If you’re looking toinvest in an e-reader, it can be difficult to figure out what one you want to get. They have different features, including how the screen looks, what book platforms you can use to buy e-books, and more. Another notabledifference in e-readersis the price. Some tout specific features like stylus compatibility and cost a bit more than those that don’t.
Many of the best e-readers available right now are grayscale devices, which means they only show you text and pictures in black and white. This is fine for people who only want to read novels or non-fiction books, though. Color e-readers are for a particular kind of user who wants to consume content beyond a traditional e-book. It’s also important to note that color e-readers can get pretty expensive, depending on what one you go with.
Reading in color: 6 reasons I’ll never go back to grayscale e-readers
Color e-ink screens are finally becoming popular, and this is why I like them over traditional black-and-white e-readers.
Kobo Libra Colour
The Kobo Libra Colour is a game changer. The Libra Colour allows users to scribble down their every thought as they read, write in a separate notebook, and access their own Google Drive.
If you’re into graphic novels, a color e-reader is a great option
They’re excellent for children’s books, too
A color e-reader is a step above a typical e-reader because, obviously, it features a color screen. This is a useful upgrade for parents who use an e-reader to read to their kids. Imagine trying to show your child a book and only being able to keep their attention with black and white images? While that might work when they’re a baby, it will probably be a different situation when they get a bit older.
There are a number of color e-readers on the market, varying in price, design, and style.
Another reason why you might want a color e-reader is for reading comic books and graphic novels. The best part of taking in graphic novels isn’t the story (although those can also be riveting, of course) – it’s experiencing and appreciating the vivid illustrations. The work of the illustrator brings the comic book reading experience to life. On a color e-reader, this is amplified compared to a grayscale option – though it’s important to note that the colors are somewhat muted on color e-readers.
This app is my secret weapon for supercharging my e-reader
There’s an all-in-one app that can manage your eBook collection and convert into other formats so you can switch e-readers.
Color e-readers can be great for other purposes
Reading PDFs with color graphics and pie charts
One lesser-known thing I like to use color e-readers for is looking at PDF documents. PDFs are frequently shared for projects, and making them accessible on several devices makes working remotely easier. Reading a PDF on a color e-reader works incredibly well and, in many cases, allows you to view the document as it was meant to be shown. On a grayscale e-reader, you might miss some parts of bars, charts, and graphs, but that isn’t an issue on a color device.
PDFs can be written on and marked up if you collaborate on a project. What else is nice about a color e-reader is that it will look and feel like you’re reading and annotating on paper, especially if you buy a device like the excellentRemarkable Pro.
Can a reMarkable Paper Pro replace your e-reader?
The E Ink tablet has a display that’s up to the task, but whether you can use it depends on your e-books and comics.
Color e-readers might not be worth the price
Depending on what you plan to do with your e-reader, grayscale can be a better option
A Kindle Colorsoft currently sells on Amazon for $280, and a Kindle Paperwhite costs $160. Is the color e-reader upgrade worth an extra $120 when an 11-inch iPad with an A16 chip is only $320?
With this in mind, if you opt for a color e-reader solely because it has a color screen, you might be better off with a more capable tablet that can stream movies, play music, surf the internet, and do far more than just read e-books.
The iPad wants to replace your Kindle e-reader - but should it?
The answer is going to depend on how and what you want to read, not to mention your budget.
Color e-readers are likely a fad
You have to pick your preferences
There are significant benefits to using an e-reader over a traditional tablet. They offer excellent battery life, the screen is designed to be easier on your eyes compared to a tablet, and they’re lightweight, making them easy to bring with you on the go. However, the cost of a color e-reader can quickly get astronomical (some color e-readers cost $700). But at the end of the day, it’s still just an e-reader with limited capabilities.
Unless you read comic books and appreciate color PDFs, the additional cost likely won’t be worth it. In this case, just pick up a standard e-reader like theKindle (2024)or theKobo Libra Color.
