Hisense A7 5G

[rowe]

On the warm light issue...
Using the built in light, I prefer reading on an A5 at night compared to any other e-ink device I've owned (including Kindle Oasis 1/2, Voyage, Boox Nova 2).

On those devices, the lighting is more harsh that the A5 IMO. Including the Nova 2 which has warm light.

When reading in the dark, it works well to set the background as grey. I've set this up as a 'night mode' in MoonReader+.

The Hisense phones are also much more robust than most ereaders (mine is always in my pocket). And it's great to have the page turn buttons in an ergonomic position (and remote compatibility).

The 16:9 ratio is good for readability, as line lengths should be fairly short. But not good for things with fixed layouts based on traditional paper sizes - like manga.

The things I don't like about the A5:
- low PPI (now fixed on the A7)
- that the screen is only matte because they've applied a screen protector at the factory
- it has a bunch of things I've paid for and carry but will never use (cameras, speaker, mic, sim slot, modem)
- under direct sunlight the screen needs to be regularly manually cleared
- no usb-c or quick charge (now fixed on the A7)
- although I like the tone of the A5 lighting, it's not as uniform as on other modern e-readers

I'll only be tempted to upgrade by a significantly improved model that's a similar size to the A5. It's not perfect, but I still love my A5.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by cqman

With the release of A7, the new features were ported to A5 models as well.

I've updated mine to version 2020.12.22.

I'm currently installing the update for my A5 Pro CC.

Sadly, there is no new update for my regular A5 model and hasn't been since September. It's still on version: L1657.6.11.01.00.

However, I'm pretty pleased with my regular A5 the way it is so it's not a complaint, just a clarification that the updates are only for the newer models of the A5 family.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by rowe

The 16:9 ratio is good for readability, as line lengths should be fairly short. But not good for things with fixed layouts based on traditional paper sizes - like manga.

Perhaps I'm a weirdo, but I find my eInk kindles way nicer to read on when it comes to aspect ratio than my ... 18.5:9 I think Pixel 3a or 19.5:9 Pixel 4a that I replaced it with.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by epaper

i agree. the ratio of the kindle and other ereaders is best for reading. similar to a real book.

As mentioned above, real books are not 4:3, and the page block of real books is much closer to 16:9.

[cqman]

A7 vs A5

F.Y.R.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

As mentioned above, real books are not 4:3, and the page block of real books is much closer to 16:9.

The most similar format to a book results from 4: 3 landscape format in two columns: results in approximately two times 14: 9.

[kandwo]

No news yet about a global release, which is a bit of a letdown. I'm still hoping for one. but not holding my breath.

In the meantime, here's a video in Chinese where a guy compares the A5 to the A7. You can clearly see the difference in size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmPzxgJAtiU

[norweger]

To my eyes the A5 display looks better. Thanks for the link kandwo.

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by norweger

To my eyes the A5 display looks better. Thanks for the link kandwo.

Do you mean the size? The A7 is supposed to have a higher resolution screen with 300 ppi instead of the 273 (?) ppi of the A5. I don't know if this translates into a big difference in practice, though. I'll have to compare the A5, when it arrives, to my 300 ppi e-readers - hopefully it's not too much of a downgrade in resolution (on the other hand the popular Note Air has even lower ppi).

I find it amusing that in some of these videos, when the presenter holds up the phone it's almost bigger than the size of their head! It just seems massive.

Still hoping it becomes a huge hit to increase the chances of a global release. Maybe they are waiting for the colour version to be released first. But as for now it looks like there won't be anything other than a Chinese version.

[norweger]

The color temperature is what I commented on; it looked better to my eyes. I won't buy the A7, but the 300 ppi you talk about, that's a good sign for devices to come.

Originally Posted by kandwo

Still hoping it becomes a huge hit to increase the chances of a global release.

Amen!

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kandwo

hopefully it's not too much of a downgrade in resolution (on the other hand the popular Note Air has even lower ppi).

Usually viewed from a greater distance than a smartphone.

[binaryhermit]

Man, the Hisense A7 is bigger than the Nexus 6 albeit thinner than the Nexus 6 is at its thinnest point... That's gotta be awkward to use considering the Nexus 6 was too big.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

That's gotta be awkward to use considering the Nexus 6 was too big.

Not sure whom such a sized device would appeal to. Too big to comfortably fit into most pockets and thus not the most practical phone. Too small to replace a tablet or larger ereading device for those times when one needs greater screen real estate such as when reading a PDF.

I actually would have been happier if they had produced a device smaller than the A5. Just as well they didn't, otherwise I might have been tempted to part with more money.

[binaryhermit]

Then again, I have put a 6 inch e-reader into a pants pocket.

And it does seem that phone manufacturers think bigger is better

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Man, the Hisense A7 is bigger than the Nexus 6 albeit thinner than the Nexus 6 is at its thinnest point... That's gotta be awkward to use considering the Nexus 6 was too big.

On the one hand it is much too big and too heavy for me:
- for my smartphone applications - mainly phone calls, mobile hotspot, GPS - I use a 100g smartphone with a 3 inch screen, which I can comfortably have with me in my shirt pocket.

On the other hand too small:
- I prefer devices from 8 inches (4: 3 - 8: 5).

I only take my Boox Poke 3 with me when I want to read on the go.