There have been many Kindle Vs Nook comparisons lately, but with software and device upgrades recently applied to both devices, it’s time to recheck the battle field, with this round putting the newest releases of the two best selling ebook readers one against the other.
It couldn’t be denied that in past comparisons, especially in ones that utilized the first edition of the Nook, the match up was clearly lopsided, largely in favor to the Amazon Kindle. The first few reviews of the Barnes and Noble Nook weren’t exactly full of praises, and many of them referred to the device as “buggy”, “clunky” and out of its league.
Over a year later, we are now happy to see a much improved B & N device. It now features a 2 times upgraded firmware, fixing the original issues with performance. But then again, the last year also produced the launch of a much better, lighter, and of course, a much better Kindle device from Amazon. The only question is, which is the better eBook reader?
Design and Size
Amazon has down sized its ebook reading gadget by 21% and slashed off a couple of ounces, revealing a much more compact, much more portable reader. Its dimensions of 7.5 inches by 4.8 inches by 0.335 inch make for a device that’s noticeably smaller than the Nook which measures 7.7 inches by 4.9 inches by 0.5 inch. The K3 is lighter too, tipping the scales at just 8.7 ounces, while the Barnes & Noble ereader weighs 12.1 ounces.
Display Type and Interface
E-ink technology, which reads like real paper, is deemed to be the best type of display for dedicated ebook readers, and both the Kindle and Nook use this technology. They even have similarly sized 6-inch diagonal screens. But even with the similarities, K3 still manages to one-up the Nook as it is now equipped with Pearl technology, the newest in e-ink, which improves contrast by 50%.
When it comes to navigation, the Amazon device keeps it simple and easy, while the Nook goes for a hi-tech interface. You can navigate around the K3 by pushing buttons and using the 5-way controller, and searches and annotations are created using a physical keyboard. With the Barnes & Noble ereader, you get a color touch screen right below the e-ink screen which lets you choose books, find pages, and search through the Nook Bookstore.
Battery Life and Storage
Battery life is a big factor in an ereader’s performance and in this category, the Kindle wins hands down. The K3 battery is said to last a whopping 30 days with the wireless turned off. The best Nook can do is a third of that time or 10 days. Still, the battery of the B & N gadget is replaceable (unlike the Kindle which has to be sent back to Amazon for battery replacement) so that has to count for a couple of points in its favor.
With 2G of internal memory, the Kindle can already carry up to 3,500 books and documents. The B & N device can only store up to 1,500 books in its internal memory but then again, it has a microSD slot for added memory if needed.
Kindle vs Nook: Which Ebook Reader Wins?
While what we’ve discussed in this Nook vs Kindle review are only the basic features that these devices offer, the improvements created are already apparent. What’s not so clear though is who takes the title of “best ebook reader”. But if we’ve got to pick one, I’d say the Amazon Kindle still gets it. Though it cannot be denied that the Nook now offers the K3 some real competition, it still lags behind in the much more important factors such as size, battery life, and global coverage.
But still, it’s all your choice. Is the Nook’s dual-screen an interesting feature for you? Or would you rather have the lighter Kindle for marathon reading sessions? It’s decision time.
What do you think of this Nook vs Kindle comparison?
