Screen Comparison: Bookeen HD Frontlight vs. Kobo Glo – Better Contrast and Lighting Analysis
The Bookeen HD Frontlight has been available at Thalia for a few days now and is naturally competing against the Kobo Glo, another illuminated 1024×758 pixel eBook Reader that has been on the market for a few weeks. In a detailed comparison, we will evaluate all aspects of both devices. Until then, this initial impression of the two screen lighting setups should at least provide some purchase guidance.
The Bookeen HD Frontlight is operated via a capacitive touchscreen, meaning there is an additional layer on the eInk Pearl screen along with the light guide film. I initially assumed this would further degrade the contrast more than in the case of the Kobo Glo, which features an infrared touchscreen without such coating. Surprisingly, that’s not the case: the black level is better than on the Kobo Glo. The difference isn’t huge, but it’s certainly noticeable to the naked eye. With the lighting turned off, I measured a contrast ratio of 11.5:1 on the Bookeen HD Frontlight – while my measurement for the Kobo Glo was 10:1, and the Sony PRS-T2 at 13:1.
The contrast on the Bookeen HD Frontlight (right) is better than on the Kobo Glo
However, as you can see in the microscope image in the bottom left corner, the screen of the Bookeen HD Frontlight is somewhat more prone to light reflections due to the double coating. This isn’t necessarily noticeable in everyday use, but it should be mentioned for completeness. It’s also clear that the touchscreen and light guide film slightly degrade the font edge sharpness, just as on the Kobo Glo.
The Bookeen HD Frontlight also holds its own with the light turned on. Thanks to the better contrast, the text is more readable even with the light on. The illumination is about as uniform as on the Kobo Glo, although the color tone of the lighting varies significantly. The Kobo Glo appears quite yellowish compared to the more blue-toned Bookeen HD Frontlight. If you use both devices separately, this color difference isn’t as striking. Both readers are easy to read, although I find the coloring of the Bookeen Reader more pleasant, possibly also due to the higher contrast of the text.
Bookeen HD Frontlight (left) vs. Kobo Glo (right)
As you can clearly see in the comparison image, the LEDs for lighting the Bookeen HD Frontlight are positioned much closer to the (bottom) edge of the display, making them quite noticeable. The Thalia Reader is equipped with 13 LEDs, whereas the Kobo Glo has only 5.
All in all, I prefer the lighting on the Bookeen HD Frontlight due to its better contrast and different hue. However, the Kobo Glo shouldn’t be counted out, as it offers better font customization and more extensive functionality. A complete device comparison will follow in the coming weeks, as will the individual review of the Bookeen HD Frontlight.
