Pocketbook Basic Lux 3 Review

E-Readers have revolutionized reading by blending technology with the traditional act of flipping through a book. Among the various contenders in this burgeoning market, the Pocketbook brand stands out with a reputation for delivering user-friendly and reliable devices. Today, we will delve into an exhaustive review of their Pocketbook Basic Lux 3 e-reader.

Design and Build

Starting with the design, the Pocketbook Basic Lux 3 maintains a sleek and lightweight form. Weighing just 155g and with dimensions of 161.3mm in height, 108mm in width, and a slim profile of 8mm, it provides an excellent grip and portability. It’s ideal for those long reading sessions, as you won’t experience hand fatigue even after hours of holding it.

The Basic Lux 3 is available in two classic colours: black and white. These options cater to different aesthetic preferences while keeping the design simple and elegant.

Display

Moving on to the display, the Basic Lux 3 features a 6″ screen with a resolution of 212ppi. While this resolution isn’t the highest on the market, it still provides a clear and comfortable reading experience. You can expect a decent level of text clarity and minimal pixelation, which is essential for an enjoyable e-reading experience.

The device comes equipped with a frontlight, allowing you to read comfortably in low-light environments. It also features a warm light function, which is quite beneficial for your eyes, especially during night reading sessions. However, the lack of an auto-brightness feature may require manual adjustments according to your environment’s lighting conditions.

Interestingly, the Basic Lux 3 does not offer a touchscreen, which might be a deal-breaker for some users accustomed to touch navigation. Instead, it offers physical page-turn buttons, giving you a more traditional reading experience. The absence of a flush screen might also affect the overall feel of the device.

Performance and Features

The Basic Lux 3 runs on the brand’s proprietary operating system, PocketbookOS. While it might not be as feature-packed as Android-based e-readers, it’s a solid platform that focuses on delivering a robust reading experience. The device comes with an 8GB storage capacity, which should be sufficient to hold thousands of books, ensuring you have plenty of reading material on hand.

One key advantage of the Basic Lux 3 is its wide range of file format compatibility. In addition to the common EPUB and PDF formats, it also supports AZW, MOBI, DJVU, and various other formats. This versatility ensures that you can access a wide variety of content sources without worrying about file compatibility.

The Basic Lux 3 also features text-to-speech functionality, effectively transforming any e-book into an audiobook. This feature is a significant plus for those who enjoy auditory learning or for when you want to give your eyes a break. The lack of Bluetooth connectivity, however, might limit its convenience unless you’re using wired headphones.

There’s no Play Store on the device, which means you’ll be relying on Pocketbook’s own app library. The absence of ads ensures a distraction-free reading experience, which is a significant selling point for this e-reader.

Storage and Battery

The Basic Lux 3 includes a Micro-SD slot, allowing you to expand your storage significantly. This can be quite beneficial if you plan on storing a vast library or larger files like graphic novels or comics.

Details about the battery life are not provided, but it’s safe to assume that like most e-readers, the Basic Lux 3 should offer long battery life, usually lasting for weeks on a single charge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Pocketbook Basic Lux 3 is a dependable, no-frills e-reader that primarily focuses on delivering a comfortable reading experience. Its frontlight and warm light features, text-to-speech capability, wide file format support, and the absence of ads are strong selling points for avid readers. The addition of a Micro-SD slot also adds a layer of convenience for those who need more storage.

However, it lacks some features that might be important to certain users, such as a touchscreen interface, Bluetooth connectivity, auto-brightness, and a waterproof design. If these features are crucial for you, you may want to consider other options in the market.

In essence, the Pocketbook Basic Lux 3 is a suitable choice for those who desire a simple, user-friendly e-reader and prioritize the core reading experience over supplementary features. It may not be a high-end device, but for the price, it is certainly a competent one that offers value for your money.

Check out our fully searchable e-reader comparison table here.

Full Specs