New member and new to e-book readers here, what should I buy during Black Friday?

cherries · 11-27-2025, 10:48 PM

Hello!
I'm currently looking for a good e-book reader at around 150 USD/~4 million VND (as I'm from Vietnam). And, before you ask, no, I can't go any higher, sorry! I'm also not too open to used/second-hand options.
What I need from an e-book reader are:
- screen is big enough to read PDFs without having to zoom in and out too often (as I read a lot of textbooks, coursebooks, etc), so probably around 6-8 inches?
- easily moddable/customizable (so easy jailbreaking/rooting)
What I want from an e-book reader are:
- expandable storage (via microSD)
- full Linux ports (I think?) (like what Kindles get with their Alpine port)
thank you for reading my post!

rantanplan · Yesterday, 04:12 AM

There aren't that many e-readers with microSD support anymore. I think the Boox 7 inch devices to come with that support, and their PDF support is great, like reflow, annotations etc.

They don't come with full Linux ports, but they're based on Android so you can sideload whatever you want.

However, they are a bit more on the pricier side. Maybe you can find a used Boox Page or Boox Go 7" BW.

Sirtel · Yesterday, 04:56 AM

6" is too small for PDF, if you don't want to zoom in and out constantly. At least 7", maybe even 8" or more. I don't think you can get such a device as new with 150 USD. Used, maybe.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

6" is too small for PDF, if you don't want to zoom in and out constantly. At least 7", maybe even 8" or more. I don't think you can get such a device as new with 150 USD. Used, maybe.

7" is still too small for letter sized PDF.

rantanplan · Yesterday, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

7" is still too small for letter sized PDF.

Which is why you want reflow as a feature.

PeterT · Yesterday, 09:44 AM

You might run into issues with textbooks depending on how you are obtaining them. If they require a proprietary client to download / read you're limited as to what platform that client supports.

abbynormal52 · Yesterday, 10:24 AM

I'm sorry @cherries, I didn't read your intro well enough, so the Kindle 8 doesn't match all you are hoping for! Lots of good info from others here though

I just saw a Kindle 8 at a good price. I would get it except my Kindle 7 hasn't failed me yet. It's on Amazon, not sure I can link it, but you can do a search like "Kindle 8:Amazon" without the quotes

Sirtel · Yesterday, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

I just saw a Kindle 8 at a good price. I would get it except my Kindle 7 hasn't failed me yet. It's on Amazon, not sure I can link it, but you can do a search like "Kindle 8:Amazon" without the quotes

If you mean a Fire tablet, that's not a Kindle.

abbynormal52 · Yesterday, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

If you mean a Fire tablet, that's not a Kindle.

Ohhhhhh man, they changed them!! Thanks so much for the heads-up, they used to be called Kindle Fires, I'm behind the times, nothing new about that

JSWolf · Yesterday, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Which is why you want reflow as a feature.

I've seen PDFs that have been reflowed and they look awful. Not something I'd want to read.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 11:16 AM

The problem we have here is that the OP may need an Android based Reader. But a Reader with a screen large enough for PDF is going to cost more then his budget allows.

cherries · Yesterday, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

There aren't that many e-readers with microSD support anymore. I think the Boox 7 inch devices to come with that support, and their PDF support is great, like reflow, annotations etc.

They don't come with full Linux ports, but they're based on Android so you can sideload whatever you want.

However, they are a bit more on the pricier side. Maybe you can find a used Boox Page or Boox Go 7" BW.

What about the Boox Poke series? in my country, online platforms are consistently offering the Boox Poke 6(S) for 150 USD, brand-new, thanks to Black Friday sales.

abbynormal52 · Yesterday, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherries

What about the Boox Poke series? in my country, online platforms are consistently offering the Boox Poke 6(S) for 150 USD, brand-new, thanks to Black Friday sales.

This looks good, but such a low price?? It's only 6". Mine I have now is a 7 inch reader (kindle) bought a few years ago now.

cherries · Yesterday, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem we have here is that the OP may need an Android based Reader. But a Reader with a screen large enough for PDF is going to cost more then his budget allows.

what's the lowest price for a 7+ inches e-reader? (sorry, English is not my first language, please forgive me if there are any grammatical errors!

)
oh, and: is a Kobo Libra 2 okay, then? it's also sold for quite cheap in my country, once again due to sales and vouchers.

Sirtel · Yesterday, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherries

oh, and: is a Kobo Libra 2 okay, then? it's also sold for quite cheap in my country, once again due to sales and vouchers.

Kobo Libra 2 is ok, but it has no PDF reflow and may be a bit too small for PDF. No expandable storage, either, but the built-in storage is 32GB. Easily moddable and customizable.

11-27-2025, 10:48 PM	#1
cherries Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 1102 Join Date: Nov 2025 Location: Vietnam Device: none	New member and new to e-book readers here, what should I buy during Black Friday? Hello! I'm currently looking for a good e-book reader at around 150 USD/~4 million VND (as I'm from Vietnam). And, before you ask, no, I can't go any higher, sorry! I'm also not too open to used/second-hand options. What I need from an e-book reader are: - screen is big enough to read PDFs without having to zoom in and out too often (as I read a lot of textbooks, coursebooks, etc), so probably around 6-8 inches? - easily moddable/customizable (so easy jailbreaking/rooting) What I want from an e-book reader are: - expandable storage (via microSD) - full Linux ports (I think?) (like what Kindles get with their Alpine port) thank you for reading my post! Last edited by cherries; 11-27-2025 at 10:49 PM. Reason: broken link, had to fix it

Yesterday, 10:24 AM	#7
abbynormal52 Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 191418 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Oregon Device: Fire Tablet 7"	I'm sorry @cherries, I didn't read your intro well enough, so the Kindle 8 doesn't match all you are hoping for! Lots of good info from others here though I just saw a Kindle 8 at a good price. I would get it except my Kindle 7 hasn't failed me yet. It's on Amazon, not sure I can link it, but you can do a search like "Kindle 8:Amazon" without the quotes Last edited by abbynormal52; Yesterday at 10:31 AM.

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Yesterday, 04:12 AM	#2
rantanplan Weirdo Posts: 953 Karma: 11942694 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Paperwhite 2021, Kindle Scribe 2022	There aren't that many e-readers with microSD support anymore. I think the Boox 7 inch devices to come with that support, and their PDF support is great, like reflow, annotations etc. They don't come with full Linux ports, but they're based on Android so you can sideload whatever you want. However, they are a bit more on the pricier side. Maybe you can find a used Boox Page or Boox Go 7" BW.

Yesterday, 04:56 AM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,101 Karma: 243831037 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	6" is too small for PDF, if you don't want to zoom in and out constantly. At least 7", maybe even 8" or more. I don't think you can get such a device as new with 150 USD. Used, maybe.

Yesterday, 09:44 AM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,738 Karma: 80104526 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	You might run into issues with textbooks depending on how you are obtaining them. If they require a proprietary client to download / read you're limited as to what platform that client supports.

Yesterday, 11:16 AM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,035 Karma: 150250725 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The problem we have here is that the OP may need an Android based Reader. But a Reader with a screen large enough for PDF is going to cost more then his budget allows.