An eReader that doesn’t lock you into a format doesn’t mean much when ebooks from Google, Kobo and Amazon locks you into their DRM.

But let’s say you happen to strip the drm find a DRM free source of ebooks like on Humble Bundle and want an eReader and are looking for options.

From looking into myself you have a few options depending on the screen.

eInk:

• Kobo (Clara 2e/HD)

• Android eInk tablet (Onyx Boox/Boyue)

LCD:

• Android Tablet (with KO Reader)

• iPad (mini)

• spyware fire tablet

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For ease of use the Kobo is probably the best if you are just looking for something the integrates well with everything. But you will need Calibre on a host PC to store and manage your library since Kobo doesn’t do that for you.

iPad would be my second choice mainly because of the native apps for each drm. If you dont want to use the native apps, tutorials are limited but the Book app can read any ePub well, and you can sync books with iCloud. That said if you don’t want iCloud its a pain in the but todisabled, but iTunes can be used to manually add books to the Book app (or adobe digital editions)

Android is the most flexible but takes more work. A Samsung tablet will be the easiest to buy and run. And each eBook store does have a native app. That said DRM free is where Android shines, KOReader is a fabulous eReader app that supports so much that even the eInk android devices use it. The GUI isn’t the best but its functionality is the best.

This also applies to android eink as well. However do not expect software support more than what’s already installed. For a phone/tablet this would be a killer (have a likebook stuck on Android 4 with a dead play store) however since ebooks are offline the devices are still usable. If you want anything official… Good luck.

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Amazon

While you will see a general consensus that Fire Tablets and Kindles should be avoided I have looked into them and this is my two cents on them.

Kindle - are surprising more usable then a Kobo without an account, but the majority of its features are locked out if you don’t have an account. With Calibre you can convert ePubs to Amazon’s format since they are rebadged ePubs and the Kindle will read it even if you are not signed in. However I personally don’t like the amount of work is needed to use it beyond what Amazon wants you to use it for. And especially out side of the USA the lack of Audio book functionality is irritating.

Fire Tablet - is the most useful of the Amazon devices. It can be used without an account with a lot of work and diligence during the checkout. Since its an Android Tablet you can install all but Googles DRM and even then Adobe Digital editions works on it. SD card storage upgrades are a nice bonus too for comics lovers or audiobooks fans. But you will be missing features until you sign in.

And here’s the thing, you may want an Amazon device, logged in since you will have a Serial Number which maybe used to “improve” the usability of your Amazon ebooks on non Amazon devices. Especially when the old gen of tablets go on sale. 😉

I would agree with all the stay away from kindles comments, except for the real easy emailing of books to yourself thing. They’re recent acceptance of epubs of a compatible format combined with libgen means it’s super easy, and doesn’t require a laptop to transfer books.

I recommend checking out any of the Boox ereaders, if you’re looking for an ereader android tablet.

I currently use the Boox Nova Air and I love it, to bits! It has a 7.8in screen, that has warm and cool backlighting. It comes with a stylus, so you can take notes, do some journaling or even draw. I use my Nova air, primarily, to read manga on Tachiyomi app.

There is preinstalled app called BOOXDrop that allows you to select files from your computer or phone and send it to your ereader. I’ve used it a few times to put some ebooks in there, it wasn’t too bad.

Since Boox devices are android, you can pretty much download any app on google play store or you can side load any apks.

The apps I have installed on my device are: Tachiyomi, kindle, Libby, GDrive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Pocket, Foxit PDF reader and Firefox. I use to have Apollo app on there, but not anymore.

I also love that I can put any image as my screensaver, so it’s pretty cool to see wallpapers or screenshots from my favorite manga scenes on there when my device is on sleep mode.

There are newer Boox ereader devices that do color. Would be great for comics, magazines and textbooks. I personally haven’t tried them out yet but I’d love to get one, one day.

If you’re looking for something more basic and intuitive to use, I also recommend the kindle, 11th generation (2022). It’s small, 6in and very light. I still use mine often when reading my kindle collection. I just love how pocketable it is.

I’ve been reading pirated books on my Kindle. Kindle for the hardware, library genesis for the books. I buy the books that I enjoyed, After reading them.

Although my book sources are messed up, you can also read your legitimately bought .epub books on a kindle. Your question, “which e-reader”, isn’t the right question I think. The question should be, from where are you buying the books legally.

I wonder if I’m getting banned for advocating piracy… Let me check the rules and stuff…

Another option would be to jailbreak an old device and install koreader. It works on all kinds of old hardware.