PocketBook InkPad vs inkBOOK Obsidian

2024. Pocketbook is now a co-owner of Bigme



In the vast and improbably complex cosmos of e-reader ventures, Pocketbook, over the course of a year that seemed both interminably long and suspiciously short, has managed to bumble—no, strategically navigate—its way into becoming a substantial shareholder and co-owner of Bigme, the Chinese wizard behind those E INK-drenched e-readers and notebooks. This, dear reader, is no small feat; it's Pocketbook’s first grand leap into the somewhat murky waters of acquisition since they began flinging e-readers into the universe back in 2012. But wait, there's more! This isn’t merely a matter of owning shiny new shares; no, the two entities are now skipping merrily hand-in-hand through the fields of mutual product development and R&D cross-pollination. Evidence of their newfound union? The PocketBook InkPad EO, crafted with great fanfare for the US and European markets, a gadget so polished it practically winks at you. And as the improbable partnership unfolds, the galaxy of possibilities stretches out before them—probably shimmering with the glow of yet more E INK screens.


2023. Pocketbook unveiled its first e-note - Pocketbook InkPad X Pro



Pocketbook has introduced its first e-note, the Pocketbook InkPad X Pro, specifically crafted for digital note-taking. This innovative product is tailored for note-taking, freehand drawing and PDF file editing due to its incorporation of a WACOM screen. The package includes a novel jet-black stylus with an eraser, boasting an impressive 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. Nevertheless, the device is also compatible with third-party styluses. The highlight of the device is its 10.3-inch E INK Mobius display, which contributes to its lightweight design. Boasting a resolution of 1404×1872 pixels at 227 PPI, the screen is also capacitive, enabling users to employ finger gestures like pinch-to-zoom, tapping and page-turning swipes. Convenient manual page-turn buttons, a home button and settings button are situated at the device's bottom. Notably, this marks the company's first foray into the Android product realm, as all their previous offerings have been based on Linux. Anticipated to be released in late September, the InkPad X Pro will be priced at $420.00.


2023. Dark Mode is now available on new Pocketbook e-readers



In a turn of events that could only be described as "entirely sensible, though slightly mysterious," the latest 6.8 firmware update has gently arrived to grace the Pocketbook Era, Pocketbook InkPad 4, and Pocketbook InkPad Color 2 with Dark Mode—a feature that, like any good technology, has been urgently desired yet wholly unanticipated by anyone not prone to reading device firmware updates for sport. Alongside Dark Mode, which cunningly flips your display into white-on-black to save you from squinting like a mole at midnight, the update introduces a host of suspiciously useful features, including an option-laden control panel, adventurous new filter choices in the Notes app, a rather opinionated text suggestion feature, and much more that can’t be fully described in a single paragraph without bending space-time. But fear not, for these delights will soon make their way to other Pocketbook models, spreading their magic across the Pocketbook universe. And if you’re reading in the murky shadows of night, you can even invert your book’s illustrations to align with Dark Mode’s gently sinister aesthetic, reducing contrast with the ambient darkness and making it look as though the universe cares deeply about your ocular well-being.


2023. Pocketbook Inkpad 4 gets 7.8-inch screen


Pocketbook announced the release of a new ereader called the Pocketbook Inkpad 4. It has a 7.8-inch E Ink Carta 1200 screen and a frontlight with temperature control. It has 32GB of storage space, built-in speakers for audiobooks and text-to-speech and it’s waterproof with an IPX8 rating. Other specs for the PocketBook InkPad 4 include a USB-C port, a rotation sensor, a dual-core processor, it has WiFi and Bluetooth and it has a 2000mAh battery. The overall design of the PocketBook InkPad 4 looks quite nice, though, with similar characteristics to the design of the PocketBook Era, which is actually really nice all except for the horribly washed-out screen. The newer E Ink Carta 1200 screens have better contrast, but it doesn’t matter when they add a cloudy flush front layer over the top of it.


2023. Pocketbook 6.7 firmware update adds audio pronunciation



Pocketbook has launched a new firmware update for the Inkpad 3, Inkpad Color and Touch HD 3. What are the significant new features? Users can now initiate audio pronunciation in the dictionary and translations can be saved to the device and exported. Additionally, there is enhanced functionality for improved page borders in CBR, CBZ and PDF files. Other updates include a larger pressure area for easier navigation of footnotes (links) in books, more precise page margins in scrollable PDF files and refined note list sorting algorithms.


2021. New PocketBook InkPad Lite 970 has cheap 9.7-inch E Ink Screen



PocketBook has introduced a new e-reader featuring a 9.7-inch E Ink Carta display, named the PocketBook InkPad Lite. It’s essentially a budget-friendly e-reader with a large screen, slated for release in autumn 2021. The price is rumored to be $299, making it the most affordable large-screen e-reader on the market by about $50. The PocketBook InkPad Lite is somewhat unusual in 2021 because PocketBook chose to use a low-cost display with the same 1200 x 825 resolution that 9.7-inch E Ink screens had over a decade ago. This results in a resolution of only 150 ppi. Even the Likebook P10 offers a better screen with 200 ppi and is just about $50 more expensive, featuring an upgraded quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and a more versatile Android OS.


2020. Pocketbook Inkpad 3 gets a brand new UI



Pocketbook has released a major update for its popular model InkPad 3. The update features an improved UI design across all applications. Notifications, the control panel and the status bar have also been redesigned. Firmware 6.1 rethinks and streamlines the authorization system: users can now access PocketBook Cloud, PocketBook Store, Send-to-PocketBook and ReadRate services with a single account. Additionally, users can log into their account via smartphone using the PocketBook app by scanning a QR code. New book formats CBR and CBZ have been introduced to support comic reading. The updated Notes application enables users to view, edit, add comments to notes and transfer notes to other devices. Furthermore, all your records are now consolidated in one place, making them easier to locate.


2018. Pocketbook e-Readers get gesture controls



Pocketbook has released a new firmware update for the Aqua 2, InkPad 3 and Touch HD e-readers that introduces gesture controls for adjusting the brightness of the front-lit display and color temperature. While reading an eBook, you can swipe your finger up or down on the left side of the screen to increase or decrease the light intensity. This feature is available whether the e-reader is in portrait or landscape mode. Other enhancements include smoother page scaling with gestures in PDF or DjVu format books, more accurate word selection for note-taking and the option to toggle the position sensor on and off via the settings menu.


2016. Pocketbook Announces the InkPad 2



Pocketbook InkPad 2 is a new e-reader that was just unveiled today. This device boasts an 8-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1,200 x 1,600 pixels. It includes a front-lit screen and physical page-turn buttons. The InkPad 2 is equipped with a 1 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM. It has 4 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB with a Micro SD card. The presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack is likely to attract users, as it allows for listening to audiobooks and music. This e-reader will be available soon for 199 Euros.


2015. The new e-ink reader inkBOOK Obsidian is now available



Arta Tech (formerly the European distributor of Onyx Boox) has released the new inkBOOK Obsidian e-reader. The Obsidian features a flush capacitive screen with the bezel and a six-inch display. The resolution on this model is relatively modest, with 1024 x 758 pixels and 212 PPI, compared to the Kindle Voyage, Nook Glowlight, or the Ultimate e-reader, which offer 1430 x 1080 pixels and 300 PPI. One of the main attractions of this device is that it operates on Android 4.2.2, allowing you to install your own apps. You can download them from the Midiapolis App Store created by Aras, which only offers around 10 apps and relies on the Aptoide App Store for content. This e-reader is currently available for €145.


2014. Pocketbook InkPad with Text-to-Speech announced



Ukrainian company Pocketbook has been producing e-readers consistently since 2007 and the company has introduced a new e-reader—the InkPad—that aims to offer more screen real estate with its large eight-inch display. The screen utilizes E Ink Pearl technology and boasts the highest resolution available for such devices—1600×1200 pixels. This high resolution allows you to adjust the font size from very small to very large without losing clarity. A robust 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM ensure smooth page transitions and reliable performance across any application. With 4 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB, you can build an extensive library that’s always within reach. Additionally, it features a 3.5mm headphone jack for listening to audiobooks or music. Pocketbook has also incorporated Text to Speech functionality in this model, enabling books to be read aloud.