IT Times reporter Lin Fei
As a representative brand of e-book readers, Amazon Kindle enjoys high popularity and market share around the world. It can be seen from the listing of Amazon in the United States that in addition to Kindle, there are few e-book readers of other foreign brands, and Kindle almost occupies a monopoly position in the market.
Unlike overseas markets, China's e-book reader market presents a more competitive situation. Some established brands such as Hanwang and Zhangyue are still sticking to the market, while Mesozoic brands such as aragonite and ink case are competing for market share by launching new products of different sizes.
In the supply chain of e-book readers, the ink screen, as the core component, is almost monopolized by Yuantai Technology. Whether it is a black and white or color ink screen, Yuantai Technology is the only supplier. Due to the singularity of screen suppliers, different brands of e-book readers tend to be consistent in the basic quality of screens.
Therefore, for consumers, when choosing an e-book reader, in addition to considering brand and price factors, they should also pay attention to product innovation and personalized service.
Ink Pantone 6 color screen eBook: Long battery life
Mobi is a Xiaomi ecological chain enterprise, and the e-book reader of the Xiaomi brand is manufactured by it.
Pantone 6 is a new small-size color e-book reader launched by Ink Case this year, which uses Yuantai Technology's 6-inch Kaleido 3 color ink screen, with a color resolution of 150PPI and a black and white resolution of 300PPI. With a thickness of only 7.25mm and a weight of 152g, it is easy to operate with one hand and carry it on the go. The high-alumina silicon glass cover plate and electroplating AG film process enhance the hardness and anti-glare effect of the screen, and the self-developed MRD display effect adjustment technology further optimizes the color display effect and residual image control, and improves the visual experience of reading.
In terms of hardware configuration, Pantone 6 is equipped with RK3566 processor and 4GB+64GB memory combination to ensure that the device can run smoothly. The open system based on Android 11 allows users to freely install and use various reading apps, such as Bilibili Comics and WeChat Reading. In addition, the 32-level dual-color temperature front light adjustment function adapts to the reading needs in different light environments, and the 1800mAh capacity battery provides good battery life.
The ink case also prepares a PU material protective case with intelligent wake-up and sleep functions for Pantone 6, which not only protects the device but also saves power.
Aragonite Leaf3C: In-depth adaptation to Bilibili comics
The new 7-inch Leaf3C color screen e-book reader also uses the Kaleido 3 color ink screen, providing 4096 color display, and aragonite also provides a custom screen color adjustment function, allowing users to adjust the color effect according to their preferences.
In terms of hardware configuration, Leaf3C is equipped with a Qualcomm octa-core processor, equipped with 4GB LPDDR4X memory and 64GB EMMC 5.1 storage, which supports expansion to 1TB, which guarantees smooth operation and storage capacity. In addition, the 2300mAh battery capacity supports up to 40 hours of battery life, which is suitable for long reading needs.
In terms of system, Leaf3C runs an open system based on Android 11, pre-installed with NeoReader system, supports more than 20 document formats, and provides functions such as direct file transmission and wireless mutual transfer. In addition, it also has six built-in network disks and eight book cities, covering literary novels, periodicals and magazines, workplaces and other types of content, and supports one-click installation of 80+ software, which greatly enriches users' reading choices.
The exterior design of the Leaf 3C is also elegant, with an asymmetrical book-like design for easy one-handed holding, and physical side buttons for easy page turning. The back panel is made of a new skin-friendly material that feels smooth to the touch and is not easy to stain fingerprints. In addition, it has features such as a high-sensitivity microphone, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, and supports wired connectivity and device charging through the Type-C port.
The Leaf 3C excels at reading colorful content, especially for comic book lovers. It also supports a variety of reading apps, such as Bilibili Comics, and has been deeply adapted to optimize the reading experience. Whether it is from the perspective of hardware performance, system openness or reading experience, Leaf 3C is a product worth recommending.
掌阅iReader Neo2 Pro：30级亮度调节
Palm Reading Technology originally started as a reading app, and later stepped into the field of e-book hardware. iReader Neo 2 Pro is its newly launched e-book reader that has attracted the attention of the market for its excellent performance and reading experience. This 6-inch product uses a Centai Carta 1300 black and white ink screen with a resolution of 300 PPI, which can ensure the clear display of text and images, while reducing the visual fatigue that can be caused by long readings. Its 4-core CPU and 2GB of RAM ensure smooth running speeds, and 32GB of storage space is enough to store a large number of e-books.
In terms of software, the iReader Neo 2 Pro's system UI interface is simple and intuitive, and it supports i-Display refresh technology to reduce screen flickering and provide a smoother reading experience. In addition, the device also has 30 levels of brightness and color temperature adjustment function to adapt to different reading environments, and is equipped with a soft reading light that adopts DC dimming technology to provide users with a good experience of reading at night.
The iReader Neo 2 Pro has a built-in 1500mAh battery and weighs 300g, making it easy for users to take with them wherever they go. In addition to the basic reading function, it also supports additional functions such as dictionary query and Bluetooth listening, which increases the usefulness of the reader.
Ink Case Mini Reading Pro: The best choice for small sizes
If you want to choose an e-book reader less than 6 inches, the ink case mini reading Pro is currently the most worthwhile product on sale, it uses a 5.2-inch black and white ink screen, with a resolution of 284PPI, and has a 24-level adjustable dual-color temperature reading light, adapting to different reading environments. The open system based on Android 8.1 allows users to install third-party apps freely, and the large storage capacity of 64GB meets the storage needs of a large number of books and apps.
The body design of the Ink Case Mini Reading Pro is simple, the matte texture provides a good feel and anti-slip effect, and there are easy-to-distinguish physical buttons on the right side, including a special red power button. The bottom is equipped with a Type-C interface and a microphone to support voice input. The brand logo on the front supports touch function and provides a variety of customized operations. The system interface is similar to that of a mobile phone, which is easy to use, and supports quick settings and screen refresh.
In terms of battery life, it has a built-in 1400mAh battery, which can support about 9 hours of reading in standard mode and up to 25 hours in power-saving mode. In addition, the device also supports a variety of reading applications such as WeChat Reading and Jingdong Reading, as well as the exclusive "Ink Case Back Words" learning application, which expands the use scenarios of the product.
Mini Reading Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack and speakers, and requires Bluetooth or Type-C headphones to realize the listening function.
Aragonite Poke5 2024 Edition: 28 formats are supported
The aragonite Poke5 2024 version e-book reader also uses a 6-inch Yuantai Carta 1300 ink screen with a resolution of 300PPI. It is equipped with a Qualcomm quad-core processor and a memory combination of 2GB RAM + 32GB ROM and supports up to 1TB TF card expansion to meet the user's massive storage needs. The 1500mAh large-capacity battery guarantees battery life, and the official data is that it can last for more than 30 days for 2 hours of reading per day.
The screen of the aragonite Poke5 2024 version uses a flat microcrystalline etched tempered glass cover, which is not only beautiful but also has a good sense of control. The warm and cold front light system allows users to adjust the color temperature according to their personal preferences and ambient light, while the 256-step grayscale display technology provides a more natural visual experience. The open system based on Android 11 supports the download and installation of third-party applications, and the Neoreader engine independently developed by aragonite makes reading more intelligent, providing functions such as online word search, translation, and underline notes.
In addition, the Poke5 2024 version supports 28 commonly used reading formats, with reading optimization functions such as PDF reflow and automatic trimming, and at the same time, the BOOX mutual transfer and BOOX assistant APP push functions also greatly improve the convenience of file transfer.