About a month PocketBook announced that they would be releasing a new InkPad Color 3 just a few months after releasing the InkPad Color 2, and now it’s available to purchase for the same price as the short-lived 2nd gen model.
The PocketBook InkPad Color 3 can now be ordered from PocketBook’s official Amazon store for $329.00 with free shipping. The delivery date is still a ways off, but Amazon’s estimates are usually overly conservative when it comes to shipping new products that were just released.
You have to be careful because PocketBook is still selling the 1st and 2nd gen InkPad Colors on Amazon for the same $329, so if you’re in the market for an ereader with a color E Ink screen make sure to get the third gen model because it’s the best one. Frankly, the fact that PocketBook is doing that is pretty sketchy, like they’re intentionally trying to stick it to people that don’t know there’s a newer version available for the same price.
The InkPad Color 3 is exactly the same as the InkPad Color 2, except it’s using a newer Kaleido 3 screen from E Ink with improved color and higher resolution (150 ppi for color instead of 100 ppi). The fact they were using the older outdated color screens on the InkPad Color 2 never made any sense to begin with.
Check out my InkPad Color 2 review for more details about the device in general. The only difference on the newer model is the screen, and I also posted a quick review of Kaleido 3 screens awhile back too so make sure to check the video review for a closer look at how Kaleido 3 screens compare to regular black and white E Ink screens.
I still think Onyx’s color E Ink devices are a lot better for most things related to color content, but they’re more expensive and the InkPad Color has better battery life and it has more of an ereader vibe than Onyx’s devices that more notebook and tablet oriented.
Here’s the Google translated words of allegedly PB member from a German forum:
> There was a huge rush for the PocketBook InkPad Color 2, released in June 2023, so that sales exceeded the planned number of devices from the start. However, due to screen delivery difficulties from the E Ink company, production could not continue. The only alternative for color e-reader displays was the new E-Ink Kaleido™ 3 technology, which is now installed in the PocketBook InkPad Color 3. Since the resolution of the new device differs significantly from the old one, it was given a new product name and is now known as “PocketBook InkPad Color 3”.
https://www.e-reader-forum.de/t/neues-pocketbook-inkpad-color-3-mit-e-ink-kaleido-tm-3-farbbildschirm.160437/post-2476417
Sounds like a lack of foresight on their part. They should’ve just used the Kaleido 3 screens from the beginning. It sounds like they would’ve elected to stick with the outdated screen tech if E Ink hadn’t forced them to use the newer screens. PocketBook is making a lot of questionable decisions lately, starting with them announcing a new product with a Gallery 3 screen that wasn’t even developed yet, and now they’re switching to ancient Android 8 on the InkPad X Pro, and it looks like it’s not working out how they planned as it now appears they’ve pulled back the release.
Reading between the lines, particularly at what other manufactures were doing, it was about what technology was available at the time.
Kaleido 3 screens were released over a year before the InkPad Color 2 came out, and Onyx released the Tab Ultra C in June with a Kaleido 3 screen and the Tab Mini shortly after.
I meant what they could actually buy and put in their products. If only x number of Kaliedo 3 screens were available, I doubt pocketbook were able to out bid other companies to get them early on.
Interesting… I wonder if someone at PocketBook is reading this blog because now the InkPad Color 1 and 2 are priced lower than the InkPad Color 3 like they should be.
It’s said Kaleido 3 is faster than 2. Do you think it will improve the device’s performance?
No, I don’t think that’s going to make any difference at all.
Would love to hear if reading experience, like in sun light, is similar to B/W ink readers, or can you switch the color inkpad to a B/W mode, and then you have the same experience with the traditional ink readers?
Color E Ink screens look darker because of the added color filter layer over the screen, so you have to crank the frontlight up more. See my Kaleido 3 review for a comparison with a regular E Ink screen.
I was looking for the differences between the Pocketbook Inkpad color 3 versus Pocketbook Viva. The Viva is 200USD more expensive and has the buttons on the side instead of the bottom. Screen seems to be both kaleido 3.
Considering I’m coming from a 12 year old Kindle 4 I guess almost anything is an upgrade, but I’m looking for something that works offline, has physical buttons, long battery duration and doesn’t have a touch screen.
Any suggestions?
The Viva doesn’t exist. It was supposed to use a Gallery 3 screen but the refresh rate was too slow so it got nixed. Anywhere claiming to sell the Viva is a scam. All modern ereaders have touchscreens so you won’t be able to escape that.
PocketBook InkPad Color 3 now on sale at Amazon for $266.
Weird, it looks like it requires a Prime membership to get the discount. I’ve never seen that with PocketBooks before.