Turn an iPad or Android tablet into a dedicated e-reader

ZDNet writer Kerry Wan outlines how any iPad or Android tablet can be made to feel like an e-reader, saying tablets already do what e-readers do and that turning one into a reading device is easier than it might seem. The article notes common reasons people choose dedicated e-readers—eye strain and device distractions—and recommends practical steps: remove or uninstall distracting apps, silence notifications, or use Do Not Disturb or an iPad Focus mode.

Wan suggests installing reading apps such as the Kindle app and Libby, and points out that Apple and Google each offer Books apps with built-in stores; she also says you can add personal files and news apps to a reading tablet. To reduce eye fatigue, Wan recommends a matte screen protector to cut glare (she says these can start at about $5 for a two-pack) and adjusting display settings—warmer backlight tones, dark mode, or built-in eye comfort features.

She also describes accessories that help: hand straps (naming Strapsicle and CoBak), stands, distraction-blocking apps, and page-turner remotes. Wan adds that Strapsicle is working on new iPad cases, and that she has used a hand strap on a TCL Nxtpaper 11. Wan emphasizes that tablets bring advantages—more storage and versatility, letting users carry thousands of titles and use multiple apps—while also acknowledging the trade-offs that lead some people to prefer dedicated e-readers, such as potential eye strain and distractions.

Key Topics

Tech, Tablet, Ipad, Android Tablet, Kindle App, Libby