After the release of the 7.8-inch reader PocketBook InkPad 4 PocketBook has introduced another model in a similar format, but with a color screen. This is the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 with an updated body, a fresh Kaleido 3 screen, serious water protection, a night theme, and other features of the latest models of the manufacturer. We’ve already read several books and magazines on it, so we’re ready to share our experience and other features of the model.
Content
| Screen diagonal | 7.8 inches (19.8 cm) |
| Screen type | E Ink Kaleido 3 high-capacity, multi-touch, color (4096 colors), 16 shades of gray |
| Display resolution | 1872×1404 pixels (300 ppi) |
| Number of screen colors | 16 (grayscale) |
| Illumination | Yes (SMARTlight) |
| Operating system | Kernel Linux 4.9.56 |
| Processor | 4-core 1.8 GHz |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Built-in memory | 32 GB |
| Supported file formats | ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB(DRM), EPUB, FB2 / FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, MP3, MP3.zip, OGG, OGG.zip, M4A, M4B |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | Li-ion Polymer 2800 mAh |
| USB connector | USB Type-C |
| Memory card slot | No |
| Audio jack | No |
| Connecting smart accessories | Є |
| Speaker | Yes (Mono, 0.8 W) |
| Protection against water | YES (IPX8) |
| Body | Plastic, metal |
| Dimensions | 189.5x134x7.95 mm |
| Weight | 270 grams |
The PocketBook InkPad Color 3 comes in a soft, compact box with rounded corners and eco-friendly materials.
Inside is the e-book itself, the manual and various documents, as well as a USB-A to USB-C cable.
PocketBook InkPad Color 3 has an updated modern design, which is similar to the previous novelties PocketBook InkPad 4 andPocketBook Era. It features flat side edges, beveled corners, and a back panel with lines.
The case is metal and plastic: the first material is used for the bezels, and the front and back panels are plastic. The latter is made of matte soft-touch plastic, which quickly collects dust and is very vulnerable to fingerprints, which are also difficult to wipe off. So you either need to buy a case, or endure the prints, or wipe the book frequently. The same goes for the front of the reader.
On the front of PocketBook InkPad Color 3 we see relatively thin edges and a wide lower chin. It has the PocketBook inscription and four physical buttons.
The button on the right is responsible for turning the e-reader on/off (long press), as well as for calling up the settings when reading. The two buttons in the middle turn the pages. The last one, on the left, exits the book you are currently reading to the main screen and is generally used as the «Back» key.
On the back panel, in addition to the stripes mentioned above, we also have the PocketBook inscription and a removable thin strip on the right side. It reveals the attachment for a branded book case.
The bottom end has a USB-C port and an LED power indicator. On the right side, at the top, there is a speaker, and there is nothing on the other sides.
PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is IPX8 waterproof. This means that the reader can be immersed in fresh water to a depth of two meters per hour — and nothing will happen to it. You can also wash it under the tap if it gets dirty.
The PocketBook InkPad Color 3 has dimensions of 189.5×134×7.95 mm and weighs 270 grams. The e-reader is compact and thin, so it’s easy and comfortable to hold with one hand. Perhaps this is the type of book designed for this type of reader because all the control keys are easy to switch with one hand. Although, of course, two hands would be more convenient.
The only thing that is not convenient, as in the above-described predecessor models, is holding the book from the side. Especially with one hand. The side bezels were made thin, which, of course, is a plus for modern design. But this also prevents you from holding the book by the right or left end because your fingers will accidentally turn the page one way or another.
Alternatively, you can hold the book with your thumb and middle fingers around the back. But this is only for people with large hands and long fingers. The rest of us will probably have to hold it by the bottom, which is also convenient.
PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is equipped with a Kaleido 3 color E -Ink touchscreen with a resolution of 1872×1404 pixels. The pixel density is 300 ppi. But in color mode, the screen resolution is slightly reduced and amounts to 936×702 pixels / 150 ppi.
Thus, you will be viewing, for example, color magazines in lower quality than reading books. But in fact, you won’t notice the difference because in all cases the picture quality and detail are excellent, especially for color E-Ink. The display is capacious and touch-sensitive, responding instantly to touch. There is multitouch support for scaling text and pictures.
The screen of PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is slightly recessed into the body, and the bezels around it protrude slightly upward. This is probably done to protect the display from scratches and damage in case of falling down. The glass itself is quite durable and protected from various troubles, but extra protection will not hurt.
The e-book is equipped with SMARTlight smart screen backlighting technology. It allows not only to adjust the brightness of the backlight, but also to change the color temperature. This means that the screen lighting can be white, yellow, or orange.
We also brought in a dark mode, which is available in the PocketBook InkPad 4 model. When you switch to it, the «paper» becomes black and the letters are white. But it also affects everything else: the menu and interface elements of the reader become black. The function is convenient for reading in the dark and minimizes the amount of light perceived by the user, so it is recommended to turn it on before going to bed.
PocketBook 743K3 InkPad Color 3 is equipped with a 4-core chip with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. There is 1 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. You can’t add a memory card, but the available 28300 MB «net» memory is more than enough for tens of thousands of books, magazines and paintings, hundreds of audiobooks, songs, and photos.
The reader has a 0.8 W speaker, as well as a music player and a separate app for audiobooks. Each book can also be voiced using the Text-to-Speech function. The sound is output to the speaker or to a Bluetooth-connected device. For example, headphones. They can also be connected to the Type-C connector via an adapter.
The novelty supports a lot of books, audio, and other file formats. Among them are ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB (DRM), EPUB, FB2 / FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, MP3, MP3.zip, OGG, OGG.zip, M4A, M4B.
AZW and AZW3 are particularly noteworthy. These are some main formats of Amazon Kindle e-books, which will probably make someone decide to buy a PocketBook reader because it not only supports the formats of a popular competitor, but also many others.
PocketBook 743K3 InkPad Color 3 runs on the Kernel Linux 4.9.56 operating system. Of course, it’s not Android, so the reader is much slower than tablets, even budget ones. But this is the norm for this segment. However, the 4-core processor still makes it a little faster than previous models, so it will be easier for those who are getting used to e-books.
The main menu is represented by the latest books the user is reading and the built-in online store below. But this can be removed in the settings.
Swiping from top to bottom opens the familiar «curtain», where various useful tools (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, dark theme, smart backlight, etc.) are placed. You can also access the main settings of the e-reader from here.
At the bottom are the icons for the main functions of the book (Library, Audiobooks, Store, Notes, Programs). If you hold your finger down on an icon for a few seconds, you can move it left or right, delete it, or replace it with another.
The main menu, which is hidden behind the standard wheel, contains pre-installed applications, and you can’t add any others. Here you can find Games, Gallery, Calendar, Browser, Audio Player, Calculator, Dictionary, Coloring Book, Photo Frame, Dropbox Pocketbook, Pocketbook Cloud, and Books by Email.
The reader here is only built-in, but it is multifunctional and very convenient. It allows you to change margins, line spacing, fonts and their size, activate the display of the page number and the top bar with the time and battery level. You can switch to a dark theme, control gestures and taps on the screen.
In books, you can make notes and annotations, draw over the text, and highlight the necessary places with markers, just like in real books. Of course, there is a dictionary and a translator, but it works with individual words, not phrases or sentences.
PocketBook 743K3 InkPad Color 3 has a 2900 mAh battery. It is claimed to last a month on a single charge for reading for several hours a day with active backlighting and infrequent Internet access.
I used the reader for two weeks in this format. At the time of writing this review, it has 62% of the charge left. In my opinion, this is a good and more or less standard result for e-readers because their E-Ink screens require almost no power, so it goes to the backlight, Wi-Fi, etc.
The PocketBook 743K3 InkPad Color 3 is the first color e-reader I’ve ever used, so the experience was not only pleasant but also interesting. According to general impressions, this is the same PocketBook InkPad 4, only now it’s colored, which adds a positive and completely new experience.
The case is reliable, but very quickly gets smeared with prints from all sides. This was also a problem with the models mentioned above. The dimensions and weight are adequate, so the device is convenient to hold in one hand, take with you on the road, use in the bathroom, near water, etc.
As for me, this is the perfect size for a reader because 6 inches is not enough, and 9.7 is too much. And 7.8 is just right. With such a diagonal and a color screen, it’s convenient to read books, magazines, and drawings, look at instructions, read children’s books, check documents, and so on.
Of course, the colors here are a bit faded compared to IPS and even more so AMOLED, but that’s the point: there’s no need to compare them. Because this is a completely different technology that is as comfortable for the eyes as possible and consumes a minimum of charge.
Also, you shouldn’t expect the reader to work quickly on the Internet, but it is still a little faster than its predecessors. It’s cool that there’s a dark mode, but I’ve been using warm smart lighting more and more. I find it more comfortable and as close as possible to the experience of reading a real paper book.
PocketBook 743K3 InkPad Color 3 is on sale at from UAH 12,650. But in most large chains, the price of an e-reader is UAH 13,599. Yes, I realize that this is a hefty price tag, but for e-books it’s more than an adequate price, especially for a model with a color E-Ink screen. As in the case of PocketBook InkPad 4, I will not put the high price in the minuses, but here I note that it really is for some people and it is normal. Nevertheless, the price tag is good among competitors, and this e-reader has many different advantages.
Among the competitors, we chose options with color screens of up to 8 inches, but we will also leave the repeatedly mentioned PocketBook InkPad 4. If you like the format, size, features, etc., but don’t need a color screen and don’t want to overpay for it, then pay attention to this model. . Among the models with color displays, there is a previous generation from the same manufacturer, namely PocketBook InkPad Color 2. Also in demand are ONYX BOOX Tab Mini C and ONYX BOOX Nova Air C.
