PocketBook Touch HD 2 Launched: Enhances Reading with Blue Light Reduction and Infrared Touchscreen
Even though the frequency of new product launches has decreased in the last 12 months, PocketBook remains one of the most active eBook reader manufacturers on the market. With the Touch HD, introduced in 2016, the company achieved a top rating (1.2 – Very good) in our test, and now – just in time for the Christmas shopping season – the PocketBook Touch HD 2 is being introduced.
At first glance, the new eReader barely differs from its predecessor: The device features a 6-inch E-Ink Carta display with a resolution of 1448 x 1072 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 300 ppi. The razor-sharp image quality of the first generation remains unchanged.
Blue Light Reduction and Infrared Touchscreen
The most important (and at first glance only) innovation is found in the lighting. The integrated light can now be adjusted in color temperature. PocketBook calls this “SMARTlight”. As with Tolino Vision 4 HD and Epos, the lighting on the Touch HD 2 can be adjusted to be more cold-blue or warm-yellow according to personal preference. In the default setting, this occurs automatically, so that during the day a cooler light color dominates, while in the evening it adjusts to a warmer color temperature.
This type of lighting is intended to ensure that you are exposed to less blue light before going to bed, as it can potentially disrupt sleep patterns. For some time now, experts have been recommending not being exposed to artificial light sources about an hour before sleeping, particularly because LEDs have a dominant blue light component. Whether the built-in lighting of eBook readers is enough to negatively affect sleep patterns remains unclear, but subjectively I can report that a blue light-reduced display is noticeably more pleasant. This is especially apparent when switching to the normal daytime lighting in the evening without changing the brightness.
An aspect worth mentioning in this context is the continued use of the infrared touchscreen. All other competing products with blue light reduction use capacitive touchscreens. The infrared technology typically results in a slightly brighter screen background because the additional capacitive plastic layer is absent.
With Memory Card Expansion!
Aside from that, you can once again enjoy the familiar wide range of features: The Touch HD 2 has the typical PocketBook design with buttons below the display and narrow casing edges on the sides and top of the screen. The 8 GB internal storage can still be expanded with MicroSD memory cards, making this eBook reader currently alone in this feature among mainstream models.
The 3.5 mm audio jack is also retained, allowing you to use audiobooks and have eBooks read to you via the text-to-speech function. Measuring 175 x 113.5 x 9 mm and weighing 180 grams, the PocketBook Touch HD 2 does not differ in size and weight from its predecessor. The appearance is also unchanged from the first Touch HD.
The exact market launch and pricing remain open for now. However, it can be assumed that the eBook reader will be available shortly and probably cost a bit more than its predecessor (149 Euros).
Goodbye Uniformity?
Personally, I don’t consider this very important, but it’s a recurring topic in various email inquiries: the color of the device. In the press release (and attached images), the PocketBook Touch HD 2 is only referred to as “dark brown”. Although no additional color variants are mentioned, these will surely appear sooner or later.
PocketBook is essentially the only manufacturer offering eReaders outside of the black-and-white uniformity. The casing of the PocketBook Aqua 2 shines in a vibrant blue, the Touch HD (first generation) is also available in a bright red (Ruby Red), and the Touch Lux 3 is offered in an unusual golden variant.
Not only is the software suitable for individualists, but so is the exterior. It remains to be seen whether this will also apply to the Touch HD 2.
An Equal Competitor to Kindle and Tolino
Since the Mayersche bookstore and Osiander switched to Tolino, PocketBook has lost some presence in Germany and is somewhat back in the role of the underdog. This is unfortunate because the Swiss company, after the misstep with the Ultra, offers highly competitive models at good prices.
One reason for the improved competitiveness is likely the change in hardware manufacturer: Instead of being manufactured by Foxconn as before, the current models are produced by Netronix. Netronix also manufactures the Kobo and Tolino models.
Therefore, I have no doubt that the practical implementation of the PocketBook Touch HD 2 stands on par with the competition. A test report will (hopefully) clarify this soon.
