Choosing Between an E-Reader and a Tablet: Which is Best?

E-readers have notable advantages over tablets. For starters, they have better battery life because their displays are not as large or elaborate. As a result, an e-reader lasts longer between recharges. In fact, with great battery life and portability, e-readers are a great gift idea for an avid reader who also loves to travel.

Another e-reader benefit is that they are even lighter and smaller than most tablets and books. And if you like the physical act of turning pages in a book, many e-readers come with a setting that lets you mimic the motion with a swipe of your finger. On top of that, they can carry a whole library of books in a compact device, which is much more desirable than lugging around a bunch of novels in your backpack.

Plus, e-readers aren’t solely for buying and reading e-books. They also allow you to download pdf documents, borrow books from the library (or from friends) and subscribe to magazines or news sources through streaming media subscriptions. Additionally, some e-readers even come with a stylus for taking notes at school or work.

The latest e-reader models have updated features to make them more user friendly, such as allowing multiple documents to be open at the same time, which makes it easy to switch between content. Also, if you can spend a bit more, you can buy an e-reader with more bells and whistles. For example, you can get one that has a backlit LED screen that automatically adjusts the brightness so you can read in bed at night. And for the ultimate luxury, waterproof e-readers can be used while you soak in the tub and catch up on the current bestseller.

However, while e-readers work well for reading text, they do not display graphics well on their screens. And while there are some e-reader models appearing on the market that feature color, they pale in comparison to the wide range of hues that tablets deliver. This means that if you’re a fan of colorful graphic novels, an e-reader isn’t the best choice. Furthermore, they are certainly not designed for watching videos, looking at pictures or doing many other things that you can do on a tablet.

Tablets also offer the ability to read books, but they are better designed for other activities. Essentially, a tablet is a portable computer that does almost everything a laptop does, but in a smaller, more lightweight device. This means tablets are often more expensive, but they do give you a lot of versatility. You can use a tablet to surf the web, stream movies, play games, listen to music and much more. And by adding a stylus pen, you can draw artwork and take notes as well.

When it comes to the reading experience, however, tablets fall a little short. Because they have larger screens and include more internal hardware, they are bulkier and heavier, which makes them hard to hold for reading. Tablets are easiest to use when propped in a tablet stand or resting on your lap. Meanwhile, an e-reader can fit comfortably in one hand whether you’re sitting, strolling or lying down.

If you’re primarily going to read books, pdf documents and browse text-based magazines and newspapers, an e-reader is the better choice. Overall, the device will be simpler to transport and the battery will last longer.

Plus, the display on an e-reader can be easier on the eyes because of the backlit LED screen and the option to reduce the amount of blue light exposure. This feature is especially useful if you like to read in bed before falling asleep. In comparison to tablets, the amount of blue light on an e-reader is much lower. If you have an earlier model device, another option is to turn off the e-reader’s internal light and use a lamp or reading light to illuminate the screen instead.

The reason this blue light reducing feature is especially noteworthy is because of recent findings about the effects that screens have on a person. For instance, the blue light emitted by screens can tire the eyes and disrupt the body’s natural rhythms.¹ Knowing that the effect of blue light is significant enough to interfere with sleep, it is best to avoid screens for at least an hour before bedtime.

When it comes to tablets, the activities that they’re best suited for include video calls, photo editing, watching films, listening to music and playing games (there are only basic word games available on e-readers). These options all require an advanced color display, a camera and graphics hardware that an e-reader doesn’t provide.

Another advantage tablets have over e-readers is that you can use a tablet keyboard and have your device double as a convenient work tool. Additionally, with a tablet that’s connected to Wi-Fi, you can share data like files and apps to other cellular devices on the network or through the cloud. Overall, there are many more functions available in a tablet compared to an e-reader.

In summary, if you want to enjoy common computer activities on a device smaller than a laptop, then a tablet is right for you. But if you want a device that enables the best reading experience, then go with an e-reader. It’s worth mentioning that both options have Bluetooth capabilities that enable connection to wireless headphones for listening to an audiobook on your e-reader or jamming to music on your tablet.

Ultimately, the decision is a personal one that you must make based on your preferences. Regardless of which one you choose, remember to protect your device with a proper tablet case or e-reader cover so you can enjoy it for years to come.