Grainy Fonts on a large ereader

Pajamaman · 09-17-2025, 09:28 AM

I'm using an Onyx Note 5, which is 10.3". It is 1872 x 1404 pixels and a density of 227 ppi. As such, fonts are rather grainy on it.

Compare this to the first generation Nova, which is also 1872x1404 pixels but has a density of 300 pixels per inch.

Is there anyway to reduce this graininess? I guess not, but maybe there is a better font or app to reduce it. I am using Caecilia with Alreader Pro X (a version specifically designed for e-ink).

Quoth · 09-17-2025, 10:45 AM

Font designed for older lower resolution displays will look better. However I didn't notice any grainy effect on my reMarkable or Elipsa; I think both have the same eink panel as that Note 5.

Maybe some other setting is a problem. What does Georgia, Ariel, Verdana and New Times Roman look like?

Is it only when using Alreader Pro X? Have you tried KOReader and other regular Android ereader apps?

What is the system GUI looking like?

Pajamaman · 09-17-2025, 10:52 AM

Good points, Thanks. I'll try some other fonts and apps.

Renate · 09-17-2025, 11:37 PM

I think that there might be a problem with Android "helpfully" resizing the output after it's been composited to the frame buffer.
Or maybe I'm conflating that with Windows that does that?
If you're using an older Windows application on a large screen display it does that.
If you think that you need new glasses that could be it.

Check in the "Eink Center" whether the DPI match what it should be.

My Go6 had 350 DPI as the default using a 300 DPI screen.
It shouldn't fudge like that.

Aleron Ives · 09-17-2025, 11:58 PM

You might also want to check the refresh mode. Faster modes can degrade the PQ quite a bit.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I'm using an Onyx Note 5, which is 10.3". It is 1872 x 1404 pixels and a density of 227 ppi. As such, fonts are rather grainy on it.

Compare this to the first generation Nova, which is also 1872x1404 pixels but has a density of 300 pixels per inch.

Is there anyway to reduce this graininess? I guess not, but maybe there is a better font or app to reduce it. I am using Caecilia with Alreader Pro X (a version specifically designed for e-ink).

My Kobo Aura H2O is a 6.8" screen with 227 ppi. I did not find the fonts used to be grainy at all. In fact, the difference between 227 and 300 was not all that noticeable

Maybe it's the fonts you are using. Try ChareInk7SP. I know that's a good looking font on eInk. Here's where you can get ChareInk7SP. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=184056

09-17-2025, 09:28 AM	#1
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,865 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Grainy Fonts on a large ereader I'm using an Onyx Note 5, which is 10.3". It is 1872 x 1404 pixels and a density of 227 ppi. As such, fonts are rather grainy on it. Compare this to the first generation Nova, which is also 1872x1404 pixels but has a density of 300 pixels per inch. Is there anyway to reduce this graininess? I guess not, but maybe there is a better font or app to reduce it. I am using Caecilia with Alreader Pro X (a version specifically designed for e-ink).

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09-17-2025, 10:45 AM	#2
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,589 Karma: 108669873 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Font designed for older lower resolution displays will look better. However I didn't notice any grainy effect on my reMarkable or Elipsa; I think both have the same eink panel as that Note 5. Maybe some other setting is a problem. What does Georgia, Ariel, Verdana and New Times Roman look like? Is it only when using Alreader Pro X? Have you tried KOReader and other regular Android ereader apps? What is the system GUI looking like?

09-17-2025, 10:52 AM	#3
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,865 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Good points, Thanks. I'll try some other fonts and apps.

09-17-2025, 11:37 PM	#4
Renate Onyx-maniac Posts: 4,071 Karma: 18028039 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5, Go6	I think that there might be a problem with Android "helpfully" resizing the output after it's been composited to the frame buffer. Or maybe I'm conflating that with Windows that does that? If you're using an older Windows application on a large screen display it does that. If you think that you need new glasses that could be it. Check in the "Eink Center" whether the DPI match what it should be. My Go6 had 350 DPI as the default using a 300 DPI screen. It shouldn't fudge like that.

09-17-2025, 11:58 PM	#5
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,725 Karma: 16308824 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	You might also want to check the refresh mode. Faster modes can degrade the PQ quite a bit.