MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - cheap portable device for reading text pdf's

brehon · 05-31-2025, 02:50 PM

Hello, once again back to this topic.

I've decided that I will need two devices, one large portable tablet for home/office use and second small tool for outdoors and pocket carry.

For the first one it's between "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" and "Nxtpaper 14", just waiting with final decision for more reviews and avilability.

The second one is more tricky, let me repeat from my first post in this topic:

90% of time I will need it to read pdf files, and those are not normal books but poorly formatted business documents from multiple sources. This means that some will be better and others worse - formatting, font types and sizes, pictures, tables, all kinds of stuff will vary between documents. Good thing is, I can just skip worst formatted files and read them on bigger screen. Also I have limited ways of editing some of those pdfs, so I can change type or size of font without big damage to document structure(lets say 1-2 sizes only but that's still huge difference). I don't need any other features like sound, camera, notetaking or stylus.

Right now I am using my LG G6 phone, that is 1440 x 2880, 564ppi device with 600nits. The actual screen has 138.7mm / 69.3mm dimensions and I am reading those documents in landscape mode actively scrolling down(almost line-by-line). While obviously it sounds like a horrible experience, I do it mainly when I am doing daily stuff, like idling, riding a bus or waiting in queue or coffeshop. I do believe that desipite small size of my device high resolution helps alot but I am seeking for somthing better(and usage in bright daylight is limited but not impossible).

I have few devices on my mind, all of those are second-hand so I will also list prices:

Kindle Paperwhite 3/4: $50-75, actual screen size 117mm / 86mm quite scares me, portrait mode reading will be almost impossible but with such dimensions landscape is also small. Not to mention that I will have to scroll a lot and Kindles aren't best devices for such use. E-Ink Carta 300ppi.

Likebook Mars: $110, actual screen size 158.5mm / 119mm which is bit bigger than my phone. E-Ink Carta 300ppi. A2 fast refresh mode might help with landscape scrolling and Android OS allows for more software.

Pocketbook Inkpad 2(840-2): $110, actual screen size 162.6mm / 122.2mm, similar to Likebook Mars but it's E-Ink Pearl 250ppi screen instead. Possible scrolling issues in landscape.

Hisense A9: $190, actual screen size 138.7mm / 69.3mm, just like my LG G6 phone but it has E-Ink Carta 300ppi screen. Refresh rate is pretty good for e-ink so landscape scrolling will be possible and it's Android OS.

Nxtpaper 40(or Nxtpaper 50 Pro): $110++, actual screen size 154.5mm(158.3mm) / 69.5mm, width is almost like Likebook Mars, both LCD with 395ppi and 400(500)nits, Android OS. Nice anti-glare features and size allows for landscape scrolling but I am afraid of sunny days.

05-31-2025, 02:50 PM	#20
brehon Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: EU Device: none	Hello, once again back to this topic. I've decided that I will need two devices, one large portable tablet for home/office use and second small tool for outdoors and pocket carry. For the first one it's between "Nxtpaper 11 Plus" and "Nxtpaper 14", just waiting with final decision for more reviews and avilability. The second one is more tricky, let me repeat from my first post in this topic: 90% of time I will need it to read pdf files, and those are not normal books but poorly formatted business documents from multiple sources. This means that some will be better and others worse - formatting, font types and sizes, pictures, tables, all kinds of stuff will vary between documents. Good thing is, I can just skip worst formatted files and read them on bigger screen. Also I have limited ways of editing some of those pdfs, so I can change type or size of font without big damage to document structure(lets say 1-2 sizes only but that's still huge difference). I don't need any other features like sound, camera, notetaking or stylus. Right now I am using my LG G6 phone, that is 1440 x 2880, 564ppi device with 600nits. The actual screen has 138.7mm / 69.3mm dimensions and I am reading those documents in landscape mode actively scrolling down(almost line-by-line). While obviously it sounds like a horrible experience, I do it mainly when I am doing daily stuff, like idling, riding a bus or waiting in queue or coffeshop. I do believe that desipite small size of my device high resolution helps alot but I am seeking for somthing better(and usage in bright daylight is limited but not impossible). I have few devices on my mind, all of those are second-hand so I will also list prices: Kindle Paperwhite 3/4: $50-75, actual screen size 117mm / 86mm quite scares me, portrait mode reading will be almost impossible but with such dimensions landscape is also small. Not to mention that I will have to scroll a lot and Kindles aren't best devices for such use. E-Ink Carta 300ppi. Likebook Mars: $110, actual screen size 158.5mm / 119mm which is bit bigger than my phone. E-Ink Carta 300ppi. A2 fast refresh mode might help with landscape scrolling and Android OS allows for more software. Pocketbook Inkpad 2(840-2): $110, actual screen size 162.6mm / 122.2mm, similar to Likebook Mars but it's E-Ink Pearl 250ppi screen instead. Possible scrolling issues in landscape. Hisense A9: $190, actual screen size 138.7mm / 69.3mm, just like my LG G6 phone but it has E-Ink Carta 300ppi screen. Refresh rate is pretty good for e-ink so landscape scrolling will be possible and it's Android OS. Nxtpaper 40(or Nxtpaper 50 Pro): $110++, actual screen size 154.5mm(158.3mm) / 69.5mm, width is almost like Likebook Mars, both LCD with 395ppi and 400(500)nits, Android OS. Nice anti-glare features and size allows for landscape scrolling but I am afraid of sunny days.