iPad Can you read it in direct sunlight?

Orn8one · 07-05-2010, 06:34 PM

I can't find the answer anywhere though I have had an interesting time trawling through all the threads!
I can read my e-ink in direct sunlight and while something so much more sophisticated would be fun for me any device for reading would have to cope with sunshine.
Would love to know.
Thank you.

kjk · 07-05-2010, 06:48 PM

You can actually "see it" in direct sunlight. But "read it"? I wouldn't be able to.
I do check email/twitter/SMS on my iPhone in sunlight with no problems, though. And the iPhone 4 screen is pretty amazing, even in direct sunlight. But its tough to beat eInk displays for use in direct sunlight for actual reading, for now. Some new technologies coming down the road may change all that, though.

pwalker8 · 07-05-2010, 07:06 PM

It depends on how you define direct sunlight. I do have to take off my sunglasses to read, but I can read it in the sun. I can't read it if the Sun or any other bright light source is shining directly on it, but I can solve that by shifting slightly so the light source isn't directly on it. So far, I haven't found it a problem at all. Since I do have a Sony 505, I might choose to take the Sony with me to the beach rather than the iPad, but that's more to avoid getting sand on my iPad than worry about not being able to read it.

scottjl · 07-05-2010, 07:15 PM

no, you can't. it will also quickly overheat in direct sun and shut down.

Yoshi 1080 · 07-05-2010, 07:45 PM

It certainly loses some readability (like any LCD) in daylight but is still quite visible nonetheless. Reading eBooks is definitely possible. It doesn’t overheat either. However, in direct sunlight it is more difficult to use and may in fact overheat if left there for a long period. However, Kindles suffer in that scenario as well because of their plastic displays’ sunlight reflections. Personally, I wouldn’t even want to read print media in direct sunlight because they often get so bright that they hurt my eyes. After all, everything reflects the sun.

Bremen Cole · 07-05-2010, 07:52 PM

I can, but it is not a pleasant experience. Standing in the sun is hot, and not a place I want to read. With brightness turned up all the way it's readable, but not great. I read in the shade, and have no problem.....

David Munch · 07-06-2010, 02:48 AM

How about sitting in the shade? No problem then?

HarryT · 07-06-2010, 03:01 AM

In the shade it's fine, but if you want to read in "real" sunshine you're a lot better off with an eInk screen. The iPad is primarily an "indoor" reader - you're not going to want to take it to the beach

.

Mike_73 · 07-06-2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

In the shade it's fine, but if you want to read in "real" sunshine you're a lot better off with an eInk screen. The iPad is primarily an "indoor" reader - you're not going to want to take it to the beach

.

I fully agree. Tried the ipad on the balcony. With a little shade, it's perfect. Well, I wouldn't want to sit in direct sunlight the whole day either

leebase · 07-06-2010, 11:48 AM

It's not a great "sun reader". Shade is fine. I do often read out in the back yard in the shade. Then again, I'm not particularly fond of sitting in the sun to read anyway.

I've read in the car (wife driving) just fine as well.

I would not recommend the iPad for reading on the beach. Then again, I'd not take any expensive reader to the beach. I'm more than happy to get a paper back or a magazine to read for the .005% of the time that I really want to read outside next to sand and water.

Lee

Mike_73 · 07-07-2010, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

...I would not recommend the iPad for reading on the beach...Lee

No beach close by here anyways

JMikeD · 07-07-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottjl

no, you can't. it will also quickly overheat in direct sun and shut down.

Make that "may" overheat. Mine doesn’t. And I'm in Texas.

tdmsu · 07-07-2010, 12:12 PM

I agree with other posters - tilting will remove any glare, and I like to sit in the shade anyway.

VictoriaP · 07-07-2010, 12:14 PM

I'd say even shade reading is just OK, at best. If you're at all sensitive to glare, you may not be happy with it. I was out in the shade yesterday with the brightness turned all the way up, and regardless of the angle, the reflections on the glass were still a distraction for me. It was doable for surfing, but there's no way I would've gotten into the fully immersive experience that reading from e-ink can be.

Indoors (and especially at night), I can read very comfortably on the iPad.

Orn8one · 07-07-2010, 07:16 PM

Thank you one and all.
I enjoy sitting in my garden in sunshine and reading keeps the guilt [if not the weeds] at bay!! I'll stick with my reader for now, the no-glare screen is so relaxing. I wouldn't want to lose that even for the joy of a screen swipe page turn.

07-05-2010, 06:34 PM	#1
Orn8one Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 8362 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northamptonshire UK Device: Kobo Touch, Sony 650 and Cool-er	Can you read it in direct sunlight? I can't find the answer anywhere though I have had an interesting time trawling through all the threads! I can read my e-ink in direct sunlight and while something so much more sophisticated would be fun for me any device for reading would have to cope with sunshine. Would love to know. Thank you.

07-05-2010, 07:45 PM	#5
Yoshi 1080 Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 204 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Germany Device: iPad, iPhone, Mac	It certainly loses some readability (like any LCD) in daylight but is still quite visible nonetheless. Reading eBooks is definitely possible. It doesn’t overheat either. However, in direct sunlight it is more difficult to use and may in fact overheat if left there for a long period. However, Kindles suffer in that scenario as well because of their plastic displays’ sunlight reflections. Personally, I wouldn’t even want to read print media in direct sunlight because they often get so bright that they hurt my eyes. After all, everything reflects the sun. Last edited by Yoshi 1080; 07-05-2010 at 07:48 PM.

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07-05-2010, 06:48 PM	#2
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	You can actually "see it" in direct sunlight. But "read it"? I wouldn't be able to. I do check email/twitter/SMS on my iPhone in sunlight with no problems, though. And the iPhone 4 screen is pretty amazing, even in direct sunlight. But its tough to beat eInk displays for use in direct sunlight for actual reading, for now. Some new technologies coming down the road may change all that, though.

07-05-2010, 07:06 PM	#3
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	It depends on how you define direct sunlight. I do have to take off my sunglasses to read, but I can read it in the sun. I can't read it if the Sun or any other bright light source is shining directly on it, but I can solve that by shifting slightly so the light source isn't directly on it. So far, I haven't found it a problem at all. Since I do have a Sony 505, I might choose to take the Sony with me to the beach rather than the iPad, but that's more to avoid getting sand on my iPad than worry about not being able to read it.

07-05-2010, 07:15 PM	#4
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	no, you can't. it will also quickly overheat in direct sun and shut down.

07-05-2010, 07:52 PM	#6
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	I can, but it is not a pleasant experience. Standing in the sun is hot, and not a place I want to read. With brightness turned up all the way it's readable, but not great. I read in the shade, and have no problem.....

07-06-2010, 02:48 AM	#7
David Munch Scholar Posts: 1,009 Karma: 3999312 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kobo Libra H2O + iPad Air 4	How about sitting in the shade? No problem then?

07-06-2010, 03:01 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	In the shade it's fine, but if you want to read in "real" sunshine you're a lot better off with an eInk screen. The iPad is primarily an "indoor" reader - you're not going to want to take it to the beach .

07-06-2010, 11:48 AM	#10
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	It's not a great "sun reader". Shade is fine. I do often read out in the back yard in the shade. Then again, I'm not particularly fond of sitting in the sun to read anyway. I've read in the car (wife driving) just fine as well. I would not recommend the iPad for reading on the beach. Then again, I'd not take any expensive reader to the beach. I'm more than happy to get a paper back or a magazine to read for the .005% of the time that I really want to read outside next to sand and water. Lee

07-07-2010, 12:12 PM	#13
tdmsu Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Onyx Boox Nova2	I agree with other posters - tilting will remove any glare, and I like to sit in the shade anyway.

07-07-2010, 12:14 PM	#14
VictoriaP Addict Posts: 298 Karma: 491576 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle PW2; Kindle Touch; Kindle 2; iPad Mini; iPad1	I'd say even shade reading is just OK, at best. If you're at all sensitive to glare, you may not be happy with it. I was out in the shade yesterday with the brightness turned all the way up, and regardless of the angle, the reflections on the glass were still a distraction for me. It was doable for surfing, but there's no way I would've gotten into the fully immersive experience that reading from e-ink can be. Indoors (and especially at night), I can read very comfortably on the iPad.

07-07-2010, 07:16 PM	#15
Orn8one Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 8362 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northamptonshire UK Device: Kobo Touch, Sony 650 and Cool-er	Thank you one and all. I enjoy sitting in my garden in sunshine and reading keeps the guilt [if not the weeds] at bay!! I'll stick with my reader for now, the no-glare screen is so relaxing. I wouldn't want to lose that even for the joy of a screen swipe page turn.

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