Best E-readers Under $500
All E-readersHand-picked e-readers priced under $500, ranked by weighted Amazon ratings. 7 picks updated regularly.
The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite jumps to a 7-inch 300ppi glare-free display, 25% faster page turns, weeks of battery, and IPX8 waterproofing, with USB-C charging and 16GB of storage. The warm-light front p...
Why we like it: The best-feeling Paperwhite yet thanks to a bigger 7-inch screen and faster CPU; ads on the base model are the main turnoff.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) adds auto-adjusting front light, wireless Qi charging, 32GB of storage, and ships ad-free on the same 7-inch 300ppi panel as the standard 2024 Paperwhite...
Why we like it: The Paperwhite to buy if you want Qi charging, no ads, and 32GB; otherwise the standard model gets you most of the way for less.
The 2024 base Kindle is the lightest Kindle ever at 5.6oz with a brighter 300ppi display, 16GB storage, USB-C, and up to six weeks of battery. It skips waterproofing and warm light to hit a budget pri...
Why we like it: The most portable Kindle to date with a sharper screen and USB-C; skip it if you want warm light or pool-side reading.
A 7 inch waterproof e-reader with a glare-free Kaleido 3 color E Ink screen, dark mode, and audiobook support
Why we like it: A great pick for readers who want color highlights and Overdrive library support without a tablet.
Kobo Libra Colour features a 7 inch glare-free Kaleido 3 color E Ink screen with physical page-turn buttons and waterproofing
Why we like it: A premium color E Ink reader that opens up comics and magazines for non-Kindle book lovers.
An Android-powered 7 inch color E Ink tablet that doubles as a flexible e-reader and note-taking device with stylus support
Why we like it: A flexible color E Ink option for power users who want apps beyond a single ecosystem.
PocketBook Era is a 7 inch waterproof E Ink reader with text-to-speech, a built-in speaker, and a SMARTlight front light
Why we like it: A flexible reader for users who want broad format support and audio without joining a single ecosystem.
Compare Features
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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024)
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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32 GB)
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Amazon Kindle (2024)
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Kobo Libra Colour 7-inch eReader
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Kobo Libra Colour 7 inch Color E-Reader
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BOOX Tablet Go Color 7 Gen II E Ink Tablet
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PocketBook Era 7 inch E-Reader 16GB
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 7" 300ppi glare-free | 7" 300ppi glare-free | 6" 300ppi glare-free | 7 inch color E Ink | — | 7 inch color E Ink | — |
| Storage | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | — | — | — | — |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 6 weeks | — | — | — | — |
| Water Resistance | IPX8 | IPX8 | No | — | — | — | — |
| Weight | 205g | 208g | 158g | — | — | — | — |
| Lighting | Adjustable warm light | Auto-adjusting warm light + wireless charging | Front light | — | — | — | — |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | — | — | — | — |
| Waterproof | — | — | — | yes | — | — | — |
| Audiobooks | — | — | — | yes | — | — | — |
| Page Turn | — | — | — | physical buttons | — | — | — |
| Display | — | — | — | — | 7 inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink | — | 7 inch E Ink Carta |
| Storage | — | — | — | — | 32GB | — | 16GB |
| Waterproof | — | — | — | — | IPX8 | — | Yes |
| Audio | — | — | — | — | Audiobook support | — | Built-in speaker plus Bluetooth |
| Buttons | — | — | — | — | Physical page turn | — | — |
| Dark Mode | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | — |
| Operating System | — | — | — | — | — | Android | — |
| Stylus | — | — | — | — | — | supported | — |
| Apps | — | — | — | — | — | sideload Android apps | — |
| Front Light | — | — | — | — | — | — | SMARTlight adjustable |
| Text To Speech | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Price | $159.99 | $199.99 | $109.99 | $229.99 | $229.99 | $289.99 | $249.00 |
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