An e-reader holds thousands of books, weighs less than a paperback and lasts for weeks on a charge. Unlike a tablet or phone, its E Ink screen is easy on the eyes and readable in bright sunshine, so it's a great gift for anyone who reads in bed, on the commute or by the pool.
The real choice comes down to two things: which bookshop you want to be tied to (Amazon's Kindle store, or Kobo's, which also lets you borrow from UK libraries), and whether you want extras like waterproofing, a bigger screen or colour.
We've researched the top-rated e-readers on Amazon UK — comparing price, ratings, features and value for money — to give you a clear shortlist for 2026.
Best Overall — Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB)
The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite remains the benchmark for e-readers, pairing a crisp glare-free display with a slim, waterproof design. At £199.99 it's not cheap, but the build quality, battery life and sheer polish justify the price for anyone serious about reading. With over 17,000 reviews and a 4.5 rating, it's a proven, dependable choice.
- Glare-free 7-inch display is comfortable for long reading sessions
- Waterproof design makes it safe for bath or poolside reading
- Seamless integration with Amazon's vast e-book ecosystem
- Long battery life that lasts weeks on a single charge
- Premium price compared to basic e-readers and tablets
- Locked into Amazon's ecosystem, less flexible for other formats
- No physical page-turn buttons for those who prefer tactile controls
Best Budget — Amazon Kindle (2024, 16GB)
The latest basic Kindle strikes a great balance between price and usability, now with 16GB of storage as standard so you'll never worry about running out of space for books. At £84.99 with over 25,000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars, it's a proven, no-frills e-reader that does exactly what it should.
- Generous 16GB storage for thousands of books
- Light and compact design, easy to hold for long reading sessions
- Trusted Amazon ecosystem with huge e-book library
- Excellent value compared to Paperwhite and Oasis models
- No listed waterproofing unlike higher-end Kindle models
- No backlight warmth adjustment mentioned
- Amazon hasn't detailed specific features, so spec comparison is tricky
Best Value — Kobo Clara Colour
The Kobo Clara Colour is the first truly affordable colour e-reader that gets the basics right, pairing a sharp 6-inch E Ink Kaleido panel with waterproofing and a lightweight, pocketable design. At £169.99 it sits at a sensible price for anyone wanting to dip into colour comics, manga or magazines without jumping to a pricier 7-inch model. The colour saturation is still a bit muted compared to a tablet screen, but for reading it's a genuine step up from black-and-white Kobos.
- Crisp 6-inch colour E Ink display, great for comics and magazines
- Fully waterproof, so safe for bath or poolside reading
- Compact and lightweight, easy to hold for long sessions
- Strong 4.5-star rating from over 2,000 buyers shows proven reliability
- Colours are noticeably more muted than a standard tablet screen
- No physical page-turn buttons on this model
- Storage and features aren't detailed, so check specs before buying if you need expandable storage
Best Premium — Kobo Libra Colour
The Kobo Libra Colour is one of the most versatile e-readers on the market, combining a colour E Ink display with waterproofing and a comfortable page-turn button design. At £239.99 it's a premium purchase, but the colour screen and note-taking support make it a genuine step up from standard Kobo models, especially for comic and manga fans.
- 7-inch colour E Ink display adds visual appeal for comics, manga and magazines
- Waterproof design makes it safe for bath or poolside reading
- Physical page-turn buttons improve one-handed reading comfort
- Strong 4.5-star rating from over 1,680 buyers shows proven reliability
- Premium price compared to standard monochrome e-readers
- Colour E Ink display has less contrast and vibrancy than a tablet screen
- No features list provided, so some buyers may want more spec detail before purchasing
Quick Comparison Table
Here's how the main options compare side by side:
| Model | Price | Rating | Reviews | HGP Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB) | £200 | 4.5/5 | 17,150 | 87/100 |
| Amazon Kindle (2024, 16GB) | £85 | 4.5/5 | 25,172 | 86/100 |
| Kobo Clara Colour | £170 | 4.5/5 | 2,286 | 84/100 |
| Kobo Libra Colour | £240 | 4.5/5 | 1,680 | 87/100 |
| Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) | £145 | 4.5/5 | 2,818 | 85/100 |
| PocketBook Verse Pro | £149 | 4.2/5 | 261 | 78/100 |
E-Readers Buying Guide — What to Look For
Kindle or Kobo?
Kindle is the simplest choice if you already buy books from Amazon or want Kindle Unlimited. Kobo reads the open EPUB format, so you can buy from lots of other ebook shops, and it has library borrowing built in. Many UK library services let you borrow ebooks free, straight on the device. Kindles can't borrow UK library ebooks.
Screen size
6-inch models (basic Kindle, Kobo Clara) are the most pocketable. 7-inch models (Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra) show more words per page and are more comfortable for long reading sessions. 10-inch-plus models like the Kobo Elipsa are really note-taking devices, and are bigger than most people need just for reading.
Waterproofing
If you read in the bath or on holiday, choose a model rated IPX8. The Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara and Libra ranges all are. The basic Kindle isn't waterproof.
Colour E Ink
Colour e-readers (Kindle Colorsoft, Kobo Clara Colour and Libra Colour) show covers, comics and highlights in colour. The colours are soft and muted, nothing like a tablet, so for mostly reading novels a black-and-white model is cheaper and slightly sharper.
Physical page-turn buttons
Most e-readers are touchscreen only. If you like to read one-handed, the Kobo Libra models have physical page-turn buttons. No current Kindle has them.
Our Final Verdict
For most readers, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB) at £200 is the one to get — a big, sharp, waterproof screen and the easiest access to the biggest ebook store in the UK.
If you want to spend less, the Amazon Kindle (2024, 16GB) at £85 is a superb reader for the price. If you'd rather borrow books free from your local library, go for a Kobo instead.