'll find on iPad and true Android tablets--but it includes such keystone programs as Pandora, Angry Birds, and the like. In short, it will be "good enough" for many users, and its $249 price tag is half that of entry-level iPad models and most Android tablets.

Best basic e-book reader: Barnes & Noble Nook (with touch screen), Amazon Kindle (cheaper, no touch screen)

Best reading tablet for less than $250: Barnes & Noble Nook Color

Best all-around full-featured reading tablets: Apple iPad 2, Sony Tablet S, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1



2. How large of a screen (and weight) do you want?


Even if you plan to never leave home with your e-book reader, you should consider its size before buying one. Since you hold the device in front of you whenever you want to read, the weight and size can be an issue.

The smallest and lightest dedicated e-book reader we've seen to date is the Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-350, which has a 5-inch touch screen and weighs just 5.5 ounces (without a case). Unfortunately, this otherwise excellent touch-screen reader lacks Wi-Fi, which makes it tough to recommend. (It's also about to be replaced by Sony's 2011 Readers.)

In the 6-inch-screen class, the 2011 Kobo weighs a bit less than 7.1 ounces (without case). The latest e-ink Nook, meanwhile, tips the scales at a very portable 7.5 ounces--more than a third lighter than the original. And the Amazon Kindle is a svelte 8.7 ounces (without case). Even with cases, all three models are light enough to hold for extended reading sessions without tiring.

The Nook Color boasts a larger 7-inch screen, but it weighs almost a full pound (15.8 ounces). There are also a smattering of 7-innch Android tablets available.

If you want a truly large screen (around 10 inches), you'll want to buy the Kindle DX, Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Sony Tablet S, or similar Android models. However, those big beautiful screens come at a price: they're comparatively heavy.

Don't get us wrong, all of these big-screen readers and tablets are far lighter than a laptop; the Kindle DX, iPad 2, Sony Tablet S, and Galaxy Tab 10.1 all weigh between 1.2 and 1.4 pounds. But unlike a laptop--which sits on a table or in your lap while in use--you'll be actively holding these readers or tablets aloft. For long reading sessions--say, more than 45 minutes or so--many users will find their fingers and arms becoming strained.

Remember, all e-book readers let you adjust the font size of the content you're reading, so even a small screen can display much larger type than you're used to seeing in a book, magazine, or newspaper. In other words, a smaller screen does not mean you need to sacrifice readability.

Lightest e-book readers: Kobo eReader Touch Edition, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook

Midsize readers/tablets: Nook Color, Samsung Galaxy Tab (7-inch), HTC Flyer

Large-screen readers/tablets: Amazon Kindle DX. Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1,Sony Tablet S



3. What are your screen preferences: E-ink or color LCD?


E-ink: As close as you'll get to a printed page
Dedicated e-book readers, such as the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, and Sony Reader, use an e-ink screen. However, e-ink screens have some drawbacks: they're black and white, and the pages don't refresh as quickly as those on an LCD do. However, they do an excellent job of reproducing the look of printed paper. They're not backlit--so you can't read in the dark--but you can read them in direct sunlight, which is something you can't do on an LCD screen (a fact Amazon is keen to point out in its advertising).

If you prefer to read at night with e-ink, however, all is not lost; cases with built-in lights (such as this Kindle model) are available.

The "Pearl" screen by E Ink is now standard on all major e-ink readers. So, whether you're getting the 2011 Nook or Kobo or the 2010 Sony Reader or Kindle, you're basically getting the same exact screen. Furthermore, E Ink has confirmed that it wont't be releasing a Pearl successor before the end of 2011.

LCD: Bright, backlit--and potentially tiring
By contrast, the LCD screens found on all tablets (and the Nook Color) are bright, colorful, beautiful displays. But those advantages have trade-offs. The reflective screens on LCD tablets make it hard to read in bright light, and many people find that the backlight tires their eyes over long reading sessions.


Touch screen: All but Kindle
All tablets (iPad, Android, etc.) have touch screens, as do all current models of major brand e-ink readers--except the Kindle. That will undoubtedly change when a newer Kindle is eventually (presumably) released. But for now, if you buy the Kindle, you'll have to forgo touch-screen control.

How to choose
So, which screen is better for reading: e-ink or LCD? We can't answer that question for you. (See "LCD vs. e-ink: The eyestrain debate".) If you don't have a problem staring at your laptop or LCD monitor screen for hours on end--or if you enjoy reading in low light without an external light source--you'll probably like an LCD screen. Likewise, if you enjoy reading Web sites, magazines, and newspapers, and if you want support for interactive children's books, you'll want to go with color. However, if you prefer the look of newsprint or if you enjoy reading outside, an e-ink display is your friend.

Whether you're checking your preference for e-ink versus LCD or touch screen versus keyboard controls, we'd strongly recommend that you try a few devices before you buy one. You'll find most major e-book readers (Kindles, Nooks, Sony Readers, Apple iPads, Android tablets) under one roof at your local Best Buy.

Best e-ink readers: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo eReader Touch Edition

Best LCD readers/tablets: Barnes & Noble Nook Color, Apple iPad 2, or any good tablet



4. Do you need always-on wireless data?


When buying many tablets and some e-book readers, you'll need to make a choice between two versions: the Wi-Fi model or the 3G version. In other words: do you want the more affordable Wi-Fi model (which requires you to be near a Wi-Fi hot spot to download books or access the Internet), or do you prefer to pay a premium--via a higher up-front price and/or a monthly bill--to add 3G access on a cellular wireless network?

If you're primarily interested in reading books, you're probably going to be fine opting for Wi-Fi-only models. You only need Wi-Fi access when you're buying new books. (E-book files are stored on the device--once downloaded, Internet access isn't necessary.) So, if you're a voracious reader, you can (for instance) buy a bunch of books, toggle off your Wi-Fi, and work your way through them at your leisure. In fact, many users keep the wireless on their readers switched off most of the time since it significantly boosts battery life.

If you're using your hardware to access anything besides e-books--magazine or newspaper subscriptions, e-mail, the Web, apps, and so forth--ubiquitous wireless access becomes more important. Still, if you're using the reader/tablet primarily at home, Wi-Fi will probably remain sufficient.

If you're a power user or frequent traveler, opting for a 3G product is worth considering.

The current Nook, Nook Color, and Kobo models are only available in Wi-Fi versions. Amazon and Sony offer more expensive step-up Kindle and Sony Reader models that offer 3G wireless. Notably, those manufacturers don't charge any extra monthly fees for the 3G data services, but it's really only useful for shopping for new books and downloading new issues of magazines and newspapers--don't expect to be surfing the Web and watching video on those e-ink screens.

Tablets, of course, offer a much wider array of media options--and, as a result, 3G (or 4G) data access is much more tempting. Many Android tablets, such as the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab, are available in carrier-specific versions with terms similar to that of smartphones: you get a discount on the hardware, but you'll need to sign up for a two-year contract with beefy monthly bills. (Most Android tablets now also offer contract-free Wi-Fi-only versions.)

On the 3G versions of the iPad, you'll pay a monthly fee to the cellular company (AT&T or Verizon), but it's a prepaid monthly service, not a long-term contract; in other words, you can cancel or restart any time, without paying an expensive early-termination fee. But for the privilege of 3G connectivity, the iPad costs $130 more than its respective Wi-Fi-only equivalent model.

Is 3G wireless a must-have? That's a question you'll need to answer. Just remember that--with more phones offering Wi-Fi hot-spot functionality and establishments such as Starbucks offering free Wi-Fi--there are plenty of ways to get seamless online coverage with your reading device without it having 3G network support built-in.

Best Wi-Fi e-ink readers: Amazon Kindle (Wi-Fi), Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo eReader Touch edition

Best Wi-Fi tablets: Barnes & Noble Nook Color, Apple iPad 2 (Wi-Fi), Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Best 3G e-ink readers: Amazon Kindle with SpecialOffers (3G/Wi-Fi), Amazon Kindle (3G/Wi-Fi)

Best 3G tablet: Apple iPad 2 (3G/Wi-Fi): Verizon or AT&T



5. Apps vs. hardware: Which reading platform offers the most flexibility?


One of the advantages of having your reading collection "in the cloud" is that you can access your books on multiple devices, though some e-book vendors offer better cross-platform support than others do.

This is where terminology can get a bit confusing: the e-book stores can be available on different devices, including (in the case of Apple) those of rival e-book publishers--the e-book equivalent of buying a can of Pepsi from a Coke vending machine.


This multidevice support is accomplished through apps. On tablets (iPad, Android, and more), smartphones (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and others), and PCs (Mac and Windows), users can download free apps that let them read e-books from a variety of vendors. So, you can read a Kindle book on your iPad, a Nook book on your Android phone, or a Kobo book on your BlackBerry--and that's just for starters.

As of September 2011, here's how app support breaks down for each major e-book platform:

Kindle: Besides Kindle hardware readers, Kindle books can be accessed on iPads, iPhones, iPod Touch handhelds, Android phones (version 2.1 and later), Android tablets, many BlackBerry phones, Windows PCs, Macs, Windows Phone 7 phones, and via HTML 5-compatible browsers (the Kindle Cloud Reader).

Nook: Besides Nook hardware readers, Nook books can be accessed on iPads, iPhones, iPod Touch handhelds, Android phones (version 2.1 and later), Android tablets, many BlackBerry phones, Windows PCs, and Macs.

Kobo: Besides Kobo hardware readers, Kobo books can be accessed on iPads, iPhones, iPod Touch handhelds, Android phones (version 2.1 and later), Android tablets, many BlackBerry phones, the Palm Pre (WebOS), the BlackBerry PlayBook, Windows PCs, and Macs. Full details: smartphones, tablets, PCs/Macs.

iBooks: Apple's e-book store is currently only available on Apple iOS devices--iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Sony Reader: Besides Sony Reader hardware, Sony books can be accessed on Android phones, Windows PCs, and Macs. (Now that Apple has modified the terms of the App Store, we expect that the Sony Reader iOS app--originally rejected by Apple--will be modified and resubmitted.) Full details: Android phones, PCs/Macs

Nearly all of these apps allow you to sync your position in a book across devices, so if you read up to, say, Page 229 on your phone, you can pick up on that same page on your tablet or reader, and vice versa.

All of the apps are free, and--since each bookstore offers a wide selection of free books--you can freely experiment with any and all of the apps that work with your respective hardware.

Best cross-platform providers: Kindle, Nook, Kobo

Most versatile hardware readers: Apple iPad 2, Apple iPhone, Apple iPod Touch, Android phones with full Android Market support, Android tablets with full Android Market support


6. Can I check out e-books from my local library?


Many local libraries offer the ability to check out an e-book on loan--just as you can do with a regular book. Previously, support for this varied across e-readers and tablets. However, now it's basically universal. The Kindle was the last major holdout, but as of September 21, Amazon's e-reader can be used to read free library loaners as well.

Library support is generally accomplished in one of three ways (all of which, of course, require you to have an account with your local library):

For dedicated e-readers--download and sync: Users of the Nook, Kobo, and Sony Readers can download e-book files from their local library's Web site and transfer them to the readers via a USB cable. You'll need free software such as Adobe Digital Editions to complete the process. The video below details the process on the Nook, but the process is similar on Kobo, Sony, and other EPUB-compatible readers. (You can also do a version of USB sync for the Kindle--see below.)

Get free library books on your Nook

For tablets, smartphones, and computers--OverDrive Media Console: If you're reading on a tablet (iPad or Android), a smartphone (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7), or a computer (Windows or Mac), reading e-books from the library is far simpler. Just install the free OverDrive Media Console app. OverDrive will allow you to download and read library e-books--and MP3 audiobooks--within the app itself, without the need to sync up with a computer. (See the video below for more information.)



Get free e-books from the library

For Amazon Kindle (hardware or app): Amazon partnered with OverDrive to enable library lending, and the result is pretty seamless. Choose the e-book from the Web site of your local library, add the Kindle version to the cart, and check out. You'll be redirected to the book's corresponding Amazon page, where you can automatically send it to your Kindle reader or app (next time you sync via Wi-Fi), or you can download the file and sync via USB.



Current recommendations


Our current buying recommendations are listed below. However, anyone in the market for a new e-book reader or tablet should note these major (rumored) product updates:

New Kindles? The 2010 Amazon Kindle is now more than a year old (it debuted in late July 2010), and is ripe to be replaced at any time. In fact, Amazon has scheduled a press event on September 28, at which we expect the company to announce a new tablet or e-ink reader (which follows a series of credible rumors).

New Nook Color? The original Nook Color hit stores in November 2010. We were expecting a replacement soon, and there are rumors one or two new Nook Colors could hit very soon.

New Sony Readers: This one's not a rumor. Sony has confirmed that it will be releasing new 2011 Readers in October.

Given the likelihood of one or more disruptive new products hitting the market, CNET strongly recommends that you delay purchasing an e-book reader or reading tablet until later in the autumn. At the very least, wait to see what Amazon will be revealing on September 28.

With that above caveat in mind: As of September 2011, CNET recommends two e-ink e-book readers, one 7-inch LCD reading tablet, and one full-size LCD tablet.

Best overall e-ink reader: Barnes & Noble Nook. The 2011 Nook delivers the best touch-screen e-ink reading experience you can get at the current time, and it sells for an affordable $139.

Best bargain e-ink reader: Amazon Kindle with Special Offers. Unlike the Nook, the Kindle supports audio (Audible audiobooks, MP3 playback, and text-to-voice autonarration). And, as of September 21, 2011, the Kindle can now access free loaner books from thousands of local libraries (as the Nook does). However, the Kindle is now the only major reader that does not offer a touch screen. As mentioned above, we expect a touch-screen Kindle to be released before the end of 2011. In the meantime, though, the entry-level Wi-Fi Kindle can be had for just $114.

Best sub-$250 color e-reader: Barnes & Noble Nook Color. Though it's not as versatile as the iPad or most Android tablets, its latest software update adds a bevy of great apps (including e-mail and Flash video), and the price is literally half that of those more expensive tablets.

Best full-featured reading tablet: Apple iPad 2. If you want a more full-featured tablet that can double as an e-book reader, the Apple iPad 2 is currently the best choice. It offers free Kindle, Nook, and Kobo reading apps, with full access to the content in those e-book stores. (Additionally, the iPad offers Apple's own iBooks application, though those e-books can't be accessed on any non-iOS device.) Android tablets also double as good e-book readers, with those same three major e-book apps available. The Sony Tablet S and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 are currently our top-rated Android tablets.

Depending on what features are important to you--color versus black-and-white screen, backlight versus readability in the sun, touch screen versus not, cheap versus expensive, 3G versus Wi-Fi, lightweight versus heavy, reading-only versus full-featured--the device you prefer may be different from ours. However, there's no arguing that the range of choices for e-book readers is better and more affordable now than it ever has been.


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