Of all the nonsensical things associated with the dedicated ebook reader market, the thing that makes the least bit of sense to me is Amazon’s persistent refusal to release a Kindle with a larger screen.
There are a number of e-readers with E Ink screens larger than 7-inches— in fact pretty much every company that makes ebook readers offers models with larger screens. Even Barnes and Noble has a 7.8-inch Nook available, and Kobo has the 8-inch Kobo Forma, and yet Amazon still won’t release a Kindle with a screen larger than 7-inches.
Instead they just keep releasing the same 6-inch Kindles over and over again. They make a couple of minor changes and then call them “All New”.
Amazon offers a 10-inch Fire tablet that is quite popular, so why not a 10-inch Kindle?
A long time ago there was the 9.7-inch Kindle DX that was essentially a Kindle 3 with a larger screen. But Amazon abandoned the Kindle DX in 2014 and never released a replacement.
As someone who has access to a multitude of different E Ink ebook readers across different brands, I’ve always liked ereaders with larger screens, especially the 10.3-inch size, so why does Amazon insist on people using only 6 and 7-inch Kindles? Small devices are great for portability, but who does all their reading on-the-go? A larger screen is great for reading at home or in a business or school setting.
If you want an E Ink Kindle with a large screen, there is one viable option: get an Onyx Boox.
Onyx’s devices run Android and can install the Kindle Android app. The app works surprisingly well on their current line of ereaders that run Android 9.0, and even their earlier models with Android 6.0.
Third-party apps like Kindle didn’t use to work very well on Onyx’s older Android 4 devices (and most other Android-powered ereaders). It was slow and laggy and page refreshes weren’t very good. But now with the newer software the Kindle app works great. Onyx offers some settings to optimized the appearance and refresh rate of 3rd-party apps, which helps make an app designed for an LCD screen work well on an E Ink screen.
It’s gotten to the point where the Kindle app works well enough on Onyx’s ereaders to consider them viable Kindle alternatives.
Onyx’s hardware is also light-years ahead of Kindles. Their current models have octa-core processors and support audio, Bluetooth keyboards, USB OTG, dual-band WiFi, some models have fingerprint sensors, Wacom touchscreens, and their largest 13.3-inch model, the Onyx Max3, has an HDMI port to use the device as an E Ink monitor.
Amazon’s refusal to release a 10-inch Kindle is baffling, but there is a way to get a 10-inch Kindle thanks to the Onyx Note2.
I think maybe they figure it’s too big to hold up when lying down. I recently got an 8 inch tablet to watch videos on while in bed, but had to go back to my phone because the tablet being just slightly heavier than my phone fatigued my wrists a lot more.
Hi, have you tried a cover that is also a stand? (Horizontal stand where the front cover is flat on the surface (you, your bed, etc.) and the tablet edge rests on the inside of the cover? This is the type of cover I’m talking about, but it most likely isn’t for your tablet brand/model: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RBDCFP4
That’s my favorite style of case. I’d hate to have to hold my iPad to watch a video (or do anything on it). I have something similar for my iPad and PW (only vertical). I’d love to find the same kind of cover for my Voyage but I haven’t found one yet.
Thank you! I’ll look into this.
I have Kindle DX and still using it, it’s really nice but unfortunately they stopped updating our producing more of it. Onyx looks much better thanks.
I get a Fintie easel stand cover for every device I can. Works as you say and is the perfect solution. I usually buy the Fintie first because if I can’t get the Fintie easel cover I don’t really want the device.
Try samsung tab s2 if u can get one. Pretty sure its lughter than whatever phone You ve got and OLED screen is fantastic. Also get an oled tv someday in future, those wrists just deserve some rest too
I am loving my onyx Boox Note Pro. I wish more people would buy them, So they can start lowering the price. We need competition in this sector. I have to sit down and write a review for my device soon.
I bought the larger kindle because I thought the size of the print would be larger. NOPE, the print is smaller. I cannot read it larger, unless the author uses a type of font that allows for more spaces in between the lines.
Are u not able to change the font size in the Kindle settings ?
I have set my bigger as I have eye sight issues .
Plus I have widened the margins and set the line spacing wider .
I didn’t realize that some Kindle books don’t allow users to resize the font. That just seems “wrong”!!! I wonder if Calibre lets you change the font so it isn’t fixed. (I use Calibre but I’ve never needed to change a fixed size font.) Or I guess maybe it’s fixed margins that are the issue?
You have just saved me a ton of €€€. I was thinking of buying a Kindle Oasis on AMZ Prime Day. I have been reading free Kindle books (Prime Reader) on a Samsung tablet A7. I can choose any font and size; page turn is a simple swipe. It tracks my progress. If I switch to another android app, to do email, browse, get exercise tips, or whatever, when I return, the Reader app (free from AMZ) resumes exactly where I left off. If there is no page turn in approx. 5 minutes, the device switches off.
It is a little heavy for night reading, so I prop it up on a chunky book.
Yes, if I drop it in a pond, it will not survive. However, the tablet is a full android with great connectivity, not a version intentionally crippled by Amazon.
I highly recommend this approach for anyone who likes to read in bed without glasses.
You are in charge of finding your favorite font.
I read in bed from about 10 pm – 5 am, and sleep all morning. I wouldn’t be able to read that long with a larger (10″) device. One reason I use e-readers is because they are lighter than hard copy books. I don’t have a problem using a paperwhite either. (loved my Voyage but it quit holding a charge).
And when I looked at the prices of the Onyx – – I’ll use the Paperwhite, thank you!
I immediately thought about the seniors in my family when I read the headline. I even checked out the Onyx Note 2, but the price doesn’t fit my budget.
I like my Kindle Oasis and the size is fine for me. I do wish Amazon would create a larger e-reader so the visually impaired could have large print without needing to turn the page paragraph by paragraph.
A large e-reader would make sense for business and educational purposes. It would be useful to display larger illustrations, diagrams, and charts rather than needing to zoom, pan and scroll.
There is no market for it. People are not willing to spend lots of money on a large eink reader. It is a very niche product. When these readers make Ipads look like bargains you’ve set the price too high.
Amazon is in the business of selling relatively cheap devices in large quantities. Their tablets are not going to compete with a flagship Samsung or an Ipad. The firesticks are never meant to be as good as an Apple TV 4k or an Nvidia Shield. And their devices are meant for buying or streaming media from them, which reading pdfs is not that.
It is not difficult to understand why Amazon doesn’t have a large eink reader.
And IMO you need 13” to really do justice to pdfs.
Onyx’s success disproves your theory that there is no market for larger ereaders. There are plenty of people that want a larger E Ink screen and are willing to pay a premium for it. Onyx certainly isn’t being kept afloat by their 6″ Poke sales. And the Kindle Oasis cannot be considered cheap. I guarantee if they sold a 10.3-inch Kindle plenty of people would be interested in it, even at a premium price. It’s doesn’t have to be a mass seller considering margins are much higher on larger devices than a 6-inch Kindle that sells for under $100.
You can make the font larger on your own.
But… Amazon did sell one. The kindle dx. It was a disaster.
I actually agree with Nathan,, as Onyx proves to be a popular choice fro those who prefers bigger screens, such as students or others who appreciate the extra screen space – one can imagine those youngsters in schools or colleges, surely they would welcome to their needs. So for me, it is a myth that Amazon is not anticipating the needs of readers who wan extra.
Forgot to say that I wish that Amazon would make a bigger version of Voyage at least 9.7 inch. That would be brilliant. I don’t even need light personally.if I got the 9.7 inch or 10.3 inch. I would be just a dream.
I don’t think that I would need a larger reading device. For sure not at night as I tend to fall asleep while reading. With my PW, I have a vertical stand cover so that it doesn’t fall on my face. My Voyage needs a similar case but no one makes one. It’s such a jolt when it hits me!!
I can see how the larger Kindle (or larger e-ink device) would be good for PDFs and/or reading while sitting up. For laying down, a smaller Kindle works for me as I don’t have to tilt my head to see the top of the page.
It is too bad that Amazon doesn’t offer a larger model, though, for people who want one. They could even make it a little more basic to keep the costs down – no frontlight, physical buttons only, etc. (Essentially a re-release of the DX only with a better screen.)
Indeed. They could sell one for $399 if they really wanted to, like the PocketBook Inkpad X. The 7-inch Kindle Oasis is $300 for 32GB so I don’t think another $100 is unreasonable for a larger screen. They don’t have to sell it for $550 like Onyx does; Onyx’s older Note model goes for $399.
I’ve found the Surface Go to hit the sweet spot for both size and weight for bedtime reading (and video watching). So those 10″ readers should be even lighter, I assume? In the meantime, I’m still waiting for those big e-readers to come down in price and for Amazon to get its head out of its ass and realize 10″ is still a thing.
Yes, they are much lighter and more comfortable to hold than tablets.
Making bigger ebook readers would probably interfere with their fire 8 and fire 10 tablet.sales. You can also read books on fire tablets. Fire tablets help to push multiple services Amazon offers and merchandise on Amazon.. the sales experience may not be so good on an e-reader.
I would absolutely pay a premium to get a bigger screen even though I own an Kindle Oasis right now. Its diffifult to toggle between tab and kindle when u have to read pdf files. Reading experience on fire/tab cannot be equated to that on an e-reader. I hope Amazon will realise this demand and will come up with an option for people like me.
Thank you for this info. I have eyesight issues and loved the DX. I have an Oasis but would love a bigger screen. I will look into the Onyx.
Sorry but my Kindle is perfect for me. It is an ideal size to read in bed. I cannot use an iPad for reading, it is just too awkward. I use a case and stand to read my Kindle while I eat and have enlarged the font to make it easier for my old eyes. No need for me to get anything larger as I prefer to hold my reader as I would a book when reading.
The text-to-speech option might help readers with visual impairment (I use it while working out).
I am not sure that I would purchase large screen Kindle. Having both Onyx large screen and big iPad I have covered all the need for note taking and pdf reading. I am still using Oasis for bed time reading since I do not have to hold it during reading.
So, if large Kindle will offer only reading experience without note taking (active pen that is) I do not see a reason for having it regardless of the price.
And if we review Onyx activity recently – hardware and software wise – and compare it with Amazon Kindle related actions I can only say that Onyx is clear leader in e-ink devices.
So what you’re saying is if I want 500hp in my Kia I need to buy a Ferrari… Ok thanks
After several years where my daily driver has been a 7.8″ (Kobo Aura One and Onyx Boox Nova Pro), I cringe when I pick up my Nook Glowlight Plus. The larger screen is just more convenient to use. Less page turns, and the Nova Pro is great with PDFs, even at “only” 7.8″. I do suspect that 13″ would be too big for me, but 10″ might work depending on the aspect ratio.
Can the Onyx Boox run multiple apps at the same time. If so, you could play audio books and read along with them – a feature I would love to see on Kindles but I’ve given up on it happening. This might me enough to make me switch
Yeah, that feature is built-in to the Android app. You can run an audio app in the background as well if you wanted to.
Don’t forget the LikeBook. My wife and I just got 3, one for each of us and one for our eldest daughter. She will use it for school. I’m picky when it comes to eBooks and digital notebooks. So far, I have nothing bad to say about it. 8″ screen, able to write and draw, can access the Google Play store, and expandable with an SD card. Plus Bluetooth and a mic. Price is decent as well.
I agree. But I think their priority should be to fix their software and the terrible customization options that they have. We need more fonts, line spacing and margins. Amazon however has bigger fish to fry such as Alexa, cloud services, prime, etc. They already hold a monopoly on e-Readers with virtually zero competition. There is no incentive to do better. However, I don’t blame Amazon. I blame companies like Google and Apple that haven’t launched their own dedicated devices to compete with Amazon Even though they have their own dedicated bookstore and ecosystems.
Absolutely agree! I own the 9.7 inch Kindle and thought it was great. The 6 and 7 inch Kindles are too small. What I want is a 10 inch Kindle in color.