Pocketbook Inkpad Lite Review

In a world dominated by compact e-readers, the Pocketbook Inkpad Lite sets itself apart with its spacious 9.7″ screen, demonstrating Pocketbook’s commitment to diversifying the e-reading market and meet varying user needs. This review will delve into the details of this unique e-reader, examining its design, display, performance, and features.

Design and Build

The Inkpad Lite continues Pocketbook’s tradition of sleek, minimalistic design with its grey exterior. With dimensions of 236.2mm x 173mm x 7.9mm, the device is distinctly larger than most e-readers, offering users a more spacious reading platform reminiscent of traditional print materials such as magazines or textbooks. The increased size results in a slightly heavier device at 369g, but the weight is well-distributed, ensuring it remains comfortable to hold.

The design lacks waterproofing, a common feature in today’s e-readers. While not essential for all users, those who prefer reading near water bodies or in the bath might find this limitation worth noting.

Screen and Display

The 9.7″ screen size sets the Inkpad Lite apart from the crowd, providing a significant increase in reading area compared to the standard 6-7″ e-readers. This larger screen size is perfect for reading larger format content like newspapers, textbooks, and graphic novels, providing a better overview and reducing the need for excessive scrolling or zooming.

Despite the impressive screen size, the Inkpad Lite’s display resolution is relatively low at 150ppi. While this resolution is sufficient for general reading, it might result in less crisp and clear images, particularly for graphic content or small fonts.

One of the highlights of this model is the inclusion of frontlight and warm light features, a significant upgrade from earlier Pocketbook models. These features enable reading under various lighting conditions and can also reduce eye strain during long reading sessions. However, the absence of an auto-brightness feature means that light adjustments need to be made manually, which might be inconvenient for some users.

Performance and Usability

Running on the user-friendly PocketbookOS, the Inkpad Lite offers a streamlined interface designed specifically for e-reading. The device features 8GB of storage, which should be sufficient for most users. For those with extensive e-book collections or who need extra storage, the inclusion of a Micro-SD slot is a welcome feature.

This e-reader supports a wide range of file formats, making it highly versatile and user-friendly. Whether you prefer EPUB, PDF, AZW, or any other popular e-book format, the Inkpad Lite can handle it. The device also features Text-to-Speech, enabling the e-reader to read the text out loud, a feature that can enhance accessibility for visually impaired users or those who enjoy audiobooks.

The Inkpad Lite comes with a touchscreen interface and physical page-turn buttons, catering to varying user preferences. Auto-rotation is also available, allowing users to switch between portrait and landscape modes based on their reading preference.

Connectivity and Battery

Unlike some of its advanced counterparts, the Inkpad Lite lacks Bluetooth connectivity and built-in speakers. While these features are not essential for pure e-reading, their absence might be a drawback for those who enjoy using their e-reader for audiobooks or the Text-to-Speech function. Additionally, the Inkpad Lite does not support wireless charging.

Conclusion

The Pocketbook Inkpad Lite is a unique addition to the e-reader market, specifically catering to users who prefer a larger screen size. Its 9.7″ screen, combined with the warm light feature, extensive file format support, and user-friendly interface, make it a viable option for various e-reading needs.

However, the device also has its limitations, including a lower display resolution and the absence of features like auto-brightness, waterproofing, and Bluetooth connectivity. For users who prioritize these features, the Inkpad Lite might not be the best fit.

Overall, priced at £255, the Inkpad Lite delivers solid performance for its price range. It meets the basic needs of e-reading while also offering unique features. Whether it’s the right choice depends on your personal preferences, reading habits, and feature priorities.

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

Full Specs