Illuminated eBook Readers in 2012: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Best Model

Note: This article is from 2012 when illuminated eBook readers were still relatively new and the technology wasn’t as advanced as it is today. Nowadays, you can confidently choose a model with lighting, but it’s still worth taking a look at our device tests because, even though the contrast values are generally good now, there are still some differences in display quality.

Original Report: After a long wait, the illuminated trio is finally complete: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Bookeen HD Frontlight from Thalia, and Kobo Glo. In recent weeks, we have examined each device in detail and compared them to each other. At first glance, all three devices offer the same core functionality: a high-resolution 1024×758 pixel display, integrated lighting, and WiFi to access the built-in eBook store. However, closer inspection reveals some significant differences. In our individual test reports, we delve deeply into the features of each device, but here are the key attributes in brief:

Kobo Glo:

• Most uniform, whitest illumination
• Slightly weaker contrast compared to the other two
• Most comprehensive text adjustment options
• Excellent build quality
• Software instability with current firmware 2.1.5
• Read the Kobo Glo Test

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite:

• Less even lighting, but best contrast
• Tied to Amazon
• Good text adjustment, but lacks hyphenation
• Excellent build quality
• Mature and stable software
• Most extensive functionality, including the best dictionary
• Read the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Test

Bookeen HD Frontlight (Thalia):

• Even lighting
• Good contrast (falls between the other two)
• Good text adjustment, but no margin or line spacing settings
• Mixed impression of build quality (see test report)
• Stable software
• Smallest feature set of the three devices

So, the question naturally arises whether you should opt for an illuminated eBook reader despite the shortcomings each device possesses. For me, the answer is clear: Yes!

The built-in lighting is a great convenience, making daily reading much more enjoyable. Even with sufficient ambient light, you can use the integrated lighting to improve readability. However, it’s always essential to adjust the lighting level to the surrounding light conditions. Determining which device has the best lighting is tough, even with extensive tests. Each person perceives the reader’s lighting differently, and the variation in the LED used can be so great that even within the same model series, there are often significant differences.

An example is our color temperature comparison, where I showed how different the illuminated screens of the three devices are. In the comparison comments, several people reported that their devices had very different coloring than the ones we pictured. After several replacement devices from Bookeen and Amazon, I can indeed confirm this. Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind that screen lighting quality variations seem to be quite significant among all three manufacturers when purchasing an illuminated model.

Potential manufacturing defects in the light carrier film also need mentioning. There are frequent reports of individual light points that are much brighter than the rest of the film. These light points are often as tiny as a pixel but can disrupt the reading flow due to the glitter effect they cause. They occur through dust inclusions, damage, or manufacturing defects and appear to affect all manufacturers. Therefore, it’s essential to check if the film has such light points after purchase. The easiest way to do this is by tilting the reader steeply with the lighting on and viewing the display. But don’t panic: At such a viewing angle, almost every device shows individual brighter points, which are usually not visible during regular reading. It becomes critical only when these points are noticeably brighter and visible at lower viewing angles, like those often used for normal reading.

As for the unique software characteristics previously mentioned, it’s worth noting that they exist in unilluminated models too. Each device has its flaws; none are perfect. The bigger issue may lie in the availability of the three devices. The Kindle Paperwhite has been sold out for weeks, the Kobo Glo is only occasionally available, and the Bookeen HD Frontlight is not stocked in some local Thalia stores. The built-in lighting offers a crucial advantage during pure reading operations on all three devices, which cannot be emphasized enough. From my perspective, purchasing is worthwhile, no matter which of the three models you choose. Generally, I recommend unpacking the devices in-store for inspection or ordering them online, allowing you to return them within the 14-day return period according to distance selling laws if necessary.

As much as I value my old Sony PRS-650, it must now, after years of use, make way for an illuminated reader…