Best E-readers For Seniors For 2024
Brandon Forder May 20, 2024 1:54 AM
Since you can fit thousands of books on one small device, e-readers are a book lover's dream come true. With the latest models, you can read in low light without straining your eyes or take your book to the beach without ruining the pages thanks to their waterproof and backlit displays. Many even allow you to translate, highlight, or look up the definitions of words with a single touch of your finger.
These devices are great for readers of any age, but there are some features that make them especially useful for the elderly. The font size and boldness can be adjusted in nearly all of them, making them easy to read for everyone. In addition, they tend to be compact devices with straightforward user interfaces.
You can buy an e-reader for yourself or a loved one, and we've done the legwork to find the best models for the over-65 crowd. For a broader selection of the best e-readers, see our complete guide.
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Size And Weight
Choosing an e-reader for an elderly person requires consideration of both size and weight. A larger device with a large screen may be better for someone who has difficulty with fine motor control. If that's not an issue, you might want to consider getting a device that isn't as heavy to carry around.
Contrast And Backlight
Make sure the e-reader you choose has a good contrast for those with poor eyesight. A model with a backlight will make reading in low-light situations much more comfortable.
Text Size
One of the advantages of e-readers over traditional books is that you can increase the size of the font. The text size should be large enough for you (or the elderly person in your life) to read, so play around with different e-readers.
Keyboard
Most e-readers have touchscreens, but there are a few that have keyboards that can be attached to them. If you have trouble typing, look for an e-reader with an easy-to-operate keyboard. E-readers that have a detachable keyboard are a better option if you don't like touch screens.
Connectivity Options
Today, almost all eReaders come equipped with built-in wifi. In addition, most books only take a few seconds to download to your device. Before a long vacation or a trip into a world without internet (perish the thought!), wifi-only models should provide enough internet to allow an average reader to stock up on books at home. EReaders with 4G connectivity are more expensive, but they let you download books from virtually anywhere. In addition, you will need a data plan. It's only worth the extra money if you absolutely necessitate having internet access while on the road. You can always use a dose of Jack Reacher's justice, no matter where you are.
Screen Type
A lot depends on the type of screen you have. Due to excessive glare, some screens aren't ideal for reading outside (when the sun hits the screen). Consider an eInk screen if you plan to read outside the majority of the time.
When the sun is directly overhead, LCD screens are difficult to read. Note that eInk screens are typically only available in black-and-white, which is fine if you only want to read, but it means that you won't see any color!
What types of files can an eReader display?
There are many file formats that can be read on Kindle devices from Amazon, including the proprietary AZW file type. Kobo eReaders, on the other hand, are more flexible and can read a wider variety of saved files. Kobo has a wider selection of books and comics to choose from. The drawback is that not all file types will perform as well as PDF and EPUB files do by default. Some formatting may be lost when moving files to an eReader. Although this isn't an issue, it can have an effect on how enjoyable the book is to read.
Will an e-reader save you money?
Though paperbacks and e-books have narrowed the price gap over the years, there are numerous programs that offer free e-books on a weekly or monthly basis, or several as a sign-up incentive, from a variety of retailers and apps. For a small monthly fee, users can access an enormous collection of e-books (as well as magazines, audiobooks, and podcasts) via apps like Scribd.
Should you buy an e-reader or tablet?
Choosing between an e-reader and a tablet is primarily a matter of personal preference. Many of the features of a full-featured tablet will be redundant if you already have a great smartphone, but an e-reader provides a specialized device that is far superior for reading. Tablets, on the other hand, are an excellent choice if you're looking for a multipurpose connected device.
What Kind of Wireless Connection Does Your eReader Need?
An always-on cellular radio can be used to download and order books from any location (aside from the cost of the book itself, of course). Wi-Fi is the most common form of wireless connectivity on most devices, while 4G cellular data is only available on a more expensive version of the device.
Wi-Fi should work for you if you don't mind having to wait until you're near a hotspot to buy new books. Some people may still prefer to buy a new book on a long camping trip or while relaxing at the beach by using their cell phone.
A lack of internal storage space is not a big deal. There are ebook readers on the market today that can store upwards of a thousand books, if not more. Additionally, each of the major vendors provides cloud storage so that you can download books to your device whenever you need, provided that your Wi-Fi hotspot is available at the time of download (or anywhere you have a cell signal, if you have a 4G-capable model).
How Much Should You Spend on an eReader?
There are plenty of affordable e-readers available for those who only read mainstream fiction and nonfiction. Prices range from $100 to $150 for good models from Amazon, B&N, or Kobo. You can get a lower-end model for less money or a larger model for more money, but the ebook readers in this price range tend to have the best screen quality and size for most books.
Even though Onyx's tablet-sized readers are more expensive, they're also more powerful, allowing you to run multiple reading apps, annotate PDFs, and view large-format documents on big screens. These are primarily aimed at academics, lawyers, doctors, scientists, and other professionals who need to read for work or school as well as pleasure.
Check out local electronics stores for e-readers and hold them in your hands; it's the best way to get a sense of how they compare to each other. Or, better yet, ask your social network for suggestions. Depending on the design, the weight and the ergonomics of each device may differ.
The next step is to decide whether to reread an old favorite or embark on an entirely new (book) journey!
