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In my search for the best e-readers, I’m determined to find a great alternative to the Kindle or Kobo. Don’t get me wrong, I like both of these e-readers and generally think they’re the best e-readers you can buy, but I know the e-reader community is hungry for variety beyond the big two. I’ve tried the Barnes & Nobles Nook, Remarkable e-Ink tablets, and Boox e-readers, but none of them have impressed me. But the Durobo Chrono at CES 2026 caught my attention.
I’ve often called e-readers a library in your pocket, and the Durobo Chrono is much more than that. It’s a library, bookstore, notebook and MP3 player all in one. But it’s quite promising in a palm-sized device. Luckily, this eliminates it completely. Here’s what you need to know about Durobo Chrono and why I named it the best open-source Android e-reader.
Durobo Chrono e-Reader: Our quick verdict
Do you have lots of different books on different apps? Durobo Chrono might be just for you.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
- Best for: The person who has books in multiple apps – Kindle, Kobo, Audible, Libro.fm, and Libby. Also, great for people who like to listen to and read audiobooks at the same time, and those looking for an on-the-go voice notetaker.
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Main techniques: 6.13-inch Carta 1200 e-ink display, 128GB storage, 6GB RAM, 300 ppi resolution, adjustable warmth and brightness, octa-core processor, and Android 15 OS.
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MSRP: $279.99
Your entire digital library on one device
Access your Kindle library from Durobo Chrono.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
As an e-reader tester I find myself in a unique conundrum: I have a collection of books on several different e-reader platforms. Although I’ve gotten into the habit of cycling through different e-readers on a regular basis, there’s a lot to keep track of. The dream is to have them all on one device, and the Durobo Chrono makes that dream come true.
Running Android 15, the Google Play Store comes pre-installed on the Chrono, so any app available in the store is available on the e-ink tablet. Suddenly, all the apps I use regularly Audible, Kindle, Kobo Books, Libbyand libro.fm Now on my Durobo Chrono.
Apps appear on a separate page from Chrono’s built-in library, so you’ll need to navigate between them. A small price to pay for the convenience of accessing them from one device.
Technically, you can get this feature from tablets also. Except that the iPad doesn’t have a matte, easy-to-see e-ink display like the Chrono.
Since this is an Android device, Apple apps (like Apple Music and Apple Books) are not available, so as an Apple Music listener, I couldn’t use the device as a music player.
It’s fast – until it’s not fast
In my testing, I found open Android e-readers to be very slow, especially compared to Kindles and Kobos, which are zippy e-readers. The Boox Go and the Boox Palma 2, similar devices to the Durobo Chrono, both had disappointing performance, even right out of the box. Still, the Durobo Chrono is very fast. Even when moving between different books on different apps, I was impressed by how quickly it moved across them.
Its speed is conditional. Too many apps, or more demanding apps, will slow down the device. After a week of use, I added the Substack app to Chrono, which was too demanding for it. Even when I was not using the app, it slowed down the entire device. Once I deleted the app, it became fast again.
Other demanding apps I found were audiobook players like Audible. I especially noticed this when listening to an audiobook while reading an e-book on a different app. It’s disappointing that two apps geared toward readers slowed down an e-reader device. For For best performance on Chrono, use one app at a time and avoid more demanding apps.
An ideal palm-sized e-reader
The Durobo Chrono is exactly the size of a palm.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
Durobo Chrono has a 6.13-inch screenSlightly larger than the original Kindle, but the overall device is narrower than the Kindle. It’s about the same size as my hand and weighs 6.1 ounces. The small size makes it comfortable to hold for hours at a time – especially if you add the PopSocket grip on the back as I did. But this does not make the screen size appear smaller.
It needs better battery life
When you’re used to the Kindle’s months-long battery life, moving to an e-reader with a significantly lower battery is a tough adjustment. With a few hours of use per day, Durobo Chrono e-readers have a battery life of about a week. Compared to a smartphone or tablet, that’s great, but when you’re coming from a Kindle or Kobo, the Chrono e-reader’s battery life seems pretty short.
More features to enjoy
Access Durobo AI on the Chrono e-Reader.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
Scroll through articles and apps easily with Chrono’s Smart Dial.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
The features of the Chrono Durobo are extensive. There’s a smart dial on the side that refreshes the screen, starts recording, and scrolls through the device. It has a built-in AI called Spark, which captures voice recordings and generates transcripts and summaries. It’s much more than a standard e-reader, but in months of use, I never once used the Spark AI. The Smart Dial is a great addition for smooth scrolling.
Is the Durobo Chrono worth it?
Looking for an alternative to Kindle or Kobo? Try the Durobo Chrono e-Reader.
Credit: Samantha Mangino/Mashable
Durobo Chrono is the best open Android e-reader. If you’re looking to explore the world of Boox Palma or Remarkable Moves, Chrono is my favorite choice for its fast processing and support for third-party apps. In an ideal, palm-sized package, it provides access to all your digital libraries. It’s more expensive than other e-readers, but for the added benefits it offers, it’s worth the extra price.
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