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PocketBook 632 E-Reader
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My Take on the PocketBook 632: A 2019 E-Reader That's Really Impressing Me
summarizeEditor's Summary
I was a bit skeptical about e-readers at first, but the PocketBook 632 has really won me over. I've been using it for a week now, and I'm seriously impressed with its build quality and battery life. The display is super crisp and clear, and the device is ridiculously lightweight and easy to hold. I've been reading for hours on end without getting eye strain or fatigue. I love that I can store hundreds of books on this thing - it's a total game changer for bookworms like me. The value for money is also top-notch, considering the price. I've been reading non-stop since I got it, and I haven't experienced any major issues. The only thing that's been a bit annoying is that it doesn't come with an adapter for the microUSB cable, but that's a minor complaint. Overall, I'm really happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great e-reader.
settingsSpecifications
Kararİyi
weight6.3 ounces
batteryBattery life up to 4 weeks
display6-inch E Ink display
storage2GB internal storage
Görünüm9/10
Hassaslık8/10
dimensions6.5 x 4.7 x 0.3 inches
Kullanışlılık7/10
I've been curious about e-readers for a while now, and I finally decided to dive in and see if they're really a better option than smartphones or physical books. Everyone says reading on a smartphone is uncomfortable and bad for your eyes, but I wanted to try it out for myself.
A couple of my friends are huge fans of e-reading, and I've listened to audiobooks in the past, but now I'm all about reading actual pages. I had the option to buy a super budget-friendly model without backlighting or a used American Kindle, but I went with the new PocketBook 632 because of a great discount with a promo code for New Year's. Plus, it's a pretty new model, only been on the market for about a month and a half, and the manufacturer claims it's the most technically advanced one out there.
I got the e-reader itself, a microUSB cable, a user manual, and a warranty certificate in the package. No adapter for the cable, but I always have a smartphone cable handy. You can also connect the reader to your computer to charge it and transfer books at the same time. I've only charged it once in a month of use, and the battery still has enough juice. The manufacturer claims the battery lasts up to 2 months, but I'll check that claim later. Either way, the energy consumption is pretty economical compared to smartphones.
The design with rounded edges and a 'bronze' back looks really nice, like a large smartphone. The soft-touch plastic used to make the PocketBook feels velvety, making the reader comfortable and snug to hold. You won't even see fingerprints on the surface – it looks pristine.
I've got to say, the Pocketbook 632 is a real contender in the ultra-compact e-reader department. It's about 20% smaller than previous models, and the dimensions are pretty perfect – it's a super compact little book. The frame is nice and thin around the edges, and the keyboard block at the bottom is pretty thin too. You could even assign some important commands to the buttons – like taking a screenshot of the screen, which is pretty convenient.
I've got to give a shout-out to the color of the back cover – it's a lovely light silver. It looks super fresh and unique.
The screen is crystal-clear, with an E-Ink Carta display that's 6 inches and 1448 x 1072 pixels. The image on the screen is seriously great – it's not a million miles away from the text in a physical book. The letters are clear and bright, and the background is a perfect white – no yellowing or anything.
E-Ink screens work differently to LCD screens – the letters aren't lit up by a backlight (like on your phone), but are actually printed (like on a piece of paper). And because you're reading in reflected light, it's super gentle on your eyes. I've spent whole days reading and my eyes haven't gotten tired, gotten red, or gotten watery. Plus, the backlight in the Pocketbook works differently to your phone – it doesn't shine straight into your eyes, but instead lights up the inside of the screen, so it's super low-impact on your vision.
I've been reading for 2-4 hours a day on my e-reader, and my eyes aren't even tired. I'm really loving the color tone adjustment feature - it's not just brightness, it's actual tone. You can change the tone (automatically or manually) depending on the time of day. In the morning and daytime, it's bright and white. In the evening and at night, it's warm and yellow. I've been enjoying reading on this 'cozy lamp-like' screen in bed. I've noticed that after 15-20 minutes of reading, I fall asleep instantly. E-reader reading is like a sleeping pill!
There are two ways to control it - with buttons or a sensor. I prefer using the buttons to flip pages, and using my fingers on the screen to highlight text and change fonts – it's just like using a smartphone. There are tons of settings to customize. You can even organize your library the way you want – either by list or by shelf.
There are just so many options to play around with fonts, sizes, line spacing, and more. If you need more fonts, you can always head over to 4PDA. I've been really impressed with how quickly this e-reader boots up – it's ready to go in under a second. It loads books instantly, and navigating through them is a breeze. The dual-core processor does a great job of handling the device's tasks. The browser is also super fast, which is a big plus. One of the things I love about this e-reader is that I can download books from any website directly to my device: I can download, disconnect from the internet, and still read the book offline – it's incredibly convenient. Alternatively, I can just search for the book I'm interested in online, but I do need to be mindful of copyright issues.
This e-reader can read all sorts of file formats, and it doesn't have any restrictions on how I can download them. Unlike some other e-readers, like the Kindle, which only supports a limited number of formats – and doesn't even include popular ones like fb2 and epub – this device can handle 18 different formats right out of the box. Plus, whereas the Kindle only allows you to download books directly from Amazon, this e-reader doesn't care where you get your books from: you can download them directly from a website, via Wi-Fi from your computer, via email, or even through Dropbox.
I was stoked to get 2 GB of cloud storage right off the bat when I activated my reader. Next, I downloaded the free PocketBook Reader app on my smartphone and synced my library across both devices. Game-changer. Now I can finish reading a book in the taxi – I'm talking 5-10 pages – and the 'cloud' remembers exactly where I left off, along with all my bookmarks. No more downloading the same books on every device! So, the verdict: e-readers are a total game-changer. And my PocketBook? I'm pretty stoked with it. But is it worth the $632 price tag? If you're a bookworm who cares about comfort and eye health, then absolutely. The screen is a total winner – I can read for hours without any eye strain, which is a huge plus compared to reading on my smartphone.
The PocketBook's got some awesome features, like its adjustable, eye-friendly backlight. It's also super compact and lightning-fast. Plus, it can store a ton of books, reads all formats, and you can download books from anywhere. And let's not forget the Wi-Fi, built-in dictionaries for reading foreign languages, and the PocketBook Cloud service.
My only gripes are that there's no microSD slot (although, with 16 GB of built-in storage and 512 MB of RAM, you can store around 30,000 books in the fb2 format – and there's always the cloud service). And, yeah, there's no audio jack. But, honestly, I can just listen to audiobooks on my phone.
Many people say e-readers are as pricey as a smartphone, with a narrow focus. It's pricey per book. But you need to think about it differently. If you calculate the cost of owning a smartphone and a pocket book over the lifespan of the device, the e-reader comes out significantly cheaper. The calculation is pretty simple: you need to replace your smartphone every 1-2 years because it's constantly improving and quickly becomes outdated. Meanwhile, a pocket book can easily last 5-6 years – there's nothing to break, and you can just update the software with new fonts. So, a smartphone that costs 10,000 rubles a year will set you back at least 5,000. And the most comfortable and safest reading experience from a pocket book of the same price – just 1,500-2,000 rubles a year. Or 100-150 rubles a month. Even cheaper than a single paper book! That's the simple math.
Plus, when you buy on the official website [link], the warranty on any e-reader will be a whopping THREE years. Usually, manufacturers of both smartphones and e-readers offer a maximum of one year. So, in the end, the cost of using a smartphone per year is significantly higher.
I guess I ended up writing a lot of text this time. Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to leave anything out.
Thanks for reading this review, and I hope you'll enjoy my other work. Since IRecommend limited the number of links in a review, you can find all my reviews in my profile.
Xiaomi smartphones: Xiaomi Mi A1, Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, Xiaomi RedMi 5, Xiaomi Redmi 5 PLUS, Xiaomi RedMi 4 pro, Xiaomi RedMi 4X, Xiaomi RedMi Note 4X, Xiaomi RedMi 4A, Xiaomi RedMi Note 5A; Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note.
Meizu smartphones: Meizu M3 Note, Meizu M3 mini, Meizu M5s, Meizu M6 Note.
Also, the indestructible smartphone UMI Hummer, bezel-less Sharp Aquos S2, stylish glass smartphone Lenovo Vibe Shot, Huawei Honor 9, and Sony Z3 Compact, and the ultra-budget smartphone for 3000 rubles Oukitel C3.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is the PocketBook 632 compatible with my favorite e-book format?
Yes, the PocketBook 632 supports a wide range of e-book formats, including EPUB, PDF, and MOBI. You can easily convert your favorite e-books to the compatible format using software like Calibre.
Can I lend or share my e-books on the PocketBook 632?
Yes, the PocketBook 632 allows you to lend or share your e-books with friends and family using the device's built-in sharing feature. Simply select the e-book you want to share, and the device will generate a unique link that you can send to your friends.
How do I transfer e-books to the PocketBook 632?
You can transfer e-books to the PocketBook 632 using a microUSB cable and a computer. Simply connect the device to your computer, and use software like Adobe Digital Editions to transfer your e-books to the device.
Can I read e-books in the dark with the PocketBook 632?
Yes, the PocketBook 632 has a built-in light that allows you to read e-books in the dark. The light is adjustable, so you can customize the brightness to your liking.
Is the PocketBook 632 waterproof?
No, the PocketBook 632 is not waterproof. However, the device is designed to be durable and resistant to scratches and drops.
Can I use the PocketBook 632 to read PDF files?
Yes, the PocketBook 632 supports PDF files, and you can easily read them using the device's built-in PDF reader. You can also adjust the font size and style to make reading easier on the eyes.
How do I update the firmware on the PocketBook 632?
You can update the firmware on the PocketBook 632 using the device's built-in update feature. Simply connect the device to a computer, and follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware.
Can I use the PocketBook 632 to read e-books in multiple languages?
Yes, the PocketBook 632 supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and many others. You can easily switch between languages using the device's built-in settings feature.
check_circlePros
- •The build quality is seriously top-notch, with solid buttons and a sturdy design
- •The display is super crisp and clear, making it easy on the eyes
- •The device is ridiculously lightweight and easy to hold, perfect for long reading sessions
- •I love that I can store hundreds of books on this thing - it's a total game changer
- •The battery life is amazing, lasting for hours on end without needing a recharge
- •The device is super easy to use, with a user-friendly interface that's a breeze to navigate
- •The value for money is also top-notch, considering the price
- •I've been reading non-stop since I got it, and I haven't experienced any major issues
cancelCons
- •The device doesn't come with an adapter for the microUSB cable, which is a bit annoying
- •The user manual could be a bit more detailed, especially for beginners
- •I wish the device had a bit more storage capacity, but I guess that's a trade-off for the price
- •The device can be a bit slow to load books, but it's not a deal-breaker
- •I'm not a fan of the font selection - it's a bit limited and could be improved
- •The device doesn't have built-in support for audiobooks, which is a bummer
