When I first got back into reading, it was to ebooks on my phone. Physical books were too expensive, and based on that, you already know an ereader was a pipe dream. But ebooks, on their own, were not just inexpensive, but also easily accessible.
For a new mom with limited funds, this was a miracle. I could read on my phone while putting my daughter to sleep, while washing dishes, while cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, literally anything.
I actually used my phone for reading until relatively recently, when my husband bought me a Kindle for my birthday. When I tell you I was overjoyed, that is an understatement. I think I might have cried? But anyways, embarrassing details aside, I have now used both my Kindle and my phone for hundreds of reading hours and can confidently tell you whether you need an ereader or not.
Too busy to scroll through? Here’s my TLDR: If budget is not an issue, get an ereader. The eye comfort, battery life, and having a distraction-free device just for reading is unmatched. But if your budget is tight, you don’t really need one (it’s a luxury, not a must). There are ways to use and set up your phone to make for a better reading experience, which I talk about here.
Where Your Phone Wins
As a long-time phone reader, I can tell you that your phone isn’t as bad for reading as influencers on social media make it out to be. Yeah, sure, it’s not as aesthetically pleasing as the latest ereader, but it does the job and honestly, it’s a convenient way to read.
For one, you already own it. Everyone has a phone. And even the worst smartphone on the market can handle ebooks just as well as the best one. So there’s no need to invest in anything further, which is especially great if you’re on a budget and you just want to read.
It’s also always in your pocket, always with you, which means you can read anywhere without having to remember to bring your ereader with you or worrying about another device.
If you go to an event or family gathering you don’t want to be at, you can conveniently read a chapter or two while pretending to scroll without looking socially awkward (because phones are somehow more acceptable than books) (also, totally not speaking from experience).
If you’re just going around your house doing chores, you can easily prop it up anywhere and read. Whenever you have a spare minute or two, your phone is with you and so are your books.
And of course, all your reading apps are already there. You can have Kindle, Kobo, any individually bought ebooks, all on one device. There’s also audiobooks which you can easily listen to, mangas you can access via manga reading apps like Tapas or Webtoons, as well as fanfics which you only have to download (no sideloading or anything) straight to your phone.
Honestly, it’s not a bad deal at all. This is the setup I used for years and I really loved it. It’s budget-friendly, easy, and always there.
Some people like to point out that you get many distractions there, but let me tell you — when I get into a really interesting book or fanfic, there’s no way I’m stopping for a message or a notification. When I was reading on my phone, it was more of an issue that I would forget to reply to people until the book was done.
So, if you don’t have the funds, or you’re just starting to read ebooks, don’t feel influenced to get an ereader. Your phone does the job just as well!
Where a Kindle Wins
Now, obviously, ereaders have some benefits or they wouldn’t exist at all. I owned a Kindle Basic and now a Kindle Scribe, both of which I’m very happy with, and there are some features that do make a difference.
For one, the e-ink screen is a gamechanger. The whole thing feels like real paper, but it’s an electronic device, and I was mesmerised the first time I saw it. There’s something really satisfying about it, and it’s been great for my poor myopic eyes to not look at a bright blue light for hours on end. There’s also less or no glare in direct sunlight, which makes it great for reading outside.
The other big thing for me personally was the battery life. Oh man, this one is the best — you can literally charge it now and forget about it for weeks. I’m not joking, I had my Kindle Scribe for a year and I use it daily for notes, journaling and reading, and I maybe charged it like 6 times? And this was a big deal for me because I hate hanging on a charger when reading, it’s just not comfortable and not portable at all.
An ereader is also distraction-free. This, again, wasn’t a big deal for me personally but if you get distracted easily, you’ll like an ereader. No notifications, other apps or anything really other than your book. For me, getting a Kindle was a great way to start replying to people on time (well, sort of).
Overall, it’s just a device built for reading, isn’t it? You can adjust your font to your liking (both the font type and size; there’s a dyslexic font option too). You can adjust the light, look up words directly by highlighting them, highlight phrases or quotes to keep, and the design is fully focused on making the best reading experience possible.
So Which Should You Actually Use, Phone or Kindle?
This will fully depend on your habits and budget (because of course, in this economy). Here’s what I think:
- If you only read occasionally or in short bursts (bathroom breaks, putting kids to sleep, commute) → Your phone does the job fine. Easily accessible and free (because you already have it). If you do want to spend money on a Kindle, then by all means, I think you’ll like it.
- If you read every day or spend a long time reading (or you have bad eyes like me) → Kindle is the best choice here. It’s easier on the eyes and it works so much better for long reading sessions. There are things you can adjust on your phone to make it better on your eyes, but nothing really beats e-ink.
- If you’re on a budget —> Phone all the way, my friend, don’t even worry about it! I didn’t have money for years and used my phone exclusively and it was fine, great even! Even if you want to do social media, and that’s why you want a Kindle, you can still have nice stickers on your phone (find them cheap or print them out yourself), and there you go, close enough. Honestly, do what’s best for you.
- If you want to splurge → Yeah, Kindle, why not? It’s a luxury for most people, in my opinion™, but a worthwhile one, especially since it lasts a lifetime.
Is reading on a Kindle better for your eyes than a phone?
I mean, of course! The e-ink screen is gentle on your eyes and it looks just like real paper so there’s really no difference between reading on a Kindle and a physical book (for your eyes). You can also adjust the font to make it bigger (as big as you want it) so it makes these devices really accessible for people with eye issues. I noticed a big difference in how tired my eyes feel after reading (as in, not at all with kindle), so if you have the funds and you want something better for your eyes, Kindle all the way.
Can I read Kindle books without owning a Kindle?
Of course! There’s a Kindle app for both Android and Apple phones, and you can just buy the books and store them on your phone. It’s easy to use and works pretty much the same way that Kindle does (i.e. you can change font size and look, obviously adjust lighting, highlight, make notes, etc.).
Do I need both a phone and a Kindle?
In a word: no. You likely already have a phone, and Kindle is a nice-to-have device you can use just for reading. It’s good for less eye strain, less distractions and just overall a better reading experience, but it’s not a necessity if you don’t want to spend money and you already read on your phone.
