Some people have been asking about using ereaders with color E Ink screens outside in bright light, and I’ve seen some people saying the color screens are too dark for that, so I put together a quick video showing the Kobo Libra Colour outside on a bright day.
The video starts off in the shade since that’s probably the most realistic scenario when it comes to outdoor reading, but I also show the screen in full direct sunlight as well.
I also compare the Kobo Libra Colour with the Kindle Paperwhite so you can see how it looks next to a regular black and white E Ink screen, and I also compare it with an iPad at full brightness to show how color E Ink compares to typical LCD screens on tablets and phones.
As noted in the Libra Colour vs Libra 2 comparison, color E Ink screens have a darker appearance than regular E Ink screens because of the added color filter array that’s applied over the top of the screen, and the darker quality is more noticeable when not using the frontlight.
In regular indoor lighting, using the frontight helps make the background appear lighter so the darker screen isn’t as noticeable, but outside in bright light the frontlight has less of an impact, and in direct sunlight it’s not useful at all—you can’t even see it when it’s turned all the way up.
The lighter background definitely stands out more on regular E Ink screens outside in bright light, but I’ve heard some people saying the darker background with color E Ink is actually easier on the eyes since it’s not as bright. That’s all a matter of opinion, of course, but it is something to consider.
When it comes to comparing color E Ink with LCD screens outside in bright light, color E Ink is definitely a lot easier to read. If you’re in the shade and angle your tablet or phone away from the light and away from reflections, it can be useable with the brightness cranked up, but in direct sunlight LCD screens just aren’t good at all—they make a better mirror than a book.
While I used the Kobo Libra Colour in this test, the same applies to other ereaders with color E Ink screens as well. All the current color models from various brands use the same Kaleido 3 screens from E Ink.
Honestly, it doesn’t even seem as ‘dark’ as the old Vizplex panels were, and I read a lot on those without any issues.