Forum folks and I'm trying to get back into reading before bed but my old tablet's screen is too bright and hurts my eyes after a while. Looking for an e-reader that's easy on the eyes with some kind of built-in light that I can dim. Any recommendations on models that won't break the bank? I've been browsing Amazon but can't decide.
For reading in bed without straining your eyes and I'd go with the Kindle Paperwhite because its adjustable front light lets you dim it just right for comfort, and the glare-free display makes it feel like reading a real book even in the dark.
One minor thing is that it's black and white only, but that hasn't been an issue for me, and it keeps the price reasonable while still being a solid choice.
An e-reader with an adjustable front light and warmer color temp feels like paper and eases eye strain at night. Affordable options around a hundred offer matte screens and long battery life so you can read for hours without harsh blue light.
I moved from a bright tablet to an e ink reader for bedtime and it was night and day. Look for one with a front light that lets you dial brightness way down and also shift the color from cool to warm so it looks amber at night. That keeps the page readable without blasting your eyes and and the matte screen keeps glare down. A higher resolution panel helps too since sharper text lets you run lower brightness without squinting.
If cost is a concern, the basic six inch options are usually enough for novels and often drop under $120 during sales. If you want the warm light feature, check the mid range since some budget models only have cool LEDs, and you can sometimes find a refurb or last years version for less. Smaller and lighter is nicer in bed because you can hold it one handed without fatigue, though a seven inch screen gives a bit more text per page which means fewer page turns, pick the tradeoff you prefer. Works great.
A few setup tweaks help. Turn auto brightness off and set it just above the point where the screen stops looking gray. Push warmth high in the evening. Bump font size and weight so your eyes are not working hard, and try an inverted mode only if it feels good since some people find white text on black harsher on e ink. If you are sensitive to flicker, skim reviews for mention of front light flicker or test in person, some lights use dimming methods that can bother certain eyes.
Eye strain from tablets is the worst and especially at bedtime. Look for e-readers with e-ink technology; it's way gentler on the eyes.
And yeah and adjustable lighting is a must-have. Dim it down as needed. Works great for me, no more headaches.