As the calendar is about to roll over into 2017, let’s take a look at the current state of Android ebook readers.
Some new devices have been released recently and others have been on the market for a few years now.
A number of them are slightly updated versions of previous models.
Some of the older models have recently disappeared, like the InkBook 8 and InkBook Obsidian.
For the most there are only two companies producing Android ereaders, Onyx and Boyue, although you’ll sometimes find them under different brand names.
Below is a list of ebook readers with Android operating systems. Most run Android 4.2. I’m only going to focus on 6-inch models for this list, but I’ll post another article for the larger models soon.
The list is in order of current prices from low to high. All have a microSD card slot (except the Nook) and support the same basic formats (ePub, PDF, etc) so that won’t be mentioned in the notes.
You can use the search box on the top right to find out more about these ereaders on this website.
6″ Android eReaders
InkBook Classic 2 – A basic entry-level model with an 800 x 600 (167 ppi) resolution E Ink Carta screen and 4GB of storage space. It has page buttons and a touchscreen but no frontlight.
Energy eReader Slim HD – This is an inexpensive model but it lacks a touchscreen so Android isn’t going to be of much use since most apps require a touchscreen to function. It has a 212 ppi E Ink Carta screen, 8GB of storage, and no frontlight.
Onyx Boox C67s – This is the last model on this list that lacks a touchscreen and frontlight, but it has a 212 ppi E Ink Carta screen and 8GB of storage space. Unless the price drops considerably there is no reason to get it over the model below.
Onyx Boox C67ML – This model has been out for a couple years now. It has a touchscreen and a frontlight, with 8GB of storage space and a 212 ppi E Ink Carta screen (there’s a newer model with 300 ppi a few spots down). It also supports audio.
Nook GlowLight Plus – Released last year, B&N’s latest Nook runs Android but it has to be hacked to install apps, and it’s the only device on this list without a memory card slot so it’s usefulness is hampered. But it probably has the nicest hardware of the lot, with a premium, waterproof design and 300 ppi E Ink screen.
Icarus Illumina – This is the newer version of the Illumina that was recently released. It has a flush glass screen with a 212 ppi Carta display. It has a touchscreen and page buttons, and it comes with Google Play already installed, unlike most on this list.
Onyx Boox C67ML 2 – This is the same as the other C67ML mentioned above but it adds an upgraded 300 ppi E Ink screen.
InkBook Prime – A new model that was just released, it has a 212 ppi E Ink Carta screen, with a touchscreen, frontlight, flush glass screen, and page buttons. This model adds Bluetooth, which most don’t have. The touchscreen can also be turned off, a new feature for this model.
Boyue T63 JDRead – This model is basically the same as the Icarus Illumina above but it adds a 300 ppi E Ink screen. It has a flush glass screen with a touchscreen and a frontlight, with page buttons on both sides of the screen. This model does support English, contrary to early reports.
Energy eReader Pro HD – This model has a frontlight, a touchscreen, and a flush glass screen. It has a 212 ppi E Ink Carta screen, with page buttons and 8GB of storage space.
Onyx Boox Kepler Pro – The Kepler Pro is Onyx’s latest model. It has a flush glass screen, a touchscreen and frontlight, with a 300 ppi Carta screen. It has double the RAM compared to other devices on this list at 1GB. It has 16GB of storage, plus it supports Bluetooth and it has a metal casing. This model runs Android 4.0.
Does the Boyue T63 JDRead come with the Play Store installed? If not, what others ones do aside from the Icarus Illumina?
Most don’t unless stated specifically in the description. They usually have to be rooted to add it.
The Kepler Pro has Play Store. It is however probably the most expensive eReader on the list. I bought it because I wanted a flush-screen 300ppi, and the only competitor, the T63 still seems a minefield of (at best) semi-official firmwares with murky capabilities and/or stability. I’m happy with it (albeit using it inverted for better button access), but could see it being outside many’s budget.
Interesting. Onyx’s ereaders didn’t used to come with the Play Store so that’s a plus.
Oh, and, if any of these can install Overdrive, does that mean one can borrow and download library books without a computer as the Aura One can?
Indeed. Kindles can too using the web browser.
I bought Kindle Fire HD8 with 32G during black Friday. It was less than $100.
I added a 64G micro SD to it.
After loading google apps, it surprisingly becomes my primary tablet for web browsing, Kindle reading and epub reading. All my other tablets have only 16G storage, while this Kindle HD8 has 32G.
Ironically, this Kindle gets most of the google apps installed.
For the price, you can’t beat it as an Android reader.
While I can tolerate reading on my HD8 for brief periods, for me I find it hard to do for more than about 45 minutes at a time because of the eye-strain & headaches. Plus there are a lot of distractions with that device.
E-ink doesn’t have those problems for me so, while I’ve got books on my phone and multiple tablets, I keep coming back to the Kindle or Kobo as my main reading device.
What seemed like a good idea — an os that wasn’t proprietary and a device for which you could choose between a multitude of reading software — quickly lost its luster for me.
The problem with an Android ereader is that it is a pain to open the program at startup IF the default software is lousy; which they mostly are. In fact, it takes such a long time when compared with my Kindle that I’ve given up on my Inkbook
Out of the ereaders listed above which would be the one you would recommend the most? Taking into consideration price and specs.
That’s a tough question. They are all so similar there isn’t one that clearly stands out above the rest. Personally I’m not a big fan of Android ereaders because the software is too erratic; I’d rather have a Kindle or Kobo. If I had to chose I’d rather have a larger model like the Onyx N96 because Kindles and Kobos have nothing to match that.
Hi people,
One question, I have a kobo ereader but i find pretty difficult to install diccionaries like french-spanish. For reading in different languages, which ereaders are the easiest to install diccionaries, Android ereaders or Kindle? I want mainly diccionaries in 2 languages like french-spanish. To find diccionaries for russian and malasian.
Thanks for your help
Here’s the Kindle Dictionary Guide. I’ll let you be the judge if it’s easier than Kobo. Android probably isn’t going to be a good option for that unless there’s a specific app with advanced dictionary support. I haven’t come across any but then again I’ve never tried because I only every read in English.
Would the Onyx Boox Kepler Pro be able to support Audible through a bluetooth headset while reading an ebook or is the RAM too low to hope to accomplish that?