Electronic readers how to choose. How to choose an e-book for reading - which readers are better. e-book reader - advantages of the reader

Despite the active development of cinematography, the appearance of electronic books on the modern techno market was able to return the love of literature to millions of people. What is an e-book, and which one is better - we will consider further.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Are you over 18 already?

E-book: which one is better?

Before we find out which e-book is better, let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of readers over a traditional book.

Let's start with disadvantages:

• The e-book needs to be charged. Even the most durable battery of simple models runs out sooner or later;
• there is no pleasant pleasure from turning pages;
• some models impair vision;
• there is no collectible aspect: even people who are not inclined to collectibles love a beautiful selection of books on a shelf.

As you can see, all the shortcomings are not critical. They can be called echoes of the traditional culture of reading.

Now let's analyze the positive qualities of e-readers:

1. The price of reading. Many works are legally freely available on the Internet. Considering the prices of print editions, your e-book will pay for itself in two to three dozen novels. There are free resources, the main thing is to know.

2. Ecological purity. We all love old books, but the human body can hardly endure book dust. Many are familiar with a slight runny nose and itchy eyes when reading old books. With electronic media, these inconveniences will not affect you.

3. Compactness. A good bestseller can reach a fair amount of thickness and weight - an e-reader is small and light.

4. whole library in pocket. Even the cheapest model holds a hundred or two texts. So you don't have to worry about choosing which book to take on your trip. You just take ALL options.

5. Additional features. Expensive models go beyond the reading format, allowing you to listen to music and watch movies. There are plenty of fans of reading with background music, and this feature will be very useful for them. Watching movies is, of course, not compatible with reading. But the presence of such a function is still nice.

As you can see, the advantages of an electronic device are much greater than the disadvantages. So with peace of mind we will figure out how to choose the best option. The main thing to understand right away is that there is no universal ideal option. Therefore, first of all, you should decide what you need this device for. Will you only read and nothing more? Do you need additional functions: Internet, music, video viewing? Do you want key control or touch screen?

Based on these questions, you can choose the best option for you without overpaying for extra features.

How to choose the right ebook

Let's figure out in detail how to choose the right e-book.

Screen type

The screens of all books are divided into LCD and E-Ink.

LCDs are the same screens as on laptops and tablets. The advantages of LCD are a color image, a clear display of pictures, and a fast frame change. It will take about 2 ms to change the image. Cons LCD: an order of magnitude higher energy consumption, smaller viewing angles, more harm to the eyes.

E-ink - electronic ink. This technology gives an image that is completely identical to a real book, which is much more comfortable for the eyes than LCD. A nice feature is the battery charge: it is spent only when changing the page, which is why an E-Ink book can last a whole month, or even two, on a single charge. They turn E-Ink pages not so fast: at a speed of 50 ms. Like a regular book, E-Ink is perfectly readable in bright sunlight and has a viewing angle of 180°. True, in the dark without separate lighting it will not be possible to read. By the way, the flashlight is sold as an additional accessory. So the lack of light is not a deadly problem.

To summarize the theme of the screen: if you need a book and only a book, then E-Ink is without a doubt your option. If you intend to look at a lot of images or use the Internet, then it is better to take an LCD.

Format support

The main formats for today are .pdf, .djvu and .fb2. It is on them that you should be guided when choosing a reader. The three formats listed are the basic required minimum. Additional formats should be taken based on your budget.

Memory size

As a rule, the minimum volume of books is 2 GB. That's enough for hundreds of books. If you are also going to watch movies or listen to music, then it is better to take a device with more memory. Ideally, focus on devices that have support for memory cards in order to use it if necessary.

Availability of additional functions

If you need this read-only device, then you should refuse additional functions. The price increases significantly with each additional feature.

Dimensions and the weight

In the case of our device, it would be a mistake to chase the big screen. The reader should be ergonomic and mobile. Therefore, be guided by such a size that you feel comfortable reading. It should fit in your pocket or bag. Optimal - screen 800 × 600. Good quality at no extra cost. The weight of such a device will be in the range of 150-250 grams.

Let's summarize. If you need a good book to read, then take a device based on E-Ink technology. Reading such a device will be comfortable even for an elderly person. Choosing a child is more difficult. It's up to the parents. E-ink is safer for the eyes. LCD allows you to read comics and fully enjoy the illustrations of children's books.

Top best models for 2018

A charged version of one of the best readers on the planet PocketBook 614 has got a Plus model. The device is equipped with the latest generation ink screen with support for Regal technology, which significantly reduces the number of stains from the previous page when turning over. Yes, this model does not have Wi-Fi, touch control or backlight, but this is the ultimate solution for a person who spends too much on printed books. The built-in 8 GB is enough for him.

The flagship model of the reader includes the most significant features that an e-book can have. 6 inch The E-Ink screen feels more solid and confident in the hand than other models. And not in vain, because the traditional resolution of 800x600 is replaced by 1448x1072. It is also worth noting the amount of memory in 8 GB, built-in MP3 player, backlight and Wi-Fi.

One of the best models runs on a Freescale processor. Add 512Mb of RAM to it and you will get a fast reader that will cope with any task. Location buttons on the sides ensure comfortable reading even when traveling in public transport. 4 GB internal memory.

Let's finish the rating with a budget-class reader. Ritmix RBK-675FL. Diagonal display E-Ink Carta 6 inches with a resolution of 758 × 1024. The device is equipped with a built-in backlight and 4 GB memory. The manufacturer rightly believes that large volumes and additional drives only increase the price in vain.

Which e-book is better: reviews

Last year was a return to reading in the classic version. The most popular were devices without additional functions, giving the greatest comfort to the eyes. LCD readers inferior in image quality and functionality to tablets. And at the same time, they lose to electronic ink in terms of price and operating time.

Therefore, in all the tops for the year in the heading “which e-book is better, reviews”, E-Ink readers are located in all places. Color electronic ink has already appeared. But monochrome is enough for reading. Therefore, while the market is ruled by screens with grayscale. Perhaps in the future, with a decrease in the price of color technology, the situation will change. But now, when deciding which book to pick up, color or grayscale, most buyers opt for the monochrome option.

And the last little tip on how to choose an e-book. Choose a device just like a book: so that it lies well in your hands and does not tire your eyes. If you want more features: movies, music, convenient Internet and games, then it's better to take a tablet. The money will be the same, but the quality of additional features is higher.

Knowing how to choose an e-book should be for those users of mobile electronic gadgets who want to get a specialized reading device at their disposal.

With their help, eyes are less tired, and the reading process itself is extended from 4-5 hours to several days - and in order for the gadget to meet the needs of the user, a number of nuances should be taken into account before buying it, from size to functionality.

Screen

When choosing an e-book, the main attention is paid to such a parameter as a display, which can be ordinary, that is, TFT, or specially designed for reading - E-Ink technology.

Each of these options has its pros and cons- but in most cases it is recommended to choose the second one, that is, "electronic paper".

Its disadvantages include the presence of only shades of gray and the inability to support video viewing (and even that can be run on some TFT models) - but there are still more advantages when using it as a book.

Considering e-book versions with TFT display, the following advantages can be noted:

• functionality comparable to tablet PCs (sometimes even launching games);
• color screen, the brightness of which is enough for reading at night;
• more affordable cost.

However, such e-books also have a lot of shortcomings - first of all, their battery runs out much faster (2-3 times faster compared to "electronic paper").

Secondly, in the sun, the display of a TFT device practically does not allow you to read or even consider any image. In addition, the functionality of such an e-book is noticeably inferior even.

Thus, if a user needs a gadget with a color display that can play books in basic formats and additionally run video, audio, and even games, it’s worth buying a good one (or financially suitable). In other cases, it is better to give preference to the "electronic paper" type screen.

Control

When choosing how to control your tablet, you can give preference to a model with buttons or a version with a touch screen.

In this case, the main criteria may be:

• price, which will be lower for push-button "readers" - touch ones, as a rule, cost a little more.
• ergonomics- some users find it easier to habitually turn pages, others will like switching screens by pressing buttons;
• image quality- as a rule, the touch models of "electronic paper" do not have such a clear picture as the push-button versions.

In most cases, push-button versions are more convenient for a regular e-book that does not have additional functionality in the form of access to the network.

And the buttons on the sides of the screen will further increase the usability of the gadget.

Sometimes manufacturers offer full-fledged qwerty keyboards for their e-books - however, this technical solution is becoming less and less popular as all gadgets gradually switch to touch control.

The best option may be tablets that have both a touch screen and additional buttons - like on old smartphones or tablets.

By choosing such a gadget, you can use the sensor to perform certain tasks (settings, open files), but still flip through the pages with physical keys.

Another option related to e-book management is image flip.

On older models, the orientation was changed in the settings, the new ones allow you to do this automatically, using built-in sensors.

Budget equipment usually does not receive the rotation function and is not even equipped with gyroscopes or accelerometers.

Data transfer

An important nuance that must be paid attention to before buying an e-book is the way information is transmitted.

A few years ago, there were only two ways to transfer documents and files to the “reader” or vice versa - using a wired connection to a PC or via a card.

Modern models are very diverse - almost all of them support wireless networks and can either synchronize or Wi-Fi with other gadgets, or enter the Network in the same way.

The presence of Wi-Fi in an e-book is a useful feature, but not always necessary for users who simply read already downloaded and purchased literature.

Moreover, it is more convenient to surf the Internet or view sites using other gadgets -.

Much more often, wireless communication is used in order to quickly move files between devices.

Wired data transfer via a USB port is usually available with every e-book.

With the help of the same connector, the gadget is also charged.

Some models that play audio and video files are also equipped with a headphone jack, with which you can listen to music, and even turn on audio books.

Working hours

The duration of work without recharging is one of the main characteristics that a user who is going to read an e-book, mainly on the go, should pay attention to.

It is also desirable for the same person to buy a model with a display made using E-Link technology and consuming a minimum of energy.

This "e-paper" consumes battery power only when the picture changes, thanks to which the battery lasts for several days - for some e-books even for a couple of weeks.

The 8" and 9.7" touch screens even allow you to change drawings, acting like tablets - only more economical and convenient.

A common disadvantage of large screens is the lack of colors used. On a black and white display, you can only view books - in extreme cases, diagrams. Illustrations for which colors are important will have to be viewed on a more expensive gadget - you can even find colored “electronic paper” on the market, although its image quality is slightly worse than that of TFT screens.

Housing materials

The body of gadgets is most often made of plastic - it is not easy to find a metal device, especially since its strength will not be so higher as to neglect light weight for it.

It is best to pay attention to the soft-touch plastic coating, which resembles rubber to the touch and does not slip in the hands.

Not too strong plastic can be compensated for by special covers that often come with the reader.

Their use allows you to protect the e-book from scratches and cracks that may appear during transportation.

The advantage of covers is the ability to change the design of the e-book - for example, to make it more colorful.

Important: The case included makes it easy to fit. However, by purchasing the cover separately, you can get any color option. Despite the fact that most of them are black or gray, nothing prevents the user from purchasing a red or blue model.

Hardware and software

Having decided on the display size and control method, you can proceed to the choice of the "stuffing" of the gadget:

• Matrix, which can have a resolution of 800x480 pixels. The maximum resolution of modern models reaches 1600x1200 and even 1872x1404 pixels.
• Presence of speakers- an important feature for models that play mp3 and avi files.
• The amount of built-in and RAM. Although most often it does not matter much - the reader is designed to play text files or, in extreme cases, images, so "RAM" in any case will be enough. Much more important is the amount of ROM, which can reach 4-8 GB and hold several hundred books.

To transfer and store information in e-books, not only internal memory is used, but also microSD cards - most popular models have slots for them.

Thus, it practically does not matter how much the internal memory of the "reader" has - it is easy to increase it several times.

Although the gadget's ROM is usually enough for books (even 1 GB allows you to store more than a hundred documents), an extension is usually required when using the device to store images, music and videos.

Format support

The ability to play different types of files is an important feature of any e-book.

Every modern reader will easily open a text document with permissions .txt or .doc majority support and pdf files.

Popular book formats like .epub, .fb2 and .mobi also open with any e-book - including budget models.

On the other hand, you should not worry about maintaining the permission of a file with information.

Most e-book stores and free content sites allow you to download books in various formats.

Best to use FB2- it is convenient to use such files, set bookmarks and jump to the beginning of chapters from the content. If necessary, the format can be changed - for this there are special converter programs.

In the list of formats supported by the book can be:

• Uncommon text files DjVu, RTF and PRC- their presence allows you to do without data conversion.
• .zip– archives that can contain books on the network. The advantage of supporting archived data allows you to read literature immediately after downloading it from the Web. If they are not available, the archive will first have to be moved to a PC or laptop for unpacking.
• Graphic arts - .jpeg, .bmp, .gif and .png.
• .html– Format support often means having a built-in browser.
• .mp3- "Readers" with support for audio files provide listening to music while or instead of reading (audiobook or Text-to-Speech function). You can also use such books to create audio notes - but for this, the reader must have a microphone.

When deciding on the functionality of an e-book, you should know that additional features always increase its cost - a “reader” with audio support will cost more than a regular one, although not every user will need the function of listening to music.

In the absence of financial opportunities to purchase gadgets with support for the maximum number of formats, you should pay attention only to texts and images - and you can leave audio and video playback.

Characteristics of the best models

ebook rating

Each of the e-books on the list has its own advantages - although it has a number of disadvantages.

Considering user feedback and test results, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1 Advantages of the model Onyx Boox Chronos can be called the maximum functionality among all e-books in the rating. It not only comes with a touch screen, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but also has a maximum battery life. Among the minuses are the relatively high cost and heavy weight.

2 At the "reader" Onyx Boox M96M ZEUS the pluses include a large diagonal, convenient control with a joystick and support for most book formats. Among the minuses - an even higher price and lack of screen backlight.

3 At the gadget Amazon Kindle DX The main feature is also a large and clear display. An additional plus is support for connecting to the Web. There are practically no drawbacks, except for the cost - especially since the gadget is even capable of playing music.

4 Benefits PocketBook 840-2 Inkpad 2 support for most file resolutions (from .txt to .mp3) and a screen with maximum clarity among other "readers" are considered. The only downside is the lack of a case and not too budget price.

5 Sony PRS-900 Daily Edition It features a capacious battery, good resolution (the best among 8-inch models) and a large amount of memory. There are few cons - one of them is the inability to read in the sun due to glare on the screen.

6 Benefits of a Reader Texet TB-710HD is the affordable cost (with a touch screen) and the playback of audio and video files (in HD format). Among the minuses - a glossy display, which is not the best viewing angles and contrast.

Rice. 12. E-book Reader Book 2.

9 "Reader" Gmini MagicBook S62LHD received a good battery for its size and backlight with smooth adjustment. The disadvantages are the small size of the internal memory and the inability to rotate the image when you rotate the screen.

Conclusion

Comparing the capabilities of different models, we can advise you to choose one of them at the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018, guided first by the price and only then by the possibilities.

Those who need a simple "reader", which is convenient to carry, should buy models with a diagonal of 6 inches.

If you need to additionally listen to music (and even watch videos), you should pay attention to the Texet e-book.

This e-book has an optimal ratio of cost to functionality and low weight.

In order to almost completely replace a real A5 book (but with the ability to access the network and store several hundred works on flash memory) and if you have the opportunity to spend at least $ 300, it is recommended to choose models with a 9.7-inch screen.

Our country is considered one of the most read in the world, and it is not surprising that with the advent of new technologies in our lives, devices for reading electronic books (electronic books, readers, book readers, e-bookreader) become one of the most popular gadgets and are rapidly replacing paper media. There are many reasons for this, and here are the main ones:

• dimensions: the e-book is very compact and lighter than a regular book;
• the internal memory of the book reader allows you to store a large number of e-books;
• customization options: the user can change the size and format of the text font, etc.;
• the price of e-books is usually much less than printed ones, and there is also the opportunity to download books for free on the Internet;
• care for the environment: conservation of forests that are cut down for the production of paper for ordinary books.

In this review, we want to help those who want to buy an e-reader, but cannot decide on the variety of e-books with the manufacturer and model of the device. Therefore, we will tell you what e-books are, how they differ from each other, and most importantly, which one to choose.

Device for reading electronic books (electronic book, reader, book reader) is a device designed to display textual information in electronic form, such as electronic books. These devices differ from tablet computers in limited functionality, but significantly longer battery life. The latter is achieved through the use of a special display manufacturing technology, the so-called "electronic paper" or "electronic ink" (E-Ink, less often SiPix). Such a display imitates a paper sheet, usually displays up to 16 shades of gray, but consumes energy only when turning the page. In the recent past, models of cheaper e-readers with TFT displays were popular, which would be more correct to call not e-books, but multimedia players, and now budget tablets are an alternative to an e-reader.

E-ink or TFT?

What type of screen to choose: E-Ink or TFT?

E-Ink Technology

E-ink displays are currently considered the best for e-books. Such displays have both a number of pluses and minuses, but if you want to buy a device specifically for reading electronic books, then e-readers with an E-Ink display are the best choice, because. reading from such devices is the least harmful to your eyesight. Moreover, due to the rapid development of this technology and the emergence of new generations of electronic paper E-Ink Pearl and E-Ink Carta, reading is becoming more comfortable and safer for the eyes. Let's weigh the pros and cons of e-ink readers:

pros

• an image that imitates a paper page as much as possible;
• the perception of an image by a person on an E-Ink display is similar to paper text, which makes electronic books safe for sight;
• long battery life (up to 10,000 pages);
• large viewing angle (180 degrees) and no glare in the sun.

Minuses

• high manufacturing cost;
• the inability to view video and color images (color books on "electronic paper" are already appearing, but the image quality is far from ideal);
• the lack of display backlight in budget models, and the presence of backlight increases the cost of the book up to 1.5 times, while it is not always uniform;
• page turning may be accompanied by a delay and flickering.

TFT

This type of display is widely known: it is used in smartphones and tablets. Therefore, we will not torment you with long stories about this type of displays, but immediately proceed to listing its advantages and disadvantages.

pros

• color image;
• the ability to read in low light conditions without third-party illumination;
• the ability to view photos and videos;
• low cost.

Minuses

• high power consumption, resulting in much less battery life of a device with such a display than devices with an E-Ink display;
• eye strain, fatigue after a long reading;
• screen glare in the sun.

Thus, we can conclude that if you read a lot and you need an e-book specifically for reading, then you should choose an e-book reader with an E-Ink display. And if you read from time to time, like to watch movies on the road or “surf” the Internet, then a tablet is more suitable for you.

Manufacturers of book readers - who is cooler?

There are a lot of brands on the market right now. e-books, however, most of them simply order their manufacture in China and hang up their nameplates, without putting much effort into developing and updating software. Among the most popular e-book manufacturers that pay attention to the quality of product assembly, software and user support, one can single out such world-famous companies as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo, as well as Pocketbook and Onyx BOOX.

For a long time, due to high quality, Sony e-books were very popular, but, unfortunately, in 2014 the company abandoned this direction and curtailed the production of e-books.

Amazon

Amazon.com- one of the world's largest online retailers, as well as manufacturers of e-books, it is rightfully considered a leader in this area. Amazon Kindle e-books are the most popular readers in the world, but are not officially delivered to Russia, primarily due to the reluctance of most Russian users to buy content, which is what Amazon primarily earns on. However, this does not prevent Amazon devices from gaining more and more popularity in our country due to their high quality, advanced technologies and relatively low cost.

Barnes&Noble

Barnes&Noble is the largest book selling company in the United States with almost 100 years of history. Barnes & Noble, like Amazon, launched e-books more as a tool for users to buy content than as a stand-alone reading device to make money from. It is precisely with this that Barnes & Noble Nook e-books are not officially delivered to Russia, which, however, for a long time did not prevent Nook readers from competing in our market with Amazon readers. Unfortunately, the latest models of this manufacturer are not very successful in our opinion, therefore, at the time of this writing, these books were absent in our assortment. We hope the new Nook models will return their popularity in Russia.

Kobo

Canadian-Japanese company RakutenKobo Inc.- one of the world leaders in the sale of book content. The company also manufactures a range of reading devices Kobo e-books of high quality workmanship. They are also not officially delivered to Russia and do not have a Russian-language interface, but they find their consumer in our country due to their high quality and competitive price.

PocketBook

PocketBook Company, founded in 2007, specializes in the production of e-book readers. For several years now, e-readers under the PocketBook brand have been the most popular in Russia - they account for about 40% of the entire Russian e-reader market. PocketBook book readers are the most adapted for the Russian market, they are of high quality, functionality and versatility.

Onyx BOOX

E-books Onyx BOOX are also one of the most popular in our country. Onyx BOOX is widely focused on the Russian market, its products are distinguished by high quality and advanced technologies (Onyx Boox were among the first devices in Russia with E-ink Perl displays), as well as a convenient and beautifully designed user interface. Onyx BOOX readers have repeatedly received Product of the Year awards for high quality and excellent product design and are rightfully popular with Russian consumers. Onyx BOOX book readers are omnivorous: they support almost all known e-book formats, including FB2. All the latest models are based on the Android OS, which gives the user additional options.

All OnyxBOOX e-books belong to one or another series. At the time of writing, the current series were "Great Travelers", "Egyptian Series", "Author's Series", "Antique Series" and "MobiDick" Series.

Many modern gadgets play a fairly significant role in the process of everyday life. Some devices help to implement certain household processes. Examples of this are televisions, computers, washing machines, dishwashers, hobs, etc. With their help, we all get information, clean the house and keep our clothes in a neat state. However, there are devices that, for the most part, are responsible for the aesthetic and spiritual state of each individual person. Their role is also quite large, because many of us have an urgent need for spiritual enrichment and replenishment of knowledge. A good example of devices that support people's spirituality are e-books. These little gadgets allow you to save yourself from the maintenance of a large library in the house. All the necessary literature can fit in the memory of a portable gadget. However, the choice of device should be as competent as possible, because an avid reader will surely want to spend time doing their favorite thing in comfort. Therefore, in this article we will explain how to choose an e-book in 2018, and what selection criteria to use.

Why do you need an e-book?

It has already been said earlier that e-books are, first of all, comfort. This format allows you to store a large number of favorite works in one device. That is, you do not need to purchase books and fill the apartment with bulky bookcases. In addition, e-books also have a number of other features. For example, in this format it is very convenient to read literature in almost any conditions. For example, a person can devote himself to his favorite business only at night. In this case, there are no problems, since the screen of gadgets allows you to receive information in the dark without harming your eyes. Another example is public transport. E-books are usually small in size, which allows you to carry them right in your bag. But not all devices that exist today are distinguished by enviable functionality. Some devices should be analyzed in detail before direct purchase.

Basic options for choosing an e-book

The first element that needs scrupulous analysis is the screen. It is thanks to him that you can interact with the e-book comfortably. Thus, the screen is the basic element of the gadget. There are two types of screens on the modern market of digital devices: E-Ink screens and LCD screens. Each type has its own characteristic features. In both cases, you can comfortably read your favorite works.

e-ink - screen

However, "classic" devices come with E-Ink screens. This type is nothing more than an electronic type of ink. This kind of e-books most of all resemble a printed product. This text format is pleasing to the eye and the organs of vision do not get tired of it at all, it is well suited for both schoolchildren and the elderly.

LCD screens

The second type of screens, LCD, is found not only in e-readers, but also in tablets, monitors and TVs. Reading in color is definitely a pleasure. As a rule, such devices can be used in the form of a tablet, as they are endowed with a touch screen. However, for the organs of vision LCD - screens are harmful. Therefore, reading a book for a long time is simply uncomfortable. It is also necessary to note the viewing angle in both cases. In the case of an E-Ink screen, this parameter is 180°. This makes it possible to easily read the device in almost any position. But LCD-screens in this matter are significantly behind. Here the viewing angle is only 160 °. Therefore, with slight rotations of the device, the picture on the screen will be difficult to see. Thus, according to experts, gadgets with E-Ink screens are more convenient to use.

Screen Format

If the selection process is not difficult with the screen, then the issue of format support is more serious. It should be noted that the format is the resolution of the file. To date, many devices have a fairly large range of different formats that they support. The main ones are - pdf, fb2 and djvu. If you purchase a device that supports these formats, then, in principle, there will be no inconvenience for searching in the process of finding your favorite books. To date, the permissions presented are the most common on the network. But it is better to pay attention to such e-books that also support document formats - doc and txt. Sometimes there are situations when any files can be found on the Internet only in a certain format. If such a problem occurs, then it is better that the device supports one or another resolution. Otherwise, it will be simply impossible to read the necessary information.

Memory

As for memory, there are no special wishes in principle. It all depends on the person. If he is not a fan of storing books in order to read them again sometime, then the built-in amount of memory is quite enough. Otherwise, you can always use a flash card. To date, almost all e-books are equipped with slots for installing additional storage media. As practice shows, 4-5 GB of internal volume is enough for storage and reading.

Permission

Screen resolution is of great importance for the quality of reading. This device parameter should be about 6 inches in size. Such devices fit perfectly in small bags, jacket pockets, etc. At the same time, the picture quality on 6-inch screens is at a high level. There are also larger size e-readers, even 10-inch e-readers. But in them the picture quality will not be good enough, which again will have a negative impact on vision.

Ranking of the best e-books for 2018

Finally, we have come to the most interesting moment and present you our ranking of the best e-books for 2018. We have collected in it only the most reliable and high-quality models of e-books.

1. PocketBook 631 Touch HD
2. Reader Book 2
3. ONYX BOOX
4. Kobo Glo HD
5. ONYX BOOX MAX
6. ONYX BOOX Darwin 3
7. Amazon Kindle 5
8. Kobo Aura
9. Amazon Kindle Voyage
10. Smart Devices R7

The novelty of 2017, which remains popular in 2018 - PocketBook 641 Aqua 2. The only reader in Russia with protection against water, sand and dust: an e-book can be drowned in the sea, in the pool, in the bathroom - and nothing will happen to it. And in case of sanding or, for example, spilling beer or coffee on the PocketBook 641 Aqua 2, you can simply rinse the reader with water under the tap.

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 eyes, remain well readable in the bright sun (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 size. 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 a real multi-format - 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 up to 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.