It’s almost tough to remember now, but when Apple first announced theiPadin 2010, it bet a lot of cash on people wanting to use it as ane-reader. Apple Books (then the iBookstore) was unveiled at the same time, for which the company signed controversial publisher deals, ultimately paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve an antri-trust case. A year later, it launched a dedicated Newsstand app for newspapers and magazines, something that would eventually transform into Apple News.
Apple’s marketing focus has shifted away from reading, but Apple Books and Apple News are still around, and there are plenty of third-party apps if you want to turn to other storefronts. So should you consider getting an iPad if reading is your primary interest? Possibly, but that’s going to depend on a variety of factors – don’t assume you should get a powerful,do-it-all tabletjust because you can afford one.
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The advantages of reading on an iPad
The app ecosystem
The greatest benefit of reading on an iPad is the app ecosystem. If you’ve bought something elsewhere through a seller like Amazon, Google, or Kobo, chances are you’ll still be able to read it on your iPad. You can’t shop for books directly in reading apps unless you use Apple Books – blame App Store rules, including Apple’s 30 percent revenue cut – but the company still lets you access and download any collection as long as the appropriate app is installed. On my iPad Pro, for example, I use both the Amazon Kindle and Google Play Books apps.
The greatest benefit of reading on an iPad is the app ecosystem.
That contrasts with many dedicated e-readers, such as the Kindle, which tend to be locked to a single storefront. There are ways of loading third-party books (and other documents) onto those devices, including borrowed library titles, but the process is usually more straightforward on an iPad unless you’ve got an Android-based reader with access to Google Play Store apps.
iPads also have access to reading sources most e-readers don’t, or at least don’t handle well, such as websites and dedicated news apps like BBC, Reuters, or The New York Times. An Apple News+ subscription could be appealing if you want to access to (some) major publications without paying the full amount they’d cost separately.
Flexibility
For some people, the do-it-all aspect is going to be very tempting. Once you’re done with reading, you’re able to check your email, watch a movie, play a game, or maybe even get some work done, depending on how your employer operates. It’s potentially easier to justify a $349 iPad versus, say, a $160 Kindle Paperwhite that will only ever be good for reading.
There also tend to be more accessory options for iPads. You probably won’t need anything more than a case if your focus is books, but iPads have access to keyboards, mice, external storage, and more. Bear in mind that if you get a keyboard case, it should be one that lets you easily remove your iPad – the weight of a keyboard tends to make holding a tablet unbearable.
Large, bright, and colorful displays
Anything with color imagery will automatically look far better on an iPad (or another general-purpose tablet). Color e-ink displays are gradually improving and becoming more widespread, but still tend to look dim and washed out next to the LCDs on most iPads. 2024 iPad Pros look even better, thanks to the intense color and contrast ranges possible with OLED.
A minor point is that while many e-ink readers now have built-in front lights, the ones that don’t are difficult or impossible to read in dark conditions. An iPad will work in any sort of lighting, even if you might sometimes find yourself squinting in the midday sun. More on that in a moment.
A few readers may appreciate the larger screen sizes available. An 11- or 13-inch iPad supports more onscreen text, or blowing up fonts dramatically to make them more legible. If your eyesight is failing, an iPad could be in order.
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Why you might prefer a dedicated e-reader instead
Size and weight
Weight is more important than you might think. The base 11-inch iPad is 1.05 pounds (477 grams), making it noticeably heavier than most paper books, let alone something like the Kindle Paperwhite, which is just 7.5 ounces (214 grams). Even a weightlifter is going to find an 11-inch iPad uncomfortable to hold one-handed. With a 13-inch model, there’s no choice but to rest it on your lap, a stand, or a table.
Even a weightlifter is going to find an 11-inch iPad uncomfortable to hold one-handed.
You can get around weight issues by buying aniPad mini, which is just 0.65 pounds (293 grams), but that model may still be too large for some people. It’s equipped with an 8.3-inch LCD, whereas a lot of rival e-readers are sized at 7 inches or less, making them more practical to leave on your nightstand or stuff into a bag or purse.
Eye comfort
The very thing that makes iPads excellent for color imagery can make them uncomfortable during longer reading sessions. Both LCDs and OLED panels shine light directly into your eyes, increasing strain, particularly in dim conditions. E-ink readers are much friendlier, since they rely on reflected light from the sun, a lamp, or built-in lighting.
E-ink is probably preferable if you like reading outdoors. iPads will work there, as I mentioned, but they’re competing against the sun, whereas e-ink visibility actually improves with sunlight. If you’re not concerned with color imagery, even a black-and-white e-ink tablet will do better at the beach.
iPads can get very expensive, and that price may not be worth it if your focus is reading. $349 is the cheapest entry point for a new model, and that’s before any storage or cellular upgrades. An iPad mini is at least $499, and prices go up from there – a fully decked-out 13-inch iPad Pro costs more than many MacBooks.
That’s not including accessories, either. You’ll probably need a case and a wall charger, and if you want things like a keyboard, earbuds, or an Apple Pencil, you could be looking at spending hundreds of dollars extra. Many dedicated e-readers can be used as-is, so they’re far more affordable.
Battery life
iPads can potentially last two days on a single charge, but no more than that if you’re actively using them. E-ink readers, meanwhile, can run for a week or more at a time, so they’re perfect for long trips, or if you’re prone to forgetting to plug your devices in every day. You’ll never have to worry about aBooxorKoboreader dying mid-flight.
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The final judgment
Your verdict may vary
Personally, I’m content to use my iPad Pro as an e-reader, but that’s because reading is a minor interest for me when I’m not doing it for work. Also, when I do read for pleasure, I tend to prefer news, comics, and graphic novels, all of which benefit from a bright and colorful display. You’ll only catch me reading a text-only novel like Albert Camus' The Plague if there’s an ample amount of free time.
If you read conventional books on a frequent basis, I’d strongly suggest looking at an e-ink reader instead.
If you do read conventional books on a frequent basis, I’d strongly suggest looking at an e-ink reader instead. They’re friendlier overall, being more ergonomic, easier on the eyes, and more affordable as dedicated reading devices, even if you end up spending on a color model. It’s also increasingly common for e-ink products to double as sketching and notetaking tools, offering some of the benefits of an iPad – though you may have to pay extra for the privilege.
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