Guide to electronic books

Screen: 15 cm, e-ink

Storage: 1,000 books (plus a memory-card slot)

Weight: 211 g

Price: $149

Perfect for: A book lover on a budget who wants the convenience
and (relative) affordability of digital reading.

Pros: Light and comfortable to hold (there’s a ‘quilted’ backing),
the Kobo comes pre-loaded with 100 free e-books, all public-domain
classics. Black and white e-ink technology mimics traditional page
printing, with a choice of five display font sizes. Its reader app can
be installed on any smartphone, tablet or desktop, so your e-books
can travel with you. The Kobo comes closest to the real thing: The
overall size, screen size and display combine well to best approximate
the page of a typical mass-market paperback.

Cons: You can’t flip directly to a specific page; you can only scroll
through the book via the clunky D-pad navigation button. Charging
the battery requires a computer (a wall-plug charger can be purchased
separately). Kobo can’t support audiobook or music files.