E-Reader vs Physical Books

E-Reader vs Physical Books – Did It Replace My Bookshelf?

I’ve always loved the smell of paper, the soft crack of a spine opening, and the familiar weight of a book in my bag. I never saw an e-reader as an option — why trade something so comforting for a screen? But after years of resisting, curiosity got the better of me, and I finally gave in and got myself one.

Before I committed, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole — comparing different models, screen types, storage sizes, and features to find the best e-reader for me. Although there are so many different varieties of options to choose one - it was a tough decision.

Narrowing my search to Onyx Boox and Kobo felt like the right move — and here’s why.
Sure, Amazon’s Kindle is the most obvious choice for most readers, but a few things held me back, such as the lack of file transfer freedom, the constant ads, and the fact that you don’t actually own the book you buy - made me hesitate. Then there’s Kindle Unlimited — a subscription model that didn’t really fit how I read — and the pricing between physical and e-books, which often didn’t feel justified. 

Yes, there are workarounds for those things, but it just didn’t sit right with me. Why settle for something that doesn’t feel completely right?

Onyx Boox and Kobo, on the other hand, offered more openness and flexibility — and that was exactly what I wanted in a reading device. Thus, the winner was obviously the Boox Go 6 - why? the price, the size, and the customizability.

✦ The First Few Days: Strange, but Surprisingly Easy

At first, the 6inch e-reader felt too light — almost fragile compared to a real book (and lighter than my phone too). I used my 11inch iPad Air M2 for a while. It is heavy and big for discreetly reading, although it helps me get out of the reading slump, but it also makes my reading slower. So switching to the Boox, setting up was pretty easy if you know your way with basic technology - it was similar to setting up a new phone or tablet. 

Learning how to transfer/download my existing library from my iPad to the boox was new to me. As I am currently writing this post, I have loaded over 100+ books onto my Boox, and I still have more space/storage for more books!! The Boox Go 6 has 32GB out of the box, plus a slot for a microSD Card for extra storage!

Since getting the boox, I could browse the store and buy a book at 2 a.m. and start reading instantly — it is dangerous, but amazing at the same time. The adjustment wasn’t as hard as I thought — reading digitally quickly became second nature, and it actually got me back to reading after being in a reading slump for more than a few months, and I was able to finish my books faster than my usual pace compared to reading on my iPad or a physical book - that i could not carry around all day and everywhere so easily as carrying the boox as if it was a mobile phone and you would never leave your place without your phone, right?

The portability - one slim device replaced a whole pile of books, and the weights were removed from my bags. It is Perfect for travel, commuting, or even switching genres mid-read. The lightweight and small size made it easy to always be with me wherever I go - whether to work or the cafe, it's in my bag. 

I am usually afraid to highlight or scribble on my books, which is why I rarely get two copies of the books (one paperback for the scribbles, and the hardcover/special edition is for trophy/display). But now, there is no guilt in highlighting on my Boox, and it made it easier to see all of my highlighted pages and scribbles in just one tap.

And lastly, the Customization - the fonts are adjustable, and yeah, you can download your favourite font you like as well as the font sizes are adjustable. The quick and easy switch from light mode to dark mode is AMAZING - makes a huge difference for tired eyes and dimly lit environments.

It runs on Android 11, which means using the Google Play Store to download reading apps such as the Kindle App, Google Play Books, and Goodreads, and any app under the sun available in the store is downloadable! Although using the default built-in reader app wasnt signaficantly different from any other reader apps, it works perfectly just as any other reader app - highlights, annotation tool, translation, even an AI assistant, literally anything that the other reading apps offer is available in the Boox's Neo Reader app.

And the battery lasts - like really lasts, the first time I had to charge was after a month of usage for an hour till it was fully charged again. It is advertised as 1,500 mAh - which is pretty decent for an e-reader device.

✦ What I Missed: The Magic of the Physical Book

After two weeks, I don’t think one replaces the other. I found myself missing the tactile experience. The act of turning a page, the smell of ink, even the clutter of a half-read stack beside my bed. I missed flipping pages and visually seeing how far I’d read - though digitally not seeing it, made reading easier and lighter (without the physical weight of the unread pages).

Extra points for how convenient and easy it is to use - no awkward page-holding in bed, no desk lamp needed, and no looking for a bookmark in the dark in bed. Just a soft glow and one hand free for tea. However, physical books also make reading feel more intentional — with an e-reader, it’s easy to treat books like scrolling apps. And, let’s be honest, an e-reader can’t look beautiful on a shelf. 

Ultimately, the e-reader is unbeatable for practicality, travel, and spontaneous reading. But physical books still feel like home — something to hold, gift, and collect.

🍂

So if you’ve ever wondered whether an e-reader could change how you read — try it. You might find that reading isn’t about the format at all. It’s about finding stories that stick with you, whether they live on paper or screen.

-Hessa 💜