TrekStor e-readers are easy to read but light on features.
The German company TrekStor is known to many for its wide range of consumer electronics and, as a relative newcomer, was also active in the eBook reader market. Initially, they set out to gain traction with reading devices featuring LCD screens, which were indeed available through various bookselling partners (Weltbild, Thalia) and reportedly sold very well. In our tests, however, such LCD models proved highly problematic for reading, as battery life was short, display quality poor, and viewing angles remarkably narrow.
A (temporary) success thanks to strong demand
As Germany’s digital book market was still in its infancy at the time, there was demand despite the lack of many alternatives. The key takeaway for TrekStor was that there was strong demand for affordable eReaders.
They subsequently launched the Pyrus – a dedicated reading device with an e-paper display. To cut costs, however, TrekStor did not rely on the E Ink technology common in Germany, but on screens from the Chinese display specialist OED-Tech. Somewhat surprisingly, readability was very good despite the different technology, which helped the TrekStor Pyrus quickly win a number of fans.
Later, they expanded the eBook reader lineup with the Pyrus Maxi and Mini. These were two devices, one in an 8-inch format and one in a 4.3-inch format. Demand seemed, at least at first glance, rather low, likely also because both models were not sold through bookstores (or only in a limited way) and therefore had little visibility. By contrast, the Pyrus with different branding (eBook Reader 4Ink) was sold by Weltbild, Hugendubel and Thalia and was thus accessible to a wide audience.
Market exit with E Ink technology
Finally, the TrekStor Pyrus 2 LED became the company’s last dedicated reading device in 2013. For the first time it used proven E Ink Pearl technology, and the device also came with built-in lighting. This provided good readability, but had a distinctly bluish tint. Otherwise, the eReader saw little further development, so the software offered little more than its predecessors did.
Ultimately, the end came with the launch of the Tolino alliance, as the previous bookselling partners went their own way. TrekStor, however, only withdrew from the dedicated eReader market and continues to manufacture tablets. Among other things, it manufactures the Tolino Tabs and thus remains in business with Germany’s bookstore chains even after the end of the Pyrus line.