While plenty of people still prefer the touch and feel of books, e-readers have come a long way since Amazon’s Kindle was first launched in 2007. Today’s e-readers have crisp, clear e-ink display for easy and enjoyable reading and enough memory to store thousands of books.
However, if you buy an e-reader you will be limited in what you can do, so if you want to do video calls or watch films you will probably be better off getting a tablet.
Whatever your reading or streaming needs, here are the best e-readers and tablets that might not have made it off your 2020 Christmas wish list.
RRP: £799
Storage: 128GB
Resolution: 2800 x 1752 pixels
Display: 12.4 inches
Beautifully built and incredibly slim, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is without a doubt the best Android tablet available and has 10-hour-plus battery life.
Its 12.4-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2800 x 1752 pixels and four Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers make it perfect for playing games or watching videos. The Tab7+ also has a larger version of Samsung’s S Pen stylus as well as an excellent camera microphone for video calls.
RRP: £329 (32GB), £429 (128GB)
Storage: 32GB, 128GB
Resolution: 2160 x 1620 pixels
Display: 10.2 inches
For most people, the standard Apple iPad is the best buy tablet. It boasts a bright 10.2-inch display and is an excellent option for those that want a powerful tablet at an affordable price.
It comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera on the front. Battery life comes in at a decent 10 hours and it also lets you attach the Smart Keyboard accessory.
RRP: £149.99
Storage: 32GB
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
Display: 10.1 inches
Amazon's Fire HD 10 is one of the most reliable tablets available and at a price of under £150 it offers terrific value.
The 10.1-inch screen is crisp and bright, making it perfect for watching video, and the stereo speakers are loud and clear. You will get a good solid 10 hours of video playback out of battery life and it also has Alexa compatibility.
RRP: £239.99 (8GB), £289.99 (32GB)
Storage: 8GB, 32GB
Resolution: 300ppi
Display: 8 inches
If you are looking for an e-reader with a big screen then the Kobo Forma is the one for you. Its huge eight-inch display and 300ppi screen resolution deliver a crisp reading experience and it is particularly good in poor light.
While most e-readers are flat, the Forma’s grip is raised slightly, making it comfortable to hold. Kobo’s library boasts over five million books and you can also buy titles from other sources such as Google Play.
RRP: £229.99 (8GB), £259.99 (32GB)
Storage: 8GB, 32GB
Resolution: 300ppi
Display: 7 inches
The Amazon Kindle Oasis is bigger than most e-readers, at seven inches, making it extremely easy to read.
In terms of specs and features it is the best Amazon has to offer. Its standout feature is the adjustable backlight, which can be changed from white to warmer yellow hues to reduce eye strain – especially useful for reading at night.
The 300ppi E Ink display is crisp and clear, and Amazon’s interface makes navigating pages a dream. It is even waterproof for those who like reading in the bath.
RRP: £119.99 (8GB), £149.99 (32GB)
Storage: 8GB, 32GB
Resolution: 300ppi
Display: 6 inches
Amazon’s mid-range Kindle Paperwhite offers great value for money and comes with lots of features seen on the higher-end Oasis.
Its smooth design means it sits comfortably in your hand and with built-in Bluetooth you can download Amazon audiobooks, which you can listen to with wireless headphones.
It has a better display and a stronger resolution than the standard Kindle at 300ppi, making the text fantastically sharp. The basic model comes with 8GB of storage, which can be upgraded to 32GB, meaning you can keep thousands of books on one device.
RRP: £109.99
Storage: 8GB
Resolution: 300ppi
Display: 6 inches
The Kobo Clara HD is an incredibly well-designed e-reader and provides an excellent alternative to the Amazon Paperwhite.
Lightweight and comfortable to hold, the six-inch display comes with a resolution of 300ppi, which means you get sharp text that is easy to read. It has a front light with an adjustable colour temperature, which strips out the blue light that can disrupt sleep.
