[Latest version] 5 recommended tablets to easily enjoy e-books

Recently, the number of applications for e-books that are supposed to be viewed on smartphones is increasing, but on the other hand, there are many fixed-format e-books such as magazines and technical books that are difficult to view without a certain screen size. .. Also, for comics, it is difficult to use a smartphone with a limited screen size when trying to display it in a two-page spread.

From this point of view, here are five tablets that are the best at the moment and are suitable for viewing e-books. The optimal solution depends on the type of e-book you read, so please choose the device that suits your purpose when purchasing. For a detailed review of each product, please also refer to the past article of "Masahiro Yamaguchi's ebook Touch and Try" at the link of each product introduction.

Article table of contents

■ What is the key to choosing a tablet for browsing e-books? ■ ONYX "BOOX Leaf" -You can freely install apps while using E Ink ■ Apple "iPad mini" -Compact and high resolution, ideal for carrying around ■ Amazon "Fire HD 10 Plus" -A charming cheapness while being exclusive to the Kindle store ■ Apple "iPad Air" -Easy to see and lightweight with a thin bezel ■ Apple "12.9-inch iPad Pro" -Ideal for reading magazines on a large screen

What are the key points in choosing a tablet for viewing e-books?

When browsing e-books, the difference in the amount of CPU and memory installed is limited to some operations such as displaying a list of displayed images and downloading contents in a batch. If you just turn the pages in order, almost any tablet on the market as the current model will support it.

For that reason, when actually choosing, most of the time you will choose from the screen size rather than the specifications. The almighty is around 10 inches, and in addition to the spread display of comics, if you put up with a little small size, it can also be displayed on a single page of a magazine.

However, if it is difficult to see fine characters due to presbyopia, it is better to choose a product of around 13 type, which is a little larger, even if it costs a little. It's annoying that there aren't many choices in this class, but it's attractive to be able to read it without having to double-tap to enlarge it.

On the other hand, if portability is important, there is a way to choose 7-8 type products. It seems to be a delicate size for the spread display of comics, but compared to the case of displaying it on a 6-inch class smartphone, the size per page is almost the same or larger, so it is said that two screens are lined up side by side. It doesn't get hard to see.

In addition, Android devices such as ONYX's "BOOX" that are equipped with E Ink electronic paper instead of LCD are becoming new options. Unlike existing Kindle and other devices that are linked to a specific store, these can be used by freely selecting apps from the Google Play store, and are also excellent as PDF viewers. If you're looking for a large-screen device that can be used with ebooks, consider this as well.

Introducing 5 recommended e-book tablet products

ONYX "BOOX Leaf" -E Ink allows you to freely install apps

Product page URL Actual selling price: 32,800 yen ● Screen size / resolution: 7-inch / 1,264 x 1,680 dots ● OS: Android ● CPU: Octacore ● Memory: 2GB ● Wireless function: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 ● Connector : USB Type-C ● Battery life: Private ● Size: 165.6 × 130.8 × 5.95mm ● Weight: 170g

"BOOX Leaf" is an Android tablet that uses E Ink electronic paper. Generally speaking, E Ink e-paper terminals are mainly dedicated terminals such as Amazon's "Kindle" and Rakuten Kobo's "Kobo", but the "BOOX" family of Android tablets can use the Google Play store, so there are various things. There is an advantage that you can install and use various e-book store apps.

Above all, this BOOX Leaf boasts an overwhelming lightness of 170g, which is nominally 170g, while having a screen size of 7 inches, which is relatively close to the iPad mini described later, and it will not be a burden even if you hold it in your hand for a long time. It's monochrome, so it's not suitable for displaying magazines, but it's perfect for reading comics. Also, by installing an optional cover, it is possible to turn pages with buttons, and it is one of the features that it has abundant functions that can satisfy heavy users of e-books.

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Apple "iPad mini" -Compact and high resolution, ideal for carrying around

Product page URL Actual selling price: From 59,800 yen ● Screen size / resolution: 8.3 type / 1,488 × 2,266 dots ● OS: iOS ● CPU: A15 Bionic ● Memory: Private ● Wireless function: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 ● Connector: USB Type-C ● Battery drive time: 10 hours ● Size: 134.8 × 195.4 × 6.3mm ● Weight: 293g

The "iPad mini" is an 8.3-inch tablet made by Apple, and the current model is the 6th generation. The same power button integrated fingerprint authentication as the iPad Air, which will be described later, has been adopted, and the bezel has been reborn into a narrow design. By eliminating the home button, the screen has become one size larger, and the weight has been reduced by slightly cutting 300g, making it suitable for one-handed handling.

The compactness that can be held with one hand is the selling point, and this product is suitable for carrying around, but since the resolution is as high as 326ppi, the quality when displaying comics in a two-page spread is sufficient. Also, when compared with the same capacity, it is about 10,000 yen cheaper than the iPad Air described later, so it can be an option when the iPad Air is difficult on a budget.

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Amazon "Fire HD 10 Plus" -Kindle store exclusive but cheap

Product page URL Actual selling price: From 18,980 yen ● Screen size / resolution: 10.1 type / 1,920 × 1,200 dots ● OS: Fire OS ● CPU: Octa core ● Memory: 4GB ● Wireless function: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 LE ● Connector: USB Type-C ● Battery drive time: 12 hours ● Size: 247 x 166 x 9.2 mm ● Weight: 468 g

"Fire HD 10 Plus" is the top model of the media tablet "Fire" family sold by Amazon. The OS is the company's own "Fire OS", and since it does not support the Google Play store, the ebook store that can be used is limited to Amazon's ebook store "Kindle", but it can be obtained from actual sales of 20,000 yen or less, 10 The overwhelming cost performance is the selling point for tablets before and after the type.

The 11th generation "Fire HD 10" has two grades including this product, but this "Fire HD 10 Plus" has a large memory capacity of 4GB compared to the lower model 3GB, and it operates lightly by that amount. do. Since the screen size is 10.1 inches, it can withstand not only the spread display of comics but also the single page display of magazines, although it is not the actual size. Unlike the lower model, the back is anti-slip processed, and it is easy to hold for a long time, which is also an advantage for e-book use.

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Apple "iPad Air" -Thin bezel makes it easy to see and lightweight

Product page URL Actual selling price: From 69,080 yen ● Screen size / resolution: 10.9 type / 1,640 × 2,360 dots ● OS: iOS ● CPU: A14 Bionic ● Memory: Private ● Wireless function: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 ● Connector: USB Type-C ● Battery drive time: 10 hours ● Size: 178.5 × 247.6 × 6.1mm ● Weight: 458g

The "iPad Air" is Apple's 10.9-inch tablet, and the current model is the 4th generation. In the same iPad family, the entry model "iPad" is also a candidate for reading, but the iPad Air eliminates the home button and realizes a wider screen, so it displays ebooks on the largest possible screen. Recommended for users who want to.

The portrait orientation allows you to read magazine pages well due to its high resolution, so it's also recommended as an alternative if the 12.9-inch iPad Pro described below doesn't fit your budget. It weighs 458g, which is the lightest of all 10-inch class iPads, which is also advantageous when you hold it in your hand for a long time and read. It is also a plus factor that the screen is processed with anti-reflection coating that is not found in the lower iPad.

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Apple "12.9-inch iPad Pro" -Ideal for reading magazines on a large screen

Product page URL Actual selling price: From 129,800 yen ● Screen size / resolution: 12.9 type / 2,048 × 2,732 dots ● OS: iOS ● CPU: Apple M1 chip ● Memory: 8GB / 16GB ● Wireless function: Wi-Fi 6 , Bluetooth 5.0 ● Connector: Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ● Battery life: 10 hours ● Size: 214.9 × 280.6 × 6.4mm ● Weight: 682g

The "12.9-inch iPad Pro" is the tablet with the largest screen size in the iPad family, and the current model is the 5th generation. The 12.9-inch is equivalent to the actual B5 size, and magazines can be displayed in a size close to the actual size, and since this product has a high resolution, it is of a quality that can withstand practical use even if the magazine is displayed in a two-page spread.

Performance is excellent, such as mounting an M1 chip, and the display adopts a mini LED. In addition, it is equipped with a high-performance camera, which is a little over-engineered for e-book use, but products in this class do not have a lot of choices. If you are particular about displaying the actual size of large-format content such as magazines, or if you have presbyopia and it is difficult to see on a 10-inch class tablet, it will be a good candidate.

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