Best E Ink tablet 2025
Posted by batterymap01
from the Business category at
06 Jan 2025 03:28:31 am.
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If you want the best e ink tablet today, you're no longer restricted to choosing from kindles. Although Amazon did democratize this product segment, there are dozens of players offering a wide range of devices these days. Over the last few years, e ink technology (and by extension, the devices that utilize it) has improved by leaps and bounds. We're talking about faster page refresh times, larger screen sizes, and even color displays!
My top vote goes to the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro, which comes with a big color display, incredible battery life, and Android 12 with full support for Play Store apps. The 10.3-inch screen even works with a stylus and gives you the feeling of writing on a piece of real paper. You also get a 16MP rear camera, dual-speakers, and much more. Then there's the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), which is perfect if you just want a well-rounded tablet for reading and don't really care about fancy extras. It comes with a high-resolution panel, full Audible integration, as well as an IPX8 rating.
My love for this product segment and my hands-on experience testing numerous models from many brands, are two very good reasons for you to trust my expertise. With that said, here are some of the best e ink tablets worth checking out.
Best for reading
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1. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
The best E Ink tablet for reading, especially poolside
Specifications
Screen:
6.8 inches
Storage:
8GB/16GB
Battery:
Up to 10 weeks
Audio:
Via Bluetooth accessories only
Stylus:
Not included
Reasons to buy
+IPX8 waterproof rating
+300ppi E Ink screen
+8GB or 16GB of internal storage
+Audible integration
+Unbeatably good battery life
+
20% faster than before
Reasons to avoid
-Base model has ads
-No Play Store or third-party apps
-
No physical buttons
For many years now, Amazon has dominated the e-reader market with its Kindle line of reading tablets, and for a good reason: Kindle e-readers are excellent devices, and many of them have displays with LED backlighting. The new Kindle Paperwhite (2024) takes over from the 11th-generationKindle Paperwhite, and it is arguably thebest Amazon Kindle e-readerout there.
This 12th-generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite has many of the same features from before, like an IPX8 waterproof certification and five adjustable LED backlights. There's a faster processor which enables up to 25 percent quicker page turns, and a new oxide thin-film transistor in the display for richer contrast levels.
Its 6.8-inch 300ppi E Ink screen is a delight to look at and replicates paper very nicely. Audible integration makes it the ideal companion for lazy beach days when you want to sunbathe with your eyes closed. You can also connect a pair of Bluetoothwireless earbudsand listen to audiobooks in peace.
There's just one 16GB model now of the 2024 Paperwhite, which is enough to store thousands of e-books. The battery life is still excellent, and you get a USB-C charging port. Amazon sweetened the deal by setting a low price, but you'll need to spend a little extra cash for the ad-free version. In a nutshell, if you're an avid reader, you'll love Kindle Paperwhite. Some file formats aren't supported, althoughAmazon did introduce EPUBcompatibility a while back.
also:ST32 Battery for Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 5
Best overall
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2. Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro
The best overall E Ink tablet
Specifications
Screen:
10.3 inches Kaleido 3
Storage:
128GB, microSD, USB-C OTG
Battery:
4,600mAh
Audio:
Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:
Included
Reasons to buy
+10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color display
+Stylus and keyboard support
+128GB expandable storage
+Android 12 with Play Store
+Fantastic battery life
+USB Type-C fast charging
+Unbelievably slim body
+
Fingerprint sensor and 16MP camera
Reasons to avoid
-No IP resistance rating
-E Ink display isn't bright under the sun
-Keyboard case needs to be bought separately
-
Expensive
While most E Ink tablets tend to focus on doing the one thing they're meant for, the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro does it all. Successor to theTab Ultra C, the Tab Ultra C Pro can display 4,096 colors on its 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 screen, which is quite unusual for most E Ink tablets. Thanks to the included stylus, you can even draw, highlight, or jot down notes in different shades. The Tab Ultra C Pro's touch functionality for the stylus is powered by Wacom, the company that makes thebest drawing tablets. It imitates the traditional feel of writing on paper with a pen, making for an awesome experience.
Onyx Boox has really taken things to the next level by adding more under the Tab Ultra C Pro's hood. This stunningly slim tablet runs Android 12 out of the box, so you can install and use apps from the Google Play Store. It also comes with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of onboard storage, a microSD slot, a 16MP camera, stereo speakers, a mic, and a USB Type-C port that supports fast charging. Amazingly, the 4,600mAh battery can last for a week or two with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in full use. The Boox Tab Ultra C Pro is the complete package; it's almost comparable to some of thebest Android tablets, except for a few limitations.
Unfortunately, if you want the complete package, you'll have to pay for it since this thing isn't exactly cheap in comparison to "regular" tablets. It also lacks any IP rating water and dust resistance, which is a bummer, and E Ink displays are famously dim under the Sun. We believe you can live with these shortcomings, as the combination of features in the Tab Ultra C Pro is just too good. Unlike competitors like the Kindle Scribe, it provides more value and has a lot more to offer.
Best mid-range
3. Onyx Boox Note Air4 C
The best E Ink tablet for $500
Specifications
Screen:
10.3 inches Kaleido 3
Storage:
64GB, microSD, USB-C OTG
Battery:
3,700mAh
Audio:
Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:
Included
Reasons to buy
+Extremely thin and lightweight
+Battery-free stylus included
+Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
+Runs Android 13 and has Google Play Store
+Weeks of battery with Type-C charging
+Improved display with quicker response time
+Supports a wider range of file formats than Kindle e-readers
+
Keyboard support and color display
Reasons to avoid
-No IP rating
-
Keyboard case comes separately
At $500, the Onyx Boox Note Air4 C improves upon the awesomeBoox Note Air3 Cby retaining its value-packed features but bumping up the processing power for better response and a brighter display. Boox tablets beat Amazon, Kobo, and every competitor easily because they all have the Google Play Store support and Android 13.
The Boox Note Air4 C has a 10.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display that can produce 4,096 colors and has excellent contrast and a lovely crispness to it. It comes with a battery-free stylus that can register up to 4,096 levels of pressure, and you get native optical character recognition (OCR). This is such a vital feature for any tablet, whether it's an E Ink device or a full-blown traditional Android or iOS tablet. You also get native OCR or handwriting recognition and conversion with the Note Air4 C.
Apart from the stylus and excellent e-paper display, the Note Air4 C has all the advantages of E Ink tablets and e-readers, and some extra goodies. Its 3,700mAh battery provides weeks of battery life, and you get a USB-C port with OTG support as well. Other additions include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, support for loads of file formats, built-in speakers, and even a microphone. You can also get a keyboard case separately to enable typing input. There's now 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB, and the tablet is 10g lighter.
When looking for a writing tablet with an e-paper display, the Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is easily the winner. This is saying something, considering the rivals include devices like theAmazon Kindle Scribe and the ReMarkable 2. If you don't mind the lack of water resistance and the need to buy the keyboard case separately, this is the E Ink tablet to get for $500.
Best small
4. Onyx Boox Palma 2
The best pocket-sized e-paper tablet
Specifications
Screen:
6.13 inches E Ink Carta Plus
Storage:
128GB, microSD, USB-C OTG
Battery:
3,950mAh
Audio:
Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:
Not included
Reasons to buy
+Positively tiny and splash-proof
+Fingerprint reader built-in
+Runs Android 13 and has all Play Store apps
+Lovely E Ink Carta Plus B&W display with no ghosting issues
+Lots of onboard storage, USB-C OTG, and a microSD slot
+
Unbeatable battery lasts for months
Reasons to avoid
-No stylus support
-
No SIM slot
The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is an iterative update to theOnyx Boox Palmaand is more of an E Ink smartphone than a tablet. Its compact form factor enables you to carry it around anywhere in your pocket. The sub-$300 price tag might feel a bit high for the size, and you could easily get a basic entry-level Kindle for less than half that money. However, no Kindle comes with Google Play Store support, and that's just one of the many enticing draws of the Boox Palma 2.
The Onyx Boox Palma 2 has a microphone, speakers, and all modern connectivity options thatfull-fledged Android tabletshave, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The only connectivity option missing is cellular support. The new version does come with a fingerprint sensor for added security.
You get Android 13, and the Google Play Store pre-installed, granting you access to millions of apps. And because the device uses a B&W E Ink display, the battery lasts for months! The 128GB of native storage is insane, but if that somehow isn't enough for you, you alsoget a microSD cardslot and USB-C OTG support forUSB-C thumb drives.
It's hard to find another handheld e-ink device that's this capable because honestly, there isn't one! The Palma 2 is one of a kind.
Best entry-level
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5. Amazon Kindle (2024)
A great budget e-reader
Specifications
Screen:
6 inches
Storage:
16GB
Battery:
Up to six weeks
Audio:
Via Bluetooth accessories only
Stylus:
Not included
Reasons to buy
+Adjustable front light
+300ppi display is a joy to read
+Immortal battery backup
+USB-C port
+16GB of internal storage
+
Very affordable
Reasons to avoid
-No IP rating
-Doesn't support third-party apps
-
Ads in cheaper model
E Ink tablet lovers out there on a budget can still get one for a nifty price. The entry-level Amazon Kindle (2024) is a budget e-reader sporting a 6-inch 300ppi e-paper display. It doesn't have many funky features like a waterproof rating or Sudoku, but it can support a healthy number of file formats and looks brilliant too.
It isn't that bright in sunlight, but the adjustable front light comes in quite handy for reading at night. The basic Amazon Kindle has some more no-nonsense specs such as 16GB of storage, fantastic battery life, Wi-Fi, and audiobook support. If you don't want to use the Kindle app, you can transfer files to the Amazon Kindle (2024) e-reader from your PC too.
In comparison to almost every other e-paper device out there, the Amazon Kindle is the winner, hands down, when it comes to price. The base model Kindle performs a tad bit slower, and it doesn't have waterproofing, but it is still the best E Ink tablet for reading on a tight budget.
also:58-000271 Battery for Amazon Kindle PaperWhite4 2018
Best extra large
6. Onyx Boox Tab X
The biggest and baddest e-paper tab
Specifications
Screen:
13.3 inches E Ink Mobius
Storage:
128GB, USB-C OTG
Battery:
6,300mAh
Audio:
Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:
Not included
Reasons to buy
+Impossibly thin and lightweight for the size
+Premium E Ink Mobius display is a delight to the eyes
+Smooth performance
+Weeks of battery life
+
Stylus support and USB-C OTG
Reasons to avoid
-Insanely expensive
-No color output
-
No microSD card slot
Onyx Boox has ventured into all corners of the e-paper tablet world, giving us the tiniest of devices like the Boox Palma and the biggest of slabs with theOnyx Boox Tab X. This gigantic 13.3-inch E Ink tablet doesn't display color, but has a viewing experience that's sublime nonetheless. This is the most premium Android tablet with an E Ink display made by the brand.
I tested the Tab X and was very impressed by its thin profile and lightweight yet solid build quality. The tablet is quite literally as slim as a tea biscuit! And this narrow waist does not impede the tablet's performance in any way. Apart from that, the Tab X has all the signature features of Onyx Boox devices like Android, the Google Play Store, a speaker, a mic, and even a stylus.
If the 128GB of onboard storage isn't enough for all your files, e-books, mangas, and apps, then the USB-C OTG feature should help you expand the storage even further. There's no microSD slot, but that shouldn't be a big issue, all things considered. The one major drawback here is the extremely expensive price tag. But if you can afford it, you won't have much to complain about.
How to choose
After staring at bright screens day in and day out, your eyes really need a break. The best E Ink tablet not only provides relief but also lets you carry out various tasks. Pick one based on your specific needs. If you intend to read basic e-books, an entry-level e-reader should be fine. But if you intend to do more like drawing and taking notes, take those use cases into consideration before making a final choice.
The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro is the best E Ink tablet due to its fabulous soft colors, extremely sleek and lightweight build, and multitasking capabilities. It isn't limited to just being an e-reader, but if you want, you can use it for that purpose. However, if the need be, you can also use it to take down notes, sketch some lovely drawings, or underline passages of text.
Let's also not forget that you get native optical character recognition with the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro, enabling you to convert your handwriting into digital text in real-time, whether it's to use the search bar in the Google Play Store or to use the search function in your handwritten notes. This alone is a remarkable feat for any decent tablet with a stylus.
The Tab Ultra C Pro accommodates office use as well as home use. You don't have to sacrifice battery life or connectivity. It even has stereo speakers and a mic, which no other electronic ink tablet on this list offers. What's even more brilliant is its ability to run almost anyAndroid app. You can actually use it as a full-blown tablet for most tasks related to reading and writing. The Tab Ultra C Pro pushes the boundaries of an E Ink tablet in the best sense, which is why it's the best one to buy right now.
Tags: Best E Ink tablet 2025
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