Shop for e-book readers

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 63 reviews

The Bottom Line: The new touch-screen Nook is a major advancement over its predecessor and offers some real advantages over the 2010 Kindle. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, 6 in, Monochrome E Ink, 5 in x 0.47 in x 6.5 in, 7.48 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight sets the standard for e-ink e-readers going forward and is well worth the extra money if you do a lot of nighttime reading. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 5 in x 0.5 in x 6.5 in, 6.9 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The Sony PRS-T2 is a perfectly good touch-screen e-reader whose only sin is that it doesn't have any competitive advantages over Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's e-readers. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in, Monochrome E Ink - Yes, 4.375 in x 0.375 in x 6.875 in, 5.9 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 184 reviews

The Bottom Line: Barnes & Noble's Nook Color is a capable color touch-screen e-book reader that offers much of the functionality of an Android tablet for half the price of an iPad. Read review

Specs: Texas Instruments 800 MHz, 512 MB, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in, Color TFT active matrix, 5 in x 0.48 in x 8.1 in, 15.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.7 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's relatively affordable, the Kobo Vox is a truly unexceptional Android tablet, with nothing to recommend it over the identically priced Kindle Fire. Read review

Specs: Android 2.3, 800 MHz, 512 MB, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in, Color TFT active matrix - Yes, 5 in x 0.5 in x 7.6 in, 14.2 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.9 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: With an excellent built-in light and Amazon's best-in-class e-book selection, the Kindle Paperwhite rises to the top of the e-reader pack. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in, Monochrome Paperwhite - Yes, 4.6 in x 0.36 in x 6.7 in, 7.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 42 reviews

The Bottom Line: The third-generation Kindle's winning combination of noteworthy upgrades--an improved screen, better battery life, lighter weight, and lower price--vaults it to the top of the e-book reader category. Read review

Specs: 4 GB, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in, Monochrome E Ink, 4.8 in x 0.335 in x 7.5 in, 8.7 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.0 stars Mediocre

  Overall score: 4.7 (2.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 83 reviews

The Bottom Line: The feature set of the affordable Pandigital Novel looks good on paper, but this color e-book reader and multimedia device is hobbled by its extremely slow performance and unresponsive touch screen. Read review

Specs: Android, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in Color TFT active matrix, 5.5 in x 0.5 in x 7.5 in, 1.2 lbs

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.9 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: With an excellent built-in light and Amazon's best-in-class e-book selection, the Kindle Paperwhite rises to the top of the e-reader pack. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in, Monochrome Paperwhite - Yes, 4.6 in x 0.36 in x 6.7 in, 7.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though the Kobo eReader Touch Edition doesn't quite measure up to the Nook Touch or the Kindle, it's a respectable and affordable touch-screen e-reader with a lot of pluses. Read review

Specs: Freescale MX508, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in, Monochrome E Ink, 4.5 in x 0.4 in x 6.5 in, 7.1 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 209 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nook Wi-Fi/3G doesn't quite measure up to the Kindle in terms of design and overall performance, but it's a worthy alternative if you're looking for a more open e-reader that supports the EPUB format. Read review

Specs: 2 GB, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.9 in x 0.5 in x 7.7 in, 11.2 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Linux, 2 GB, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, TFT active matrix, 6 in, 4.8 in x 0.5 in x 7 in, 8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: The third-generation Kindle's winning combination of noteworthy upgrades--an improved screen, better battery life, lighter weight, and lower price--vaults it to the top of the e-book reader category. Read review

Specs: 4 GB, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.8 in x 0.4 in x 7.5 in, 8.5 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 46 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nook Wi-Fi doesn't quite measure up to the Kindle in terms of design and overall performance, but it's a worthy alternative if you're looking for a more open e-reader that supports the EPUB format. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.9 in x 0.5 in, 7.7 in, 11.6 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Android 2.1, ARM926EJ 600 MHz, 128 MB - DDR2 SDRAM, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in Color TFT active matrix, 5.1 in x 0.4 in x 7.5 in, 14.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Archos 70 offers more horsepower and features than any other tablet under $300, but its limitations make it more of a toy than a tool. Read review

Specs: Android 2.1, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in, Color TFT active matrix, 5.1 in x 0.4 in x 7.5 in, 11 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.7 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's relatively affordable, the Kobo Vox is a truly unexceptional Android tablet, with nothing to recommend it over the identically priced Kindle Fire. Read review

Specs: Android 2.3, 800 MHz, 512 MB, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in, Color TFT active matrix - Yes, 5.06 in x 0.53 in x 7.57 in, 14.2 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 8 reviews

Specs: Android, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 7 in Color TFT active matrix, 5.2 in x 0.5 in x 7.2 in, 12 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome Paperwhite - Yes, 4.6 in x 0.4 in x 6.7 in, 7.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink - Yes, 4.7 in x 6.8 in x 0.4 in, 7.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.7 in x 0.4 in x 7.2 in, 7.8 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.5 in x 0.3 in x 6.5 in, 6 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While there's no compelling reason to buy it over the Kindle Touch, the Sony Reader Wi-Fi is a very solid e-reader. Read review

Specs: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink - Yes, 4.4 in x 0.4 in x 6.9 in, 5.9 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.5 in x 0.4 in x 6.5 in, 6 oz

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Though the Kobo eReader Touch Edition doesn't quite measure up to the Nook Touch or the Kindle, it's a respectable and affordable touch-screen e-reader with a lot of pluses. Read review

Specs: Freescale MX508, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, 6 in Monochrome E Ink, 4.5 in x 0.4 in x 6.5 in, 6.5 oz