With the US consumer eBook market set to surpass $10 billion by 2016, it is clear that more and more people are going digital for their reading. There are many ways for readers to do so, whether on a computer, tablet, smartphone or dedicated eBook reader. Though digital devices are very different from paper, tablets and eBook readers have a familiar page flip experience that makes for an easy transition from print to digital.

With the exponentially rising adoption of tablets among consumers, it becomes more and more questionable why someone would choose an eBook reader when for a comparable price, a tablet could provide the consumer with so many more features. As more and more tablets in all shapes and sizes come to market, let’s revisit some of the reasons why eBook readers have won in the past and why they might have a tough road ahead of them.

Feel

One distinct advantage that eBook readers used to have over tablets was their size. The iPad’s 10 inch screen is significantly larger than a typical book, which makes it feel different than its print counterpart. Most eBook readers, however, are approximately the same size as a typical paperback book, usually having a screen around 6 inches in size. This has given eBook readers the advantage of having a similar size and weight compared to print books, allowing for a comparable – and more comfortable – reading experience.

This leg-up for eBook readers is now compromised with the multitude of mini tablets that have captured significant market share. The iPad Mini and Nexus 7’s sizes feel very similar to eBook readers, but also pack a lot more functionality and speed. A tablet’s LCD screen also serves up text quicker than an eBook reader’s e-ink display, which needs to refresh itself with every page turn (usually taking a couple of seconds). This makes page flipping on a tablet more lifelike than an eBook reader, which is more likely to win over readers who had not switched to eBooks because they were too different from print.

Better for the Eyes

A common concern of reading on tablets has been its potential damaging effects on the eyes. Many were concerned that staring at a bright LCD screen for hours can cause discomfort, whereas e-ink looks similar to paper and so will not cause eye strain. A recent study in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, however, questions all of this. Participants were asked to read from an original iPad and a Sony PRS-600 eBook reader and then report on eye fatigue. Participants reported very similar fatigue from both devices, meaning that one is not necessarily easier on the eyes than the other. In fact, the researchers found that a screen’s resolution had an effect on fatigue – not lighting. If image quality is what causes eye strain, then tablets’ increasingly better resolution might actually make their screens easier on the eyes than eBook readers.

Final Thoughts

Seeing how tablets have been evolving over the past few years, will there be room for dedicated eBook readers in the future? E-readers such as Kobo, Nook and Kindle all have tablet versions in their line of readers, indicating that there is a demand for reading on tablets that cannot be ignored. The uncertainty is whether there will be room for both tablets and eBook readers or whether the latter will be phased out of existence over time.

Do you think eBook readers will be replaced by tablets? Let us know in the comments below!