Navigating the e-reader market can be a complex task with various brands offering different features and capabilities. The Pocketbook Touch Lux 5 is a model that deserves attention in this crowded marketplace due to its promising features and affordability. This comprehensive review aims to explore the design, display, performance, and features of this e-reader, providing potential buyers with a clear understanding of what this product offers.
Design and Build
The Touch Lux 5 boasts a sleek design, available in either black or red, enabling users to choose the option that best suits their aesthetic preferences. It measures 161.3mm in height, 108mm in width, and 8mm in thickness, fitting comfortably in a user’s hands. With a weight of 155g, the Touch Lux 5 is light and portable, perfect for on-the-go reading.
However, the device lacks a waterproof feature, a common inclusion in many of today’s e-readers. This might be a letdown for readers who enjoy reading by the pool, in the bath, or in other environments where water exposure could be a concern.
Screen and Display
The Pocketbook Touch Lux 5 has a 6″ screen, a standard size for e-readers that strikes a balance between portability and readability. However, its screen resolution is slightly lower than some of its competitors at 212ppi. While the difference might not be noticeable during casual reading, it could become apparent when viewing images or reading texts with small fonts.
The device does not have a flush screen. This design choice doesn’t affect functionality, but it does have an impact on aesthetics and can also accumulate dust and debris over time. On the positive side, the Touch Lux 5 is equipped with both frontlight and warm light features, offering users flexibility in adjusting reading conditions to their comfort. Unfortunately, it lacks an auto-brightness feature, which means manual adjustment is required based on lighting conditions.
Performance and Usability
Running on the intuitive PocketbookOS, the Touch Lux 5 delivers a smooth, user-friendly experience tailored to e-reading. With 8GB of storage capacity, it offers ample space for a substantial e-book library. For users needing more storage, the device also includes a Micro-SD slot, an increasingly rare but appreciated feature.
The Touch Lux 5 supports a plethora of file formats, a significant advantage for users who source their e-books from various places. Whether your collection includes EPUB, PDF, AZW3, or even graphic formats like CBR and CBZ, the Touch Lux 5 can handle it.
The device incorporates a Text-to-Speech feature, which is a nice addition for users who enjoy having books read to them. However, the absence of built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity means that to use this feature, a wired headset would be required.
As for navigation, the Touch Lux 5 incorporates both a touchscreen interface and physical page-turn buttons, providing options for different user preferences. However, it lacks auto-rotation, meaning users can’t switch between portrait and landscape orientations.
Connectivity and Battery
The Touch Lux 5 does not offer wireless charging or mobile connectivity, meaning that users will need to manually connect the device to a computer to transfer files. The lack of a Play Store further limits its functionality in terms of accessing apps or content.
Conclusion
The Pocketbook Touch Lux 5, priced at £143, is a budget-friendly e-reader that covers the basics while also offering several notable features. Its support for an array of file formats, inclusion of Text-to-Speech, and the addition of a Micro-SD slot make it stand out from similarly priced competitors.
However, potential buyers should consider the features it lacks, such as Bluetooth, waterproofing, and auto-brightness, before making a purchase decision. The device’s display resolution might also be a concern for users who prioritize high-definition text and image clarity.
In conclusion, the Pocketbook Touch Lux 5 is a competent, value-for-money e-reader suitable for users who want a basic, functional device without breaking the bank. Its strengths lie in its lightweight design, user-friendly OS, and broad file format support. Despite a few missing features, it delivers a satisfactory performance, particularly considering its affordable price point. It is a solid choice for budget-conscious readers, first-time e-reader users, or those who need a secondary, more portable device.
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Full Specs
| Product The name of the product/model | Pocketbook Touch Lux 5 |
|---|---|
| Version The version of the product | Standard |
| Buy Click on the button to buy | |
| Image A picture of the product |  |
| Price The price of the product (in USD) | $129 |
| Brand The brand/manufacturer of the product | Pocketbook |
| Screen size The size of the screen (measured diagonally) | 6" |
| PPI The number of pixels per inch (PPI) NOTE: on colour devices, this is the monochrome PPI | 212ppi |
| Storage capacity The storage space of the e-reader | 8Gb |
| Operating System Which O/S the device runs by default | PocketbookOS |
| Writing Whether the e-reader has writing/note-taking capabilities | ⨯ |
| Frontlight Whether the product has a frontlight | ✓ |
| Warmlight Whether there is temperature control for the frontlight | ✓ |
| Auto brightness Whether the brightness of the e-reader changes automatically based on the exterior ambient light | ⨯ |
| Bluetooth Whether the e-reader support audio via Bluetooth headphones/speaker | ⨯ |
| Speakers Whether the e-reader support audio via an onboard speaker | ⨯ |
| Touchscreen Whether the e-reader has a capacitive touchscreen | ✓ |
| Waterproof Whether the e-reader is waterproof to IPX8 rating | ⨯ |
| Play store Whether you can install apps from the Google Play Store (e.g. Kindle, Koreader etc.) | ⨯ |
| Flush screen Whether the screen is flush with the casing of the e-reader | ⨯ |
| Page-turn buttons Whether the e-reader has physical buttons for turning pages | ✓ |
| Auto-rotation Whether the e-reader automatically changes the screen orientation | ⨯ |
| Text-to-speech Whether the e-reader can convert text to speech | ✓ |
| Micro-SD slot Whether the e-reader has a slot for a MicroSD card | ✓ |
| Colour screen Whether the e-reader has a colour screen | ⨯ |
| Ads Whether the e-reader shows ads on the sleep screen | ⨯ |
| Wireless charging Whether the e-reader supports wireless charging | ⨯ |
| Mobile connectivity Whether the e-reader can connect to the cloud over the cellular network | ⨯ |
| Weight The weight of the product | 155g |
| Thickness The thickness of the e-reader | 8mm |
| Height The height of the e-reader | 161.3mm |
| Width The width of the e-reader | 108mm |
| File formats The file formats that are supported | EPUB, PDF, AZW, AZW3, MOBI, DJVU, CBR, CBZ, CBT, FB2, DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT, CHM, JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF |
| Colours Which colours this e-reader is available in | Black, Red |
| Buy Click on the button to buy |