Which is the Best Tablet for Reading books? For me, there is nothing that matches the feel of reading a physical book in hand. However, the Kindle Oasis (3rd generation) came quite close.
Tablets will come in handy when you want to carry a large organized book resource in a digital format. This would otherwise be bulky when carrying them physically.
Some e-book readers like Amazon Kindle, are made specifically for reading. Other multipurpose tablets can be used for reading along with other functions.
For the best user experience, we recommend the Amazon Kindle and other e-book readers over multipurpose tablets.
In this article, we will help you choose the best tablets for reading books. We have included a wide range of tablet brands including, iPads, Android tablets and Windows.
To get the very best one, we have considered the overall tablet size and display, portability, affordable price range among other factors highlighted in the buying guide.
Best E-Readers and Tablets for Reading Books
- Kindle Oasis – Best overall
- Amazon Kindle Scribe – 10 inch e-book reader
- Apple iPad mini – 8-inch tablet for reading
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A 8.4 – Best Android
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (12th generation) – Best kids reading tablet
Kindle Oasis – Best overall
- Screen Size: 7 inch
- Resolution: 300 ppi e-ink screen
- Battery life: Up to 6 weeks
- Weight: 6.6 ounces
- Storage: 8 GB or 32 GB
Kindle Oasis (3rd generation) takes the spot as the Best reading tablet. You will use it for reading books as its core function since it is made as an e-book reader not a multipurpose tablet.
It features a 7 inch screen size with 300 ppi resolution display that is perfect for reading. The white and gray scale book-like display causes a high book-like contrast between the text and background.
If you are reading your books at night, it has a night light mode that you can set to protect your eyes. For people traveling to the beach or near water, the Kindle Oasis tablet comes with a waterproof body, durability is therefore assured.
For 30 minutes daily reading time, the battery will go for up to 6 weeks without having to charge it.
Unfortunately, it lacks a USB-C connector and audio jack for those who like listening to their books as they read. Storage is low at 8 and 32 GB but will be enough for many books because of their small file sizes.
Kindle Scribe
- Screen Size: 10.2-inch
- Resolution: 300 ppi Paperwhite display
- Battery life: Up to 12 weeks
- Weight: 15.3 ounces
- Storage: 16/ 32 or 64 GB
The Kindle Scribe is another e-book reader similar to the Kindle Oasis (3rd generation), only bigger. It comes with a slightly larger 10.2-inch screen size but same 300 ppi display resolution.
It also features a long battery life with up to 12 weeks at 30 minutes per day usage. If you like marking as you read, the Kindle Scribe comes with a pen that you can write on the screen with and is also compatible with MS Word.
You can therefore use it as both a reading and note taking tablet. Unlike the previous tablet the Kindle Scribe is not waterproof and faces a risk if you are using it near the pool.
It comes with a larger storage space but is still low with 16 and 32 GB sizes plus a maximum of 64 GB. This is enough for books but is very low compared to multipurpose tablets.
Pros
- Long Battery life
- Large 10.2-inch screen
- Works with MS Word
- Comes with pen
Cons
- Not waterproof
- More Costly
Apple iPad mini: 8-inch tablet
- Screen Size: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina
- Resolution: 2266 x 1488 pixels with (326 ppi)
- Processor: A15 Bionic chip
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Weight: 10.4 ounces
- Storage: 64GB or 256GB
If you prefer a tablet that you can use for reading and many other professional functions, we recommend the Apple iPad mini.
It features a large 8.3 inch screen and 2266 x 1488 pixels with 326 ppi resolution and unique liquid Retina display. This is crisp and clear and will display images and colors in a rich vivid output.
For processing power, the Apple iPad Mini comes with an A15 Bionic chip that makes it process information faster than all the tablets in this review. Storage space comes in 2 sizes between 64 GB and 256 GB which is more than you need.
However, the size is not expandable and if you need an upgrade, you have to buy the next iPad. It works with Apple Pencil 2nd gen and Magic Keyboard, but you have to buy them separately, adding to its overall price.
Overall a good multipurpose tablet but you will pay far more for these features that you don’t need for reading, compared to other reading tablets.
Pros
- Multipurpose Tablet
- Great Display
- Powerful processor and RAM
Cons
- Expensive
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A 8.4″ – Best Android
- Screen Size: 8.4-inch
- Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 Pixels with (270 ppi)
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Weight: 10.93 oz
- Storage: 32 GB
If you prefer an Android Operating system, the SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A 8.4 is our top pick. It comes with an equally as large 8.3 inch screen size but is not as clear as the iPad Mini.
It features a full HD resolution 1,920 x 1,200 Pixels with 270 ppi almost 300 ppi. This is good enough for reading books.
The best thing about this tablet aside from the screen, is that it comes with only 32 GB storage that is expandable up to 512 GB using an external Micro SD card.
Just like the iPad Mini it is a multipurpose tablet and will feature a shorter 10 hour battery life compared to the Kindle devices.
Pros
- Multipurpose Tablet
- Expandable storage up to 512 GB
- Large and clear display
Cons
- Expensive
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (12th generation) – Best kids reading tablet
- Screen Size: 8-inch
- Resolution: 1280 x 800 Pixels with 189 ppi
- Battery life: Up to 13 hours
- Weight: 1.14 pounds
- Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB
If you are looking for a tablet for you kids, we recommend the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (12th generation). It is a large 8 inch tablet with 1280 x 800 Pixels and 189 ppi, made with kids in mind.
On purchase, it has a 2 year worry free guarantee and a free Free 1 year Kids content subscription. You will however start paying for it after 1 year, which can be costly.
The initial purchase price of the tablet is low and very affordable. One downside is that the tablet runs on Amazon’s Fire OS and has compatibility issues when using Google Play.
All is however not lost because the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (12th generation) works perfectly with Amazon accessories such as Alexa.
Pros
- 2 years guarantee
- Free 1 year Kids content subscription on purchase
- Affordable Price
- Compatible with Amazon devices
Cons
- Not the best resolution
- You will have to pay after first year Kids content subscription
- Not compatible with most Google Play Applications
How We chose the Best tablet for reading books
There are a number of factors you need to consider when choosing the Best tablet for reading books. First you need to consider your budget. Most e-book readers are not expensive. You will spend more less than 100$ for the best one.
If you however want a multipurpose tablet that you can use for different functions apart from reading, you will have to spend extra. Under this category, you will choose between Android powered devices and iPads.
iPads have a better screen and resolution, on the other hand Android tablets are cheaper and come with expandable storage using a MicroSD card. Battery life is another important consideration. The longer the battery life, the more reliable a tablet is. 10 hours and above is recommended.
You need a reasonable screen size that is not too large that you can not hold it as you read and not too small to cause difficulty while reading. The most ideal option falls between 7 inches in size to 10 inches. For optimum performance around 300 ppi is best.
Best tabs for reading Buyer’s Guide
- Kindle Oasis – Best overall
- Amazon Kindle Scribe – 10 inch e-book reader
- Apple iPad mini – 8-inch tablet for reading
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A 8.4 – Best Android
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet (12th generation) – Best kids reading tablet
What is the best reading tablet?
Kindle Oasis is the best e-book reader tablet for reading books. If you prefer a multipurpose tablet, we recommend the Apple iPad mini.