Federica Laricchia
Research expert covering the global consumer technology industry
E-readers - statistics & facts
Are you a keen reader but lack the space to store your books? Or do you like reading at night but do not want to use night lamps? Then perhaps you should consider an e-reader. Given the growing popularity of e-books, e-readers – portable electronic devices - are a convenient way to read digital content such as e-books, periodicals, and other documents using wireless connectivity. One of the main advantages that e-readers have over printed books is the size and portability of the devices. Furthermore, in comparison to laptop computers, e-readers are cheaper, tend to optimize battery life, and often use electronic ink displays to optimize readability.
Despite the enduring appeal of e-books, the e-reader market does not show signs of bouncing back anytime soon. Instead, it’s expected that consumer electronics vendors will look to enhance the functionalities of their tablets and smartphones with those qualities that made e-readers popular in the first place, from size, to display, to price.
The twilight of e-readers
Despite the aforementioned advantages, the e-reader market has suffered from a rapid drop-off in sales. Some of the most popular e-reading devices include Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Nobles’ Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo Reader, and Pandigital. They were largely used in the past years, but digital content readers seem to prefer more classic electronic devices, like tablets and smartphones. On the one hand, e-reader providers are continuing to release new models of their devices, with Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Colour being among the most popular in 2024. For instance, 21 percent of Americans aged between 30 and 49 owned an e-reader in 2023. On the other hand, consumer electronics companies are trying to find their way into this trend. For example, Huawei is experimenting with a new device - MatePad Paper – half tablet, half e-reader.E-books still popular
E-books remain popular and are highly consumed around the world. In 2023, 41 million e-books were sold in Germany, while five out of 17 books were read in digital format in France in the same year. When purchasing an e-book, consumers have various options. For instance, Amazon was the most popular store for buying e-books in the United Kingdom in 2024, followed by Apple Books. Amazon also led the way in Italy that year, with LaFeltrinelli ranking as the second most popular e-book store in the country.Despite the enduring appeal of e-books, the e-reader market does not show signs of bouncing back anytime soon. Instead, it’s expected that consumer electronics vendors will look to enhance the functionalities of their tablets and smartphones with those qualities that made e-readers popular in the first place, from size, to display, to price.
