In the era of the iPad, it’s hard to get jazzed about another dedicated e-reader. As big of technophiles as we are, though, we still think there’s room for a specialized reading device. Sony’s new Reader Wi-Fi ($149), more formally known as the PRS-T1, claims to hold the new record as the lightest 6-inch e-reader on the market, weighing a feathery 5.92 oz and measuring 0.35-inches thick. It also sports a surprisingly luxurious new body design.
While buttons are still key to using the device, new Neonode infrared touch-screen technology (the same thing found on the Nook Touch) is also on board, which supports multitouch gestures like pinch-to-zoom, as well as handwriting via an included stylus. There’s 1.3 GB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot for your entire digital library, and if that isn’t enough the included WiFi antenna provides access to Sony’s online eBook store, as well as free eBook sharing services from U.S. and Canadian public libraries. Like its predecessors, the PRS-T1 can read a variety of open-source formats, too, including, ePub, PDFs, Microsoft Word Docs, in addition to playing back MP3s (which the Nook Touch and Kobo can’t do). Expect the device to hit shelves this October in black, red, and while colors for a cool $149.
Buy Now: $149 (Available October)