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The latest e-readers, or ebook readers, deliver improved processing speeds and faster touchscreen performance with less lag and a more 'booky' look and feel.
Our experts test and review the latest models from Amazon Kindle and Kobo to tell you:
Several discontinued products (including a Kindle tablet) are also included in our test results. To see these products, select the 'Discontinued' filter to the left under 'Related products'.
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List of brands we tested in this review.
Recommended retail, as of November 2018.
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We recommend models that deliver an overall score of at least 80%.
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E-ink screen types include Pearl or the later generation Carta screens. An e-reader with e-ink doesn't need a backlight (although some of the latest models do have a backlight if required) and can last for weeks on a single charge, compared to a tablet device using an In Plane Switching (IPS) LCD screen which operates in a similar way to a laptop computer.
Some models offer an illumination feature to read an ebook in poor lighting conditions without the aid of an external book light. Although tablets can be useful in low light due to their backlit LCD screen, prolonged use can cause eyestrain. Adaptive lighting available on the Kindle Voyage and Kobo Aura One automatically adjusts the e-reader lighting to suit the ambient lighting of the environment. For example, if the surrounding lighting increases, the e-reader with adaptive lighting reduces its own lighting. Other features include the ability to reduce blue light exposure to help improve your sleep quality.
All the ereaders marked as waterproof have an an IPX8 durability rating means the e-reader can be dunked in up to two metres of water for up to 60 minutes.
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The tester considers each model for comfort when holding the e-reader in seated, standing and reclined positions.
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Our tester reads an ebook and assesses the quality under outdoor lighting conditions. This test can be challenging when reading tablet devices due to reflective glare and back-lighting.
Our tester reads an ebook under normal indoor lighting conditions.
E-readers using e-ink deliver the best reading experience you can get with an electronic device, but suffer the same limitations in lower light as a traditional paper book.
A Similar model is identical in most aspects except for a few. This means that a majority of its test results are identical so you can reasonably expect to get the same results from the model we tested, but for those aspects which aren't identical, we'll note these as "Not Tested" in the Compare tables.
A Tested model refers to a model that is still current and available in the Australian market. You should be able to order this model through your local retailer, or find it online.
These models can't be found in retailers or online or are no longer manufactured. You may still find these models on second hand websites, or in second hand dealers. Test methods may change over time, so criteria which can't be directly compared will contain an N/A.
An Identical model is exactly that. Performance characteristics will be identical and the only difference will be something trivial such as colour, which won't have an impact on performance.
These are models we haven't yet tested but that are available.
