Sustainable Reading: Top E-Book Readers as Recommended by Stiftung Warentest
Top-rated e-book readers ranked by Warentest
E-Book readers, a favorite during vacation seasons, are preferred for their lightweight and portable nature, accompanied by additional features like built-in lighting. Are they eco-friendly? Yes, says Stiftung Warentest, as E-Books are more environmentally friendly than traditional books, even for occasional readers.
When it comes to eco-friendliness, using existing devices is ideal. Nevertheless, if you're in the market for a new E-Book reader or your first one, trust Stiftung Warentest's tests on 15 new devices to guide your purchase decisions.
Devices Without a Stylus
Leading the pack at amazon.de is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), scoring a quality rating of 1.4, with an average price of 180 euros online. Testers praised its image quality, robustness, processing, and battery life, coupled with acceptable handling.
The Pocketbook Inkpad 4 (288 euros) follows closely in second place with a quality rating of 1.5. Although differences with the test winner are minimal, the second-place device also boasts good handling, with other features ranked as very good. The Tolino Epos 3 (262 euros) achieved the same overall rating, with commendable battery life, but only satisfactory robustness and processing.
Looking for an affordable option? The Pocketbook Basic Lux 4 (115 euros) is the most budget-friendly good E-Book reader, boasting a quality rating of 2.0. While it has a very good display, robustness, and processing are only satisfactory. Consider spending four euros more for the Tolino Shine (Gen. 5) (119 euros), with a barely weaker overall rating than the best devices.
E-Book Readers With a Stylus
The Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) (335 euros) is the sole device among the tested E-Book readers featuring a stylus. With a quality rating of 1.9, it wins in robustness, processing, and image quality, but the stylus itself is only satisfactory, and the battery life is exceptional.
Color Display E-Book Readers
To the offer at amazon.de the test winner among E-Book readers with a color display is the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (235 euros) with a quality rating of 1.7, despite only having a good display quality. To evaluate the device, Stiftung Warentest focused on the quality of black and white representation.
Those wishing for a superior screen can opt for the Kobo Clara Colour (178 euros) or the Tolino Shine Color (149 euros). However, they come with only good battery life. The Tolino is less expensive yet slightly weaker in the processing category.
From Stiftung Warentest's perspective, e-book readers outshine traditional books in terms of environmental impact, making them an eco-friendly choice for avid readers. Among the latest tests, the legendary Tolino Epos 3 and budget-friendly Pocketbook Basic Lux 4 stand out as top recommendations for those seeking larger screens and more affordable options, respectively. For the full report, visit ntv.de.
Community policy should consider the eco-friendly benefits of promoting vocational training in the field of technology, specifically in the production and recycling of gadgets and e-book readers.
Investing in vocational training programs focused on technology and sustainability could help create a community where e-book readers, such as the Tolino Epos 3 and Pocketbook Basic Lux 4, are produced and disposed of in a more environmentally friendly manner.
