Color has finally come to e-readers, opening up a richer digital reading experience for anyone who uses Libby for graphic novels, prefers color epubs, or simply enjoys seeing a book’s cover in full color. But with more devices offering the feature, which one stands out? For us, the Kobo Libra Colour is the clear winner.
When we write about e-readers, Kindle is usually the first name that comes to mind. But in the color e-reader market, Kindle has been late to the party. That delay opened the door for other brands to step in with stronger devices. We’ve rounded up the best color e-readers, and here are the ones that stood out.
Temper your color expectations
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mangino
Having tested my way through a lot of e-readers — and now color e-readers — I’ve found a universal truth: while the colors are accurate, they often look a bit washed out. No matter which brand you use, that’s going to be the case. The muted tones don’t outweigh the convenience and portability of color e-readers, but it’s worth tempering your expectations.
Don’t expect the vivid, punchy colors of an iPad screen. An iPad has a max nits of 500 (a measure of brightness), while Kobo and Kindle e-readers max out at 94.
