Nook GlowLight Plus Review
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- The Good
- Great screen resolution
- Waterproof
- Good book selection
- The Bad
- Unintuitive store interface
- Performance lag
Overall a very good e-book reader with pretty standard features for the midrange price point. The screen resolution is very clear and on point with similar e-books like the Kindle Paperwhite. The Nook store is also very well-stocked because it has access to all of Barnes & Noble’s online book options. The addition of it being waterproof is definitely the feature that sets it apart from other similarly priced e-books. The main complaints, however, are that it can often be difficult to find purchases if you have a large store of e-books, and occasionally people have noticed slow response times, which can be quite annoying.
- Price
- $130
While this price is slightly higher than the comparable Kindle Paperwhite, they are nearly the same and the Nook Glowlight Plus has the addition of being waterproof. The price is on the lower end of e-book readers overall and on par with other mid-range devices in terms of features.
- Specs
- Resolution
- 300 ppi
- Display Size
- 6 inches
- Lighting
- Built-in Glowlight
- Capacity
- 4GB of memory, holds thousands of books
- Battery Life
- 4-6 weeks
- Weight
- 6.9 ounces
Again, these specs are pretty on point with other eReaders in this price range. The 300 ppi resolution is a newer addition and a vast improvement to the reading experience. The new design of the Nook, with its cream bezel in the front and smooth metal gold back, is slightly flashier than other similar e-book readers and also slightly lighter. Some readers also felt the cream, textured bezel made the screen look clearer and easier to read. The front-lit display is easier to read in the dark and reduces eye strain. And like other e-books, depending on usage, the battery should last about a month.
- Features
- Waterproof
- Ad-free experience
- Free in-store support at any Barnes & Noble
- Handpicked fonts designed for easy reading
The two biggest features that differentiate the Nook Glowlight Plus from other e-book readers in this range is that it comes ad-free (a privilege you have to pay more for on any Kindle model) and that it is waterproof. While there are other waterproof e-book readers out there, you’re going to be looking at a much higher price point. It is also worth noting that you can go to any Barnes & Noble store should you have any issues with your Nook and they will troubleshoot at no cost. Amazon recently rolled out a new font to improve the reading experience on their e-book readers, but Nook has been on top of that since day one.
- Book Selection
- Access to full Barnes & Noble e-book library
- Can upload Epub and PDF files
- Free public domain books
The Nook Glowlight Plus is directly linked to the Barnes & Noble store, which does have a great selection, though it can be a bit difficult to navigate. The books are organized by genre, with bestsellers being the first to come up. While you can upload third-party files, the Nook only supports Epub and PDF at this time (not Mobi or AMZ) and does not offer the option to rent books from a local library at this time. It also includes B&N readouts, which is a way to discover new books that are tailored to your interests based on previous purchases.
Nook GlowLight Plus: User Reviews
Nook GlowLight Plus: Comments
Overall this is a very solid e-book reader, on par with others in this price range. It has a clear, easy-to-read screen and sleek look and feel. With the clear text and all-over back-lit glow light that won’t cause eye strain, it is easy to read both at night and in direct sunlight. The addition of the waterproof feature makes it a great option for travel, as it’s more insulated and portable – making it a good choice if you want to read while hanging out in the pool.
While the reading experience itself is pretty comparable with others, the user interface has received some criticism, with lag times of turning pages and difficulty navigating both the Barnes & Noble store and the library of books on your device.
While the Nook e-books struggled for a few years, since handing over the hardware and software development to Android we have seen a significant improvement in the usability and aesthetics of the Nook eReaders.
How Does the Nook Glowlight Plus Work?
The Nook Glowlight Plus functions pretty much like any other e-book reader on the market. When you power it up, you’ll have to connect it to Wi-Fi (no 3G option here) and then sign up for a Barnes & Noble account to begin buying books. All of the navigating options are available along the bottom of the Home Screen. You’ll see Library, which shows your downloaded books, Shop, B&N Readouts, Settings and Search. You can navigate around, buy books and then find them in your library when you’re ready to read them.
When reading, you use the touchscreen to turn the pages. There is no button to turn the pages and sometimes there is a few second lag when trying to turn the page. A minor complaint, but as this is the main feature of the eReader it can be a bit annoying.
One big difference from the Kindle Paperwhite is that the screen is not recessed, which makes for a slightly more enjoyable reading experience.
What Can You Read on Nook Glowlight Plus?
Book are obviously the primary purpose of the Nook eReader and there is a wide selection. Basically anything that you can find in a Barnes & Noble store — and in some cases more — is available to purchase for a very reasonable price through the store right on the eReader.
You also have access to purchase subscriptions to a variety of newspapers and magazines through the Barnes and Noble store and have them delivered right to your device.
The Nook also has the additional functionality of being able to plug into your computer and download either Epub or PDF files that you have onto your device. So if you purchase third-party books in either of those formats, you can keep everything in one place.
Common Reviews of Nook Glowlight Plus
The reviews are generally positive, with it receiving a 3.1 out of five stars on Barnes & Noble’s website. Everyone is very happy with the screen resolution and backlighting, saying it offers a wonderful reading experience. People also love the fact that you don’t have to swipe to get it to turn on. The evenly backlit screen is also a huge boon for the Glowlight Plus.
The main complaints center around the user interface and the performance lag time. People are very impatient nowadays and with other faster e-book readers out there, the difference is notable. A few reviewers also noted that while the battery does last a long time, it can take a few hours to reach a full charge, so make sure to leave plenty of time to charge.
Is the Nook Glowlight Plus for me?
This is a great option if you want to purchase a mid-range e-book reader that still has an amazing screen resolution and reading experience. It is also a great option for travelers because of its sturdy, waterproof and dust-proof construction. If you are already an Amazon prime subscriber, it might make less sense to go for a Nook over a Kindle since you would have to purchase an additional subscription instead of getting free unlimited access to Amazon’s book library. The two libraries are very similar in their offerings, but as many users have noted, the B&N library is not as intuitive to use as Amazon’s.
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