A 6-inch e-reader is interesting for reading digital books in ePub, mobi, and other similar formats. Available between 50 and 200 euros, there are different types of e-readers in this segment. How to find the right one? What to choose? An article to try to find the best 6-inch e-reader for each use.
In 6 inches: good e-readers, not too expensive.
E-readers are available in different formats: 6 inch ereaders are popular, as most manufacturers offer 6-inch e-readers. For reading eBooks, a 6 inches diagonal is pretty good. If most manufacturers use the same eInk screen the user experience vary greatly between devices, mainly because the different e-readers do not use the same software, some models can not open all formats. Each brand has its own approach, and while a 6 inch eReader can be a great choice, they aren’t made equals…
Kindle: not very open, but good value for money
Given that Amazon has its own platform on which to sell Kindles as well as many other products, the Kindle is probably the more widely bought e-Ink device. The company produce a large volume of e-readers, and these are often available at very competitive prices. The 6 inch Kindle comes in two flavors: the Kindle Basic (or “normal”) and the Kindle Paperwhite. The main difference is screen resolution and the front-light, both share the same software. These e-readers have a lot in common: they run the same software, are very snappy and come with quality dictionaries. The integration with the Amazon store is very smooth: it is easy to buy a book from Amazon and add it to your e-reader.
However, there are some limitations to take into account: the Kindle can open AZW3, MOBI, PDF and TXT documents, but does not read EPUB format. Too bad for those who want to read books downloaded from sites other than Amazon. This doesn’t mean that it is impossible to read an ePub on a Kindle: it is possible to convert a document in this format to azw3 or mobi, for example with the free and open source software calibre. However, this adds a step before being able to read your books.
The PDF support is really good by default; a Kindle e-reader is a good device for those who want to read PDF documents on a cheap device (even if its screen is a bit small for some files, a 10 inch device being better for PDF reading).
The Amazon Kindle offers a great bang for the buck. Amazon’s goal is indeed to sell books on the long run, rather than just an e-reader. This makes it possible for them to sell at a fairly cheap price a versatile and responsive machine with good dictionaries and a well thought-out and pleasant interface. The Kindlke “Basic” is a device to consider if you’re looking for a small, and cheap eReader. The Kindle Paperwhite comes with a higher resolution, which is something to consider for those who want to read comics or manga, or PDF documents. If you can afford it, or find a decent offer, it can be a better choice on the long run.
As I said, Kindle eReaders don’t open all eBooks files. It’s possible to convert your documents so that they can be read on an eReader, but you don’t necessarily have to do that: some devices let you natively open most documents. Which one is the best? Let’s find out…
Kobo e-readers – versatile and qualitative.
Kobo, is a brand that produces quality ereaders. Compared to Amazon’s Kindle e-readers, they are much more open: it is easy to install complementary software, such as alternative reading apps. It is also possible to read most eBooks natively, including those in the ePub format, that is widely used on the Internet. When buying a Kobo device, you aren’t locked in the Amazon ecosystem and this clearly is a better choice for those who intend to read books borrowed from friends or downloaded on various websites.
These devices have a pretty nice front-light that can be setup so that the tones are warmer or whiter. The dafault dictionaries are not bad and the interface is smooth and pleasant to use. You can easily change the font size to adapt the device to read in good conditions. A bit more expensive than a Kindle paperwhite, a Kobo eReader is more versatile and is a better choice if you don’t want to have ties to the Amazon ecosystem.
PocketBook. Read any format
PocketBook is the third big player in the eReader market. Their devices are very open and can read all types of files out of the box. It should be noted that it is very easy to install third party apps. If you want to install Koreader, this can be done as easily as copying a file to your device, it’ll then be possible to select that app to automatically be the one that runs when you open an eBook. The included PDF reader is very nice.
A PocketBook e-reader is the best choice if you’re looking for maximum freedom. Nevertheless, the interface isn’t as smooth than the one of a Kobo or a Kindle, and the dictionaries included by default are of lower quality.
The 6-inch models currently sold are the Touch HD and the Touch Lux. The Touch HD would be my favourite. Indeed, the Touch Lux having a lower resolution, it doesn’t offer good value for money: too expensive to be compared to a Kindle Basic, it isn’t as good as what other brands offer for the same price, or with what PocketBook offers for a few bucks more. The Touch HD, is quite interesting, because it is really open, letting the user open books bought on various websites or downloaded for free, thanks to a good support of most file formats used by eBooks. In the past, PocketBook has been offering software updates for many years: a PocketBook e-reader is a good purchase for those who are looking for a long-lasting device.
Conclusion: the right e-reader for everyone!
There is no such thing as the perfect 6-inch e-reader for every purpose. For those who are not bothered by the advanced integration into the Amazon ecosystem or are ready to convert the books they want to sideload, a Kindle (Basic or Paperwhite!) e-reader offers a great value for the money. Well built, these e-readers are also available at a good price on the second hand market, and are therefore ideal for small budgets.
For those who want to be able to open as many file formats as possible, a PocketBook e-reader is ideal: at ease with all formats, even PDF – even if a 6-inch e-reader is a bit small for PDF, an 8-inch or larger e-reader would be preferable – the e-reader should work reliably for a long time, and its software makes it possible to customize the device quite well, with no tie to any book seller or eBook format(s) in particular.
A Kobo e-reader seems a good balance between functionality, comfort (the default reading app is more pleasant in my opinion than the one provided by PocketBook) and openness: you can read most formats and install third party reading software if needed. That’s why my general recommendation would be a Kobo e-reader, such as the very good Kobo Clara HD; and a Kindle Basic (Amazon) for smaller budgets.
Indeed, at this price Amazon is hard to beat, and if the basic Kindle is not perfect (too closely integrated in the Amazon ecosystem for my taste) it is possible to easily get around its limitations and to read any type of file comfortably. For those who have more budget and are looking for a device as open as possible that they’ll be able to keep for years, a Kobo Clara HD or a PocketBook Touch HD are solid choices.