PocketBook Era Lite

Like many before me, the search began with figuring out which e-reader best suited my needs and usage. Kindle and Kobo brands dominate if you do a bit of searching, but you soon come across Pocketbook as well.

My wife has had her Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition for a while now and is extremely satisfied with the ease of use and the screen. What she is less of a fan of is being tied to Amazon. At the time, she had already bought some books there, which made the choice easier, but in hindsight, with the changes made by Amazon itself and the stories about the company and the owner, she now finds it very annoying that she is stuck with that ecosystem. So, the Kindle was out of the running.

Kobo and Pocketbook remained, and after holding a Clara BW in my hands, I became a huge fan of the Kobo, but I wanted a larger screen, which meant it immediately became a color edition. Since I really only want to read books, you make a significant compromise on readability with all the color filters for the screen. Promptly, the Pocketbook Era Lite was released. Large screen, the same screen as the black-and-white counterparts from Kobo and Kindle, and with enormous ease of use for people who already own e-books. Unfortunately, I couldn't test a unit anywhere, and with only a few reviews online, it was a gamble, but I am very satisfied. The general experience people have with Pocketbooks is that the e-readers are slow. As someone who prefers the fastest of the fastest when it comes to PCs/laptops, this was a bit nerve-wracking. However, when reading, turning pages is just as fast as my wife's Kindle. You need some patience navigating the menus and settings, but that is not what I spend most of my time on.

Putting books on the device is peanuts via Dropbox or a cable to the computer, and what I like best is that I can use the device without an account. I don't need sync between devices, and the rest works fine without a Pocketbook account if you put your e-books on the device yourself. The screen is great, and the customizability of all functions is also nice. If you have more wishes, KOreader is installed in no time, but for me, the device is more than adequate as standard with the functions I need.

Very happy with it!

Just one minor downside to mention: with Kobos and Kindles, you have many more options with a cover/case and the like, and I am somewhat less impressed with the quality of the Pocketbook one.

I wanted a backup for my old (Pocketbook) e-reader. Unfortunately, the ideal model is not available.

I find it a pity that it has to look more and more like a tablet with an e-ink screen. The earlier Pocketbooks were somewhat simpler, and therefore actually more customizable to one's own preferences.

It is my first e-reader, so I have no point of comparison, but I find it very pleasant to read on. Putting books on it is easy. It is lightweight, so holding it above your head while reading in bed works fine. However, it is quite slow and the navigation is not very intuitive.