Best PocketBook eReaders

TL;DR: The PocketBook Era Stardust Silver delivers a crisp 7‑inch 300 ppi E Ink Carta 1200 display, waterproof design, and solid 1700 mAh battery in a lightweight 0.50‑lb frame for serious readers.

The standout feature is its 7‑inch E Ink Carta 1200 panel with 300 ppi resolution and SMARTlight front‑light that lets you adjust brightness and colour temperature. Combined with an IPX8 rating (water‑resistant to 2 m for 1 hour) and a flush glass screen with anti‑scratch protection, the Era offers a premium reading surface that stays clear in bright sunlight or a dim bedroom.

Compared with its PocketBook siblings, the Era is lighter than the InkPad 4 (which tips in at about 0.58 lb) and slimmer than the Verse Lite’s 7.6 mm thickness. Its 1700 mAh battery falls between the Verse Pro Color’s 2100 mAh and the Verse Lite’s 1000 mAh, while the screen size exceeds the 6‑inch displays of both Verse models yet falls a touch short of the InkPad 4’s 7.8‑inch panel. Storage is modest at 16 GB, matching the Verse Pro Color, and its 1 GB RAM matches the InkPad 4 and Verse Pro Color, giving it comparable multitasking capability.

Professional reviewers praise the razor‑sharp fonts and the 15 % higher contrast of the Carta 1200 panel, noting that the dual‑core 1 GHz processor makes page turns feel smooth. Users appreciate the ergonomic side buttons and G‑sensor auto‑rotation for one‑handed commuting. The built‑in mono speaker and USB‑C‑to‑mini‑jack adapter provide basic audio, though the mono output lacks the richness of stereo speakers. The device runs Linux 3.10.65 and supports 29 file formats, including 26 Text‑to‑Speech languages, making it versatile for audiobooks and multilingual reading.

Best for: Those prioritizing quality and willing to pay for premium performance

Avoid if: You need advanced features or professional‑grade performance

TL;DR: The PocketBook Verse Lite offers a 6‑inch E Ink Carta display, ultra‑light 0.72 lb body, and up to two‑month battery life at $125, making it a solid budget eReader for casual readers.

At the heart of the Verse Lite is a 6‑inch E Ink Carta touchscreen with a resolution of 758 × 1024 pixels and a pixel density of 212 ppi. The SmartLight front‑light provides adjustable cold‑only brightness, while the 1000 mAh battery delivers up to two months of reading on a single charge. Weighing just 0.72 lb (328 g) and measuring 134 mm × 222 mm × 7.6 mm, the device feels exceptionally portable.

Compared with its PocketBook siblings, the Verse Lite is lighter than the Verse Pro Color (0.77 lb) but heavier than the Era Stardust Silver (0.50 lb) and InkPad 4 (0.58 lb). Its battery capacity (1000 mAh) trails the Pro Color’s 2100 mAh, the Stardust’s 1700 mAh, and the InkPad 4’s 2900 mAh, so you’ll recharge more often than with those models. The Lite also offers half the RAM (512 MB vs 1 GB) and half the internal storage (8 GB vs 16 GB or 32 GB), and it lacks the Bluetooth audio support found on the Pro Color.

Professional reviewers praise the ultra‑light chassis and month‑long battery as ideal for travelers, and users echo the convenience of a glare‑free screen and broad 25‑plus format support. The main criticisms focus on the absence of a warm‑light option, no waterproofing, and a lower‑resolution 212 ppi screen that falls short of current 300 ppi expectations. The device also doesn't include a microSD slot, limiting storage expansion.

Best for: Entry‑level buyers or those on a tight budget

Avoid if: You need powerful performance or professional‑grade features

TL;DR: The PocketBook Verse Pro Color offers a 6‑inch Kaleido 3 E‑Ink display, 2100 mAh battery and Bluetooth audio in a 0.77‑lb waterproof body for $179.

The standout feature is its 6‑inch E Ink Kaleido 3 panel that supports 4096 colors and a grayscale resolution of 1072 × 1448 pixels (300 ppi). Powered by a 1.8 GHz quad‑core CPU, 1 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage, the device also packs a 2100 mAh Li‑Ion polymer battery and weighs just 0.77 pounds (349 g).

Compared with the other PocketBook models in this roundup, the Verse Pro Color is heavier than the Era Stardust Silver (0.50 lb) and InkPad 4 (0.58 lb) but only a shade heavier than the Verse Lite (0.72 lb). Its battery capacity of 2100 mAh sits between the Verse Lite’s 1000 mAh and the InkPad 4’s 2900 mAh, while offering more storage than the Lite and matching the Era’s 16 GB. The 6‑inch screen's smaller than the Era’s 7‑inch and InkPad 4’s 7.8‑inch displays, giving it a truly pocket‑sized footprint.

Professional reviewers note the device’s slim, waterproof chassis and praise the Kaleido 3 screen for comic‑book reading, yet they point out the indented screen design that can trap dust and the modest 150 ppi color resolution. Users echo the appreciation for Bluetooth audio and the ability to read outdoors thanks to the non‑glare E Ink optics, while some wish for a microSD slot to expand the library beyond the built‑in 16 GB.

Additional technical touches include SMARTlight for adjustable color temperature, a G‑sensor that auto‑rotates the screen, and a cover sensor that puts the e‑reader to sleep when closed. The device runs a Linux 4.9.56 operating system and supports Adobe DRM alongside a wide range of ebook formats such as EPUB, PDF, CBZ and DJVU.

Best for: Entry-level buyers or those on a tight budget

Avoid if: You want the best value-per-dollar in its price range

TL;DR: The PocketBook InkPad 4 offers a 7.8‑inch Kaleido 3 color E‑Ink screen, 32 GB storage and IPX8 waterproofing at 0.58 lb for a premium reading experience, though it carries a higher price tag.

The standout feature is its 7.8‑inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display, which renders up to 4 096 colors and 16 greyscale levels. The panel’s resolution reaches 1 264 × 1 680 pixels in greyscale and 632 × 840 pixels in color, and the SMARTlight front‑light lets you fine‑tune color temperature and switch to Dark mode for low‑light reading.

Compared with the other PocketBook models in this roundup, the InkPad 4 is pricier than the PocketBook Era, but it packs a larger 32 GB of internal storage versus the Era’s 16 GB. Its 2 900 mAh battery outlasts the Era’s 1 700 mAh, the Verse Pro’s 2 100 mAh and the Verse Lite’s 1 000 mAh. At 0.58 lb (265 g) it’s heavier than the Era’s 0.50 lb but lighter than the Verse Pro’s 0.77 lb, making it a middle ground in portability.

Reviewers consistently praise the vivid Kaleido 3 screen for comics and manga, and the IPX8 rating for reading by the pool or in the bathtub. Built‑in speaker, Bluetooth audio and Text‑to‑Speech add convenience for audiobooks on the commute. The main criticisms focus on the 265 g weight, which some find bulkier than 7‑inch rivals, and the lack of a micro‑SD slot that limits storage expansion beyond the fixed 32 GB.

Under the hood, a quad‑core 1.8 GHz processor paired with 1 GB RAM runs a Linux 4.9.56 OS, delivering smooth page turns and basic multitasking. Connectivity includes dual‑band Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 5.0/5.4, a USB‑C port, and sensors for auto‑wake and cover detection. The device also carries an IPX8 waterproof rating, allowing immersion in fresh water up to 2 m for an hour.

Best for: Those who prioritize a high‑quality color display and waterproof design for comics, manga, graphic novels or textbook reading.

Avoid if: You need expandable storage, extensive multitasking, or are looking for the lowest‑price e‑reader.