More than 3,000 readers can't be wrong: this Bigme B6 is my favorite e-reader this summer

More than 3,000 readers can’t be wrong: this Bigme B6 is my preferred e-reader this summer The latest thriller I bought was on Kindle. The novel my sister recommended was more readily available on Kobo. And the essay I wanted this month came free from my local library, but only through its own app. Three readings, three different platforms, and the library spread across my phone, tablet, and a device that opens just one store. That’s why I took notice of the Bigme B6: an e-reader running on Android 14 with Google Play pre-installed. With that setup, all the apps you already use for reading fit neatly on the same screen. A device that installs the apps you already use The appeal of the B6 lies in its system: Android 14 with the Play Store open. You download Kindle, Kobo, or Google Play Books just like on your mobile device, and with the Libby app and your public library card, you request books for free without paying. Even audiobooks play over Bluetooth while you wash dishes. All of this runs on a 6-inch electronic ink display with 300 ppi, showing text as sharp as paper, without glare in sunlight and without straining the eyes after a couple of hours. Nothing compares to reading on the backlit screen of a phone. The front light adjusts in 36 levels, making it suitable for reading in bed with the room dark or on a terrace at midday. It weighs 176 grams and measures less than seven millimeters thick: small enough to fit into any bag and easy to hold with one hand without causing discomfort to the wrist. With 64 GB of storage expandable via microSD, the list of pending tasks has no limit. It comes in white, black, and a rather striking green option, so the device might also enter through the eyes. Why it's coming along with me this August This summer is when it really shines. At the beach or poolside, electronic ink reads comfortably under direct sunlight, where a tablet only reflects your own face. Being so lightweight, it fits easily into a backpack without being noticed. It’s not perfect, and it’s worth knowing that upfront: the 6-inch monochrome display falls short for colored comics or manga, which require more size and vibrancy. This is a device for text, and that’s where it truly excels. The battery isn’t top-tier, though it charges quickly via USB-C and lasts well beyond a full day of reading. With that in mind, it’s the reader I have on my nightstand and the one I pack for the beach: one device, holding all my library within it, without any store dictating what I read.