Barnes & Noble is updating its eReader lineup with a new NOOK GlowLight Plus. It’s a revamped version of the original NOOK GlowLight, which hasn’t been updated since 2013.

The new model features a 300 dpi E Ink touchscreen display and built-in ambient light. Oh and it’s also waterproof. So, reading your favorite vampire book while soaking in the tub has just gotten easier.

nook glowlight plus

The backside of the case is made from bronze colored aluminum and the front frame has a textured white border.

The screen features enhanced contrast and glare-free technology in addition to the adjustable ambient light for “evenly dispersed light” in a variety of situations.

From the description, it seems that Barnes & Noble designed an eReader that can safely be used at the beach in the middle of the day, or in the tub with candles glowing all around, without fear of getting dust or water on the tablet.

The company says that the NOOK GlowLight Plus can last up to six weeks on a single charge if you read for an average of about 30 minutes a day. The software includes options for changing the font style, an updated home page with a more intuitive design, and Nook Profiles, which allow multiple users to log in to the same device for a customized reading experience.

B&N’s newest eReader has 4GB of built-in storage, but no microSD card slot. It measures 6.4″ x 4.7″ x 0.34″ and weighs 6.9 ounces, has a 1072 x 1448 pixel display, and runs software based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The NOOK GlowLight Plus is available now from the company’s online and retail bookstores for $130, which includes three free books and a $5 good toward additional purchases.

This new entry into the NOOK line comes at a time when B&N is struggling to keep up with rival Amazon in the eBook and eReader market. Maybe this waterproof design will grab the attention of readers that don’t want to carry around a Ziploc bag with them every time they head to the pool (or pay a hefty price for a third-party waterproofing job).

If $130 seems like too much to pay for an eReader, B&N is still selling the original NOOK GlowLight for $99. But that model isn’t waterproof and it has half the screen resolution of the new model.

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16 replies on “B&N’s NOOK GlowLight is a waterproof eReader for $130”

  1. I bought it today. Loving it so far. The lighting is far superior from the last glowlight. Very natural light. doesn’t have the blue tint that the older models have.

  2. A lot of people were really disappointed when they eliminated the SD Card slot and page turn buttons. This was their opportunity to remedy that. It’s a shame they chose not to. I didn’t miss the SD Card slot, but I really liked having the page turn buttons. I hate fingerprints on screens, and the plastic screen of the nook ereaders isn’t as easy to clean as a glass smartphone/tablet screen.
    I like B&N. I hope they can get the nook business figured out.

  3. I think it being waterproof is a very good feature.

    I think that is a reasonable price.

  4. I’m interested, because I’m still on my 2009 vintage original Nook ereader which is starting to fail. I’m on my second battery and the left hand page forward button is unreliable. I have most of the internal storage used up and my 8 GB SD card is also 98% full. I have some concerns though with this new model. B&N is cagy about its storage capacity, only saying there’s room for thousands of book. I’m wondering how that can be accurate, since I have less than 1000 on my old Nook and I’m at 8GB. I went looking around the web for the actual capacity, and it is still unclear. Mashable has a review device in hand and says it has 2.6GB of internal capacity. Goodereader says B&N told him it has 4GB of storage, 2GB for Nook store content and 2GB for owner provided content. I guess I’ll have to be patient, but 4GB does not seem enough to me.

    1. Stop using your ereader as storage for so many books. Keep the books loaded on your computer with calibre software.

      1. Well, I use Calibre with the deDRM add-on. I understand how to move things on and off my ereader. I might have to do it more often. I just mourn the loss of capacity. I also regret the loss of user-changeable batteries. Nonreplaceable batteries suffer significant loss of capacity after only a couple of years. I tend to hold onto technology until it no longer meets my needs.

  5. Waterproof? That’s one of my most wanted e-reader features.

    Alas, we’re still talking about a 6″ screen here, and I’m heavily invested in the Kindle ecosystem. Just allowing me to side-load the Kindle app would be enough, but I guess that defeats the purpose of having your own e-reader. Poor B&N, it almost seems like no matter what moves they make, it’s too late. =/

  6. now if they could make a nook or kindle phone running android i’d be game..

  8. At a time when we’re seeing so much convergence (2-n-1s in all sizes, phablets, etc), it’s hard to justify the purchase of a dedicated ereader. It’s a shame too. I was on a lightweight eInk display a few years ago, truly amazing experience – so easy on the eyes.

    Also… I use to read lots of books (pre-internet) but find it really hard to put aside a few hours to read fiction nowadays. Still read a lot but it’s all mostly current, online non-fiction (loads of tech). When I make time, it’s for digital comics on a larger display. Still… sounds like a great device for book readers. Maybe I’ll get to that place again where I can lay down with a good book and vanish the world again – good times. The Glowlight Plus sounds tempting.

    1. Yeah, I picked up a Kindle Touch back in 2011 and I still love it. I’m tempted by newer models with higher resolution screens, but haven’t really felt the need to upgrade.

      While a tablet is perfect for digital comics, I find the Kindle is great for long-form content. Not only do I use it for books, but sometimes I’ll use Amazon’s “personal documents” feature to email myself long articles from web pages so I can read them offline.

      1. The high resolution makes a major difference. I slogged through a novel every two months or so on an older Sony. Within a month of buying my Kobo H2O, I’d read five novels.

        Now I wish I would have waited for this. The resolution and waterproofing are really the ONLY things about the Kobo that I like.

      1. Hmm, sounds tempting. Judging by the pics, It seems like quite the looker. I have been searching for something like this, but I find the Amazon walled garden too suffocating, and I am reluctant to go with an Onyx BOOX, because of the obscure company and clunky design. If this comes with play store access like the nook HD, I’m definitely in for one. Thanks for bringing it to my attention

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