When it comes to buying a new ereader, some people want one with a lot of storage space, or they want one with page buttons, or waterproofing, or a warm frontlight, or some other feature, and some people prioritize the screen over everything else.
I often see people asking which ereader has the best screen, and since all dedicated reading devices use the same screens from the same company, E Ink, you’d think they’d all look the same, but that’s far from the case. The different front layers and light layers and touchscreen layers used all affect the overall clarity of the screen.
For a long time the Kindle Voyage has been widely regarded as having the best screen, but it was released in 2014 so it really hasn’t been a viable option in a long time, especially if you want to buy one new.
Among the current crop of ereaders in 2024, I would give the best screen award to the Kobo Libra 2. The text is very dark and clear, even a little more so than the more expensive Kobo Sage. Plus Kobo has a whole bunch font settings to setup the text exactly how you want it, and the frontlight on the Libra 2 is really good too.
The Kobo Libra 2 has an indented screen, and I think the lack of an extra front layer helps the Libra 2’s screen look a little better than devices with the added layer. For some reason the Kindle Voyage seems to be the one exception to that rule.
To my eyes, the Voyage’s screen still appears slightly sharper and clearer than the Libra 2’s screen, but there’s not a big difference between the two. I’ve heard some people saying they think the Libra 2’s screen looks better than the Voyage’s so it’s close enough to be debatable.
The Kobo Libra 2 was released in 2021, and Kobo might be releasing a newer version in 2024, but for the time being I’d say the Libra 2 has the best screen on the current market, and there’s no guarantee a new model will have a better screen because ereader companies don’t seem to prioritize that for some reason. Amazon still hasn’t released anything that can match the Voyage in the past 10 years, despite advancements with E Ink technology.
I currently own five different readers. This is my list from best screen to worst:
1. PocketBook InkPad 3 Pro (others don’t come even close)
2. Onyx Boox Page
3. Kobo Libra 2
4. Kindle Paperwhite 4
5. Kindle Oasis 3
If screen was the only factor, I would always choose PocketBook, their screen is just superb in every way. It’s a shame that otherwise the device is also exceptionaly bad in everything else 😀
Does the InkPad 3 Pro have an indented screen? The newer PocketBooks I’ve seen with flush screens are a big step back.
Correct, it has an indented screen and it’s really nice, even the warm lighting is great. It’s the closest thing to paper I have seen so far, I really like it. I’m also not a fan of flush screens. The only thing I like about these is that they’re easier to clean.
I can’t speak to the best screen on the market, but of my Libra 2 and 11th gen Paperwhite I much prefer the Libra 2. I find the Libra 2 has a more pleasing white background and much better contrast. And I find the slightly larger screen of the Libra 2 an added bonus.
I agree. Of the many ereaders I’ve used the Voyage had perhaps the best contrast, but mine had an uneven, ugly frontlight.. The frontlight on my Libra 2 is far better, and the contrast is almost as good. The Oasis 3, which I sold a couple of years ago, had a nice frontlight too, but the contrast was not on the same level as the Libra.
The Sage has good contrast, but again, mine has an uneven, greenish frontlight.
Ok, I’m acknowledging this is an ignorant question. Although my first eReader was a Nook, I’ve used a kindle for many years. My fave was Voyage, but eventually the charging port didn’t hold the charger tightly enough so I couldn’t charge it. I’m currently using the Signature Paperwhite.
What I’ve not known is can one buy ebooks directly from Amazon? One can’t use Nook, Even borrowing library books used Amazon ecosystem. I own thousands of kindle books (usually obtained for free or $.99. I borrow from the library more than anything.
Yes, but to read them on anything else than a Kindle app or device you’ll need to remove the DRM and convert.
And that’s why I stay with kindle.
For Android based e-readers like Boox (Page etc) devices, you can just install Kindle app. That will work fine.
That’s if you’re content to read with the Kindle app. I’m not, so I just convert my Amazon books and read them on my Kobos.
I have a Voyage and have been happy with it for the better part of a decade. It’s starting to show its age (cover worn, reduced battery life etc.). I keep hoping they’ll release something suitable as a replacement but I’m concerned they won’t. I wonder if I should just suck it up and compromise with an Oasis before it’s gone too. I wonder if that’s the last premium kindle Amazon will ever release. Seems a shame to go backwards on quality and functionality.
I still have a Voyage too but I think the Boox Page would be better option than the Oasis. Certainly it has the Kindle app and the Android store for lots of other options. The builtin reader app is also pretty good supporting much more formats.
The White Leaf 2 has a slightly sharper screen than the Libra 2, but the front light on the latter is better. The Voyage is still nicer since it manages the same sharpness with a nicer background colour (light beige vs dark gray on the other two).
The Palma also has a really nice screen. It’s micro etched like the Voyage. It doesn’t look as good, but still very nice.
That’s interesting about the white leaf 2. I remember when it first came out I wanted to get one but the white one was always out of stock, and then after a few months it was discontinued so I never got to try it.
I’m kind of surprised to see the lack of love for the Paperwhite 5 screen. I think the lighting is vastly superior on it compared to the Libra 2, which has a kind of mucus green tint to it.
Someone mentioned the old Pocketbook InkPad 3 Pro. I like that screen also, but the Paperwhite 5 has the Carta 1250 Eink, which is darker/sharper than the InkPad 3 Pro.
I also liked the Paperwhite 3. It had an indented screen also and that text is super crisp, super sharp.
The Paperwhite 4 had a garbage screen. I hated it and returned it. I liked the Boox Page screen, but I’m not paying $250 for a 7 inch screen.
My Libra 2 has no green tint. My Sage does, however. So I guess it varies from device to device.
I had a Libra 2. Not a fan. I always found that the screen was a bit green compared to the Clara 2e and the Paperwhite. Those 2 have the whitest screen for me.
I can’t speak for the Libra 2, but I had the original (H20) Libra and the contrast was a far cry from that on my GloHD. So much so that I gave away the Libra to a family member and have continued using the GloHD! I very rarely use the frontlight on the GloHD – the contrast is that good. On the other hand, I nearly always had to use the frontlight on the Libra.