The 7 best e-readers to buy during Black Friday 2025
As we move towards 2025, the debate between traditional paper books and e-readers continues to evolve. While the tactile experience of flipping through the pages of a hardcover book remains irreplaceable for many, e-readers offer unmatched convenience and portability that can’t be overlooked. Imagine carrying an entire library in your tote bag—this is the reality e-readers present. Although Amazon’s Kindle often dominates the conversation, there are several noteworthy alternatives that deserve attention.
In the lead-up to Black Friday, a prime time for e-reader deals, it’s essential to explore various options beyond the Kindle lineup. Recent tests of e-readers like the Remarkable PaperPro and the Onyx Boox Go 7 revealed both strengths and weaknesses. The Remarkable tablet, while praised for its document reading capabilities, falls short as an e-reader due to compatibility issues with ePUB files, particularly those from library services like Libby. Meanwhile, the Onyx Boox Go 7 shows promise with its physical page-turning buttons but suffers from significant lag and cumbersome processes for accessing library books. In contrast, the Kindle Paperwhite remains a strong contender for those seeking value, while the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, despite its enhanced features, may not justify the higher price tag compared to the standard model.
Interestingly, the Barnes & Noble Nook, once a popular choice, has been deemed less competitive in recent evaluations due to its sluggish performance and complicated process for accessing library books. For those looking to fill their e-readers without breaking the bank, resources like the Libby app, which connects to local libraries, and Project Gutenberg, offering a vast collection of public domain books, provide excellent avenues to explore. As the e-reader landscape continues to shift, staying informed about the best devices can enhance your reading experience and make the most of the upcoming sales 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.
