PocketBook is releasing new ebook readers at a record pace this year, and they’ve just added two more 6-inch models to their lineup, the PocketBook Verse and the PocketBook Verse Pro.
The PocketBook Verse is now listed on Amazon for $129.00 with free shipping (it’s also available in bright blue), and the PocketBook Verse Pro is $159.00 with free shipping.
They’re basically newer versions of the Touch Lux and Touch HD models, and it doesn’t look like much has really changed other than the designs and a switch to USB-C ports.
The PocketBook Verse has a 6-inch E Ink Carta screen with 212 ppi like the new Basic Lux 4 model, but the Verse adds a frontlight with adjustable color temperature. It also has 8GB of storage space, a microSD card slot, and WiFi. It weighs 182 grams.
The PocketBook Verse Pro has a 6-inch E Ink Carta screen with 300 ppi, and it adds waterproofing, audio support via Bluetooth, and Dark Mode for white text on a black background. It also has a rotation sensor, and there’s 16GB of storage space, but the “Pro” model inexplicably lacks a memory card slot. The device weighs 186 grams, and it measures 108 × 156 × 7.6 mm.
Both models share the same design, and they both support a number of common ebook formats, including ebooks with Adobe DRM. Battery life is rated at up to one month for both models, but PocketBook doesn’t give any specific parameters on that.
PocketBook has released at least six new models this year now. That kind of seems like too many. What’s the point of selling a basic 6-inch model for $109 and then offering a slightly upgraded 6-inch model for $129, and then another slightly upgraded 6-inch model for $159? Are two separate low resolution models really necessary? The basic model seems kind of pointless now that the Verse is available. But too many choices is better than not enough.
via: PocketBook
The card slot (is it or isn’t it?) is odd. However, its presence doesn’t really matter if these models behave as my Era does:
– You can plug in a USB-C pen drive (FAT32 or ext4 formatted) and the Era will read it.
– You can even attach an Android phone using a USB-C to USB-C cable and the Era will recognise the internal storage.
I’ve used PocketBook readers for many years. I love their hardware, but I really wish they would put some money into the software side of the product.
Syncing usually works, unless it’s the weekend, and then they appear to take the servers offline for hours/days at a time.
Deleting a book is impossible. I delete them when I finish, but then inexplicably they will appear back days, weeks or even months later. Doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason behind when they come back. But they always come back.
But if you don’t want to sync across devices, it’s a pretty solid product. I love the size and weight when I travel. Perfect to toss in my bag. And not costly enough that I worry about it getting ruined in travel.
I suspect the absence of the SD reader on the Pro has something to do with the waterproofing.