Australia's lockdown rules may have been relaxed, but the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic hasn't entirely gone away. If you are careful and stay indoors, you may have a few hours a day to spare. While you can use this time to catch up on TV shows on Netflix or Stan, or get some to-do DIY projects completed and dusted off, you can also spend this time catching up on your reading... without even breaking into a bookstore or library. Although some bookstores have opened, buying or borrowing eBooks (many public libraries in Australia have large eBook catalogues) may be the way to go. To read digital versions of your favorite books, though, you'll need a dedicated e-reader, a device that can be pretty easy to ignore if you have a modern, big-screen smartphone or tablet and are using the Kindle app. from Amazon to get your ebook fix. However, according to a 2014 report from the Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning, the way we read on our smartphones and PCs is different from the way we read on paper. Thanks to the Internet, we've trained our eyes to wander and wander across screens, constantly searching for the information we're looking for, a nonlinear behavior the Stanford newspaper calls "surface reading." However, when reading a paper book, our brains switch to a more concentrated form of information processing, called 'deep reading,' and it's a mode that actually helps us better absorb and understand what's on the page. To us, this seems like a great argument for giving books their own space, away from the distractions of apps and constant notifications on our modern, multi-use devices. And while there's certainly something irreplaceable about curling up with a good hardback or paperback book, nothing beats the convenience of a digital device when it comes to size and finding new books, but with a dedicated player, you can probably have the benefits of both. . By design, they're a simpler device designed for the sole purpose of reading, and they also have advantages, such as batteries that last for weeks instead of hours, and much clearer readability in direct sunlight. There are only two companies that sell their e-readers in Australia: Amazon (with its Kindle range of e-readers) and Kobo. We've divided this page into two sections to highlight the best of both companies, so you can choose the unit that works best for you.
Amazon Kindles
1.Kindle Oasis
For a luxurious reading experienceScreen size: 7 inches | Display Type: Letter E Ink | Storage: 8GB / 32GB | Resolution: 300ppi | Weight: 188g | Backlight: yes | Touch screen: yes | WiFi: yes | 4G: yes | Battery life: up to six weeks. Premium reading experience Adjustable backlight Ergonomic design Expensive If money is not an object and you want the most luxurious reading experience a digital e-book reader can offer, this doesn't beat the 2019 version of Amazon's Kindle Oasis. While the older 2018 model is also available on Amazon, the new model is lighter than its predecessor and its IPX8 waterproofing means it can easily handle an accidental submersion in the bathroom or pool. The backlight can be adjusted from white to warmer yellow tones to reduce eye strain, and can even be programmed to warm up before bed (for example, 9:30 pm). There are also the usual Kindle Oasis features we saw in the previous generation: a large, high-quality 7-inch screen with E Ink technology that makes words on the page crisp and clear, and a 'ridge' on one side. of the elegant aluminum-look chassis that has been designed for easy and comfortable one-handed use. The page-turning buttons are thumb-friendly, even if you have small mittens, and the device can be flipped over to use one hand or the other, pages turning automatically according to your needs. WhisperSync compatibility means you can stop reading on your Oasis and pick up where you left off in the Kindle app or another Kindle device, though this requires your devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. -Fi. There's plenty of storage on board, too, with 8GB starting, but you can get a 32GB version of the Oasis if you have (or plan to have) a large digital library. The base model comes Wi-Fi enabled, but there's also an LTE option, which lets you download eBooks from the Kindle store no matter where you are. This is the player that comes with all the bells and whistles, if you can stomach the premium price. Read the full review: Amazon Kindle Oasis
2.Kindle Paperwhite
Screen size: 6 inches | Screen Type: E ink | Storage: 4GB | Resolution: 300ppi | Weight: 209g | Backlight: yes | Touch screen: yes | WiFi: yes | 3G: yes | Battery life: up to six weeks. Affordable price Improved screen features Bland design Lacks some UX functionality There was a time when Amazon had a Kindle called Voyage, but that was abandoned. Instead, some of the travel features have been added to the Kindle Paperwhite, making it one of the best affordable Kindles to date. The new Paperwhite is thinner and lighter than the previous generation, and offers 8GB of storage in its base model, double that of its predecessor. Like the Oasis, you can also go for a 32GB flavor, should you want to store an impressive number of eBooks on the device. And, like the Oasis, there are also Wi-Fi and 4G models. The 6-inch screen is a beautiful HD display with a pixel density of 300ppi that makes words on the page appear crisp and clear, even in direct sunlight. The built-in light can be adjusted from white to warmer shades to reduce eye strain, though you can't program the light to change for nighttime reading like you can with the Oasis. Compared to the Oasis's sleek, high-end design, the Paperwhite's chassis is rather dull and tacky in the hand, but it's remarkably functional, as long as you don't need to use it with one hand. Thanks to its IPX8 waterproof rating, you can safely relax in the bathroom or lounge poolside with your favorite tracks and not worry about it falling into the water. Battery life doesn't seem to be as good as the previous version, but you'll still get days of use on a single charge with the current Paperwhite model. Read the full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
3. Amazon Kindle (2019)
Screen size: 6 inches | Display type: pearlescent e-paper | Storage: 4GB | Resolution: 167ppi | Weight: 161g | Backlight: yes | Touch screen: yes | WiFi: yes | 3G: no | Battery life: up to four weeks. Cheap Backlit No waterproofing Not the best display. These are unprecedented times and everyone is worried about their budget right now. So if you want a reader that won't burn a hole in your pocket, Amazon's latest Kindle is for you. It's €139 a pop, but you get what you pay for. It's a no-frills entry-level device with a backlight that can't be adjusted. The 6-inch screen is glare-free, but it's not the sharpest screen available in the Kindle range. That said, the screen is sufficient for reading indoors, the battery will see you through a few days of reading, and you'll get up to 8GB of storage (with the base model supplied with 4GB). The user interface is basic but intuitive and makes it easy to read digital books and magazines. It's also thin and light, making it a highly portable library for all the titles you own. Read the full review: Amazon Kindle
Kobo Eboders
1. Kobo Form
Screen size: 8 inches | Display Type: Letter E Ink | Storage: 8GB | Resolution: 300ppi | Weight: 197g | Backlight: yes | Touch screen: yes | WiFi: yes | 3G: no | Battery life: 7 to 8 weeks. Ergonomic design Better interface than Kindles OverDrive support for library books. Premium price Plastic chassis The Forma is Kobo's answer to the Kindle Oasis, albeit at a much higher price point. As for the Amazon competition, the Forma has an asymmetrical design meant to make extended attire comfortable with one hand. Where the Forma outperforms the Kindle, and it may be trying to justify its €30 AU price increase over the €399 Oasis, is by adding an extra inch to the screen, for a whopping 8 inches overall. Despite the size disparity, the two premium reading lights have similar weights, though the Forma's plastic body tends to lose its shiny appearance over time and with use. But while the Oasis' metallic exterior is certainly more durable, it's also much more slippery. The Forma's rubber-textured back, on the other hand, means that despite its larger size, your grip never wobbles, and its larger footprint helps keep that weight more evenly distributed. You can hold the Forma in your left or right hand (or even in landscape) and the screen orientation changes automatically within seconds after switching. And it's clear that the Forma uses the newer, more vivid E Ink technology than Kobo's previous flagship, the Aura One, with full-screen refreshes that require less frequency and responsive touch when you turn pages. or use the onscreen keyboard. It's fast. As is the case with all Kobo devices in recent years, the Forma's backlight also offers a color temperature adjustment, so you can opt for a bright orange-yellow hue instead of the standard blue light (and potentially disturbing sleep), which can even be programmed. Unlike the Oasis, however, there's only an 8GB version of the Forma available, but it's the reading experience that ultimately counts. The Forma certainly shines in this regard: its asymmetrical design and large screen make it undeniably more comfortable to use for long periods, and its user interface has a lot more functionality than Kindle alternatives, especially when it comes to organizing your library. Another benefit of using a Kobo reader is support for OverDrive, which allows users to borrow books from their local libraries, and most libraries in Australia allow this. So if you're an ebook addict looking for a reader that can keep up, this one has the goods. Read the full review: Kobo Forma
2. Coffee Libra H2O
Premium reading experience at an affordable priceScreen size: 7 inches | Display Type: Letter E Ink | Storage: 8GB | Resolution: 300ppi Enhanced User Interface High-end yet affordable design. Responsive screen MicroUSB charging port Slightly chunky design While traditional tablet-style e-readers (like the Kindle Paperwhite mentioned above and the Kobo Clara HD below) are the most affordable e-book readers you can get, they're hard to use with a hand . Thus, the asymmetrical design pioneered by the Kindle Oasis is becoming increasingly popular, with Kobo introducing the Libra H2O in late 2019 as a more affordable option to both the Amazon counterpart and the larger Kobo Forma. But it's not just Libra's relatively affordable price point that makes it an attractive alternative to reading: it's also more durable than the pricey big brother mentioned above, and has an improved user interface that provides a better experience. than you would get in a light. With a 7-inch screen (compared to the Forma's 8-inches), it's smaller than its big brother, but that makes it more portable and a much faster device. Featuring the latest E Ink technology, the Libra H2O is the Oasis in terms of speed and responsiveness, whether you're just turning a page, selecting words to look up in the dictionary, or entering a Wi-FI password to set up the reader. . The Libra H2O rolls out UI enhancements such as a new eBook browser accessed by swiping up from the bottom or by tapping the center of the screen. You can even use Balance to read in landscape mode if you prefer, which you won't be able to use with the Oasis. We were already in favor of the Kobo UI, and these changes made it more streamlined than the Kindles' cluttered UX. Thanks to its hard plastic body, the Balance has a more premium and robust look than the Forma. The page turn buttons are much more robust with good feedback, while the power button on the back is easy to locate as it sits in a fairly deep niche. That being said, the Oasis Buttons are by far the best of the three. And while the Oasis's metal body gives it a very high-end look and feel, and it's priced befitting its status, the Libra's affordability (at €249 each) and ease of use make it easy to recommend, especially in Australia, where OverDrive's support means you can borrow eBooks from your local public library. Read the full review: Kobo Libra H2O
3.Kobo ClaraHD
Screen size: 6 inches | Display Type: Letter E Ink | Storage: 8 GB | Resolution: 300ppi | Weight: 166g | Backlight: yes | Touch screen: yes | WiFi: yes | 3G: no | Battery life: up to 8 weeks. Affordable Excellent user interface Bland design No waterproofing Kobo's Clara HD reader is more than capable of competing directly, Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, for its money. At a lower price point than its Kindle counterpart, the Clara HD manages to outperform Amazon's most popular eBook reader in almost every important area. The screen is one of the key elements. The Clara HD's 6-inch front-lit display matches the Kindle for sharpness (both are 300ppi) but incorporates a blue light filter that uses your time zone to automatically change the screen's brightness at night to reduce your exposure. to blue light that interrupts sleep. It packs this display into a compact body that's lighter than the Paperwhite, making it easier to slip into almost any bag. Coverage and text are rendered at a higher DPI (dots per inch) on the Clara HD than other older Kobo eReaders, making them significantly sharper in comparison. The Clara HD also has a new "fast page rotation" engine that allows you to fast-forward through an eBook by holding down the bottom left corner of the screen. The small caveat is that this feature only works with KEPUB eBooks, that is, those purchased directly from Kobo. The new E-Ink screen's responsiveness was also much faster and more accurate than what we're used to seeing on Kindle or Kobo e-readers, doing things like selecting text for dictionary lookup (or highlighting and taking notes). ) much less affected, and I miss it than before. It also has wireless OverDrive functionality, so you can browse and borrow from your local library's eBook collection right on the device. With a battery life that lasts a few weeks, the Clara HD is a feature-rich device with a display that is best-in-class for a reader at this price. Read the full review: Kobo Clara HD