Garmin Vivosmart 5 vs Fitbit Inspire 2: choose your next fitness tracker

If you're looking for a new fitness tracker, the Fitbit Inspire 2 and the new Garmin Vivosmart 5 are two devices that deserve a place on your shortlist – but which is right for you?

If cash is your main concern, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is a no-brainer. Even when it was brand new it cost substantially less than the Garmin Vivosmart 5, and now that it's a couple of years old you can often find it at a fraction of its launch price. If money is particularly tight, keep an eye out for some huge discounts on Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, when we've seen it particularly steeply discounted.

Both the Vivosmart 5 and Inspire 2 are capable fitness trackers that will serve you well if you simply want a gentle nudge towards healthier habits, but if you're starting to get interested in working out (at the gym, at home, or outdoors) then you might benefit from Garmin's more advanced workout monitoring tools. For example, The Vivosmart 5 can estimate your VO2 Max (a measurement of how much oxygen you use during exercise), track more activities, and alert emergency contacts if you take a fall while working out.

The Vivosmart 5 also offers more advanced sleep tracking than the Inspire 2, and the Garmin Connect app provides you with full analysis of historical data and training tools free of charge, whereas Fitbit requires a monthly subscription payment to unlock everything that your watch has revealed.

If you've made up your mind, we've rounded up the best prices for the Garmin Vivosmart 5 and Fitbit Inspire 2 right here. If not, read on to learn more about both devices.

Price and availability

• Garmin Vivosmart 5 is newer
• Garmin Vivosmart 5 is more expensive
• Fitbit Inspire 2 often discounted on Amazon

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 went on sale on 20 April, 2022 for $149.99 / £129.99 / AU$229. You won't yet find it cheaper at any third-party retailers, but you may be able to find it a little cheaper at stores like Amazon in a few months' time.

The Fitbit Inspire 2 launched on September 25, 2020 for $99.95 / £89.99 / AU$149.99, and can be found much more cheaply at various retailers if you shop around. However, if you want to get the most out of the Inspire 2, it's also worth considering the cost of a Fitbit Premium subscription. You'll get a six-month free trial with any new Fitbit device, after which it'll cost $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$15.49 per month.

The Fitbit Inspire 2 can be found much more cheaply than the Garmin Vivosmart 5 (Image credit: Fitbit)

Design and display

• Both are slim, lightweight fitness trackers
• Same screen tech, but Vivosmart 5 is higher resolution
• Vivosmart 5 comes in two sizes; Inspire 2 comes with two bands

Both the Garmin Vivosmart 5 and Fitbit Inspire 2 are slim fitness trackers, and they share a lot of similarities. Both have a plastic case and silicone band that fastens with a plastic buckle and tang, and are light enough to be unnoticeable in daily use.

Both have backlit monochrome OLED displays, but the Vivosmart 5's screen is sharper and can display more text at once thanks to its higher resolution (88 x 154 pixels compared to 36 x 126 pixels for the Inspire 2). The Vivosmart 5 also has an ambient light sensor, allowing the screen's brightness to adjust automatically to suit the general lighting conditions,

Both watches also have touchscreen interfaces that are supplemented by small buttons that are used to select options or move back through menus; the Vivosmart 5 has a button on the face, while the Fitbit Inspire 2 has a button on either side of the case.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 comes in two sizes: the small/medium (which should be suitable for most wrists) and large. The smaller model comes in three colors (black, white, and mint), while the large version is only available in black. The Fitbit Inspire 2 can only be bought in one size, but comes with two straps to suit different sized wrists. It comes in black, pink, and off-white.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 comes in three colors: black, white, and mint (Image credit: Garmin)

Battery life

• Fitbit claims longer battery life
• Both last around a week on one charge

At the time of writing we've just started testing the Garmin Vivosmart 5, so we can't give our own assessment of its battery life, but Garmin claims that it can keep running for up to seven days on a single charge without SpO2 or sleep tracking enabled.

Fitbit, meanwhile, claims maximum battery life of up to 10 days, depending on how you use the Instinct 2, which was what we found in our testing.

Fitness tracking tools

• Both have all the fundamentals covered
• Vivosmart 5 offers more advanced training tools
• Vivosmart 5 has safety features to alert emergency contacts

Both fitness trackers have all the basics covered, including 24/7 heart rate tracking, step counting, and a good range of workout tracking modes for both indoor and outdoor activities.

The Vivosmart 5 also has some more advanced tools to offer. It's certainly not a fully fledged running watch like the Garmin Forerunner 55, but it can calculate a VO2 Max estimate based on your running performance and track heart rate zones during training sessions.

However, it's important to note that neither device has its own GPS module. Instead, they piggyback on your phone's GPS to track your route and pace on runs, walks and bike rides, which is less convenient and usually a little less accurate than on-board GPS. If you want a slim fitness tracker with GPS built-in, take a look at the Fitbit Charge 5.

Both watches can track sleep stages and duration, but the Vivosmart 5 has an SpO2 sensor for measuring blood oxygen saturation, and gives more advanced sleep metrics, including respiration and movement throughout the night.

When it comes to safety, the Vivosmart 5 has the edge again. Its incident detection can alert an emergency contact if it detects a fall while you're in the middle of a tracked workout, informing them of your current location. There's also Garmin Livetrack, which allows contacts to monitor your location while you're running, walking, or cycling.

Neither than Fitbit Inspire 2 nor the Garmin Vivosmart 5 have on-board GPS for tracking your pace and route during workouts (Image credit: Fitbit)

Other features

• Both can receive smartwatch notifications
• Garmin Vivosmart 4 can send text responses
• Both can find your phone (and vice versa)

Neither the Vivosmart 5 nor the Inspire 2 is a fully-fledged smartwatch, but both devices have some handy features beyond exercise tracking. For example, both devices allow you to receive smartwatch notifications on your wrist, and if you have an Android phone, the Vivosmart 5 lets you send automatic text responses or reject calls with a text while you're working out

You can use the Vivosmart 5 to find your phone, or vice versa, and the Fitbit Inspire 2 can do the same thing provided you have the Tile app installed.

Both devices offer stress tracking throughout the day (based on changes in heart rate variability), and can lead you through breathing exercises if you're starting to feel the strain.

• Find out how to clean your Fitbit or Garmin device

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Prolong the lifespan of aging tech with a good power bank

If you've got an old gadget you love to use even though it's a struggle because of its age, then using one of the best power banks might help you extend its lifespan.

This is something I discovered when trying to eke extra mileage from my iPad Pro 12.9, because while I still like using it for creative and professional tasks, several years of intensive use has made it hard to rely on for stints of work.

That is, until I employed a portable charger to help me improve the way it works.

Taking a battery-ing

The thing that most affects a gadget over time is its battery life ⁠— constant cycles of discharging and recharging can greatly reduce its power capacity, meaning it lasts less and less time while unplugged.

You might not notice it from day-to-day use, but over several years of use, the power drain will become noticeable. If you've got an old iPhone that seems to burn through the battery percentages, you'll know what I mean.

I used to take my iPad for days out working in coffee shops, and I'd spend between six and eight hours on the screen between walks to different cafes and breaks to do other things.

(Image credit: Future)

Nowadays, though, I'll get about half that time. Having plain white documents open on the display will eat up the battery, even if I'm not connected to Wi-Fi and have other features disabled too.

Enter a power bank

I've got several power banks (for testing purposes), but the various ones I've been using all clock in at a massive 20,000mAh. That's generally the biggest capacity charger you'd consider buying, as any bigger and you're getting an absolutely massive device, but smaller and you won't get too many charges.

At that capacity, I'll be able to charge up the iPad's 9,720mAh battery twice, with a little leftover for whatever headphones I'm using (or to give my smartphone some extra juice).

I wouldn't actually power it up to full twice ⁠— that'd give me way more screen time than I'd actually need ⁠— but the versatility of having this amount of power is really useful. 

This amount of extra battery is helpful if I have a smartphone that needs lots of juice. It's also useful for days when I completely forget to power up the portable charger before taking it with me; I'll know I'll have at least enough left in it to power up the iPad once.

A power bank is easy to use at a coffee shop as I can keep it plugged into the iPad while I work. Sure, the banks actually charge at a slower rate than the iPad drains power, but if it's plugged in all the time when I'm using it, this discharge isn't fast at all.

(Image credit: Future)

Lots of the power banks I've started using actually have built-in displays that tell me how much charge they have left, which is really useful when I'm looking to work out which to take. Most others have LED strips which light up depending on how much power they've got, which is a rudimentary but still-useful way of letting me work out which to take.

My only concern is that most of the power banks I used power via micro USB, so they're not too quick to power if I find all my portable chargers are low on power before heading out of the house. It also means that I have to dig up my sole micro USB charger now and then, which I otherwise only use for my Kindle and PS4 controller ⁠—  and hide at the bottom of a drawer as a result.

Keeps an old gadget ticking

If it wasn't for my portable power bank, I'd likely have stopped using my iPad Pro for working when out and about, as the power drain and its aching joints would make it hard to use outside my home (when I'm always near an outlet and charger).

This is the same for other gadgets as well ⁠— if you find your old iPhone runs out of power by lunchtime, or your smartwatch needs constant powering to keep it going, a portable charger will be great for a mid-day top-up.

Sure, in that case you won't need 20,000mAh like me ⁠— 10,000mAh or even just 5,000mAh will be enough, and more portable to boot.

Our list of the best power banks contains a range of different kinds of power banks, so whether you need a chunky charger or a baby bank you'll be just fine (it's also got some interesting ones like solar-powering or wireless). So if, like me, you've got an aging gadget you want to get some extra life from, you should really take a look at this list.

• 8 ways to repurpose your old Android or iPhone

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Google just filed a trademark for the Pixel Watch name

We've been covering Google Pixel Watch rumors for years now, but it seems that the smartwatch is finally about to see the light of day: Google just filed a trademark application for the Pixel Watch name.

As reported by 9to5Google, the trademark filing doesn't really tell us too much apart from the name of the long-awaited wearable. The documents submitted by Google to the United States Patent and Trademark Office are described as relating to smartwatches and smartwatch accessories.

It's another sign that the device is going to be unveiled in the not-too-distant future. Earlier leaks have suggested that the wearable might be announced in May, although we've also heard that it might not go on sale until October.

Set your watches

We've certainly got a decent idea of what to expect from the Google Pixel Watch at this stage. It looks as though the smartwatch will have a sleek, rounded design, and there might be a physical crown button on the wearable as well.

A few watch faces that might be making their way to the wearable have also leaked out. They feature the sort of information you would expect to be able to get from any smartwatch: step count, heart rate, and current weather conditions.

We've heard less about the sort of pricing that Google is going to attach to the Pixel Watch when it goes on sale. How much the device will cost relative to its competitors is obviously going to be crucial when it comes to establishing its appeal to consumers.

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Analysis: Google needs the Pixel Watch

The likes of Ticwatch, Fossil and Samsung (after switching its smartwatches over from Tizen) are keeping the flag flying as far as Wear OS devices are concerned, but it's clearly important that Google also has its own flagship wearable on the market too.

We know that the Apple Watch has been a huge success, and of course it works seamlessly with the iPhone. Meanwhile, up until this point, owners of Google Pixel phones haven't had a smartwatch that they can rely on and be proud of in the same sort of way.

With the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro proving relatively successful, the time feels right for the Pixel Watch to make its bow: both to give the Apple Watch some added competition and to attract more attention to the Wear OS platform in general.

It remains to be seen how Google's acquisition of Fitbit will play out in terms of the evolution of devices like the Fitbit Sense, but it'll be interesting finding out. Perhaps one day, the Apple Watch won't be quite so dominant when it comes to smartwatches – and what's more, the Pixel Watch might be part of the reason behind that shift.

• Here's everything we know about the Pixel Watch so far

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What are e-bike classes?

Any new or evolving technology comes with some degree of vagueness, especially when it concerns legislation. That's definitely been the case with e-bikes, which have often fallen into the law-making middle ground; not being classed as proper bicycles, but not judged as a real motor vehicles either. It’s all been a little bit fuzzy. The same can be said about where e-bikes should, or shouldn’t, be ridden because of having a battery and electric motor.

The situation is improving though, because most electric bikes now fall into one of three different classes. Back in 2020 the e-bike industry decided to get together and come up with a plan, which has resulted in the creation of Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 categories.

Simple, right? Well, not quite because although the class system is now recognised by over half the US states, it’s still not a truly definitive classification system.

Adding to the confusion is the continued growth of the electric bike marketplace. With more manufacturers building e-bikes, and additional bike retailers stocking them, the potential for continued confusion seems to be ever-present. It is a step forwards though, but shouldn’t be taken as the final word. If you’re not sure if the e-bike you’re interested in falls into one of the three classes outlined below, you might want to do a little more homework before purchasing it.

Falling foul of the authorities and facing legal issues if you happen to ride in the wrong place, or worse still, have an accident, should all be kept in mind no matter how cool that e-bike you’re keen on looks.

E-bike Class 1

Class 1 electric bikes have a speed limitation of 20 miles per hour, and the classification is made simpler by the fact that the electric motor only assists the rider when they’re pedalling. You may find that the e-bike has a throttle, usually mounted on the handlebars, but this will only provide a boost. The basic setup can obviously vary depending on the make and model of electric bike.

As a result, Class 1 e-bikes usually get to enjoy all the privileges afforded to regular pedal cycles, which means general access to bike paths and designated lanes. This is also the only type of e-bike that's not classified as a moped in the UK and EU.

The VanMoof S3/X3 models are good examples of this class, along with the rather good Cannondale Quick Neo SL.

The Cannondale Quick Neo SL is a lightweight Class 1 e-bike (Image credit: Cannondale)

E-bike Class 2

Class 2 bikes come with the same 20mph speed limitation, but can deliver power from the battery and motor combination using a throttle, even if you’re not pedalling. Some electric bikes in this class can do a mix of both, with the motor doing all the work, a combination of motor and pedal assistance.

Much like the Class 1 category, many countries allow you to ride a Class 2 e-bike on bike paths and lanes. Look out for the likes of the Aventon Pace 350 or the Wing Freedom 2 as a pair of prime examples.

The Aventon Pace 350 is an example of a Class 2 e-bike (Image credit: Aventon)

E-bike Class 3

Class 3 e-bikes make things rather more complicated. Class 3 e-bikes are likely to have a throttle setup as part of the design, their speed allowance is a higher 28 miles per hour, and their motor limit is 750 Watts, but it's not so clear-cut where you can ride them.

The exact rules will depend on the country and city you're in. For example, you don’t need a license to ride one of these bikes in the US, but you should exercise caution about where you ride the two-wheeler, such as on regular roads and designated bike lanes. They’re not usually allowed on multiuse paths or bike trails though. 

It’s really worth checking city and state rules before you buy a Class 3 bike, to make sure it’ll fall in line with local regulations. Remember this point if you’re taking your e-bike out of state too. The excellent Specialized Turbo Vado SL Equipped is a great e-bike in this class, but the Trek Domane+ HP is a very worthy alternative too.

The powerful Specialized Turbo Vado SL Equipped is a Class 3 e-bike (Image credit: Specialized)

Buyer beware

If you take a look at our guide to the best e-bikes you’ll find those included should fit the bill in at least one of our categories. Anyone purchasing an electric bike should be mindful of variations on the theme though. Specifications can change, models can be updated and some manufacturers throw caution to the wind and release bikes with more power than they might actually need.

In fact, some vehicles sold as electric bikes are effectively electric scooters or mopeds, rather than e-bikes. This can mean that although they may have pedals, they’re able to go much faster. There are lots of imported bikes that have more power than is wise for something that looks like it can be ridden on a cycle path. What’s more, while this guide is aimed at potential e-bike buyers in the US, rules are different overseas. 

Things are getting better, but it’s an evolving situation that is perhaps not as clear cut as we’d like. If you’re new to the world of electric bikes then playing it safe might be the best way forward, with a Class 1 or Class 2 bike much less likely to cause you headaches than those found in the currently rather murky world of Class 3.

• Find out how to keep your e-bike running like new

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Why an Edit Button for Twitter Is Not as Simple as It Seems

Most people who use Twitter have had the experience: you fire off a quick tweet, realise it contains a typo, then get annoyed you can’t click “edit” to fix it. Twitter users have been clamouring for an edit button for years. So what’s the fuss about? Why has Twitter been so opposed to an edit button? The answer might be that it isn’t as simple as it appears.

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I’ve never seen a Nicolas Cage movie – but now I want to watch them all

 “This must be what it feels like to be a Nick Cage superfan,” I thought to myself during one particular scene in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, aka the actor’s latest movie.

If you’ve seen any of the film’s trailers, you’ll know the scene I mean. It’s the one where Javi Gutierrez – played by The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal – shows Nick Cage his, well, extensive Nick Cage memorabilia collection. From those Face/Off golden pistols and the chainsaw from Mandy, to a Con Air script and even a Nick Cage sequin cushion, Javi’s exhibition is certainly a sight to behold.

Ordinarily, I’d consider such a collection to be a little creepy or borderline obsessive, even if it’s in keeping with the film’s tongue-in-cheek exploration of Nick Cage’s illustrious acting career. Yet, for some reason, I found myself smiling as I watched Javi walk Cage through the assembled items, all the while reflecting on the thought I opened this article with.

And that’s an odd feeling for me to have experienced. Not because I’m dead inside, but – and this may shock you, given I’m a journalist who covers movies for a living – because I’ve never seen a Nick Cage film before.

I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor. You read that right: I’ve never watched a Nick Cage film in my life. And I wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

That is, until I watched The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Because, whether by divine intervention, the film’s heart-warming tribute to Cage as an actor and person, or simply thanks to how enjoyable it was, I’m now determined to catch as many Nick Cage movies as humanly possible.

Taking the bunny out of the box 

Nick Cage has a whale of a time in this metaphysical action comedy flick. (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Okay, I’ll preface the rest of this article by saying that I lied. Somewhat, at least. I’ve seen Nick Cage deliver scene-stealing performances as Big Daddy in 2010’s Kick-Ass and Spider-Man Noir in 2018 superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. In my mind, though, I don’t consider these to be definitive Nick Cage films. He isn’t the lead in either flick, so they don’t technically count as me watching a Nick Cage movie.

Additionally, I know all about those Nick Cage memes and famous film quotes. I’m also well aware of his movies, ranging from fan favorites like Con Air, The Wicker Man and Face/Off, to lesser-known indie flicks such as Pig and Color Out of Space.

Still, I’ve never felt obliged to take in one or more of his films. That’s not down to a lack of respect – clearly, Cage is a talented individual. Simply put, there are thousands of other movies I’ve wanted to watch instead, such as the latest Marvel movie or an old Christmas classic like It’s a Wonderful Life. Sure, I could have made time to watch a Nick Cage movie but I just, well, haven’t.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, though, has changed that. And, clearly, I’ve been missing out. On a lot.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a Nick Cage fan’s dream

Before I go any further, a brief film synopsis: the metaphysical action-comedy stars Nick Cage as a satirical, washed-up version of himself who’s struggling to find a balance between his personal and working life. His estranged wife and daughter are tired of his lack of familial commitment, while his lack of acting opportunities has led to spiraling debts.

Out of desperation, Cage reluctantly accepts a $1 million offer to attend the birthday party of Pascal’s Javi, a billionaire and Cage superfan. It isn’t long, though, before Cage gets more than he bargained for – the actor finding himself embroiled in a CIA-led plot to rescue someone’s kidnapped daughter from Javi, a supposedly notorious arms dealer.

Suffice to say, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a Nick Cage fan’s dream. There are numerous references to his previous roles, over-the-top acting on Cage’s part, and a touching story that doesn’t deliver anything new but feels enriched by Cage’s presence.

It also helps that Cage appears to be having a delightful time portraying a fictionalized version of himself. Cage turned down the role three times before writer-director Tom Gormican convinced him to take it by writing Cage a personal letter. Gormican’s determination paid off, as Cage is on ludicrously top form; his eclectic acting range on full display across the film’s one hour 40 minute runtime. It may be stating the obvious, but nobody else could have played a parodical version of Cage in the manner that the man himself does – and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is all the better for it.

Tired, wired, and deserving of appreciation

Not even Nick Cage is immune to the delights of Paddington 2. (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Films that put their stars in ridiculous situations are the kind that regularly pique my interest. And boy, does The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent go to some surreal but laugh-out-loud places.

How about the fact that Cage is coerced by the CIA to help them conduct a rescue operation in a criminal gang’s heartland? Or that Cage and Javi take LSD, become paranoid that they’re being followed, and embark on a hilarious mission to escape their supposed pursuers? What about Cage disguising himself as an Italian mob boss to infiltrate a rival gang? Or – and this is the weirdest, funniest of the lot – Cage making out with a younger, imaginary version of himself from his Wild at Heart days?

These are just four examples of how enjoyably daft The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is, and yet Cage goes along with them all; delivering marvelous performances in each scene as if it’s the last time he’ll ever act. He puts his heart and soul into every one and, as someone who isn’t a Nick Cage diehard, his performance got my thinking. If he’s given 100% effort in a film that pokes fun at his expense, how good is he in other roles, no matter how serious, dramatic, or comedy-focused they are?

Caring about his audience 

Nick Cage cares about his fans – and they can equally care about him. (Image credit: Lionsgate)

It’s not just Cage’s acting career – or work, as he regularly describes it – that’s made him such a popular figure among film aficionados. By all accounts, he’s one of the most charitable Hollywood stars, donating millions of dollars and supporting various good causes.

He’s also a family man. Cage turned down roles in The Matrix and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings (per People.com) to help raise his son Weston in the late 1990s/early 2000s – a real-life event that appears to have somewhat influenced The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’s plot.

By his own admission, Cage is well aware of his messianic status for Cage-ophiles, too. He’s in on the Nick Cage memes and self-deprecating jokes (as a recent New York Times interview reveals). And, after a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) involving the actor and his fanbase went viral over how wholesome it was, it’s clear that the affection and respect between Cage and his followers flows both ways.

As an outsider, I can definitely see the appeal of being a Nick Cage fan, as well as the mythos surrounding him. He’s an actor who gives his all in every movie he’s cast in, regardless of whether it’s a blockbuster, an indie film, or a B movie to help pay off his debts. He’s an eloquent individual with an interesting take on a topic or a wild story to tell. He's an altruistic person with a good heart and the right morals. And, based on the relationship he has with his fans, he doesn’t take that support for granted.

It’s not often that a movie can completely change my opinion of someone, but The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent has gone a long way to turn me into a devoted Nick Cage follower. If nothing else, I’ll certainly be checking out a few more of his films before I reach a concrete decision. The question is, which one should I watch first?

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is out now in theaters worldwide.

• Want to know what movies are coming out this year? Allow us to help

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Calling all bookworms: Amazon is giving away 10 Kindle ebooks for World Book Day

UNESCO's World Book Day in 2022 falls on April 23 (except in the UK, where we like to be different, as it falls in early March), and if you own the Amazon Kindle or any of the other Kindle models, or simply subscribe to Prime, you're in for a treat.

That's because Amazon is offering 10 free ebooks to celebrate the occasion, which anyone with a Kindle – or a Prime account – can download for free. So if you own one of the best Kindles, you've getting even more bang for your buck. 

The offering lasts until April 27, and covers books from a range of authors and genres – we'll list them all below. The aim is to promote literature from all over the world.

To get the books, simply head to Amazon's Read The World page to add them to your Amazon account, then download them to your ereader. You don't need a Kindle to make the most of this deal, as you can read them in a web browser or on the Kindle smartphone app, but we'd always recommend buying a Kindle if you want to read on the go.

What are the free books?

• The Puma Years by Laura Coleman (Travel Memoir, Bolivia)

"In this rapturous memoir, writer and activist Laura Coleman shares the story of her liberating journey in the Amazon jungle, where she fell in love with a magnificent cat who changed her life." Check out the full listing here.

• The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai (Literary Fiction, Tunisia)

"From an award-winning Tunisian author comes a stirring allegory about a country in the aftermath of revolution and the power of a single quest." Check out the full listing here.

• North To Paradise by Ousman Umar (Memoir, Ghana)

"The inspiring true story of one man’s treacherous boyhood journey from a rural village in Ghana to the streets of Barcelona—and the path that led him hom" Check out the full listing here.

• Where The Desert Meets The Sea by Werner Sonne (Historical Fiction, Israel)

"An illuminating and heart-stirring historical novel set in post-WWII Palestine, where the boundaries of love and friendship are challenged by the intractable conflicts of war." Check out the full listing here.

• An Eye For An Eye by Carol Wyer (Thriller, England)

"A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control." Check out the full listing here.

• The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor (Book Club Fiction, India)

"A heartwarming and transporting romantic comedy about finding happy ever after on your own terms." Check out the full listing here.

• The Easy Life In Kamusari by Shion Miura (Contemporary Fiction, Japan)

"From Shion Miura, the award-winning author of The Great Passage, comes a rapturous novel where the contemporary and the traditional meet amid the splendor of Japan’s mountain way of life." Check out the full listing here

• Mother Dear by Nova Lee Maier (Psychological Thriller, Netherlands)

"There’s only one thing worse than doing the unthinkable: what you’re willing to do to hide it." Check out the full listing here.

• To The Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi (Fantasy, China)

The listing for To The Sky Kingdoms doesn't provide a short description, but you can check out the full listing here.

• The Caiman by María Eugenia Manrique, Ramón París (Children's Book, Venezuela)

"The unforgettable story of a man and his alligator." Check out the full listing here

(Image credit: Future)

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A different crop of free books

If you own an Amazon Kindle, you're likely no stranger to free books - not only are there various subscription services like Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited, but the Kindle Store has loads of free novels on it, and it's also easy to send a PDF to your Kindle for all the free classics online.

But Amazon's Read The World offering for World Book Day is a little different, as the texts cover a broader range of genres than we normally see from the heavily-genre-fiction-and-romance fare that's normally offered for nothing.

More importantly, this literature spans the whole world, so you can read from authors from Ghana, China or India, as well as other places. Again, we don't normally see this kind of diversity too much from the Kindle store.

So World Book Day will be great news for Kindle owners or Prime subscribers who like to experience the cultures of other countries... which is part of the point of it, really.

• Here's a guide on how to read Amazon's Kindle Vella

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