Best ereader screen

mrpops · 02-03-2019, 07:02 PM

Greetings all, long time forum lurker but I registered to ask your advice.

I've got a kindle 3 keyboard, of which i've thoroughly modded with the help of all the advice on here, i'm just wondering if its time for an upgrade.

My requirements aren't that tough, as I don't really care about total storage and calibre usually ends up converting anyway so format doesn't matter. (I don't read PDFs / mangas / comics on eink, the tablet is for that. Purely text reading, from fiction / fantasy books.)

The main thing (which i'm struggling with) is to discern which has the best screen (by best, i mean in terms of contrast ratio / how deep the blacks look and such).

I don't mind having no backlight, I might even prefer it (so a recommendation with a mod that allows to to completely turn off the light is a plus).

From reading reviews it seems that the latest kindle offerings PW4, the screens aren't as deep in contrast ratio - with the voyage being better.

I'm leaning slightly towards the voyage but I have no experience with kobo's offerings and online reviews / videos are difficult because they don't showcase all the features that are possible (when all the mods are installed).

Modification / customisation are a big plus for me, as is battery life (i love the kindle 3 keyboard can last a month on a single charge).

Thank you for all advice

Sirtel · 02-03-2019, 07:13 PM

I've heard good things about the Nook Glowlight 3 screen, but in all the other respects it seems to be somewhat of a PITA, especially sideloading. I've no personal experience with it, I've only read the posts here on MR.

The Voyage has the best contrast of all the Kindles.

As to Kobos, again no personal experience, but the posters here praised the Kobo Glo HD screen a couple of years back. Unfortunately it's been discontinued, but it might still be available from Ebay etc.

barryem · 02-03-2019, 11:13 PM

I have a Nook Glowlight 3 and, while it does have some problems, it's a pretty decent device. And it's screen is superb.

I have 3 new Paperwhites as well as some older Paperwhites and a Voyage. When I put them side by side and compare one of my Paperwhites has a tiny bit less contrast than the other Kindles. It's not a noticeable difference even when comparing. I have to look carefully to see it. When I'm reading they're all perfect.

The Glowlight 3 doesn't have the capacative layer. It has an infra-red touch screen and the capacative layer needed for capacative touch screens does reduce contrast a bit. So the Glowlight 3 has noticeably better contrast than the Kindles.

It also has the problem that the table of contents screens and the dictionary definitions are grayed out, in one of the dumbest design decisions ever. It's very hard to read definitions if you use the dictionary and table of contents are just as bad.

Other than that it's a decent reading device. It doesn't have all the features the Kindles have but it has the features I usually care about and I like it. I still do most of my reading on my Kindles but I use the Nook as well.

If all you care about is screen quality then probably you should look at the Glowlight 3. If you care about the other features we're used to in ereaders I suggest looking at the Paperwhite. It's screen is nearly as good and everything else about it is better.

Barry

mrpops · 02-05-2019, 11:51 AM

After reviewing everything, I think i've come to the conclusion to go with a kindle voyage. The hard part now will be getting one with an old enough firmware capable of jailbreaking it.

j.p.s · 02-11-2019, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpops

After reviewing everything, I think i've come to the conclusion to go with a kindle voyage. The hard part now will be getting one with an old enough firmware capable of jailbreaking it.

Some of the new Voyages that turn up for sale on amazon, and maybe woot, were made long enough ago that the firmware is jailbreakable. I know because I got one from amazon a few months ago.

Barbara1955 · 02-11-2019, 01:34 PM

Any of the newer e-readers will have what you want. K3 is only 156 ppi. the New kindles kobos & nooks have 300 ppi. I believe ALL have adjustable lights & weights... You can make the words Dark as you want. Kindle Paperwhite 4 is on sale $99 & trade in you K3 save even more!

maximus83 · 02-11-2019, 01:41 PM

I'm testing both a Kindle Oasis 2, and a Kobo Forma. These screens are gorgeous for e-ink, and screen-wise, I could be totally happy with either of these readers. For that matter, the Kobo Clara HD, which I tried earlier and returned due to a hardware defect, had a nice screen but it was a bit small for my taste.

02-03-2019, 07:02 PM	#1
mrpops Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: Kindle	Best ereader screen Greetings all, long time forum lurker but I registered to ask your advice. I've got a kindle 3 keyboard, of which i've thoroughly modded with the help of all the advice on here, i'm just wondering if its time for an upgrade. My requirements aren't that tough, as I don't really care about total storage and calibre usually ends up converting anyway so format doesn't matter. (I don't read PDFs / mangas / comics on eink, the tablet is for that. Purely text reading, from fiction / fantasy books.) The main thing (which i'm struggling with) is to discern which has the best screen (by best, i mean in terms of contrast ratio / how deep the blacks look and such). I don't mind having no backlight, I might even prefer it (so a recommendation with a mod that allows to to completely turn off the light is a plus). From reading reviews it seems that the latest kindle offerings PW4, the screens aren't as deep in contrast ratio - with the voyage being better. I'm leaning slightly towards the voyage but I have no experience with kobo's offerings and online reviews / videos are difficult because they don't showcase all the features that are possible (when all the mods are installed). Modification / customisation are a big plus for me, as is battery life (i love the kindle 3 keyboard can last a month on a single charge). Thank you for all advice Last edited by mrpops; 02-03-2019 at 07:05 PM.

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02-03-2019, 07:13 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,994 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I've heard good things about the Nook Glowlight 3 screen, but in all the other respects it seems to be somewhat of a PITA, especially sideloading. I've no personal experience with it, I've only read the posts here on MR. The Voyage has the best contrast of all the Kindles. As to Kobos, again no personal experience, but the posters here praised the Kobo Glo HD screen a couple of years back. Unfortunately it's been discontinued, but it might still be available from Ebay etc.

02-03-2019, 11:13 PM	#3
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have a Nook Glowlight 3 and, while it does have some problems, it's a pretty decent device. And it's screen is superb. I have 3 new Paperwhites as well as some older Paperwhites and a Voyage. When I put them side by side and compare one of my Paperwhites has a tiny bit less contrast than the other Kindles. It's not a noticeable difference even when comparing. I have to look carefully to see it. When I'm reading they're all perfect. The Glowlight 3 doesn't have the capacative layer. It has an infra-red touch screen and the capacative layer needed for capacative touch screens does reduce contrast a bit. So the Glowlight 3 has noticeably better contrast than the Kindles. It also has the problem that the table of contents screens and the dictionary definitions are grayed out, in one of the dumbest design decisions ever. It's very hard to read definitions if you use the dictionary and table of contents are just as bad. Other than that it's a decent reading device. It doesn't have all the features the Kindles have but it has the features I usually care about and I like it. I still do most of my reading on my Kindles but I use the Nook as well. If all you care about is screen quality then probably you should look at the Glowlight 3. If you care about the other features we're used to in ereaders I suggest looking at the Paperwhite. It's screen is nearly as good and everything else about it is better. Barry

02-05-2019, 11:51 AM	#4
mrpops Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: Kindle	After reviewing everything, I think i've come to the conclusion to go with a kindle voyage. The hard part now will be getting one with an old enough firmware capable of jailbreaking it.

02-11-2019, 01:34 PM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Any of the newer e-readers will have what you want. K3 is only 156 ppi. the New kindles kobos & nooks have 300 ppi. I believe ALL have adjustable lights & weights... You can make the words Dark as you want. Kindle Paperwhite 4 is on sale $99 & trade in you K3 save even more!

02-11-2019, 01:41 PM	#7
maximus83 Nameless Being	I'm testing both a Kindle Oasis 2, and a Kobo Forma. These screens are gorgeous for e-ink, and screen-wise, I could be totally happy with either of these readers. For that matter, the Kobo Clara HD, which I tried earlier and returned due to a hardware defect, had a nice screen but it was a bit small for my taste.