Barnes and Noble released a new 6-inch ebook reader in December called the Nook Glowlight 4, and it’s currently on sale for $129.99 with free shipping.
That’s $20 off the regular price so it’s not a great deal, but Barnes and Noble members can get an additional 10% off.
They had it on sale for $119 last week but it was only for a day or so—I was going to post about it the next day and it was already over so this sale might not last long either.
The larger 6.8-inch Nook Glowlight Plus is not on sale, just the new 6-inch model.
I decided not to review this new Nook because as far as I can tell they didn’t actually improve anything. Sure, it has a USB-C port now and more storage space, but after 4 years you’d think they could’ve done more than that. The software still has the same problems it has always had, and according to a couple of reviews I read online, Nooks are still difficult to use with with sideloaded content—good luck getting library ebooks to work.
However, the Glowlight 4 does have some things going for it that other models in the price range don’t have, like page buttons on both sides of the screen. It also runs Android and can be hacked to install Android apps.
It’s not waterproof like the larger Nook, but it does have a frontlight with adjustable color temperature and long battery life.
I wish Kindle Paperwhite looked like that. Mate finish and page turn buttons would actually make me buy it. In the current form it’s a hard pass for me. Nook is kinda tempting but it’s unusable in my country… Their mobile app is not even available here so you can’t continue reading without ereader…
I’ve got the Plus and wouldn’t want any smaller screen, really only want a larger screen. I’ve also got the Oasis and new PW which all match the 6.8″ screen size and my Kobo Aura One at 7.8″ screen is much nicer. I won’t be buying anything new with less than 7.8″ screen size.
I think it’s a terrific device! Total Nook convert. Own all kinds of Amazon, Kobo, and Boox devices and I keep on reaching for the Nook Glowlight 4.
Why?
The feel. No other device I’ve used feels this dang good in the hand. The ‘soft touch finish” is absolutely a game changer for me. It’s much snappier than the Glowlight Plus, which is great, and has a terrific screen.
Whereas Kobo went super wedge and uncomfortable with their latest releases, I’ve found that when I’m reading with an ereader I want something truly comfortable to hold.
I have a skin on the back of an Oasis but it still feels cold and weird.
I side loaded content I own, and with having alerts for price drops on my to read list, the device is awesome.
I’m hoping that B&N release a larger model this year. And that they make it much easier (Kindle like, at least) to get library books on their devices.
I used to be the same way. Why Nooks? Look at those BEZELS! B&N – they’re still around?! But after I evaluated what I wanted in an ereader – comfort in how it feels, to me, is my first priority. The Nook GL4 is unbeatable in that regard.
I agree. I’d have stopped growing my ereader collection with the GL3 but you can’t keep sideloaded content on shelves and most of my reading is for school, so there are hundreds of homework assignments and chapters of books just randomly scattered about. I prefer reading on the Nook, but end up doing so on the Kindle because the Nook is unusable for my needs. This is something they are aware of and have refused to fix since 2017. I have kept the rarely used GL3 because it is literally a thing that sparks joy for me, but I can’t use it.
Gotcha. I hear you re: your use case. I feel like another could be folks that like to highlight – there are some additional taps and highlighting you have to do with Nook that slows it down vs. what other devices do.
Which stinks, because you have the bones there. I feel like if they could listen to folks like yourself and others who say hey, we have these issues with the software (ability to shelve sideloaded content, better highlighting functionality, ability to borrow library books and read them easier)… get some fixes in place… and look to highlight truly the reason why Nook devices differentiate themselves vs. others, they would have a decent shot at looking to grow their minuscule ereader user market they have today.
Focus on the experience and improve it – the device and how to sell it is there!
The Nook Glowlight Plus was the last one I purchased from B&N. While I understand they want to make money, I wish they would still continue to provide updates to their older models like Kobo. My Kobo Aura runs very well and has had several updates since I purchased it.
I still have the B&N GL3, and I really don’t see a reason to update it with this one. If they had a policy where you could turn in your current one and get a credit towards a new one, I would give it some consideration.
Sounds great! I had the original Nook. While by today’s stadards it’s primitive and crude–no light! Their Webster’s collegiate dictionary is still better than most available, including Kobo. I now have the Kobo Clara and it is a great e-reader–except the so-so English dictionary and the shitty PDF reader (by this time there should be a class-action law suit against Kobo, or at least public preasure, to give the public a decent PDF reader! We need to no why Kobo can’t get it’s act together about this!