E-ink android tablet

[Andria]

Hi all, after 18 months of on and off lockdown and limited access to physical books, I've finally got into reading ebooks and am thinking of investing in a proper e-reader. I've been using my phone for reading so far but have had a look at both a couple of the kindle and kobos irl (in the UK).

My eyes definitely prefer e-ink but I'm not sure if the traditional e-readers are for me. They certainly have some features I like, mainly the reading light, but honestly I am more than happy using the kindle android app and a general ePub/everything else reading app. I've got so used to just being able to select something in a book and look it up in a dictionary/translator/wikipedia.

Essentially, I want what I already have on my android phone but in a larger, more reader-friendly format. I don't read comics but I do use Libby and have, on occasion, downloaded children's books to entertain my niblings but picture books and phones don't mix well. So colour would be a bonus but not a priority. A non-negotiable requirement though is the ability to sideload books. I don't listen to audio books, I don't need to take notes, this would be purely for reading.

So with all that in mind, could anyone kindly recommend some devices that might be suitable (and any that should be avoided!)? Thank you in advance!

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Andria

My eyes definitely prefer e-ink but I'm not sure if the traditional e-readers are for me. They certainly have some features I like, mainly the reading light, but honestly I am more than happy using the kindle android app and a general ePub/everything else reading app. I've got so used to just being able to select something in a book and look it up in a dictionary/translator/wikipedia.

Essentially, I want what I already have on my android phone but in a larger, more reader-friendly format. I don't read comics but I do use Libby and have, on occasion, downloaded children's books to entertain my niblings but picture books and phones don't mix well. So colour would be a bonus but not a priority. A non-negotiable requirement though is the ability to sideload books. I don't listen to audio books, I don't need to take notes, this would be purely for reading.

So with all that in mind, could anyone kindly recommend some devices that might be suitable (and any that should be avoided!)? Thank you in advance!

Look here.
I have all of these devices and I am very happy with them.
From this shop I only know the German branch and am very satisfied with it

[Pajamaman]

Get a Likebook or an Onyx. I recommend a 7.8". Onyx do color, but it's new and might have downsides. I have an Onyx 7.8" and love it. Onyx has a reputation for better hardware, but the previous poster prefers Likebook, which have a SD card slot and a better white-on-black night mode option (not to be confused with front light, which they both have).

[Andria]

Thanks for both suggestions. Just out of interest, does anyone know how the likebook and onyx compare to the kindle paperwhite in terms of crispness and contrast? From what I've read, it seems paperwhite is the gold standard display-wise but how far below this do the others fall? Enough to perhaps reconsider an e-ink android and look again at traditional ereaders? Or is the difference negligible?

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

but the previous poster prefers Likebook, which have a SD card slot

Not P10!
And Likebook is much cheaper app 60% of Boox price.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Not P10!
And Likebook is much cheaper app 60% of Boox price.

Could be. I just checked on:
https://ereader.store/en/e-ink-tablets-12

The 10" Boyue Likebook P10 is 17 euro cheaper than the 7.8" ONYX BOOX NOVA 3. Yikes. That's a huge difference, though I'm not sure of the hardware specs under the hood.

I tend to buy used, and there seem to be more used Onyx's floating about. But yeah, Likebook is better and better. I wonder how it's pdf reading software compares with the Onyx neoreader. Not as good, from what I've read. But that may not matter so much to me.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

Could be. I just checked on:
https://ereader.store/en/e-ink-tablets-12

The 10" Boyue Likebook P10 is 17 euro cheaper than the 7.8" ONYX BOOX NOVA 3. Yikes. That's a huge difference, though I'm not sure of the hardware specs under the hood.

I tend to buy used, and there seem to be more used Onyx's floating about. But yeah, Likebook is better and better. I wonder how it's pdf reading software compares with the Onyx neoreader. Not as good, from what I've read. But that may not matter so much to me.

Nova 3 is faster, has more RAM, runs a newer version of Android, has a higher resolution screen, the pen support is better since it's Wacom. The P10 only really wins on screen size.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Nova 3 is faster, has more RAM, runs a newer version of Android, has a higher resolution screen, the pen support is better since it's Wacom. The P10 only really wins on screen size.

And above all in the price.

I got a P10 + Cover + Stylus for € 247; that's 73 € price difference to the Nova 3 and 153 € difference to the Kobo Elipsa - not to mention the Boox Notes devices.

The P10 has 64 GB Flash, the Boox Nova devices only 32 GB.
I could compare the P10 to the Nova 2 - I have both now, but I no longer need the Nova 2.

The P10 can really do everything I need - only the Likebook Alita can do it a little better; 227 vs 200 dpi, 8Core vs 4 Core, 4 GB Ram vs 2 GB, 32 GB + SD vs 64 GB, Wacom vs unknown (but it is / was significantly more expensive by € 200).

I don't need the more powerful (but not better) hardware of the Boox devices - with the exception of the Boox Note Air, but only because it's ideal for landscape mode; and I don't use this as an ebook reader or as a Notes device, but as a garden or sun computer.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Andria

My eyes definitely prefer e-ink but I'm not sure if the traditional e-readers are for me. They certainly have some features I like, mainly the reading light, but honestly I am more than happy using the kindle android app and a general ePub/everything else reading app. I've got so used to just being able to select something in a book and look it up in a dictionary/translator/wikipedia.

If this is the only feature you're particularly looking for, it's available on at least some traditional e-readers, like Kobo - long press to choose dictionary definition, translation, or Wikipedia or Google search. (It's been a while since I fiddled around on a Kindle but perhaps someone else will chime in on that.)

Modern Kobos also integrate directly with Overdrive in some countries, since you mentioned you use that for library books.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by meeera

If this is the only feature you're particularly looking for, it's available on at least some traditional e-readers, like Kobo - long press to choose dictionary definition, translation, or Wikipedia or Google search. (It's been a while since I fiddled around on a Kindle but perhaps someone else will chime in on that.)

Modern Kobos also integrate directly with Overdrive in some countries, since you mentioned you use that for library books.

No Kobo can show Kindle books.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

No Kobo can show Kindle books.

I didn't see anything in the original request requiring Amazon ecosystem integration. (Regardless, I read Kindle-bought books on my Kobo all the time, it's not difficult to figure out how)

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by meeera

I didn't see anything in the original request requiring Amazon ecosystem integration.

No?
Did you understand

I am more than happy using the kindle android app

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

No?
Did you understand

Yes and I read it in context.

" I am more than happy using the kindle android app and a general ePub/everything else reading app.[...] A non-negotiable requirement though is the ability to sideload books.

Will wait for the OP to return and clarify essential and desirable criteria.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by meeera

Yes and I read it in context.

" I am more than happy using the kindle android app and a general ePub/everything else reading app.[...] A non-negotiable requirement though is the ability to sideload books.

Will wait for the OP to return and clarify essential and desirable criteria.

Of course, why simply, when it can also be cumbersome.
You can get all books directly on an EInk Android tablet - of course also via sideloading.

[Andria]

Originally Posted by meeera

Yes and I read it in context.

Will wait for the OP to return and clarify essential and desirable criteria.

Sorry for any confusion! To clarify, yes I do use kindle. I also use overdrive and have a lot of epub books too but am more than happy to just use individual apps. Tbh this would be preferable to having to convert one format or the other via calibre which is why I'd prefer something that's more tablet style rather than an actual kindle or kobo. However, IF there is a vast difference in reading experience then I might reconsider and look again at the kindle or kobo reader but having already tried some of these in shops, this option is a bit of a compromise for me.