iPad or E-Reader: Which One Should You Buy This Holiday Season?

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The holiday season is here, and you’re probably looking to treat yourself or a loved one to a new tech gadget.
While there are many devices for you to choose from, if you’re shopping for an avid reader, you may be thinking of getting a brand-new e-reader. And that’s not a bad choice.
Modern e-readers are amazing tools for reading anything from books to PDF files for work or school. Some even let you listen to your favorite audiobooks on the go.
However, there’s another device you may want to consider instead: an iPad. Whether a small iPad mini or a more powerful iPad Pro, you can use Apple’s tablets to read anything you want and then some.
But just because an iPad can do everything an e-reader can and more, does that mean it’s the best choice? Keep reading to find out.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Battery Life

One of the first things to consider when choosing between an iPad and an e-reader is battery life. In this category, most e-readers beat the iPad by a landslide.
Amazon’s Kindle, for example, measures its battery life in days or weeks, depending on how often you use it.
On the other hand, the iPad might last a few days if you don’t use it often, but its full-color Retina display draws considerably more power than the Kindle’s e-ink screen.
When you’re reading, especially on the go, you probably don’t want to worry about battery life, which makes an e-reader a better choice.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Performance

There’s no doubt that an iPad, no matter which one you choose, will perform better than any e-reader on the market. They’re not even in the same category.
Even if an e-reader works well overall, they still tend to be sluggish. After all, most companies want to keep the price of their e-readers affordable, which means they won’t put high-end processors into a device that doesn’t need them.
That doesn’t matter much when you’re reading, but some e-readers tend to be slow when opening a new book, checking its settings, or loading heavy books. Also, even if some e-readers let you browse digital stores or even access a browser, you’ll never want to use them, as it’s a painful experience compared to the iPad.
If you’re not patient, the slower performance of an e-reader might be a deal breaker.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Display

Again, it’s no surprise that the iPad has a much better display than any e-reader. But just because the display has a higher resolution doesn’t mean it’s a better option.
There’s a reason why e-readers don’t have the highest-end display available: they don’t need them. Most of the time, you’ll use e-readers just to read words. Sure, you might be able to read a comic here and there, but you won’t need a high-definition display for that.
With that said, there’s an issue with e-readers: most only feature a black-and-white display. Again, this might not be a deal breaker if you only want to read books, but if you love comics or graphic novels, an e-reader might not do justice to the comics you read. Some e-readers like the new Kindle Colorsoft feature color displays, but those still aren’t as good as an iPad.
Of course, there’s another thing you need to consider: when you’re going to read the most. The e-ink displays on e-readers tend to be more comfortable for your eyes in low-light and easier to see in bright sunlight, which makes reading from an e-reader better than reading from an iPad.
The bottom line is that you’ll need to consider what type of content you’ll read and when you’ll read it.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Which One Is Best For Long Reading Times?

Another considerable advantage of e-readers is how light and portable they are. You can carry hundreds, if not thousands, of books and documents around without worrying about the extra weight.
Of course, the iPad is also a light and portable device, but it adds more weight to your bag when you’re on the go.
But where you’ll really see the difference is when you’re reading. If you’ve held an iPad in your hands for any length of time, you probably already know that it’s not all that comfortable and can make it hard to focus on your book.
The iPad mini is better, but even Apple’s smallest tablet is larger and heavier than most e-readers, which are made from lighter materials like plastic, so they’re easy to hold. You can easily use an e-reader for hours on end without having to worry about the weight. Sure, you might get tired after a long time, but that would also happen if you had a book in your hands.
So, if you’re an avid reader who likes reading for a long time every day, an e-reader will be your best option.
iPad vs. E-Reader: What Content Can You Read?

With an e-reader, you know what type of content you can access. Of course, you can read books and even import PDF files in a flash. You can also read comic books on your e-reader, depending on where you get them. And as we mentioned, some e-readers will also let you listen to your audiobooks.
However, the iPad easily wins this round. As you would expect from a tablet, the iPad can open and read any file — eBooks, PDF files, and even spreadsheets and content from web pages. It can open any file in a split second.
And one of the most significant types of content that you can read far more easily on an iPad than on an e-reader is manga.
If you’re a manga reader, you probably know that there are manga apps like Shonen Jump that let you read as much manga as you want for a subscription. While you can access your subscription on any computer, phone, or tablet, e-readers just can’t access these apps. If you’re a manga reader, an e-reader won’t be that useful for you, which is a shame since most manga already come in black and white.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Distractions

Another huge advantage to e-readers is that you won’t ever get distracted by them.
An iPad is essentially a big smartphone. This means you will be bombarded by notifications, messages, and other distractions that won’t let you read in peace. Sure, you can use Do Not Disturb or disable notifications manually, but even then, you might still get some notifications every now and then. Plus, even if you manage to silence your notifications entirely, there’s always a temptation to flip over to a social media app or check your e-mail.
An e-reader doesn’t have that problem. From the get-go, it won’t send you any notifications; it will work like a regular book, which you can pick up and start reading without anything interrupting you.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Price

Fortunately, there are many different price ranges for e-readers and iPads. What you get will depend on your budget and how much you want to spend.
Amazon’s Kindle is an example. The company offers different e-reader models with different price tags. For instance, you can find a basic Amazon Kindle for $109 or a Kindle Scribe for $399. Depending on which one you choose, you’ll get different features.
As you can expect, the iPad is a bit pricier. The original 10th-generation iPad starts at $349 (although it’s not hard to find it on sale — Amazon has it for $279 as of this writing), and the iPad mini — which would be the most comfortable to hold while reading — starts at $499. Of course, if you have the money, you can buy a 13-inch iPad Pro for $1,300 (or $1,099 on Amazon right now).
Of course, the Kindle, as well as most e-readers, will be the cheaper and better option for most. So, if you’re looking for the best deal, an e-reader is the way to go.
iPad vs. E-Reader: Which One Should You Get?
There are many differences between an e-reader and an iPad. After all, they’re really different devices, but both can be used for the same hobby.
Ultimately, it all comes down to price and what you want to use your device for.
If you’re looking for an affordable device and only want to read books or PDF files for school, any e-reader will do the trick. You’ll get a distraction-free device that’s lightweight and easy to hold for hours. Not only that, but many of them are water resistant, so you can read from anywhere without worrying about anything. The iPad has no IP dust or water resistance rating.
On the other hand, if you want to do more than reading and have a big enough budget, the iPad is an amazing choice. It might be hard to hold it for a long time, but you’ll have a powerful machine that you can use for school and work. And after you’re done reading, you can grab your iPad and watch a Netflix show, play a game, or browse the web.
Overall, if the goal is to get into the habit of reading, or you already have too many smart devices, the e-reader will be the best choice for most.
Make the Right Choice
The best part about both devices is that you can’t go wrong with either. If your goal is to have a place to store all your books, both devices work great and will give you access to thousands of books that you can download and start reading at a moment’s notice.