Smartphone as an eReader ?

[History]

It is much cheaper (with much better reading experience) to get a dump phone (~$50) and an e-reader (~$150). Since a dump phone is small (and strong - e.g. do not mind the bottom of your bag) so carrying both around is not too much (at least for me)

[JimmyH]

I am using a Droid RazrMaxxHD. I am mainly reading Christian reformed books, mostly public domain, so a lot of freebies, or relatively cheap. This is what got me interested in the e-readers to begin with. I have ordered a Kindle Voyage and will be getting that mid November if they ship on schedule.

I find the device I'm reading on now easy to read with, if I'm indoors. I've always been a hard copy guy, and never thought I'd go with digital. OTOH, I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 64 years old, so I'm only just coming into the 21st century.

[Paul Miller]

My Samsung Galexy s4 works really well as a reader. I didn't buy it to read with, but I've found it works well.

[Prestidigitweeze]

If you're concerned about money, you might be interested to know that OnePlus is taking preorders on the One. No more waiting for invitations.

Yesterday, I was able to compare the displays of the One and the LG G3 side by side using the same fonts and graphics (mostly high-res images of Brueghel paintings). While the G3 was the obvious winner, as expected, the One performed surprisingly well. It's also a bigger phone than the Galaxy S4, which I also own, and that seems to make it better for reading. The S4's screen is gorgeously vivid, but I'd choose the One's over it for this application. The G4's Super AMOLED screen reproduces fonts hauntingly well -- they appear to be etched; to have risen into view like decals through water -- but I've experienced more eye strain with it than the One's larger IPS panel.

This is OT, but it matters to me and might to you: a major selling point of the G3 is its ability to play 192k 24-bit audio. With the latest OS update, the One can now do that as well. The S4 cannot.

Also: The G3 and S4 both have removable batteries, but the One does not. If that matters to you, then the One's $300 price difference might not be worth it. The One also lacks an mSD slot, but since its internal memory is 64 GB, I personally don't consider that to be an issue.

[patrickt]

I'm a compulsive reader and I read on my Kindle. But, sometimes I'm stuck and don't have my Kindle. Then I read on my Nexus 5 with the Kindle app. I was really surprised that my old eyes could read on the Nexus 5 but it's not bad at all. Of course, unlike the Kindle, if you're reading outside or in bright sunlight you're out of luck.

[ebusinesstutor]

My wife has the Samsung S3 and uses it as en ebook reader all the time. I have a Galaxy Note 3 and it is my primary ebook reader. I use it more than my 10" tablet for reading.

[Prestidigitweeze]

The Samsung Galaxy S4, S5 and Note 3 all have good screens for reading. I didn't buy the S3 because the screen resolution wasn't high enough for me. I waited until the res was at least as good as that of the iPhone 4, which for Samsung began with the Galaxy S4.

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

My wife has the Samsung S3 and uses it as en ebook reader all the time. I have a Galaxy Note 3 and it is my primary ebook reader. I use it more than my 10" tablet for reading.

Since getting my LG G3, I've used it as my primary ebook reader. It is excellent in that regard.

[Jabby]

I recently bought A ZTE ZMAX that turned out to a pretty good ereader. A couple of things that help the ZMAX along are a BIG battery (3400ma) and navigation buttons that aren't lighted.

Regatds-John

[Teknikal]

I've been reading a few books on my LG G3 with Mantano more as a test than anything else and it's really doing a pretty good job text really does look great especially if you load a few high quality fonts, even the position of the buttons on the back I find pretty good for turning pages.

If I didn't have my two slightly bigger devices I could really be quite happy using it as my only reader,

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Teknikal

I've been reading a few books on my LG G3 with Mantano more as a test than anything else and it's really doing a pretty good job text really does look great especially if you load a few high quality fonts, even the position of the buttons on the back I find pretty good for turning pages.

If I didn't have my two slightly bigger devices I could really be quite happy using it as my only reader,

Just curious why you would need high quality fonts? I am using a Note 4, and even the included fonts look great (using the Kindle app, and I chose Droid Serif as font). But really, even the others look great. Great how they display, not how you like them neccesary.

Unlike you, my phone now became my primary ereader. Actually primary go to device for everything. Have not read on my PW since getting the phone, even at home.

[Love.Forever.]

My Galaxy S4 is alright as a reading device, much prefer the Galaxy tab 3 if I want to read something.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Love.Forever.

My Galaxy S4 is alright as a reading device, much prefer the Galaxy tab 3 if I want to read something.

I believe size matters. My S4 used to be alright for reading in a pinch, but I would if given the choice always prefer my PW to read due to size. The small jump from 5.0" to 5.7" must have crossed a magic invisible barrier for me then going to the Note4. For me it is just right - big enough, but still very easy to hold one handed.

[Teknikal]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Just curious why you would need high quality fonts? I am using a Note 4, and even the included fonts look great (using the Kindle app, and I chose Droid Serif as font). But really, even the others look great. Great how they display, not how you like them neccesary.

Unlike you, my phone now became my primary ereader. Actually primary go to device for everything. Have not read on my PW since getting the phone, even at home.

Just a personal thing I like to have more options available and every now again change the theme so I tend to dump the best fonts I can find into the Mantano fonts folder things like Garamond and Helvetica.

What I'm really saying though is the fonts look really good on that QHD screen so I think it's worth having the best ones.