Andy Walker / Android Authority

I love the idea of the Amazon Kindle, or just e-book readers in general. A simple, single-use device that condenses thousands of books into one product has understandable appeal. However, with Amazon effectively bricking devices released before 2013, tying myself to a product that could become a paperweight in the future doesn’t seem like a great way to spend my cash.

So, I went shopping at my local device repo — also known as the decrepit device drawer in my office — and pulled out a 2019 Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0. It certainly wasn’t a high-end product even in its day, but the budget slate is small, lightweight, portable, and a potential book reader with a far higher ceiling than Amazon’s restrictive experience.

And, as it turns out, I needed just a few hours to transform this device into the ultimate Kindle killer.

Why an old Android tablet is the perfect Kindle replacement

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Repurposing devices that are effectively obsolete is a great way to save cash and keep landfills tech-free. Given that opening book files doesn’t require a pacey modern processor or loads of RAM, my Galaxy Tab just made sense in this context.

While Android tablets and e-book readers share a similar form factor, they’re vastly different products. I’ll admit that reading on an E-Ink display is much kinder on the eyes and more book-like, but a tablet is far more versatile and customizable, and through it, I can consume more than just novels.

Using Android’s built-in customization and a few tricks, I can trim the fat and install apps to enhance my reading experience. Then there are the tertiary benefits of a tablet: the color screen, which makes it perfect for cookbooks, and the option to repurpose it again if reading no longer fits its purpose.

There's a chance that we have an old Android tablet wasting away in a drawer somewhere. Why not shirk Amazon, and breathe new life into it?

To be frank, one of the core reasons I saw the Galaxy Tab as a viable Kindle alternative was that I already owned it. The best e-book reader is the one you have in your hand, right? Nevertheless, with 32GB of storage with a microSD card slot, an 8-inch display, and a 5,100mAh battery that still takes ages to drain seven years later, this Samsung tablet still has plenty to give and has become a reading companion I take almost everywhere.

The first steps: cleaning, debloating, and launching

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Whenever you’re starting a new tech project, it’s a good idea to give yourself a clean slate, and this is true for repurposing an old Android device. Before we get stuck into the fun stuff, you’ll want to factory reset your device. Head to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data to start the process. This path might be slightly different depending on your device’s manufacturer. Nevertheless, you’ll need to clear all data, apps, and residual digital dust before turning it into a Kindle killer.

Once the reset is complete, we can now start with the next important step: debloating. This was a critical step for my Galaxy Tab and is one I undertake with every new device I get. Samsung has a nasty habit of including unnecessary apps and services, and this certainly affects the speed and efficiency of older devices.

A core part of reviving an old Android device hinges on debloating and trimming the fat.

While you can’t uninstall all apps by default, there are apps that unlock this ability. You’ll need to grab two apps: Canta and Shizuku. Canta is effectively the app you’ll use to uninstall needless apps, while Shizuku gives Canta the permissions required to uninstall these apps. Shizuku has its own minor learning curve, but if you follow the instructions as detailed in the app, you’ll be fine.

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Now, with Canta as your axe, you can chop off products like Facebook, Meta services, unnecessary Samsung apps, and other products that you simply don’t need. I can’t advise which apps to remove — ultimately, this is your device, and it’s your buyer’s choice — but I’ve tried to trim as much fat as possible without bricking my tablet.

Once you’re happy with the state of your device (remember, you can always go back and use Canta to trim further fat if required), you’ll need to decide on the most important facet of your e-book reader that isn’t the reader app itself: the launcher.

While the e-book reader app is the most important on this device, the launcher ultimately pulls everything together.

This is the feature I spent the most time on. Picking the perfect launcher, especially for a lightweight device like a 2019 tablet, can be particularly tricky. I wanted a launcher that put productivity first, offered limited tinkering potential to minimize distractions, and made it easy to launch my reading apps without search or trawling through folders. Initially, I tried Niagara. Granted, it’s a great launcher that I’ve used to build a solid productivity setup on my phone, but it wasn’t a good fit for my dated tablet.

Then, I stumbled across Mako. The open-source launcher, with its retro-minimalist aesthetic and mild organizational features, was the perfect fit. With it, I’ve created three app groups: reading apps up top, general apps in the middle, and everything I don’t need available immediately below. Mako lets me hide groups as required. It’s also incredibly lightweight and is faster than the One UI environment.

The next options: display settings, battery tweaks, and more

Once we’ve stripped the device of its fluff and brought in some new furniture, it’s time to tinker with the value-adds. Again, this will vary by device, but here’s what I’ve done on my Galaxy Tab A 8.0.

Picking the center of the Kindle killer experience: the e-book reader

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Going where Kindles can’t: enhancing the e-book reader experience

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Right, now that we have the e-book reader app, we can call this project complete. However, I believe that the fun is only just starting. After I installed Moon+ Reader on my device, I realized the other advantages an old Android-based tablet has over Kindle products, including the host of reading-enhancing apps available.

I need to offer a word of caution; It’s really easy to get sucked into the “install all the things” mentality here, especially if you have a performant device. However, I’d suggest keeping your installs focused on the device’s core use case: reading.

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Andy Walker / Android Authority

The beauty of using an Android tablet is the ability to truly customize the experience to your needs.

Of course, if you have an Amazon account, you could always install the Kindle app and enjoy the content you already own. This also rings true for Google Play Books.

Wait, how do I buy books on a tablet?

Andy Walker / Android Authority

Lastly, I want to address the biggest hurdle: accessing content.

One of the convenient facets of the Kindle line is the ease with which users can purchase books. This practice is certainly a little more difficult on old Android tablets cum Kindle killers, but it’s still possible.

As I’ve hinted at, if you’re looking for new books, you can still install the Kindle app or download books through Google itself.

When it comes to finding free books, I mentioned Myne is an easy way to download content from Project Gutenberg, and this is a brilliant way to snag classics. Then there’s Libby, the app that plugs into your local library, allowing you to remotely rent books to read.

Buying books on tablet will be more of a challenge on Android than on Kindle, but there's no shortage of public domain content out there to start.

If you have an existing library of books saved to a NAS or hard drive, Calibre is a must-have for managing content. It can also act as a server that lets you browse various e-book reader Android apps, including Moon+ Reader. It’s been around for nearly two decades, and it’s just as useful as it was back then.

Don’t get a Kindle; revive an old Android tablet instead

Andy Walker / Android Authority

If you’ve followed my loose instructions so far, you should now have a cheap yet capable Kindle alternative that offers so much more than a simple e-book reader. Yes, tablets certainly have disadvantages compared to electronic paper devices, including pixel density, battery life, and book-like aesthetics, but a tablet you already have costs you nothing.

I took an old Samsung Galaxy Tab that was no longer suitable for demanding tasks and turned it into a reliable, long-lasting, and multifaceted e-book reader on which I can complete crosswords, read the latest news, study and find new recipes, and, obviously, read books. There’s room to grow and tweak it as I see fit, too. In short, I’m in complete control of my consumption experience.

Kindles perhaps offer a better pure reading experience, but there's no risk of Amazon bricking your repurposed Android tablet.

Of course, this is only a rough guide. I’ve outlined what one could accomplish with an old device, but there’s plenty more to discover on your own here. If you’ve repurposed an Android tablet in a similar manner, please leave a comment and detail what you’ve done to your device. And, if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for?