CES 2014: PocketBook CAD Reader Hands-On Review – E-Ink Fina Display and Outdoor Durability

One of the most interesting new releases in recent weeks in the eBook reader market was certainly the 13.3-inch PocketBook CAD Reader. However, it is not actually an eBook reader in the traditional sense—rather, the device should be classified as a tablet.

According to PocketBook, the main application area is in the construction field, where the CAD Reader, true to its name, excels at displaying technical drawings. It features a 1 GHz dual-core processor, accompanied by 2GB of RAM. This processing power is crucial for the proper display of CAD files, but it certainly doesn’t hurt during regular use either. The operating system is Android 4.0.4.

First Use of E-Ink Fina Display Technology

The 13.3-inch display uses E-Ink Fina technology for the first time, which at first glance appears quite similar to the usual E-Ink Pearl technology for consumers (contrast ratio of 10:1). The screen resolution of the CAD Reader is 1600×1200 pixels.

At CES 2014, the colleagues from Good-e-reader were able to take an initial look at the CAD Reader and recorded their impressions in a short video. The device’s home screen with the typical Android widget appearance is visible, along with a brief app demo and a small hardware tour. It’s also worth mentioning that the device was designed to be especially robust for outdoor use and should withstand drops and accidents with coffee cups unscathed.

We’re pleasantly surprised by the relatively bright screen background shown in the following video because the official product presentation of the PocketBook CAD Reader had a different appearance. Although it’s difficult to give a final assessment, the hands-on experience at least leaves a good impression.