Best e-readers to gift in 2024
Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
Amazon's newest Paperwhite, released in October, sports a slightly larger 7-inch screen and improved performance over its predecessor, with 25% faster page turns. According to CNET's David Carnoy, "The new Paperwhite does seem like a legitimate upgrade from the Paperwhite (2021), and I suspect people who've used that previous-gen Paperwhite will be tempted to make the jump to this model."
Amazon Kindle (2024)
While some people prefer the larger screen of the Paperwhite, the entry-level Kindle is perfect for those who are looking to spend a little less and want something that's smaller and more compact. Amazon gave this newest model some nice upgrades, including slightly higher contrast and faster page turns.
iPad 10th-Gen
Even though it was released a couple of years ago now, the 10th-generation iPad is still a great tablet for those who want to be able to use their device for more than reading. With a 10.9-inch display, it's also the perfect size for ebooks, and the color screen makes it a great choice for reading digital comics (ahem, graphic novels). It's more expensive than the fanciest Kindle reader, but you get a full-fledged iPadOS device that can serve as a streaming video player or game machine as well. It's also often on sale.
Kobo Elipsa 2E
Some folks don't want to buy into the Kindle ecosystem -- for them, get the Kobo Elipsa 2E. This is the newest version of the company's extra large e-reader, equipped with a sharp screen that's easy to read. It's one of the few e-readers that allows you to use a stylus to take notes -- just note that the stylus is sold separately for the Elipsa 2E.
Big e-readers aren't for everybody, but if you like to see a lot of words on a page or bump up the font size, this Kobo e-reader is an appealing option.
Best e-reader accessories
Amazon Kindle Case Foldable Protective Cover
Amazon's official case for the newest Kindle comes in a lightweight fabric design with four color options; pink, navy, green and black. The built-in magnets in the cover wake and sleep your Kindle automatically when you open or close the case and the soft interior fabric is meant to protect the screen.
Joylink Kindle/Tablet Strap for 6-7 inch tablets
Reading on a Kindle in bed can be infinitely more comfortable than a physical book, but it can also come with its own ergonomics issues. CNET's Sarah Mitroff swears by this swiveling elastic tablet strap, which helps her rotate her Kindle so that her wrist isn't bent trying to hold it. It makes an excellent extra gift to go with a Kindle or as a stocking stuffer.
Lamicall Flexible Arm Tablet Holder
For the most comfortable reading position, considering gifting this Kindle and tablet holder that attaches to a bed frame, bedside table or any other secure post. You can then position the flexible arm into basically any position and clamp your Kindle into the stand for hands-free reading. This one comes recommended from folks on CNET's team, and more than 15,000 five-star Amazon reviews.
Remote Control Page Turner for Kindle
To complete the ultimate hands-free Kindle experience, get a remote control page turner for your giftee so they don't have to touch their Kindle to read. You just clip a receiver on to the side of the Kindle and use the remote to click back and forth through the pages. This one is widely popular across the Internet and on Amazon, with almost 7,500 five-star reviews.
Why should you gift someone an e-reader?
If you know someone who enjoys reading, books are an obvious gift. But if you're looking to really spoil the bookworm in your life, it might be time to focus on how they read and not what they're reading. Giving someone an e-reader lets them carry around an entire library in one device. Many e-readers, like Amazon's Kindle lineup, are connected to a company's storefront where you can easily buy and download almost any book you could possibly want. Many devices also play well with local libraries, allowing you to download a library's ebooks directly to your e-reader. You can also upload your own files to an e-reader, so long as they aren't protected by Digital Rights Management software -- which unfortunately appears on just about every book you buy.
Which e-reader should you buy as a gift?
It helps to find out if your reader is already enmeshed in an ebook ecosystem before making an e-reader purchase. Chances are, they'll want to be able to read the books they already own on their next e-reader -- so it's a good idea to get them a compatible device. Ebook sellers tend to have their own proprietary systems, so you won't be able to buy a book, say, on the Apple Store and then load it onto an Amazon Kindle. The best-known digital book reader is Amazon's Kindle line, which uses E Ink displays to give a paper-like reading experience. There are a few different models in the Kindle lineup, though they all offer a front-light touchscreen, which eliminates the need for a book light while sparing your eyes the harsh backlight that comes from most LED tablet screens. Beyond Kindle's hardware, the Kindle app works on smartphones, iPads and other devices.
