Do any of these support library lending apps like Libby directly?
None of the listings explicitly name a library-lending app. The Android-based reader is more likely to allow installing one yourself since it runs a general OS, while the others are closed reading systems built around their own file support, so check compatibility before assuming Libby or OverDrive will work.
Is color E Ink better for borrowed library books?
It depends on the material. Plain text reads equally well on monochrome or color E Ink, but illustrated books, comics, or covers with color detail will only render properly on the two color-screen devices in this list, not the monochrome 6-inch or 7.8-inch readers.
Which of these is best if I mostly listen rather than read?
Both the Kaleido 3 color reader and the large-screen InkPad list text-to-speech, Bluetooth, and built-in speakers, so either supports audio playback of borrowed text. Neither the 6-inch Android reader nor the handwriting-focused color tablet advertises this combination in their listings.
Does waterproofing matter for library reading?
Only if you read somewhere water is a real risk, like a bath or poolside. Two of the four devices here list IPX8 waterproofing; the 6-inch Android reader and the handwriting-focused color tablet make no such claim, so treat them as standard indoor-use devices.
Should I buy the handwriting-capable tablet if I just want to read borrowed books?
Not necessarily. Its main advantage is annotation and sketching on a color screen, and the stylus needed for handwriting is sold separately. If straightforward reading is your only goal, the storage and screen size differences among the other three matter more than handwriting support.
