Compare e-books and print books using 2025 to 2026 surveys, research on reading comprehension, and the reading habits of Indonesian readers.
E-books vs. print books is a debate readers keep coming back to. The choice of format comes down to price, eye comfort, and where people usually read. That is why the answer can differ from person to person.
A Pew Research Center survey from October 2025 gives a recent picture from the United States. Among American adults, 64% read a print book in the past 12 months, 31% read an e-book, and 26% listened to an audiobook. Print is still the only format used by a majority of Americans, while e-book readership has grown from 17% in 2011.
Reading Habits in Indonesia
A GoodStats survey conducted from January to February 2025 included 1,000 respondents from various regions. Of those, 79% preferred print books and 18.5% preferred digital formats. Focus group discussions in the survey showed that the feel and smell of paper still appeal to readers.
Another result comes from Rakuten Insight in 2023, cited by Databoks Katadata. About 83% of respondents said they like reading books on their phones, while only about 12% read physical books. These figures differ sharply from GoodStats. The gap likely comes from differences in survey methods and the questions asked.
Age also shapes the choice. A Snapcart survey from October 2024 of 591 respondents found that Gen Z prefers reading books online, while millennials prefer print. So reading habits in Indonesia can’t be summed up by a single number.
How Format Affects Reading Comprehension
Beyond preference, researchers have tested how format affects comprehension. A 2018 meta-analysis by Delgado and colleagues combined 54 studies with more than 170,000 participants and found that reading on paper had the advantage. Virginia Clinton found a small but significant negative effect for reading on screen in an analysis of 33 studies.
In the e-book vs. print comparison, the type of text matters a great deal. According to Clinton’s analysis, the gap appears only with expository texts, not with narrative texts such as novels. Clinton also noted that screen readers often rate their comprehension higher than it actually is.
The type of device matters too. A recent network meta-analysis reports that reading on handheld devices, such as tablets, e-readers, or phones, is closer to reading on paper than reading on a computer screen. The differences between formats are also small, so personal habits still play a big role.
How to Choose Based on Your Habits
Digital books suit you if you travel often or want to keep costs down. They are cheaper, and a digital file does not wear out over time. A study of college students noted similar reasons: no need to buy expensive print textbooks, and greater convenience.
Print books are better for material you need to study carefully, such as textbooks or nonfiction. You can mark pages, write notes in the margins, and read without notifications. Novels and light reading are relatively safe to read on a screen.
Many readers end up using both, depending on the situation. You can carry an e-book on your phone for trips and keep print books for serious reading at home. The e-book vs. print comparison is clearest in the format you most often finish.
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