NOOK Color vs Nook GlowLight

Last updated: July 10, 2023
The NOOK Color and Nook GlowLight are two eReader models from Barnes & Noble, offering distinct features and functionalities to enhance the reading experience.

One key difference between the NOOK Color and Nook GlowLight lies in their display technology. The NOOK Color features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display, providing a vibrant and colorful reading experience. It is well-suited for reading graphic novels, magazines, and children's books, as it can display full-color images and supports multimedia content. On the other hand, the Nook GlowLight features a 6-inch E Ink Pearl display, which mimics the appearance of traditional paper and provides a glare-free reading experience. The E Ink technology offers excellent readability, even in bright sunlight, and reduces eye strain during long reading sessions.

Another significant difference lies in their built-in lighting. The NOOK Color has a backlit LCD display, which means it emits its own light for reading in low-light conditions. The adjustable screen brightness allows readers to customize the lighting to their preference. In contrast, the Nook GlowLight features a front-lit display, with the light emanating from the edges of the screen. This provides an evenly distributed and comfortable glow for reading in the dark without disturbing others. The front light is gentle on the eyes and allows for extended reading sessions without causing eye fatigue.

Additionally, the NOOK Color offers a broader range of multimedia features beyond reading. It supports web browsing, email, and access to various apps, making it more like a tablet device with eReader capabilities. It also has a larger storage capacity, allowing users to store and enjoy multimedia content such as videos, music, and apps. The Nook GlowLight, on the other hand, focuses primarily on providing a seamless reading experience with its E Ink display. It has a smaller storage capacity but still offers ample space for thousands of eBooks.
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NOOK Color
Ultra-responsive 7-inch multi-touch screen displays 16 million colors ultra-bright. Specially designed for remarkable clarity and minimal glare so you can enjoy the ultimate reading and entertainment experience. Discontinued.
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Nook GlowLight
NOOK's GlowLight illuminates your screen with a soft light that is perfect for bedtime reading. With advanced lighting technology not available on any other reader, GlowLight lets you stay up late reading in total comfort - while your partner stays asleep in the dark.
NOOK Color vs Nook GlowLight in our news:

2023. Nook firmware update adds useful FAQ and custom book sorting



Barnes and Noble has recently rolled out a firmware update, version 8.13.160, for their Nook e-reader, offering several notable enhancements. One of the key additions is a new FAQ system within the support section of the settings screen, providing a convenient solution for addressing common queries and concerns without the need for a computer or visiting the Nook website. Moreover, the update introduces a revamped system for custom sorting of shelves, enabling users to easily reposition shelves or books within a shelf based on their preferred order. This can be done directly on the e-reader by selecting the custom option from the sorted by menu. Additionally, content and shelves now come equipped with arrow keys, enhancing the overall layout flexibility. Furthermore, users can now conveniently sort and view all their notes and annotations made in ebooks directly from the search bar, eliminating the need to manually locate them by opening the respective book.


2021. Nook Glowlight 4 gets smaller and lighter design



Barnes and Noble has introduced the Nook Glowlight 4, their latest e-reader model, now available for ordering on the B&N website. This 6-inch Nook boasts 32GB of storage, features USB-C connectivity, and showcases a revamped, compact design (although specific weight reduction details are not provided). Retaining the page buttons on both sides of the screen, albeit positioned closer to the edges, the device incorporates a frontlight with adjustable color temperature, aptly named Night Mode by B&N. The Nook Glowlight 4 exhibits a 300 ppi E Ink screen, with the presumption that it employs a newer E Ink screen with improved contrast and darker blacks. Equipped with a quad-core 1.5GHz CPU, the e-reader operates on software based on Android 8.1. All these features come at a price of $149.99.


2018. Barnes and Noble unveiled charging dock and keyboard for Nook 10.1



Barnes and Noble has recently launched the new Nook Tablet 10.1, and they have now introduced two accompanying accessories. The Charging Dock is designed to provide continuous power while you enjoy audiobooks or movies, and it is available for purchase at $34.95. By using the promo code STACKED, customers can avail of a limited 20% discount. The Smart Folio Cover with Keyboard features a magnetic clip that effortlessly attaches to your tablet, eliminating the need for pairing. This accessory enables you to conveniently take notes or work on your literary masterpiece. Priced at $39.95, it also qualifies for the 20% discount when using the same promo code as the charging dock. The Nook Tablet 10.1 operates on Google Android 8.1, granting users the ability to install their favorite apps from the Google Play store.


2018. Nook e-Readers stop working without security update



Barnes and Noble has issued a notice stating that without installing a mandatory security update, Nook e-readers will cease to function after June 29th. This means users will be unable to make purchases, download, or manage their NOOK Content directly from their NOOK Device. The security update is part of Barnes and Noble's comprehensive upgrade to enhance the security system across all their websites and servers, ensuring the protection of customer information and processing of payment data. The affected e-reader models include the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, Nook Color, Nook Tablet, Nook HD, Nook HD+, and Nook Glowlight.


2017. Barnes and Noble released Nook Glowlight 3



Barnes and Noble has recently unveiled their latest e-reader, the Nook Glowlight 3, marking their first release in two years. This device introduces several innovative features, including page turn buttons that allow users to skip ahead a chapter with a double tap or rapidly flip through the pages of an e-book by holding the button down. It also incorporates a comfortlight system, a first for Nook e-readers, which reduces the brightness of the white screen and gives it a soothing orange hue. Powered by Google Android, the Nook Glowlight 3 boasts an advanced front-lit display system. Notably, the device is equipped with physical buttons, with two page turn buttons on both the left and right sides. The main Nook Reading app showcases excellent design, ensuring speedy page turning, while the ability to copy/paste text into the note app adds a touch of innovation.


2015. Barnes & Noble created waterproof Nook



After more than a year since discontinuing the Nook and Nook HD+, Barnes & Noble has finally given its flagship e-reader a much-needed update with the introduction of the GlowLight Plus - the company's first waterproof e-reader. Along with its waterproof feature, the Nook GlowLight Plus introduces user profiles, catering to couples or reading partners who enjoy sharing their reading experiences. Priced at $130, the new version offers a 300ppi display, doubling the pixel density of its predecessor, and boasts a sleek aluminum body that is both slimmer and slightly heavier than the GlowLight. The addition of waterproof capabilities means Nook enthusiasts can now enjoy their favorite e-books even while indulging in a relaxing soak in the tub. The Nook GlowLight Plus is now available for purchase.


2013. Barnes & Noble releases new ultra-light Nook GlowLight



Barnes & Noble has unveiled a completely redesigned version of the Nook GlowLight e-reader, an updated iteration of the Nook SimpleTouch with GlowLight. Priced at $119, it is $10 more expensive than its predecessor. Notably, this matches the cost of the Kindle Paperwhite with ads, whereas the GlowLight does not include ads. The Nook GlowLight offers twice the storage capacity of the older model, increasing from 2 GB to 4 GB, accommodating over 2,000 ebooks. This storage capacity also doubles that of the Kindle Paperwhite. However, it is worth mentioning that the GlowLight lacks the microSD slot present in the previous model, preventing further expansion of the device's storage. Similar to the Paperwhite, Barnes & Noble's new e-reader showcases an updated 6-inch E-Ink display with 62% more pixels, enhancing text clarity and contrast compared to the previous Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. Additionally, Barnes & Noble has improved the LED-based light source of the e-reader, ensuring more uniform light coverage across the page. While Amazon positions the light source just below the bottom edge of the screen, the GlowLight's light sources are clearly visible from just above the top edge. Overall, the GlowLight screen boasts impressive visual quality, with comparable contrast and lighting to that of the Paperwhite. E-Ink e-readers undeniably hold their place in the tablet market, and although Barnes & Noble and Amazon do not disclose specific e-reader sales figures, it is evident that both companies remain dedicated to the category, and customers continue to make purchases.


2013. B&N drops Nook GlowLight price to $99. Undercuts Amazon and Kobo



Barnes & Noble has just made an exciting announcement, reducing the price of the GlowLight to a mere $99. This price cut positions the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight as the most affordable option among premium e-readers. In comparison, the ad-supported Kindle Paperwhite is priced at $119, while the Kobo Glo costs $129.99. The Nook Simple Touch GlowLight, powered by a front-lit screen known as GlowLight, emits a pleasant glow that differs from traditional backlighting. This feature is gentler on the eyes, although it does decrease the battery life by half. Nevertheless, the battery still lasts an impressive 2 months. The reduced price suggests that Barnes & Noble may be aiming to sell off existing inventory in preparation for the release of a new model. It's worth noting that Barnes & Noble recently announced its decision to discontinue in-house development of tablets while continuing to manufacture e-readers.


2010. Barnes & Noble Nook Color revealed



Barnes & Noble has introduced the all-new Nook Color, an Android tablet featuring a vibrant 7-inch color touchscreen, marking a departure from the traditional e-ink display (though the original Nook, priced at $149, will remain available and is still a major player in the e-reader market, with a 20 percent market share and an upcoming significant software update). B&N positions the Nook Color as a hybrid device, combining elements of an e-reader and a tablet. The software has been enhanced with a tablet-style user interface, and it offers integration with popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The device includes built-in WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and 8GB of storage, but does not feature 3G connectivity at this stage. Impressively, the Nook Color maintains an aggressive price point of $249. Despite this affordability, the device boasts an impressive "VividView" IPS display, delivering a remarkable 16 million colors and a resolution of 1024 x 600. Notably, B&N has employed a "full lamination screen film" on top of the LCD to reduce glare, specifically addressing backlight glare rather than just external light sources.