PocketBook Aqua 2

Can the second generation of the waterproof PocketBook outshine the competition?

At a Glance

With the launch of the Aqua 2, PocketBook is reintroducing its waterproof eBook reader originally released in 2014. At least in terms of hardware, this is a very gentle update, with a clear focus on design and ergonomics. At the same time, the PocketBook Aqua 2 now features E-Ink Carta display technology, as well as built-in lighting—a feature that’s become almost indispensable and was missing from its predecessor. It’s a bit disappointing, however, that PocketBook—presumably for cost reasons—still uses the same 1024×758 pixel resolution.

The standout feature remains its waterproof design. Rather than using the well-known HZO nano-coating on its electronics, this model achieves waterproofing by sealing the device’s casing. This means that (with the USB cover closed) no water can seep into the device. The advantage is obvious: the HZO coating primarily protects against fresh water and may reach its limits when it comes to juice, soda, or saltwater. Thanks to its IP57 certification, the PocketBook Aqua 2 should also handle a trip to the beach better than before.

Otherwise, you can look forward to the familiar, feature-rich PocketBook software, which offers a wide range of customization and sorting options. While the competition has caught up in some areas, the Aqua still leads the way, especially when it comes to library management and PDF display.

All in all, the PocketBook Aqua 2 stands out as an interesting alternative to the typical 6-inch competitors. It’s definitely worth checking out if you like to use your eReader near water or at the beach.

PocketBook Aqua 2: Full Review

With the Aqua, PocketBook launched the first water-protected eBook reader from a mainstream manufacturer back in 2014. Since then, the eReader landscape has changed significantly, and that once-unique feature (in a similar form) is now available on several other devices.

Because the first Aqua didn’t have a built-in light unlike its competitors, PocketBook is now following up with the Aqua 2. It’s a refreshed version that adds an integrated reading light to the feature set. Whether that’s enough for a recommendation, you’ll find out in the review below.

Build quality and features

Like many other models, the Aqua 2 is immediately recognizable as a PocketBook eReader. The device features the typical layout with four buttons below the screen and a relatively slim bezel around the display. The rounded corners on the bottom edge make the eBook reader easier to hold. The soft-touch finish feels good and is relatively resistant to fingerprints.

Pretty, bold blue

The only color currently offered, azure blue, is immediately appealing and, with its slight shimmer, lends the Aqua 2 a fitting water-like sheen. In person the blue is quite vivid, whereas the official product photos skew more toward turquoise/green.

The physical buttons below the screen aren’t separated into distinct keys. Instead, they sit beneath a single plastic layer. Thanks to the raised, easy-to-feel symbols, you can operate the buttons without looking. The click points of the two page-turn keys are a bit deeper than those of the outer buttons (Home and Menu/Standby), but they’re easy to find and provide good feedback.

There’s no dedicated power button—usually found on the bottom of PocketBook devices.  That’s a plus on one hand, since the predecessor’s button was awful to use; on the other hand it’s a minor downside because the menu button now does double duty. You (de)activate the eReader by pressing and holding the rightmost button under the display for two seconds. To make this clear to every buyer, there’s a white instruction sticker there.

On the bottom of the PocketBook Aqua 2 you’ll find the Micro-USB port hidden behind a flap. There’s still no memory card slot. Internal storage has grown to 8 GB, of which 6.86 GB is available. That should be more than enough for most users. Wi-Fi is also on board again, so you can buy eBooks and browse the web over WLan.

Water and dust protection

True to its name, the built-in water protection is back as well. The PocketBook Aqua 2 is IP57 rated, which means the eReader is not only waterproof but also dust-protected. That’s now a unique selling point on the German market, since other readers use a nano-coating for basic water resistance.

Only port: Micro-USB on the bottom

This means water can enter competing models, whereas the Aqua 2 remains dry and dust-free inside as long as the USB flap is closed. That’s an advantage not just for reading on the beach, but also if soda, salt water, or other liquids come near the device. eBook readers with a nano-coating are only protected against fresh water.

A potential downside is possible damage to the housing’s seal, for example if the eReader is damaged in a fall. Hopefully that’s only a rare exception.

Display and lighting

The PocketBook Aqua has a 6-inch E Ink Carta display with built-in lighting and a capacitive touchscreen. Slightly unusual—likely for cost reasons—the manufacturer uses a 1024×758 resolution. At 212 ppi the rendering is anything but blurry, but of course not as crisp as the now-common 300 ppi standard.

It’s also worth noting how deeply the screen is recessed in the housing. Even though it’s not an infrared touchscreen, the display is set about as deep as if the invisible IR technology were used. That’s presumably due to the water protection, as a black rubber frame surrounds the screen to ensure water tightness.

PocketBook Aqua 2 vs. PocketBook Touch HD 1: The Aqua 2’s background is darker, but the text is darker too. The real contrast difference is visible, but not huge.

Contrast and resolution

Readability—as expected with E Ink Carta—is very good. The PocketBook Aqua 2’s contrast of 7.51:1 is on par with the Touch Lux 3. To the naked eye there are no notable differences compared to the Lux 3. Compared to the Touch HD, the difference in background brightness and text sharpness is clearly visible—but given the Touch HD’s near-flawless showing and higher price, that was to be expected.

Note: The contrast measurement is performed under realistic, standardized conditions, so the results aren’t directly comparable to the maximum values determined in earlier tests.

Contrast ratio X:1, without lighting (higher is better)

• Kobo Aura H2O 8.98
• Kindle Voyage 8.48
• Kindle Paperwhite 2 8.0
• Kobo Glo HD 7.99
• Kindle Oasis 7.97
• Kobo Aura One 7.91
• PocketBook Touch HD 7.90
• Tolino Vision 3 HD 7.88
• Tolino Shine 2 HD 7.75
• Kindle Paperwhite 3 7.61
• Tolino Vision 2 7.48
• PocketBook Aqua 2 7.51
• PocketBook Touch Lux 3 7.45
• Tolino Vision 1 6.96

As mentioned at the outset, the new PocketBook Aqua 2 has built-in lighting. Thanks to a good light guide layer, contrast visibly improves with the light on, but the lower maximum brightness means it still trails the excellent Lux 3 and Touch HD values a bit. Even so, black levels remain low with the light enabled and contrast improves.

Contrast ratio X:1, at full brightness (higher is better)

• Kindle Voyage 10.5
• Kobo Aura One 10.22
• Kobo Aura H2O 10.0
• Kindle Oasis 9.82
• PocketBook Touch Lux 3 9.54
• Tolino Vision 3 HD 9.36
• Kindle Paperwhite 3 9.33
• Kobo Glo HD 9.21
• Tolino Shine 2 HD 9.1
• PocketBook Touch HD 9.07
• Kindle Paperwhite 2 9.0
• PocketBook Aqua 2 8.91
• Tolino Vision 2 7.4
• Tolino Vision 1 6.5

Lighting quality

The screen is illuminated from the bottom by five LEDs in the frame. Unlike the Touch HD and Lux 3, the LED cones are quite visible on the Aqua 2. This produces a shadow at the bottom edge of the screen that extends about half a centimeter upward. It doesn’t detract from readability, as the shadows don’t reach into the text, so there’s no problem while reading. But of course, an illumination without visible light cones would look nicer.

Also noticeable is the comparatively cool color temperature. The light looks bluish and is a bit reminiscent of older models that had a similar tint. Most newer eReaders now use LEDs with a more neutral tone or offer adjustable color temperature.

Slight brightness gradient on the Aqua 2 and clearly visible hot spots at the bottom edge (Note: the photo was edited to make irregularities more visible).

Overall, the lighting quality is still good, though there’s room for improvement regarding the slight brightness gradients. A faint horizontal gradient is visible on closer inspection, but fortunately doesn’t disrupt reading.

Brightness

In terms of maximum brightness, the PocketBook Aqua 2’s 74 cd/m² trails the Touch HD a bit, but it’s bright enough to let you comfortably take advantage of the built-in lighting even in daylight.

At the lowest setting of around 1.2 cd/m², the new Aqua also performs well. That should ensure that even light-sensitive users won’t be dazzled by the eReader in dark environments.

Brightness is adjusted as usual in software via a slider. It can be accessed system-wide with just a few taps. If you wish, you can also turn the light fully on or off with a long press on one of the buttons below the display (if configured accordingly in the device settings).

Maximum screen brightness in cd/m² (higher is better)

• Kindle Oasis 159
• Kindle Voyage 122
• Tolino Vision 3 HD 120
• Kindle Paperwhite 3 115
• Kobo Glo HD 114
• PocketBook Touch Lux 3 111
• Kobo Aura One 105
• Kobo Aura H2O 99
• Tolino Shine 2 HD 89
• PocketBook Touch HD 79
• PocketBook Aqua 2 74
• Tolino Vision 2 53

Minimum screen brightness in cd/m² (lower is better)

• Tolino Vision 2 2.2
• Kobo Aura One 2.1
• Tolino Shine 2 HD 2.0
• Tolino Vision 3 HD 1.7
• PocketBook Touch Lux 3 1.6
• Kobo Glo HD 1.4
• Kobo Aura H2O 1.2
• PocketBook Aqua 2 1.2
• PocketBook Touch HD 0.8
• Kindle Oasis 0.4
• Kindle Voyage 0.2
• Kindle Paperwhite 3 0.2

Touchscreen, ghosting, and interim verdict

The capacitive touchscreen is precise and responsive. Inputs are executed without notable delay, so the Aqua 2 keeps up with Tolino and Kindle competitors.

One drawback is the noticeable ghosting effect, which can make text look washed out in places, especially if you don’t refresh the page regularly. In my view, a full screen refresh after every page turn is advisable. The familiar flicker happens relatively quickly.

Good readability, but not quite as good as the Touch HD.

All told, the display of PocketBook’s latest model is convincing, but lags the pricier Touch HD in a few areas.

Reading and ease of use

The Aqua 2 uses PocketBook’s familiar, modern-looking interface. On first start you choose the language, accept the license agreements, and set time and date. Then you land on the home screen. You don’t need to log in to any online service to use the eReader—there’s still no forced registration with PocketBook, thankfully. However, the notification bar contains various service prompts (Dropbox, ReadRate, PocketBookSync) that remind you about optional sign-ins.

If you want to remain completely anonymous, you can disable the anonymized transmission of error and usage data to PocketBook in the device settings (Settings > Maintenance > Privacy > Diagnostics and usage).

Familiar home screen

Your most recently read eBooks are displayed prominently as covers on the home screen. Below are the most recently added titles. You can swipe through both rows, giving you quick access to your latest books right from the home screen.

Along the bottom edge are three menu items for Library, eBook store, and Settings, as well as an expandable app list with the following:

• Audio player
• Library
• Browser
• Dropbox PocketBook
• Settings
• Gallery
• Klondike
• PocketBook Sync
• RSS News
• Chess
• Scribble
• Send-to-PocketBook
• Sudoku
• Calculator
• Dictionary
• eBook store

Library

The PocketBook library used on the Aqua 2 remains one of the best on the market. The virtual book overview offers numerous filtering, customization, and configuration options.

eBooks can be sorted by last opened, date added, title, and author. You can also filter the view by authors, genres, collections, favorites, folders, formats, series, and PocketBook Cloud (ascending or descending). If you prefer, you can switch from the cover view to a list view.

Library in list view

It’s especially nice that you can organize via a tag system in Calibre (genres) or by the folder structure of the file system. So it doesn’t matter which approach you prefer—the PocketBook Aqua 2 supports both. No other manufacturer offers such varied, flexible display options, making for a welcome change from the same old sameness of the competition.

One final note: scrolling is vertical here, unlike most competitors’ horizontal approach. That means you swipe up and down to browse the library. Alternatively, you can use the page-turn buttons or the search function.

Reading experience

Within a book you can turn pages by tapping, swiping, or using the page buttons. You can open the options menu by pressing the menu button or by tapping the middle of the display.

In the first tab of the font options you can set line spacing and margins in three steps and enable hyphenation. You can adjust the font size with a slider and virtual buttons (between 6 and 30 pt in 1-pt steps). Alternatively, you can use the pinch-to-zoom gesture to change text size.

The second tab covers fonts. You can choose from numerous preinstalled typefaces or sideload your own via USB. Separate controls let you switch style between regular, italic, and bold.

Good font customization options

The third tab lets you show or hide the status bar and page indicator, and choose whether to use the embedded page numbering or let the software determine your current page.

These text setting adjustments are noticeably quicker than when the Touch Lux 3 launched, though you should still expect a brief pause. The same applies to power behavior: double-press the menu button to put the eBook reader into standby. After a few minutes it powers off completely. Restarting takes between 5 and 10 seconds, and responsiveness remains slightly sluggish for a few seconds afterward.

Highlights and notes

PocketBook still has some catching up to do with the notes feature. It has improved since our last test, but it’s still not as intuitive as the competition. That’s because the software still offers two different note modes. If you tap a word for about 2 seconds, the “simple” note-taking bar appears at the top. Here you can create a highlight or a note.

Note-taking and keyboard

Alternatively, you can enable the “advanced” notes mode via the reading menu, which also includes a highlighting option and a screenshot mode. After creating a highlight, you can tap it to add a note.

Sound needlessly complex? It is. It would make sense to fully merge both branches. On top of that, handling is a bit fiddly and selecting words or passages doesn’t always work as you’d expect. At least typing on the on-screen QWERTZ keyboard works without issue.

All created notes, highlights, and bookmarks can be viewed in an overview list, though position details and filtering/sorting options are still missing.

Dictionary

The dictionary is the second weak point of the PocketBook software. You still need two taps to look up a word, whereas competitors usually do it with a single tap.

So the Aqua 2 doesn’t automatically show the definition when you tap and hold a word for 2 seconds—you have to open it via the options bar at the top of the screen. Only then does a window with the translation/definition appear. If you mainly read in foreign languages and use the dictionary often, that extra tap can get annoying.

The definition window appears at the top or bottom edge (depending on where there’s space). If a word isn’t found, you no longer get an automatic list of similar words; instead you see a notice that no entry was found. You can still look the word up manually. You’ll often need to enter the base form of a word, because different inflected forms frequently aren’t recognized.

Dictionary function

Not a major drawback, but a change from before: you can no longer keep the dictionary window open; it closes as soon as you tap outside it. Previously you could tap several words one after another. Given how much screen real estate the window uses on a 6-inch display, the permanent display wasn’t particularly useful anyway.

Credit where it’s due: there are plenty of dictionaries included, even if they’re primarily useful to and from English. Based on experience, the ABBYY dictionaries are decent in scope but struggle to recognize forms beyond the base form (see above). At least the unnamed English–German dictionary is reliable beyond the base form.

PDF display and audio output

One of the Aqua’s biggest strengths is the well-known, comprehensive PDF support. Unlike competitors, the device provides clear, useful options for viewing large A4 documents on the small 6-inch screen.

The following modes are available:

• Fit to width
• Fit to page
• Columns (2 & 3)
• Reflow
• Zoom (between 30 and 300 percent)
• Crop margins (off, automatic, manual)

Despite the many useful modes, a contrast enhancement option is still missing. Due to anti-aliasing, small text is often rendered lighter than it should be. To be fair, this is nitpicking—no one else offers PDF functionality as extensive as PocketBook’s anyway.

PDF options

The 256 MB of RAM also handles large, image-heavy PDFs. They open and navigate relatively quickly. You can easily adjust the view size with pinch to zoom.

Audio and text-to-speech

PocketBook takes a similar approach to Amazon and some smartphone makers: there’s no headphone jack, but you can plug in headphones via the included Micro-USB adapter (3.5 mm). This gives the PocketBook Aqua 2 the same audio functionality as the pricier Touch HD.

You can use the audio player to play MP3 files and you also get the familiar text-to-speech feature.

The MP3 player is reasonably full-featured: you can add entire folders or individual files and create playlists in M3U format. You can edit your selection by deleting individual tracks from the list and changing their order.

Playback supports shuffle and repeat. Sound quality is on par with other PocketBook models with audio support. Annoyingly, the familiar popping noise when switching tracks and when using TTS is still present. How pronounced it is seems to depend on the headphones.

The audio player keeps running in the background, so you can listen to music while reading. The app is also suitable for audiobooks. When you unplug the adapter, playback stops automatically. You can, of course, stop it manually as well.

You can enable text-to-speech in a book via the “Voice” menu item. Controls appear at the bottom edge of the screen. You can change the speaker; an English female voice is preinstalled. German voice packs can be downloaded from the PocketBook website, and a number of other languages are available for free as well.

The display of the currently read word has been improved compared to earlier software versions. Instead of heavily underlining the paragraph, highlighting now happens word by word. This makes it easier to follow along with the computer-generated voice. Speaking speed can be set between 80 and 125 percent in 5 percent steps.

Thanks to the IVONA TTS engine, speech quality is very good. Computer voices still can’t replace a real audiobook narrator, but they’re good enough as a reading aid or to pass the time on car trips, etc.

All in all, the PocketBook Aqua 2’s audio features are as solid as ever—a very welcome bonus at this price point.

Miscellaneous

You can buy eBooks directly on the device. Usually this uses the familiar Bookland store. Depending on where you buy the eReader, it may also be set to a partner bookseller’s shop. Functionally, that doesn’t make a difference.

PocketBook Cloud is back as well. All eBooks purchased from the partner shop land in your online storage and can be synced. To make this work, you need to sign in to both the shop and the cloud.

The separate web browser works as usual and is fast enough for quick web searches or to visit an alternative eBook store (or the Onleihe). Pinch to zoom, panning with the page buttons, landscape mode, and favorites are available. For faster browsing you can also disable images and JavaScript. In terms of responsiveness and speed, the otherwise snappy browser doesn’t quite match Android or Kobo competitors.

Web browser

Also back is the handy Dropbox sync. Once you’ve entered your login details on the device, you can sync a cloud folder. For advanced Calibre users, Dropbox compatibility opens up great possibilities: for example, you can fetch RSS news feeds, convert them automatically to ePub, and save them in your Dropbox folder. That folder is synced with the PocketBook Aqua 2, so you can read the news directly on the device.

If you add a timer to the setup, you can automate the whole process. Of course, there’s a simpler way too: save an eBook to your Dropbox folder on your PC and sync it to the eReader over Wi-Fi. That can be very useful if you want to share eBooks within the family, etc.

The Send-to-PocketBook feature is also available, assigning the device its own email address. This lets you send content to the PocketBook Aqua 2 via email.

Conclusion

The PocketBook Aqua 2 is a somewhat surprising addition to the eReader specialist’s lineup, as its predecessor received less attention here than the widely used Touch Lux 3. That doesn’t mean the new Aqua isn’t welcome.

This eBook reader offers a level of water resistance that’s unique in this price bracket. Thanks to IP57, the device is also dust-proof, which is especially useful at the beach. The updates to the display and audio support are likewise welcome.

Contrast and lighting aren’t quite as good as on the pricier sister model, the Touch HD, but they’re still more than good enough not to impede reading. The lower 212 ppi resolution should be seen as a compromise to keep the price of the waterproof device down.

All told, the PocketBook Aqua presents itself as a good device.

In terms of operation, the Aqua 2 convinces with snappy response times and a visually appealing interface. The competition still has to measure up to PocketBook’s library function. The notes and dictionary features, however, remain areas for improvement.

All in all, the PocketBook Aqua 2 is a rock-solid eBook reader with great software features and good hardware. If you’re looking for a waterproof reader that doesn’t cost too much, the Aqua 2 is hard to ignore right now. In the end, it earns a strong 1.7 rating.

PocketBook Aqua 2: Technical Specifications

All information provided without guarantee.