Three eReaders you should consider

Ereaders continue to evolve and expand in functionality. For this end of summer, it therefore seemed right to draw up a small list to help you find your way through an increasingly complex galaxy of models.

This is not a ranking, but a description with the most useful features for the user, divided by brand and focused on the top of the line, for those who want the most from their eBook Reader.

TOLINO

A German brand that is gaining more and more space in Italy. The special feature of its models is the so-called Tap2Flip, i.e. the possibility of changing pages by tapping the back of the device with your finger (as opposed to the front or the side of competitors’ models). Supported formats are ePUB, TXT and PDF and content can be saved on Tolino’s free Cloud (5 GB space).

The top of the range is called Tolino Shine 3 HD and features a 6-inch display with 300 PPI and 5 LED illumination. The screen also features a glass surface layer to increase brightness and ease of reading. It is not certified as waterproof, but the internal components are protected in case of contact with water. You can buy it for about 120 euros.

KOBO

Another popular brand in Italy (and often seen in La Feltrinelli bookshops) is Kobo, which has a wide range of eReaders. Kobo’s eBook Reader supports a wide range of formats: ePUB, ePUB3, MOBI, Jpeg, PDF, GIF, BMP, PNG, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR and also Adobe DRM protected files. Kobo is therefore convenient for those who decide to rely on digital lending from libraries, whose eBooks are always protected.

In addition, with Kobo Plus there is the possibility of a monthly subscription for hundreds of eBooks and audio books.

The top of the range is certainly Kobo Forma. The display is an impressive 8 inches at 300 PPI and automatically adjusts the viewing angle depending on the inclination of the device. Its illumination is very even and can be set to adapt to the time of day and night, so as not to strain your eyes. Kobo Forma is IPX8-certified, meaning it is resistant to a depth of two metres for over an hour. Page scrolling, apart from the display of course, is facilitated by two physical buttons that are conveniently reached with the thumb. It costs on average more than EUR 250.

AMAZON KINDLE

We now come to the most popular eReaders on the market. The great convenience obviously lies in the integration with Amazon’s services and access to its huge market of digital books and audio books. As with Kobo, Amazon also has its own subscription version: with Kindle Unlimited, thousands of constantly updated titles are guaranteed.

The top of the range is Kindle Oasis. It features a 7-inch display with 300 PPI. The device is made of plastic, but the back is anodised aluminium.

Kindle Oasis is also IPX8 certified, and the backlighting is provided by no less than 25 white and yellow LEDs, so that the light temperature can be varied according to the time of day.

Kindle Oasis also has two physical buttons to facilitate scrolling through pages with your fingers, in addition to the touch display. The model with more memory also has free cellular connection. Depending on the memory size, the price ranges from 250 to 300 euros.

In short, if you are looking for a high-end eReader with which to comfortably read and listen to digital books and audio books, there is definitely one for you among the above models. La Novella Orchidea, as a series of eBooks, audiobooks & comics, is waiting for you in online stores!