E-readers for over 50s

It appears that many people over 50 have overcome their initial prejudice  about e-books. Many of them already own one or want to buy one. I resisted the idea of using an e-reader at first.  I have loved reading books all my life.  Examining the cover and feeling the pages is part of the experience. And then, of course, there’s that lovely book smell! My son was insistent that I was missing out on many benefits but I wasn’t convinced. I have since discovered that e-readers for over 50s have many benefits.

Advantages of a Kindle

It was only when I was about to fly to France that I started to rethink the issue. He bought me a standard Kindle and downloaded a number of books written by my favorite authors. When I travel, the weight of the books I want to take along is always an issue. I saw the advantage of being able to carry my slim, light Kindle filled with interesting e-books in my hand luggage.

I experimented a bit with my Kindle before I left. When I pulled it out on the long flight to Istanbul,  I was already familiar with the basics of how to use it. I remembered a flight overseas when I was seventeen and had forgotten to pack any reading material in my hand luggage. That flight was interminable! Now, I had more than enough good books to keep me happy for the long flight.

Today’s best e-readers can match  (and even beat) the print book experience. Enjoy clear, crisp text, long-lasting batteries, waterproofing, and integrated backlights.  Best of all, you can have a library at your fingertips.  I have discovered that it is dangerously easy to buy new books! With my Kindle, I have access to a huge selection from the Kindle library.  Kindle Unlimited and millions of free classics give you plenty of options.  If you want to purchase a newer product or an e-reader from a smaller brand, just make sure you’ll be able to download books by your favorite authors.

Amazon Kindle

I have the original Amazon Kindle. It is small, very light at 161g and does most of what I need it to do.   The battery lasts a long time and it has 4GB of storage. This standard Kindle is a beginner-friendly basic option. I’m glad I started off with this version but I am likely to upgrade in the future. 

Pros: Affordable; light; accessibility to many books
Cons: No built-in light; no waterproofing; basic styling

The Kindle Paperwhite

This is the bestselling e-reader for good reasons. It is not the cheapest but it probably the most affordable for what it offers.

The curved design with a soft matte finish is great to hold for long reading sessions. It is not the lightest option as it weighs 205g but it is still light enough. The 300ppi touchscreen display is sharp and the device has a long battery life. A built-in front light is great for reading in bed at night.

The latest version of the Paperwhite is waterproof. It has an improved design and allows you to listen to audiobooks over Bluetooth. I can’t read in the bath with my Kindle.  This  is one reason I would consider upgrading to the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite. Amazon has said that it can be submerged in water for up to 60 minutes.  You can read safely in the bathtub or on the beach!

Pros: Good value for money; waterproof; built-in reading light
Cons: No color temperature controls

The Kindle Oasis

The Kindle Oasis is the luxury option in the Kindle series. Instead of the functional, plastic look, you get an anodized aluminum face.  Ergonomic, asymmetrical weighting allows you to hold it comfortably in your hand. At 194g, it is light enough to use on-the-go. It has handy page turn buttons  to the side of the 7-inch touchscreen display. An adaptive light sensor automatically adjusts brightness. The base model provides 8GM of storage. The Kindle Oasis costs nearly twice as much as the Paperwhite but it is a beautiful accessory.  

Pros: Sleek design; more storage; waterproof
Cons: Expensive;  no light color tweaking

The Kobo Clara

Amazon may dominate when it comes to ebooks but Kobo is a strong competitor when it comes to e-readers for over-50s.  Kobo’s e-readers do have some features you won’t find on Kindles. You have the ability to borrow books from the Overdrive library system. This is possible directly on the device and and you have native support for Pocket articles.

The new Kobo Clara HD is similar in size, dimension and weight to the standard Kindle.  It is a little less expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite but not quite as ergonomic. The curved corners and textured back make it pleasing to handle.  It has a 6-inch 300ppi touchscreen and the library and store setup is similar to the Kindle.

An advantage is that you can adjust the brightness and the color temperature of the built-in front light. Set your usual bedtime and the Clara HD adjusts the color of the light. It goes gradually from a bright white to a color rather like candlelight. It’s ideal if you’re worried about the impact of blue light on your sleep. You have 8GB of storage, a week long battery life and plenty of opportunities to customize reading.

Pros: Great features; light and portable; color temperature controls
Cons: Not quite as good as Kindle store for books; no water resistance

Final thoughts

There you have it! Three choices of e-readers for over-50s from Kindle and one from Koba. I must say that the option I favor is the Kindle Paperwhite.    I don’t think it will be long before I decide to upgrade.