The 8-inch eReader models They are a fantastic option that falls between the more compact 6-inch models and those with large screens that can exceed 10 inches.
This way you will have the best of both worlds, that is, an eReader that is not very heavy and bulky, and a larger screen to view the content at a larger size.
Best 8-inch eReader models
As for best 8-inch eReader models we recommend the following:
Kobo Wise
One of the 8-inch eReaders that you can find on the market is this Kobo Sage. A book and audiobook reader with an 8″ E-Ink Carta touch screen, with anti-reflective film. It is a magnificent device with adjustable brightness and warmth front light, blue light reduction, Bluetooth, 32 GB internal memory and water resistant.
PocketBook InkPad 3
There are very few exact 8-inch eReader models, but you also have 7.8″ ones that are more abundant, as is the case with this PocketBook Inkpad3, with a screen that is practically 8 inches. It is a device with an e-Ink Carta type screen, smartlight, WiFi, 8 GB of internal memory and expandable via microSD memory cards.
Meebook E-Reader P78 Pro
On the other hand, we also have the Meebook e-Reader P78 Pro. A 7.8-inch device with e-Ink Carta screen of 300 dpi resolution. It includes adjustable front light in warmth and brightness, Android operating system, powerful QuadCore processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, and also support for writing with the digital pen.
PocketBook InkPad Color
The next recommended model is the PocketBook InkPad Color. The only one on the list with a 7.8-inch color screen. It is based on Kaleido e-Ink technology and features front lighting, WiFi, Bluetooth to connect wireless headphones to listen to audiobooks, and 16 GB internal memory.
How to know if it is a good eReader
If you have doubts about which model to choose, here are some points to look at to help you choose the best 8-inch eReader:
Screen
When choosing a good 8-inch eReader, one of the things that you should look at is the screen technology and its qualitybecause it is vital. For this, the following technical characteristics must be highlighted:
Type of screen
Currently almost all 8-inch eReaders already have an e-paper screen or also known by the e-Ink trademark. This type of electronic ink screen offers improvements over conventional LCDs, such as its visual experience that is more similar to reading on paper, without discomfort or glare. They also save a lot of battery life, helping eReaders last up to weeks on a single charge.
For this, the operation of the electronic ink screen is based on microcapsules with pigments black and white negatively and positively charged respectively. As the microcapsules are floating on a transparent film, in this way, by controlling the charges, text and images can be formed on the screen.
Now, these electronic ink screens can be of various types that you should know, like:
- vizplex: It is the first generation of e-Ink screens, now almost extinct. They appeared in 2007 when the E Ink company founded by MIT members developed this new e-paper panel technology and patented the e-Ink brand.
- Pearl: In 2010 another improved generation would also arrive with a purer white, and that many famous eReaders of the time used.
- Mobius: This other technology differs from the previous one in that it had an additional layer of transparent plastic to protect the screen and make it more resistant.
- Triton: In 2010 this other electronic ink technology would also hatch and later the Triton II would arrive in 2013. It is a type of color electronic ink screen, with 16 shades of gray and 4096 colors.
- Menu: This technology is very common among many current eReaders because of its versatility. Carta arrived in 2013, with a resolution of 768×1024 px, 6″ in size, and a pixel density of 212 ppi. Shortly after, the improved e-Ink Carta HD would arrive, which had a resolution of 1080×1440 px and 300 ppi, maintaining the same 6 inches.
- Kaleido: When it comes to the best color eReaders, it's important that the panel is Kaleido. This technology is from 2019, improving on the Triton thanks to a color filter. An even better version called Kaleido Plus appeared in 2021 for better sharpness, and in 2022 Kaleido 3 would land with a considerable improvement in the color gamut, with 30% greater than the previous generation, 16 levels of grayscale and 4096 colors. .
- Gallery 3: finally, in 2023 some eReaders based on ACeP (Advanced Color ePaper) begin to arrive. Thanks to it, the response time of these e-paper panels is improved. For example, black and white can now be switched in just 350 ms, while colors can be switched between 500 and 1500 ms for low and high quality respectively. In addition, they also come with a ComfortGaze front light that reduces the amount of blue light that affects your sleep and eyestrain.
touch vs regular
Currently all eReaders have touch screens, which improve the experience by being able to handle them as if they were a conventional mobile device. This provides comfort to carry out operations such as moving through the menus, turning the page, zooming, etc.
writing capacity
Some touchscreen eReader models also include electronic pens like the Kindle Scribe or the Kobo Stylus, which also allows you to enter text as annotations, and even draw in some cases.
Resolution / dpi
You should also consider the resolution and pixel density or dpi. The quality and sharpness of the image will depend on it. With large screens like 8-inch screens, these two factors are even more important, so you should always look for models that have 300 dpi to offer the best experience.
Color
There are eReaders with an e-Ink screen in black and white (grayscale) or in color. This affects the 8-inch eReader on two main fronts:
- Pro: on the one hand it offers a richer content, since you can see images of your eBooks or read comics in full color.
- Cons: But the color makes the e-Ink display a bit more consuming.
audiobook compatibility
Some 8-inch eReader models also have playback capability. audiobooks or audiobooks. This is perfect to be able to enjoy the stories you are passionate about or to study if they have the ability to read your notes with Text-to-Speech while you play sports, drive, cook, etc. In addition, they can be ideal for people with vision problems.
Processor and RAM
You shouldn't get too hung up on this, though, since most of the eBook Readers we recommend have a smooth experience, you could also take into account the processor and the amount of RAM available in the model. It should have 2-4 processing cores and at least 2 GB of RAM.
Storage
Depending on the 8-inch eReader model, you may find storage for between 8 GB and 32 GB, which means being able to store an average of between 6000 and 24000 titles. However, this may vary if we take into account that there are larger files, such as audiobooks in MP3, M4B, WAV format, etc.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider if this internal memory can be expanded using memory cards type SD, as in some models. However, many have cloud services to be able to store your favorite books there and not take up space.
Operating System
Some eReaders use embedded versions of Linux, others have started using android operating systems. Generally, Android eReaders tend to have more features than just reading eBooks. Therefore, it could be interesting to choose one with this operating system.
Connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth)
It should also be noted that 8-inch eReaders can have two types of wireless connectivity:
- Wi-Fi/LTE: many models include WiFi to be connected to the Internet and be able to download or upload your books. On the other hand, in terms of 8-inch eReader models, you will not find LTE connectivity to connect via 4G with a SIM card with a data rate.
- Bluetooth: BT connectivity is included on eReaders that support audiobooks, so you can pair your wireless speakers or headphones and enjoy wireless sound.
Autonomy
As you know, eReaders usually include batteries between 1000 and 3000 mAh in many cases. These Li-Ion batteries are more than enough for these devices They can last even several weeks autonomy on a single charge, even more so considering how efficient e-Ink screens are.
Finish, weight and size
El finish and design They are not only important on an aesthetic or visual level, they can also greatly influence the quality and ergonomics to provide greater comfort when holding your 8-inch eReader.
Also, being 8 inches, its size and weight they will be slightly higher than the 6-inch ones, something to take into account if you want to take it with you from one place to another or to hold it for long periods of time without getting tired.
Library
On the other hand, it should also be noted that 8-inch eReaders have to come with a good bookstore to have access to all the books you are looking for. In this Kindle has a clear advantage, with more than 1.5 million titles available, followed by the Kobo Store with about 0.7 million. However, other eReaders are also very flexible given the number of formats they support, so you won't be short of content.
Nor should we forget if they have access to bookstores for audiobooks such as Audible, Storytel, Sonora, or if the eReader brand's own store includes a good repertoire of this type of audiobook.
Lighting design
eReaders may also include front LED lights to allow read in any light condition, even in the dark. In addition, it would also be important that your 8-inch eReader allows the adjustment of this light in brightness intensity and warmth, to provide the greatest comfort.
Waterproof
Premium eReaders feature IPX8 protection certificate. These models resist complete submersion under water, without being damaged. In this way, they will allow you to enjoy reading while you take a relaxing bath, in the pool, etc.
Supported formats
It is important that the 8-inch eReader supports a good number of file formats. The compatibility for the documents or books that you can reproduce will depend on it. Some of the most important formats that it should support are:
- DOC and DOCX documents
- plaintext TXT
- Images JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF
- HTML web content
- eBooks EPUB, EPUB2, EPUB3, RTF, MOBI, PDF
- CBZ and CBR comics.
- Audiobooks MP3, M4B, WAV, AAC, OGG…
Dictionary
The vast majority of eReader models already have built-in dictionaries, even in multiple languages. This allows you that when you have to consult the meaning of a word, you only need your own eReader. Something especially important for students.
Price range
Finally, it must be said that 8-inch eReaders tend to have Prices between approximately €200 and €400, since they are large screens.
Best 8-inch eReader brands
It is also interesting that you know what are the best 8 inch eReader brands. In this sense we have the following:
Kobo
Kobo is the Canadian eReader brand that has been acquired by the Japanese Rakuten. This company is the great rival and alternative to Amazon's Kindle, which is why it is among the most popular and sold. In addition, it has the complete Kobo Store, which has more than 700.000 copies.
These devices have a good value for money, in addition to being very rich in features, supported formats, and customization capabilities.
PocketBook
PocketBook is also another of the big brands, with great quality and innovation in all its products. Also, not only does it support a large number of different file formats, you can also access local libraries via OPDS and Adobe DRM to rent your favorite books.
These eReaders allow you to read, write, bookmark, zoom, import and export files, upload to the PocketBook Cloud, buy from the PocketBook Store, customize a multitude of parameters, play audiobooks, have dictionaries in several languages and even have a Text-To-Speech function.
Boox
Onyx is a Chinese company that markets the BOOX brand, another of the best known in this sector. The devices are developed and produced by Onyx International Inc., and are good value for money, plus everything you'd expect from a good 8-inch eReader.
They have a long experience behind them producing electronic book readers, previously based on Linux and now with Android OS in its latest models, to have the best of an eReader and a tablet in a single device.
MeeBook
Finally, we also have this other brand with fantastic quality and overflowing with technology, it is about meebook. They are also among those noted for their design and performance. Like its quality screen, WiFi support, Android operating system, powerful hardware for a smooth experience, and good format support.
Given his versatility, taking a Meebook with you will be the closest thing to carrying a complete device with which to do something other than read...
Advantages and disadvantages of an 8-inch eReader
To assess whether you should get an 8-inch eReader, you first need to look at the pros and cons of this type of e-book readers:
Advantages
- It can be a wise choice if you have vision problems and don't want to strain your eyes too much on small screens.
- It has a much larger screen than the 6″ to have a larger work surface. Especially good if you want an eReader for writing or drawing as well, as it will make it easier for you to do so.
- Its size and weight are medium, not as light and not bulky as those of 6″, but not as big and heavy as those of 10″ or more.
Disadvantages
- Having the largest screen will make them heavier and bulkier, which reduces mobility if you want to take them from one place to another.
- Less appropriate for children, since having more weight will tire them before holding them.
- The battery may have a slightly lower autonomy than the 6-inch.
Is it a good option for children?
It is not the best option for the little ones, since a 6-inch eReader is preferable. In this way, being lighter and less bulky, they will be able to hold them better for a longer time without problems or fatigue.
Where to buy an 8-inch eReader at a good price
Finally, if you want to know where can you buy a cheap 8-inch eReaderHere are some stores:
Amazon
The American giant is one of the best pages to buy 8-inch eReaders, since you will find a greater variety. In addition, you will have the purchase and return guarantees offered by this company, as well as totally secure payments. Of course, if you're a Prime member, you'll also enjoy benefits like free shipping or faster delivery.
Media Markt
An alternative to the above is the German chain Mediamarkt. This chain of stores allows you to choose between some 8-inch eReader models at a good price, allowing you to buy in person or online through its website.
El Corte Ingles
ECI, the Spanish retail chain, is also another place to find some models of these electronic book players. In addition, it also supports the double mode of purchase, both face-to-face and online. Of course, the prices will not be the most competitive, although there are offers such as Technoprices where they are cheaper.
Carrefour
Finally, the French firm Carrefour also has eReaders of these sizes, although not as varied as in the case of Amazon. Of course, you can choose between ordering it to be sent to your home from their website or going to any of their nearest sales centers.