E-readers have become a top choice for many readers because one device can store hundreds of books. Modern models also include tools for taking notes, highlighting text, reducing outdoor glare and providing backlighting for nighttime use.

I surveyed published authors to learn their recommendations for the best devices when reading or annotating books. Their responses follow.

Authors' preferred e-readers

Amazon's Kindle remains one of the most widely used e-readers due to its simple controls and extensive book selection.

Sandra Beckwith, who has written six books and coaches other writers on marketing, relies on a Kindle. She explained that purchasing e-books through Amazon sends them straight to her device, making the experience fast and simple.

The Kindle Paperwhite stands out as a top model with its 7-inch screen, slim build and comfortable grip for extended sessions. It features a 300 ppi E Ink display, long battery life, adjustable warm lighting and waterproof construction.

A recent addition is the Kindle Colorsoft, a color model with 150 ppi resolution and brightness up to 120 nits that enhances images and pages.

Jason Rich, author of more than 70 books including one on optimizing routines for busy entrepreneurs, enjoys the Colorsoft for leisure reading. He noted its lack of eye strain compared with phones or tablets and its ability to display content as intended by authors and publishers.

The color capabilities also allow highlighting in multiple shades for easy organization of quotes, facts and characters.

The ReMarkable Paper Pro combines reading with note-taking for users who want productivity features.

Rich also uses this device for professional reading, annotations and edits. He prefers its tools over those on the Kindle Scribe and values the large screen that mimics a full notepad or printed page, which helps when revising manuscripts or marking PDFs.

Its writing performance stands out because of the immediate response between hand movement and on-screen lines, creating a natural feel.

Although iPads lack an E Ink screen and are not traditional e-readers, many people choose them for their ability to run various book apps.

Dr. Gillian Goddard, an endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop, reads daily on an iPad Mini. She appreciates access to multiple platforms such as the Kindle app, iBooks and Libby, along with its compact size and smooth connection to her other devices.

The iPad Mini offers an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display at 326 ppi for sharp text and includes True Tone technology that adapts brightness and color to surrounding light for comfortable viewing.