Nook Vs Kindle: A Comparison of the Top Ebook Readers

There have been Nook vs Kindle comparisons in the past year, but with upgrades recently made in both devices, it's time to revisit the battle ground, with this round evaluating the latest releases of the top two ebook readers.

It can't be denied that in previous match-ups, especially with those that used the first edition of the Nook, the comparison was clearly lopsided, in favor of course, with the Amazon Kindle. When the Barnes & Noble Nook first came out, reviews weren't too kind, citing the device as "buggy" among other things.

This time around however, things have looked up for the B & N device. It now sports a twice-upgraded firmware, addressing the original issues of performance. On the other hand, Amazon has also unveiled a smaller, lighter, and generally, better Kindle. So which ereader takes the cake?

Design and Size - With the K3 losing 21% of its body size and shedding off a few ounces, the Amazon ereader is now more compact. 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 latest 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 within the K3 by pushing buttons and using the 5-way controller, and searches and annotations are made using a physical keyboard. With the Barnes & Noble ereader, you get a color touch screen right below the e-ink screen which enables you to choose books, find pages, and search through the Nook Bookstore.

Battery Life and Storage - When it comes to battery performance, the Kindle takes this round. The Nook's 10-day battery life (with wireless off) is no match for the battery of the K3 which can go for 30 days without needing a recharge. 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 few points in its favor.

With 2G of internal memory, the Kindle can already carry up to 3,500 books and documents. The Nook can store a lot less books in its internal memory - about 1,500 in all - but it does have a microSD slot for additional storage.

Nook vs Kindle: The Best Ebook Reader is...

While what we've discussed in this Nook vs Kindle review are only the basic features that these devices offer, the improvements made are already apparent. What's not so clear though is who takes the title of "best ebook reader". But after all is said and done, I'd give this one to the Amazon Kindle. I'd still give props to the Nook for coming very close in this one and if only it could have offered better battery performance, a more compact design, and global wireless coverage, then the scales could have tipped in its favor.

That said though, it still comes down to a matter of choice. Do you think the Nook's e-ink and color touch screen combination work well with you? Or is the more portable Kindle a better fit for your lifestyle? It's decision time.