Pocketbook Touch HD 3 Review

Immersing oneself in the world of literature has never been easier thanks to the advent of e-readers. With the proliferation of these devices in the market, choosing the right one for your needs may appear daunting. A notable contender in the e-reader space is the Pocketbook Touch HD 3, offering a robust set of features at a very reasonable price point.

Sporting a 6″ screen, the Touch HD 3 falls into the standard size category of e-readers. This makes it compact enough for easy portability, while still offering ample display real estate for a comfortable reading experience. But don’t let the conventional screen size fool you – there’s nothing average about its display quality. Boasting a high-resolution 300ppi E Ink Carta screen, it presents sharp, clear text and graphics that do justice to every story and image. This resolution, combined with 16 levels of greyscale, ensures an enjoyable reading experience akin to physical paper.

Complementing the high-quality display, the Touch HD 3 comes with frontlight and warmlight features. The frontlight allows for excellent readability in low-light conditions, while the warmlight function can be adjusted to create a warm hue for a more natural and eye-friendly reading atmosphere, especially in the dark. It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no auto-brightness feature. This means you’ll have to manually adjust the brightness levels according to your environment, which could be a slight inconvenience for some users.

In terms of physical design, the device has dimensions of 161.3mm by 108mm, with a slim 8mm thickness. At 155g, it is lightweight and ideal for long reading sessions without discomfort. Moreover, it’s available in three aesthetically pleasing colours – white (limited edition), grey, and copper – adding an element of personalisation to your device.

The Touch HD 3 operates on PocketbookOS, which provides a smooth and intuitive user interface. Whether you’re a tech-savvy user or a beginner, you’ll find it easy to navigate the device. Furthermore, it supports a comprehensive array of file formats: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, FB2, DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, CHM, along with image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP. This makes the Touch HD 3 a highly versatile e-reader, capable of handling virtually any content you wish to view. In addition, MP3 compatibility means it can double as an audiobook or music player. Although it lacks built-in speakers, the inclusion of Bluetooth allows for easy connection to wireless headphones or speakers.

Storage is plentiful with 16GB of internal capacity, enabling you to carry a vast library of books, comics, and even audio content. It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no micro-SD slot for further expansion. But given the substantial onboard storage, this is unlikely to be an issue for most users.

The Touch HD 3 is fitted with a touchscreen and physical page-turn buttons. The combination of these input methods ensures a smooth and flexible reading experience, catering to individual user preferences. Moreover, the auto-rotation feature means that you can switch between portrait and landscape modes, depending on your preference or the content’s formatting.

Another standout feature is its text-to-speech capability. This function converts text into spoken word, making it a great asset for users with visual impairments or those who simply wish to rest their eyes while still enjoying their favourite book.

The device also boasts a waterproof feature, making it a reliable companion for beach

reads or relaxing bathtub sessions without fear of water damage. However, it lacks a few features like auto-brightness, a flush screen, or access to the Google Play Store. Still, these omissions don’t considerably detract from the overall user experience and can be overlooked considering its price point.

Priced at $158, the Touch HD 3 offers a lot of bang for your buck. It effectively amalgamates a quality display, comprehensive file format support, and user-friendly features into a compact, lightweight device. The addition of waterproofing and text-to-speech adds to its charm, providing more than what one would expect at this price range.

In conclusion, the Pocketbook Touch HD 3 is a thoughtfully designed e-reader that offers a satisfying reading experience. While it may not be the flashiest device on the market, its features, versatility, and price point make it a worthy contender for anyone looking to purchase an e-reader. Whether you’re an occasional reader or a bibliophile, the Touch HD 3 caters to a broad spectrum of needs, affirming its position as a versatile e-reader that provides real value for money.

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

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