The 8 best e-readers, tried and tested – from Kindle to Kobo and beyond

In a world where books have to vie with smartphones for attention, a brilliant ebook reader is more necessary than ever

E-readers have been one of the greatest single-purpose gadgets for almost three decades. They offer an escape from technology and the endless distraction of mobile phones, despite also being tech devices.

But that is starting to change. Colour ebook readers, for graphic novels, magazines and books, are now fairly common, and there are several models designed for note-taking. Plus, a whole family of these devices uses Android, meaning they can run all of those apps that often distract from reading.

Best e-reader overall:
Kindle Paperwhite
_{124.99 at Amazon}

Best colour e-reader:
Kobo Libra Colour
_{179 at Currys}

Best affordable e-reader:
Kobo Clara BW
_{119 at Amazon}

Best phone-style e-reader:
Onyx Boox Palma 2
_{299 at Boox}