If you’re thinking about buying a Kindle or Nook for a loved one this holiday season, you might want to reconsider. E-readers appear to be on their way out, according to an Oct. 29 report by the Pew Research Center.
This year, 19% of surveyed Americans own e-readers—down from 32% last year and 24% the year before.
Tablets and smart phones with more versatile functions are one likely reason that the e-reader has lost popularity in the US. But the sudden dip is still surprising when you consider that, according to the same survey, 40% of Americans say they still own MP3 players—down only 3% since 2013.
Recent sales numbers suggest that paper books might be back on the rise—but whatever you do, don’t call it a comeback.