How to Choose Between Nook and Kindle E-Reader
Choosing an e-reader can be a daunting task. Not only are there many brands to choose from, but these brands also often have multiple devices to choose from. However, by far the two biggest brands you’ll find in the e-reader market are Kindle and Nook. Both offer solid e-reader experiences, but there are some key differences to be aware of before making a decision.
Price and functionality
The most important factors that most people will consider first are what the device can do and how much it will cost them. For example, readers who like to relax in the bath with a book will likely choose a waterproof e-reader over one of the cheaper, less rugged models. Other features to consider include page turn buttons, warm light settings, and auto brightness. Many of these features will help determine the price of the ereader you use, so let’s take a look at what each brand offers and discuss some of the main differences.
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Personally, I’m a big fan of the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Scribe, and there’s a reason the Kindle Paperwhite is often considered the best Kindle e-reader on the market right now. It’s easy to hold, the display is great, and the battery lasts a very long time on a single charge.
But Amazon offers readers quite a few Kindle e-readers to choose from, including the basic Kindle edition starting at $99.99, the Kindle Paperwhite for $149.99, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for $189.99, the Kindle Oasis for $269, $99 (this version appears to have been discontinued in the US, but you can still find it overseas or from third-party sellers), and Kindle Scribe for $339.99. Keep in mind that some of these prices are based on the cheaper ad-supported option, which shows book ads on the lock screen. Purchasing ad-free options may cost a little more. This list also doesn’t include the Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition or the Kindle Kids Edition , which are more aimed at children than adults.
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Things are a little simpler on the Nook side, as there are only three true e-readers in the Nook family. The Nook GlowLight 4e starts at $119.99, the Nook GlowLight 4 retails for $149.99, and the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus retails for $199.99. All three, like the Kindles mentioned above, are designed to “read like paper,” but they differ in features such as storage capacity, screen size, and screen resolution.
One thing you’ll notice about all Nook readers is that they have physical page turn buttons. Meanwhile, the only Kindle with physical buttons is the Kindle Oasis, which is also one of the most expensive options available—that is, if you can find one at all. Likewise, the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, as well as the Kindle Oasis, have a waterproof design, and the only Nook that offers waterproof support is the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus.
If you’re still unsure about which device is right for you, we can go into more detail.
Display and specifications
In terms of size, the Nook GlowLight 4e, Nook GlowLight 4 and the base Kindle are the same size and feature 6-inch e-ink displays. The Nook GlowLight 4 Plus has a 7.8-inch display, while the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition have 6.8-inch displays. The Kindle Oasis has a 7-inch display, while the Kindle Scribe offers the largest Kindle display at 10.2 inches. Scribe is also the only e-book reader of the two groups that supports a stylus and handwritten notes.
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition also feature adjustable, warm backlighting that makes reading easier in any environment. The Nook’s two more expensive options, the GlowLight 4 and GlowLight 4 Plus, offer similar functionality that you’ll find very useful when reading in different environments.
All of these e-readers also have the same resolution, with each having a front surface of 300 pixels per inch. The only one that falls short of this is the Nook GlowLight 4e, which has a 212 PPI display. However, even at 212ppi, reading shouldn’t be a problem.
Most of these e-readers come with storage capacities ranging from 8GB to 32GB, with the Nook GlowLight 4e offering 8GB and the GlowLight 4 offering 32GB; Additionally, the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition come with 16GB and 32GB respectively. At the end of the day, storage space won’t matter much since 8GB will hold a ton of books for you to read. The Kindle Oasis and Scribe also offer 16GB and 32GB options, and you can also get the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus in 32GB.
Each of these e-readers also offers excellent battery life, with all Kindles and Nooks designed to last several weeks of use, even with daily reading.
Audiobook support
If you want to listen to audiobooks, then you’ll most likely want to use one of the Kindles. All Kindle devices support audiobook playback over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and since Amazon owns both Kindle and Audible, there’s a lot of crossover capabilities available within the Kindle ecosystem. The only Nook ereader to offer audiobook support is the more expensive Nook GlowLight Plus 4, which has both Bluetooth and a headphone jack.
Supported formats and directory size
There are several different types of eBook formats, and you can usually use eBook converters to change to a different format. By default, on each reader you can find the following:
Kindle: AZW3, AZW, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, HTML DOC and AAX.
Nook: EPUB, PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP and PDF.
When it comes to book catalogs, it really depends on what you want to read. Amazon offers a much larger catalog of Kindle e-books, although most of them will include content from independent authors and self-published material. If you mostly only buy well-known books, then Nook’s catalog will have more than enough books for you to purchase through Barnes and Noble. Both services also use DRM (digital rights management) by default to protect titles found on their services, although this may vary depending on the book’s author. Kindles also offers access to Libby , which allows you to borrow books digitally from your local library.
So which is better?
Ultimately, it all comes down to what you want from your ereader. If you want features like audiobook support, waterproof design, and a large catalog of independent or self-published works, the Kindle is your best choice. I especially recommend the Kindle Paperwhite .
If you like simplicity, prefer a physical connection in the form of page turn buttons, and want to take advantage of what Barnes and Noble has to offer, then get a Nook. The Nook Glowlight 4 is a mid-range option that offers a lot of features for its price. However, those who want the best the Nook has to offer should definitely upgrade to the Nook GlowLight 4 Plus .