Tolino Vision vs. Tolino Shine: Display and Design Face-Off [Video]
A few days ago, I compared the hardware of the two E-Ink Carta eReaders, the Kindle Paperwhite and Tolino Vision. Today, I’m following up with a video comparison of the two Tolino devices. Again, the main focus is on the hardware and the screens. While the Tolino Vision primarily competes with the Kindle Paperwhite, there’s also the question of how much the new model has improved compared to its predecessor.
Better Hardware in the Tolino Vision
The Tolino Shine features an E-Ink Pearl display with a resolution of 1024×758 pixels and can display 16 shades of gray. It is operated via an infrared touchscreen, which means the screen sits relatively deep in the casing. This doesn’t usually affect reading, but under certain lighting conditions, shadows can appear at the edges. The Tolino Shine had to endure criticism for its design since its release, as the device looks somewhat outdated and plain. Additionally, compared to its competition, the eBook reader is relatively large.
The Tolino Vision hits the market with completely upgraded hardware. This begins with the E-Ink Carta screen, which has the same 1024×758 pixel resolution and can also display 16 shades of gray. It has a capacitive touchscreen, and the device’s design stands out from most other eBook readers (including the Tolino Shine). The Vision features a flat front, a design also seen in the Kobo Aura – and of course on most tablets and smartphones. In fact, the Kobo Aura and the Tolino Vision seem to share some design traits, as I briefly noted in another article.
Appealing Design with a Drawback
In addition to the technology, the device’s design has been modernized, giving the Tolino Vision a significantly better visual impression. The front is black, and the casing is noticeably more compact. Some weight has also been reduced. Meanwhile, the Tolino alliance stayed true to the Shine’s design language, so the Vision is immediately recognizable as a Tolino device. This is achieved partly through the unchanged brown color accents on the casing edges and the almost identical back, and partly through the home button, which is modeled after the Tolino Shine’s physical button. In the Tolino Vision, it’s now a capacitive button without tactile feedback.
Under the microscope, the very fine sensor grid is clearly visible.
However, the design also negatively impacts readability in one aspect since a faintly visible, very fine sensor grid lies over the screen, making the background appear darker than on the Kindle Paperwhite. This slightly diminishes one of the advantages of the E-Ink Carta technology. The grid is only visible to the naked eye upon very close inspection, so it otherwise doesn’t interfere with reading.
Tolino Vision with a Warmer Color Temperature
The Tolino Vision’s lighting has been significantly improved over the Shine, primarily due to its warmer color tone. Many find this more pleasant, similar to the warm light of an incandescent bulb. Moreover, the light is more evenly distributed overall, meaning aside from the bright glow at the bottom screen edge, there are no other color or brightness variations in the main display area on the Tolino Vision. In contrast, the Tolino Shine exhibits a faint (yet visible) color gradient across the entire screen.
Apart from the lighting, the Tolino Vision still offers the warmer color temperature, as the E-Ink Carta display appears slightly more yellowish compared to the typically bluish Pearl display of the Shine. As mentioned, the sensor grid on the Vision slightly dampens the positive effect of the brighter display, but the Vision is often noticeably more legible than its predecessor in most situations. The extent of this difference largely depends on the ambient light. Overall, the E-Ink Carta display is a clear improvement.
The saturation of the image was increased to better show the differences in the color temperature of both lights and highlight irregularities. Neither the Tolino Shine (left) nor the Tolino Vision (right) is perfect, but the Vision’s lighting is more even overall.
Somewhat disappointing is the minimal contrast difference with the light on (visible in the second half of the video). Although the Tolino Vision clearly uses a different light guide film, it also visibly brightens the text. This effect is much less pronounced on other eBook readers such as the Kindle Paperwhite or PocketBook Touch Lux 2. There is room for improvement here, but that’s nitpicking at a high level, as both devices are easy to read in the dark.
The maximum brightness on the Tolino Vision is slightly higher at 51 cd/m² compared to the Tolino Shine (41 cd/m²). Due to the different color temperature, the difference is not easily noticeable to the naked eye. The minimum brightness of the lighting remains at par with the Shine at 2.3 cd/m² (versus 2.4 cd/m²).
Conclusion and Video
In conclusion, the Tolino Vision is the better overall device. It boasts better contrast, a brighter screen, more even lighting, and a more pleasant LED color temperature. In my opinion, the 30 Euro price increase is well worth it just for these improvements. If you also consider the more compact casing, the nicer aesthetic, and the somewhat faster processor, choosing the Tolino Vision becomes an even clearer decision.
The question of whether it’s worth upgrading from the Shine to the Vision is a bit harder to answer. Even though the Tolino Vision is definitely the better device overall, the differences aren’t as significant as compared to the Kindle Paperwhite. Therefore, it’s recommended to compare both eBook readers at a local bookstore.
