We are pushing fast towards an era where computers will become tablets with only a few peripherals added on. But even though that future where your desktop is just a tablet is still a few years off, we have already shifted towards the digital format at a rapid pace.
E-readers or tablets for reading have become the device of choice for even the most ardent bibliophiles. And if you are one of them, you may just do better to switch to a tablet and eBooks now.
Is reading from a Tablet bad for your eyes?
Every avid reader has their unique reading habits. Some of them like to read from a book with a hardback, while others prefer a tablet or an eBook. Digital displays may put a strain on your eyes in the long run if you are using it with more than required brightness. However, with a quality display, the risk of eye strain is much lower. Latest innovations like reflective displays or E ink reduce eye fatigue, a common side-effect to prolonged usage of LCDs.
So, in short, reading a tablet can be as bad for your eyes as reading a book with the lights dimmed down. Whatever causes your eyes to work harder than normal is bad for your eyes. A book with too small letters can be as harmful as reading a tablet with high brightness and without blue light filter!
What Features Make the Best Tablet for Reading?
Reduced Eye Strain
Most avid book readers refrain from shifting to tablets because of two reasons. Firstly, they prefer books with ‘real’ pages. Secondly, they are complicit to the misconception that tablets are bad for eye health.
As explained before, tablets with the proper tech to reduce eye strain may not harm your eyes any more than reading the same amount of paper books. But you must refer to only tablets for reading with the necessary features to care for your eyes.
Long Battery Life
Readers spend a lot of time on their reading devices, so it is important to have good battery life. Most tablets do offer other functions which compel the average user to log more hours on it. You should buy a device that will last longer than 8 hours on a single charge.
Screen Size and Resolution
To make your reading hassle-free, you should go for a tablet that has a big screen, as a large screen makes reading easier and healthier. Tablet screens sizes may differ from 7 inches to 12+ inches. However, it’s not the just the screen size that matters.
Screen resolution is as important. Larger the screen, the higher the number of pixels it will require to maintain the image density. To explain, if you want a 10-inch screen tablet, make sure to go for around 720p screen resolutions to read eBooks without straining your eyes or zooming in all the while.
Decent storage capacity is important. Few tablets come with options to further expand available storage. So, if you purchase a 16GB tablet without microSD expansion options, you may find it difficult to keep your choicest book titles in one place, which is a bit of a hassle. Look for storage space options around or above 32GB. Note that the storage available on eBooks are much lower so around 4GB can suffice basic needs.
Either way, you should go for the most suitable device you can find on the market. Here are the best tablets for reading in 2020. Find yours.
Best Tablets For Reading PDFs and Ebooks
1. Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular and pocket-friendly e-readers you can find. This lightweight device is perfect for reading, available in black and white colors. Build quality is also notably good with Amazon paying close attention to digitizing where Jeff Bezos started all of it from – books.
The Kindle touchscreen is a 6-inch high-resolution display offering 300 PPI pixel density. For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi and even 3G cellular internet on higher models. Coming to the storage part, it has 4GB of internal memory that is decent for a reader.
A Kindle takes around 3 hours to get fully charged, and it offers oodles of battery life for optimal usage. With prices starting at around $130, this is one of the best tablets for reading eBooks or pdfs around.
Display: 6″ glare-free | Resolution: 300 PPI | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + 3G | Battery Life: Weeks | Colors: Black, White | Weight: 0.40 pounds | Camera: No
- Excellent display
- New font and superior typesetting
- Wonderful new font
- Outstanding battery life
- Limited utility
2. Apple iPad mini
If you need a portable device that can do more than just help you read e-books or pdfs, you need a proper tablet.
The first true blue tablet on this list is the Apple iPad mini. Don’t be fooled by the name as this is one of the most powerful tablets on the market with its Hexa-Core A12 Bionic processor and a Quad-core Apple graphics card.
This tablet has a compact form-factor, most of which is the stunning 7.9-inch Retina display. Enjoy amazing viewing angles at 2048×1536 resolutions, not to mention the amazing hue depth and detail.
Weighing in at only 10 ounces, the iPad mini is lightweight and a perfectly fit for carrying along to work. This tablet comes with 3GB of RAM and a massive 64GB internal storage, with higher models offering as much as 256GB of storage.
The 8 MP iSight camera is another winner, delivering surprisingly sharp stills and responsive videography. Priced at around $530, this is one of the best tablets for reading and web browsing plus a lot more.
Display: 7.9 Inch Retina Display | Resolution: 2048 x 1536 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + 3G | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours | Colors: Space Grey, Silver, Gold | Weight: 0.66 pounds | Camera: Rear – 8 MP, Front – 7 MP |
- Exceptional performance
- Impressive screen
- IOS 9
- Average quality speakers
3. Fire HD 8
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a budget tablet that comes with a 2.0 GHz Quad-core processor paired with 2GB RAM for seamless multitasking and even moderate gaming. This device comes in two variants offering 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1 TB through a microSD card.
The Fire HD is a multipurpose device with enough performance to deal with almost any task you can expect from a tablet. It also comes with the Kindle store to easily download and read your desired eBooks. It takes about 5 hours to get fully charged and can deliver around 12 hours of reading, surfing the web, watching videos, and listening to music.
But what really makes this one of the tablets for reading books and plus other multimedia functions is its price. At around $90 only, the Fire HD 8 is definitely worth a buy.
Display: 8-inch HD touchscreen | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular | Battery Life: Up to 12 hours | Colors: Black, Twilight Blue, Plum, White, Slate | Weight: 0.78 pounds | Camera: Front – 2 MP Rear – 2 MP
- Budget buy
- Easy user interface
- Strong build
- No native Google play support
- Amazon ads
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A
The Samsung Galaxy tab A is arguably one of the best tabs available in the market. It is not only lightweight, weighing in at only 1.03 pounds, but offers plenty of premium features without the premium price tag.
This device has a HD 10.1- inch screen offering 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution. It is also one of the best tablet displays around, at par with Apple iPads.
Additionally, it has Dolby Atmos Surround sound to make it a perfect device to stream videos online. An Octa-core (2×1.8GHz + 6×1.6GHz) processor with 4GB RAM makes it a powerful tab as well, performing lag free multi-tasking and multi-window operations
There are multiple storage options available such as 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. Storage is further expandable up to 512GB with a Micro SD card. It also offers a good battery backup and will last for around 10 hours on a single charge.
With prices starting from $280 price, the Samsung galaxy tab A is definitely one of the best tablets for reading and web browsing you can buy.
Display: 10.1″ HD touchscreen | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours | Colors: Silver, Black, Gray, Space Gray | Weight: 1.03 pounds | Camera: Front – 5 MP Rear – 8 MP
- Rich audio output
- Long-lasting battery
- Sophisticated design, Easy handling
- 4G and Dedicated card slot
- Screen quality is average
5. ZONKO 10-inch Tablet
ZONCO has come up with prime quality tablets that support 3G phone calls and also offers 2.4G WIFI connectivity.
This device also comes with 32GB internal storage that you can expand up to 128GB with a MicroSD card. Powered by the Android 9.0 operating system of a frugal 1.3 GHz Quad-core CPU, this device provides smooth performance with its 2GB of RAM.
The screen is also notably good with 0.1 inches 800×1280 IPS display and its 178-degree viewing angle. Enjoy your favorite movie, games, or videos on this device.
This ZONCO tablet comes with a 6000mAh battery that offers 6-8 hours of battery life on a single charge. Available for around $105, this is one of the best tablets for reading books as well as a lot of other tasks.
Display: 10.1″ HD touchscreen | Resolution: 1280×800 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular | Battery Life: Up to 8 hours | Colors: Black | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Camera: Front – 2 MP and Rear – 5 MP
- Value for money
- Frugal performance
- Below par build quality
- Stuttering display
6. Dragon Touch K10
Dragon Touch K10 is not only pocket-friendly but also loaded with features. Powered by a 1.3Ghz Quad-core Processor and paired with 2GB of RAM, this device can seamlessly manage basic multitasking.
The 10-inch is not stunning but certainly lag-free when shifting between windows and tabs, aided by a powerful processing unit underneath. You also get Android 8.1 Oreo as the base OS other than 16GB of internal storage capacity. Storage is expandable up to 12GB via MicroSD card.
A 5000 mAh battery can provide juice for at least 5 hours. And you will surely you enjoy the nifty micro-HDMI port for additional connectivity with TVs or other displays.
Under $100, this device even comes with a metal body which makes it quite bulky but sturdy as well. If you are looking for the best tablet to read books and some basic multimedia tasks, the Dragon Touch K10 should be in your top 3.
Display: 10″ HD touchscreen| Resolution: 1280×800 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular | Battery Life: 5-7 hours | Colors: Black | Weight: 2.05 pounds | Camera: Front- 2 MP Rear – 5 MP
- Excellent value for money
- Micro HDMI for TV streaming
- Powerful performance
7. BOOX Nova2 7.8 ePaper E Note
If you are not a Kindle fan and looking for an alternative, this is it. Powered by an Octa-core CPU and 3 GB RAM, BOOX Nova2 is one of the best devices for reading and digital creativity. It has a high-resolution 300ppi screen and features E Ink.
This advanced screen will make you feel like you are reading directly from printed books with sharper and crisper texts. At only 0.57 pounds, the compact, lightweight and sleek design makes it a handy and stylish tablet for ultimate portability.
Additionally, the adjustable warm and white lights let you read without any hassle, anytime, and anywhere. The device has USB-C with OTG to help you connect an external flash driver or hard drive for additional storage.
You also get Stylus pencil with this tablet to engage in multimedia creativity. The battery backup is exceptionally good, lasts for weeks on a single charge. For around $330, it is one of the best tablets for reading eBooks that you can buy.
Display: 7.8” HD+ Touchscreen | Resolution: 1872×1404 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB OTG | Battery Life: Weeks | Colors: Black | Weight: 0.57 pounds | Camera: No
- Backlit display
- Android 9.0
- Bundled in stylus
- Niche utility
8. Huawei MediaPad
The Huawei MediaPad tablet offers you a large 10.1-inch 1080p (1920 x 1200) screen. Coupled with HUAWEI ClariVu technology you get a bright, crisp, and detailed anti-glare display for reading articles, playing games, watching movies, and more.
Thanks to its Kirin 659 and stable Wi-Fi network connectivity, the Huawei MediaPad tablet can make cellular calls as well as browse the internet. Moreover, the Huawei MediaPad features 3GB RAM and up to 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded by up to 256GB via a microSD card. This device will take around 3 hours to get fully charged and offers 12 hours of battery life.
This tablet has one of the best camera setups around, paired with 8 MP shooters up front and at rear, suitable for capturing high-quality images and videos. It also has Harman Kardon’s quad-speaker system for amazing audio outputs.
Priced at around $320, the Huawei MediaPad is in direct competition with the likes of Apple and Samsung.
Display: 10.1” UXGA touchscreen| Resolution: 1920×1200 | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours | Colors: Black | Weight: 1.01 pounds | Camera: Front and Rear – 8MP
- Bundled stylus
- Sharp, beautiful display
- Decent battery life
- Older Kirin chipset
- Keyboard dock sold separately
- Inconvenient power/volume buttons
9. Apple iPad
It is difficult to keep the latest Apple iPad out of any list including tablets. Powered by Apple’s A10 Fusion chip, the latest Apple iPad A10 can do more than a traditional tablet. But it does so at the expense of a MacBook.
The 10.2-inch screen of this new iPad latest model is a noticeable expansion from the 9.7-inch ones on all earlier standard iPad models. The stereo speakers are louder and offer better audio clarity. You also get Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor.
Apple runs with the same 8MP rear camera, one of the best tablet cameras around, and a 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera. Battery backup is also excellent, providing up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.
If you want a tablet that can handle your work and double up as a comfortable e-book reader, you should try this new iPad priced at around $800.
Display: 10.2-Inch Retina Display | Resolution: 2224×1668 | Connectivity: Cellular, Wi-Fi | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours | Colors: Space Grey, Silver, Gold | Weight: 1.01 pounds | Camera: Front – 1.2 MP Rear – 8 MP
- Excellent performance
- Comfortable screen for reading
10. Lenovo Tab 4
The Lenovo Tab 4 is the latest Wi-Fi tablet with an 8″ big screen offering 1280×800 resolution, perfectly suited for fundamental work, streaming videos, and reading. This is one of the sharpest tablet displays on the market sporting this resolution. You will also enjoy great viewing angles and ample brightness as well.
This tab comes with a 64-bit Quad-core Snapdragon processor backed by 2GB of RAM. Performance is frugal and this tablet is great for moderate gaming and video streaming as well as an e-book reader. You get a basic 16GB of storage expandable to up to 256GB with a microSD card.
This tablet is very light-weight and handy, around 1.11 pounds, and its black matte finish gives it a chic appearance. Its dual-camera capability features a 5MP rear and 2 MP front-facing shooter.
Where this tab surges ahead of its competition is in sheer battery life, offering more than 12 hours of basic usage and around 6 hours+ of continuous HD streaming. Connectivity options are at par expectations including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Priced at under a $100 price tag, this is a popular tablet from a leading brand offering substantial value-for-money.
Display: 8 inches HD | Resolution: 1280 x 800 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Battery Life: Up to 12 hours | Colors: Black | Weight: 1.11 pounds | Camera: 2MP front and 5MP rear|
- Value for Money
- Excellent battery life
- Sharp display
- Poor camera.
- No dual-band Wi-Fi
These are the best tablets for reading you can buy today. However, some of them, like the Amazon Kindle and the Boox Nova are typically e-book readers. Tablets offer more functionality and multimedia capabilities. If you need only a digital device to read books on a budget, you should consider the Amazon Kindle range of e-readers. If instead, you want to do more with the tablet than just reading, go for any the other ones on this list!
Which Tablet Size is Best For Reading?
Typically, an 8.2-inch tablet can be good for reading. However, the screen resolution and display sharpness will play a part in readability. With a smaller tablet, like the Amazon Fire 7, you can enjoy reading but you may need to zoom in and scroll. With a larger screen, reading is easier and much more ergonomic.
Is a Tablet Good For Reading?
Although digital screens emit glare which is harmful to your eyes, you can choose to purchase tablets or e-book readers that come with an anti-glare, blue light filter, and similar other techs to reduce eye strain and fatigue.
How Much Storage is Enough For a Reading Tablet?
8GB to 16GB is more than enough if you are just planning to use it for reading. Generally, pocket-friendly tablets come with a minimum of 8 GB or 16 GB storage. You can expand storage capacity by up to 256 GB via micro SD card slots available on most tablets.
What Is Better For Reading, Kindle, or Tablet?
Screen size, battery life, and overall functionality are some of the major differences between tablets and E-readers. Tablets come with LCD screens, on the other hand, E-readers generally come with E ink screens. E Ink does not emit light like an LCD screen, and it feels more like ink on paper. With this feature, E-readers are more eye-friendly and cause less strain. E-readers also last for several weeks on a single charge and the average battery life of a tablet is 10 hours.