PocketBook Era Color: New 7-Inch E-Ink Kaleido 3 eReader Launched
After a long period of inactivity in the e-reader and E-Ink market due to a lack of technical innovation, the recent introduction of E-Ink Kaleido 3 color technology has stimulated renewed interest, boosting both the supply and demand for devices equipped with this modern display technology.
Following the tremendous demand for the PocketBook InkPad Color 2 (7.8-inch display), which prompted a rapid release of a successor, the company is now entering the slightly smaller 7-inch segment with the new PocketBook Era Color, expanding its portfolio with another color E-Ink device.
Familiar Design, New Display
The name already hints at what can be expected from the new device: the PocketBook Era Color comes in a casing that is (for the most part) identical to that of the regular Era. The existing black-and-white model has already won users over with its clever design elements and outstanding ergonomics.
However, it remains unclear whether the new e-reader will feature a flat front display, as this has yet to appear in PocketBook’s color models.
The second part of the name naturally refers to the color display capabilities. The PocketBook Era Color is equipped with an E-Ink Kaleido 3 display, which means black-and-white content is rendered at 300 ppi, while color content is displayed at 150 ppi.
To summarize E-Ink Kaleido 3:
- The color display is achieved with an RGB filter (red-green-blue) applied directly to the E-Ink display.
- The screen can produce up to 4,096 colors, though the hues are paler compared to those on an LCD panel.
- As is typical with E-Ink, the display is highly energy efficient and easy to read, even in direct sunlight.
- Due to the RGB filter, the background appears darker than on standard black-and-white e-readers, but this can typically be offset using the front light, which is adjustable in color temperature.
Since this is now a fairly familiar display technology, I do not expect any major surprises when it comes to color reproduction. The main variable is the implementation of the front light, as this can differ considerably between e-readers.
Faster, with Proven Technology
Together with E-Ink Kaleido 3, the faster processor is now making its debut in the PocketBook Era Color. The 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, which already performed admirably in the InkPad Color 3, delivers a highly responsive experience with the PocketBook user interface. With 1 GB of RAM on board, even larger documents are unlikely to present any difficulties.
The battery has also been improved, now offering a capacity of 2,500 mAh—that is 700 mAh more than in the regular Era. The speed and battery capacity boost are both due to the additional processing power required by E-Ink Kaleido, as E-Ink pixels need to be coordinated according to the RGB matrix for color rendering.
Internal storage comes in at 32 GB, which is double that of the standard Era. (Note: There was previously a 64 GB version of the black-and-white Era, but it is no longer directly available from PocketBook.)
Comics, manga, and other eBooks share the available storage with music and audiobooks, since the PocketBook Era Color also offers a built-in speaker and Bluetooth connectivity. The device features physical buttons on the front edge of the casing, as well as integrated IPX8 water protection. USB-C connectivity is now standard.
The Era Color measures 134 × 155 × 7.9 mm—almost exactly the same as the regular model, but 0.1 mm thicker. The e-reader has also gained 7 grams, now weighing in at 235 grams, though this difference is likely to go unnoticed in everyday use.
Availability and Price
The PocketBook Era Color is now available for pre-order and is expected to be shipped starting in mid-April.
With a suggested retail price of 259 euros, the e-reader is not exactly a bargain, but it is considerably less expensive than the InkPad Color 3, which typically sells for 319 euros. This makes it 40 euros more than the black-and-white Era.
Whether or not it is worth purchasing will be determined in a detailed review once the device is released.
If you choose to buy the e-reader, you can save 10 percent (around 25 euros) off the purchase price using the discount code “allesebook” on PocketBook.de:
