The 7 best e-readers to buy during Black Friday 2025
As the digital reading landscape continues to evolve, e-readers have become an indispensable tool for bibliophiles seeking convenience and portability. While the tactile experience of flipping through the pages of a hardcover book remains unmatched, e-readers offer the unique advantage of housing entire libraries within a single device. With Black Friday approaching, now is the perfect time to explore the best e-readers available for 2025, beyond the well-known Amazon Kindle. Although Kindles, including the Paperwhite, are often the first choice for many readers, there are notable alternatives like the Kobo Libra and the Nook GlowLight that deserve attention.
In recent tests, the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 emerged as contenders for the best e-reader title but ultimately fell short. The Remarkable tablet excels as a digital journal or document reader but struggles with ePUB file access, making it less suitable for avid e-book readers. On the other hand, while the Onyx Boox Go 7 offers some appealing features, such as page-turning buttons, it suffers from lagging performance and complicated library book integration, making it a less user-friendly option compared to its competitors. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, although an upgrade over the standard Paperwhite, is recommended to be bypassed in favor of the Kobo Libra Colour, which provides better value for those willing to invest around $200 in an e-reader.
For readers looking to fill their e-readers with content without breaking the bank, resources like the Libby app allow access to a vast selection of free books from local libraries, seamlessly integrating with both Kindle and Kobo devices. Additionally, events like Stuff Your Kindle Day and platforms like Project Gutenberg offer opportunities to discover a wealth of literature at no cost, ensuring that readers can enjoy their e-reading experience without financial constraints. As the e-reader market expands, it’s essential to stay informed about the best options available, especially with enticing deals on the horizon during the holiday shopping season.
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While you can’t replace the feel of paper — the beauty of bound hardcovers and the ritual of turning the page — an e-reader brings convenience and portability that a physical
book
just can’t beat. Sure, you can throw a book in your tote bag, but what about an entire library?
When you think of the best e-readers, your first thought is likely an
Amazon Kindle
, however this isn’t a list of the
best Kindles
, although we do have a list of those, too. While
Kindles
are great — there’s certainly no denying that — you can find a couple of equally wonderful alternatives.
SEE ALSO:
From the basic to the Paperwhite, these are Amazon’s best Kindles
So, what is the best e-reader for 2025? I’m regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. So, if you’re gearing up to read more books this summer or fall, I can recommend a model you’ll love.
Plus, with
Black Friday
upon us, we’re approaching the best time to buy an e-reader. During
Prime Day
, we see discounts on Kindles, but we have to wait for Black Friday to find deals on other e-readers like Kobos. Ahead of Black Friday, we’ve spotted deals on
like-new Kindle Paperwhites
, but we’re holding out for more.
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Other e-readers we’ve tested
From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Most recently, we’ve tested the
Remarkable PaperPro
and
Onyx Boox Go 7
as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.
Whenever you search for e-readers,
Remarkable’s
tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it’s hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won’t be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.
The
Onyx Boox Go 7
is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It’s the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo’s integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn’t work on my device.
An e-reader we haven’t gotten around to testing is the
Kindle Scribe Colorsoft
, which just debuted on Sept. 30, 2025. As of Nov. 2025, it’s not available for preorder yet, but once we get a model to test, we’ll update this guide with our recommendations.
What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?
If you’re familiar with the
Kindle lineup
, it may come as a surprise that the
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
isn’t on this list. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we’ve
compared the devices head-to-head
. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE’s added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.
If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the
Kobo Libra Colour
.
Where’s the Nook on this list?
In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.
Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.
Where to get e-reader books for free
Once you get an e-reader, it’s time to fill it up with books, and that doesn’t necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.
The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with
Libby
. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn’t have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library’s digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.
Another way to build your library is through
Stuff Your Kindle Day
events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.
If you’re a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.
