If I could just pick one as eReader... and why it is iPad Mini 5

Various choice of eReader out there, you can read with your tablet or iPad, or (if screen size doesn't matter) your smartphone work as an eReader.

How much a reader are you?

If you are really into reading, you can read on any platform, if you are just an occasional reader, an extra reader would just add burden to your wallet. Of course, getting yourself a good reader device can greatly improve the experience of reading (especially bed reading).

How to tell if you are a passionated reader?

• You like to bring reading material with you
• You have hard time choosing from a few favourite reading materials to bring along with you on short a trip (and you hope you could just bring more than one)
• What do you prefer to do on a time gap? social media? gaming? (you know what i mean)
• A dictionary app is an always must-have app on your phone.

I am an occasional reader, I don't always read at free time, but reading in bed is what would happen in high chance, so a dim-light reader is what was once deemed necessary.

Avoid duplicating stuff

I have seen ideas about owning different eReader for different condition, this luxury option applies only when you have a deep wallet and really a lot of time spare for just reading. We're living in a very resourceful era these days, we sometimes just buying too much and 24 hours a day still not an enough time to use what we already own.

eg, if you have several eReaders, have you ever calculate how much time spend required just to make good use of it until it worth its cost (not only the money spent, please also add in time consumed reading & watching reviews in text and video form, extra on-road travel expenses, I'll skip carbon footprint produced along the entire process as it's too extreme to taken into account)?

I'm not a minimalist, but I love the idea of avoid duplicating stuff that serves similar purpose at home. Just pick the only one reader you love/suit you most. In this extend, I understand I could only own one eReader.

eInk Screen, no more bad blue ray

eInk screen reader has always catches my attention, all product reviews on the internet give good feedback on the eInk look and feel, and it's good for in all kind of surrounded lighting reading condition (even under sunlight that usually produce reflection on glass-type screen). The text display on the screen look almost the same as paper book or even better with dim light (reading in the dark).

And there are sayings about looking at blue light around 30mins before sleep can harm the sleep quality. That's how people also suggested if you awake with your sleep momentum, let sunlight shining into room or looking at outside from the window could help keep you stay up easier (blue light keep u awake).

Too much restrictions, most eReader only stick to just one ecosystem

Yes, eReader improve reading quality, it sync reading progress, finding word definition can never been easier, dim background light for bed reading is perfect, battery life last for weeks...

But this applies only when you are reading materials purchase from just one seller, if you purchase book from different seller Amazon, you can't read it on Kobo eReader or with Google Play Book.

If you are also a Taiwan-based Readmoo ebook seller, who specialised in selling great mandarin ebooks, you can't transfer your book around to different eReader. None of the books are transferable between each eReader.

The only solution to this one is using a tablet or iPad. They offers app for iOS and Android, you can switch between platforms  (Amazon, Readmoo, Kobo, Google Play Book, Apple Book...) of your choice at anytime.

Why iPad Mini 5 and not similar tablet?

word look up

At first, I've been in Apple ecosystem for quite some time. iCloud syncs books and reading progress between devices, books get quickly synced and read material is instantly available in your Books app as you upload new ebooks into the Books app in your Mac machine.

• iPad weight and screen size is made just right for single-hand holding.
• Dictionary is something I love about Apple device. It is a built-in feature, to look up a word definition, you just need to press and hold on a word, and press "look up" for definition with the dictionary of your choice (yes, you can select from the available dictionary list).
• Recent widely adopted dark mode feature, play very nicely with the reading experience
• Highlighted text also get synced between devices

About the dark mode mentioned above, even it's a great feature for reading. I don't think it can beat the background lighting feature made for eInk-Reader. The lowest brightness on iPad screen is still too bright for reading in dark, prolonged use of the dark mode in a dark room can hurt and cause fatigue eyes.

Reading progress

Conclusion

I always hope to get an eReader, as it's made for reading, no distractions and good for prolonged use. It has great features made around it to make reading experience better (non reflective screen, near-to-real-paper font look, background light, lightweight and more).

If you only can pick one from available eReaders, the problem with ecosystem isn't a reality consideration you can overlook, especially when you purchase books from different seller, this is a tradeoff between good features of eReader and freedom to switch between platforms, I picked the latter.

Update: 24 November 2021

After switching to new iPad (iPad Air 4) only I realised how good it was my iPad Mini 5. My iPad Air 4 idly sitting on table without much usage, within 1 week its battery juice drops from 100% to 15% approximately.

This is the part I miss my previous iPad Mini 5, its battery life on a single charge can last for more than one week. Maybe the new OS or the new CPU on iPad Air 4 could be the blame, on the other side, I still prefer mini series as it have better handheld (important for side lying position reader) and screen size (easier to reach to a content on the screen with touch) for better reading experience.