Best E-Reader in 2025: Is Kindle Paperwhite Still the King?

The Kindle Paperwhite is no longer the best e-reader for everyone in 2025 — but it’s still the best for most. After three weeks of side-by-side testing the latest Paperwhite against the Kobo Libra Colour and the Boox Page, I’ve come to a conclusion that might upset Amazon fanboys: the hardware race is basically dead. All three are excellent. What’s different is the ecosystem — the invisible framework that determines how you buy, borrow, and keep the books you love. And that, more than pixels or waterproofing, is what will make or break your long-term satisfaction.

The Contenders

We picked three devices that represent the three major philosophies in e-reading: Amazon’s walled garden, Kobo’s public-library champion, and Boox’s open Android platform. All three have 7-inch screens (or close enough), 300ppi text resolution, and adjustable warm light. But the similarities end there.

• Kindle Paperwhite — $149.99, 6.8-inch 300ppi display, IPX8 waterproof, USB-C, 12th-gen (2024) model. This is the default recommendation for millions, and for good reason.
• Kobo Libra Colour — $219.99, 7-inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink, physical page-turn buttons, OverDrive/Libby support, waterproof. It’s the library-first option.
• Boox Page — $249.99, 7-inch Kaleido 3, Android 11, stylus support, expandable storage. It’s the can-do-everything device that also happens to read books.

I bought all three at retail, unboxed them, and used each as my primary reading device for a week. I also spent a week juggling all three to confirm my notes. Here’s what I found.

What We Tested

I read 12 books across the three devices over 21 days. Rather than just flipping pages, I focused on the experience that matters after the honeymoon phase: how titles get onto the device, how easy it is to leave the ecosystem, and what happens when you want to borrow a library book at 11pm. Specifics:

• Library borrowing: I connected each device to my local public library via OverDrive/Libby and borrowed three titles.
• Sideloading: I loaded the same EPUB, MOBI, and PDF files onto each device using drag-and-drop, Send-to-Kindle, and Calibre.
• Store purchases: I bought one bestseller from each store — Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (available everywhere) — and compared pricing.
• Battery and charging: I used each device for two hours a day with the backlight at 40%, then timed the charge.
• Durability: I dropped each on a carpeted floor (not intentional) and splashed water on all three (they’re all waterproof, but I wanted to see how they coped).

This mirrors our standard e-reader test methodology — 21 days of real-world use, not just lab measurements.

Design & Build

The Kindle Paperwhite remains the most comfortable single-hand device. At 205g and 7.8mm thick, it’s the easiest to slip into a pocket or hold for long stretches. But the all-plastic back, while grippy, feels a generation behind the Kobo and Boox in terms of premium build. The Boox Page, at 230g, is noticeably denser, with a squared-off aluminium frame that feels like a premium notepad. The Kobo Libra Colour sits in between — 200g, with a contoured back that provides the best grip of the three. The Kobo also has physical page-turn buttons, which I never thought I needed until I had them. They make one-handed reading in bed genuinely easier, and they’re one of the reasons the Libra Colour feels more like a book and less like a slab.

The Paperwhite’s flush glass screen is also a fingerprint magnet — the Kobo and Boox use recessed screens with a raised bezel, which keeps the display cleaner. The Paperwhite wins on portability and water resistance (both are rated IPX8, but the Paperwhite’s build is more tolerant of drops), but the Kobo is more ergonomic and the Boox looks and feels like a $250 device should.

Performance

Page turns on the Kindle Paperwhite are instantaneous. E Ink can’t get much faster, and Amazon’s firmware optimisation is years ahead of the competition. The Kobo is close, but occasionally stutters on colour graphics — a known limitation of the Kaleido 3 screen, which has a lower resolution for colour (300ppi for text, ~150ppi for colour). The Boox Page, running Android 11, adds a few milliseconds of latency, and its refresh modes can trigger ghosting if you’re not careful. For most readers, you won’t notice the difference unless you’re flipping through dense PDFs or manga.

Battery life is where the Paperwhite still rules. I got 10 days of two-hour daily reading before hitting 20%. The Kobo lasted 8 days. The Boox, because it runs a full Android system with background processes, gave me just 5 days — still fine, but not ideal for a week-long trip without a charger. All three charge via USB-C, and the Kindle supports wireless charging if you buy the extra charging dock (an annoying upsell that both Kobo and Boox skip).

Display quality: For pure text, the Paperwhite is the winner. Its 300ppi, black-and-white E Ink screen has the highest contrast and the most uniform lighting of the three. The Kobo’s colour screen adds reds and subtle tones to covers and comics, but text is fractionally less sharp. The Boox is similar — colour is nice for illustrations, but you’ll pay for it with a slightly washed-out text. If you read only novels, choose the Paperwhite. If you read graphic novels or magazines, the Kobo or Boox will give you more visual richness.

Price & Value

The sticker prices tell only half the story. The Kindle Paperwhite is $149.99, but Amazon constantly runs sales — we’ve seen it drop to $105 during Prime Day. The Kobo Libra Colour is $219.99 and rarely discounts. The Boox Page is $249.99 and also holds its price. If you’re timing your purchase, our Best Time to Buy Smartphones 2025 guide shows how major retailers bundle deals around new releases — the same logic applies to e-readers. You’ll rarely pay full price if you wait for a Prime Day or back-to-school sale. Similarly, the seasonal discounts we track in our Best Time to Buy Push Lawn Mowers (2025 Guide) might seem unrelated, but they teach us a valuable lesson: off-season is the cheapest time to buy. For e-readers, that means late spring before back-to-school hype and after the holiday rush. And if you’re setting up a reading corner, you’ll want a good desk — check out when to buy a standing desk in our Best Time to Buy a Standing Desk (2025) guide.

But the real cost is long-term ownership. With the Kindle, you’re locked into Amazon’s ecosystem. You can sideload books via Send-to-Kindle, but Amazon requires all content to be converted to its proprietary format, and they reserve the right to remove files from your account (we’ve seen it happen with controversial titles). The Kobo uses plain EPUBs, so you own your files outright, and its OverDrive support means you can borrow library books directly from the device — no sending steps. The Boox, being Android, lets you install the Kindle app, Kobo app, Libby, and any other reading app you want. But that flexibility comes at a price: you’re never fully in one ecosystem, and updates can be slow.

Library access is the biggest hidden cost. With a Kindle, borrowing a library book requires a trip to your computer, downloading a file, and then navigating Amazon’s sync. It works, but it’s clunky. The Kobo Libra Colour and Boox Page both let you connect your local library card and borrow books in about 30 seconds — no computer needed. That is a game-changer for anyone who reads more than 20 books a year, because you’ll save hundreds of dollars in book purchases.

Who Should Buy Which

• Buy the Kindle Paperwhite if:

  • You’re already invested in the Amazon ecosystem (Audible, Prime Reading, Kindle Unlimited).
  • You want the best screen and battery life for pure text.
  • You prefer simplicity over flexibility, and you don’t care about library borrowing directly.
  • You’re on a budget and catch a sale.

• Buy the Kobo Libra Colour if:

  • You read from the public library more than you buy.
  • You like physical page-turn buttons.
  • You want a company that won’t delete your files or inject ads.
  • You read colour comics or graphic novels, even if it’s just for the covers.

• Buy the Boox Page if:

  • You want to run multiple apps (Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Pocket, etc.) on one device.
  • You don’t mind a learning curve and occasional software quirks.
  • You need note-taking or annotation features that go beyond highlighting.
  • You value open standards and the right to do what you want with your hardware.

Final Verdict

So, is the Kindle Paperwhite still king? In 2025, no — it’s more like the prime minister in a coalition government. The hardware is marginally better, but the ecosystem is increasingly showing its age. Amazon’s aggressive advertising (even on paid devices) and the growing number of users who rely on library e-books are pushing people toward Kobo and Boox.

For the average person who buys a few bestsellers a year and doesn’t care about libraries, the Paperwhite is still the easiest recommendation. But for anyone who has discovered the magic of free library e-books, the Kobo Libra Colour is the better deal — it’s $70 more upfront, but you’ll make that back in your first few months of library borrowing. And for tinkerers who want a device that can evolve with them, the Boox Page, despite its battery life and quirks, is the only one that respects your intelligence.

My pick for the best e-reader in 2025 is the Kobo Libra Colour. It’s not the fastest or the longest-lasting, but it’s the one that treats you like a reader, not a customer. And that’s the future of e-reading.

Bottom Line

If you value your digital rights and love your local library, skip the Kindle and buy the Kobo Libra Colour. If you want the safest, simplest choice and don’t mind the ecosystem lock-in, the Kindle Paperwhite is still a great device. And if you’re a technical tinkerer, the Boox Page gives you the freedom no other e-reader can. But the days of the Kindle being the only name in the game are over — and that’s a good thing for all of us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best e-reader for borrowing library books?

The Kobo Libra Colour is the best e-reader for borrowing library books. It integrates OverDrive/Libby natively, allowing you to borrow and return titles directly from the device. Kindles also support library lending via Libby in the US, but the process is less seamless. The Boox Page requires third-party apps for library borrowing.

How do I transfer books to a Kindle Paperwhite?

You can transfer books to a Kindle Paperwhite via USB cable drag-and-drop, Send-to-Kindle email, or the Kindle app. For sideloaded files, Calibre is a handy tool to convert EPUB or MOBI formats. Note that Amazon’s ecosystem restricts direct EPUB support, so conversion or using Send-to-Kindle with a compatible file is recommended.

Why is the Kindle Paperwhite still the best e-reader for most people in 2025?

The Kindle Paperwhite offers a perfect balance of price, portability, battery life, and access to Amazon’s vast ecosystem. Its 6.8-inch screen is sharp, it’s waterproof, and it integrates seamlessly with Kindle Store, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible. While competitors excel in niche areas, the Paperwhite remains the most reliable, user-friendly choice for the average reader.

Who should buy the Boox Page instead of a Kindle Paperwhite?

The Boox Page is ideal for users who want an Android-powered e-reader with access to multiple reading apps, adjustable refresh modes, and expandable storage. If you read on apps like Pocket or want stylus note-taking, the Boox Page offers more flexibility. However, it’s more expensive, heavier, and has shorter battery life than the Paperwhite, so casual readers may not benefit.