Latest paperwhite's screen vs. voyage's screen

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Barty

I just read the PW4 uses a plastic-backed screen rather than glass. Maybe that's the difference. I wonder if it's been shown to be less prone to breakage.

I think the screen is plastic, but the substrate is still glass. it's usually the substrate that breaks. (I may be wrong, if I am someone will correct me.)

[Quoth]

Yes, it's often the substrate.
On the Cover Story the alloy backplate has a cutout for the lithium cell. All lithium cells in pockets expand with age. That's what cracked the screen.

You'll see eink with NO cracks on the surface but the tell tale issues of a cracked substrate. Even from being dropped.

Some other brands/models have the same design flaw. So do have some phones and tablets and that can break an LCD screen too. They use two glass panels and the top one has to be very thin to avoid viewing angle messing alignment of colour filter to LCD segments.

I was pleased to see that the Kobo Libra and Kobo H2O original have the chassis plate completely covering the rear of the screen. The Kobo Libra one is an even better design.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Barty

I just read the PW4 uses a plastic-backed screen rather than glass. Maybe that's the difference. I wonder if it's been shown to be less prone to breakage.

AFAIR, the only two ereaders less than 10.3" diagonal with a Mobius screen (eInk plastic substrate) are the Kobo Forma and Tolino Epos 2 8" devices.

I think the PW4 uses a plastic front layer instead of glass. Sadly the substrate is the layer that usually has issues with cracking or breaking.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by DNSB

AFAIR, the only two ereaders less than 10.3" diagonal with a Mobius screen (eInk plastic substrate) are the Kobo Forma and Tolino Epos 2 8" devices.

I think the PW4 uses a plastic front layer instead of glass. Sadly the substrate is the layer that usually has issues with cracking or breaking.

I think, perhaps, the Inkpad X also uses a plastic substrate.

(I now see you were talking about those that are LESS than 10.3".)

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Barty

As soon as I posted it, I thought "is that right? Seems like that was ages ago". You are correct, the Voyage came out November 2014.

I just read the PW4 uses a plastic-backed screen rather than glass. Maybe that's the difference. I wonder if it's been shown to be less prone to breakage.

That’s my theory. I don’t use a cover and have never picked up a scratch or crack. But it could also be easier to produce with more consistent quality.

If and when there is a PW5, using a more optically clear (and still physically robust) material would be a win.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Barty

AI just read the PW4 uses a plastic-backed screen rather than glass. Maybe that's the difference. I wonder if it's been shown to be less prone to breakage.

The PW4 is using a regular glass-backed eInk screen. It's the front layer that's plastic and not glass.

[Josieb1]

We have 5 kindles, an Oasis 2 (mine), a Voyage (mine), another Voyage and two PW4s. I also have a Kobo Libra H20. I decided I want a second Kobo, I bought the Clara HD, to replace one of the kindles, and I would sell a Kindle.

Hubby has a Kindle and he doesn’t care which one it is, he had one of the PW4s. I showed him both PWs and the spare Voyage. Told him to pick which one he wanted. It’s always my job to set him up and download his books so changing his kindle isn’t an issue for me.

He picked the Voyage, even though that’s from 2014 and the PWs are from 2018. He decided totally on the screen, nothing else matters to him.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

We have 5 kindles, an Oasis 2 (mine), a Voyage (mine), another Voyage and two PW4s. I also have a Kobo Libra H20. I decided I want a second Kobo, I bought the Clara HD, to replace one of the kindles, and I would sell a Kindle.

Hubby has a Kindle and he doesn’t care which one it is, he had one of the PW4s. I showed him both PWs and the spare Voyage. Told him to pick which one he wanted. It’s always my job to set him up and download his books so changimg his kindle isn’t an issue for me.

He picked the Voyage, even though that’s from 2014 and the PWs are from 2018. He decided totally on the screen, nothing else matters to him.

I would have to say that you married a smart man!

[willaful]

I've never had an ereader I loved as much as the Voyage. (Admittedly I haven't tried the Oasis, but the price and the weird shape put me off.) Along with the better screen, the auto lighting setting and the haptic turn buttons are winners for me. Mine is probably on its last legs and I hope I can replace it.

[Barty]

Look what y'all made me do. I went and impulse bought another Voyage from eBay

[BiliBug]

Originally Posted by Barty

Look what y'all made me do. I went and impulse bought another Voyage from eBay

I did the same. I regretfully traded in my Voyage for an Oasis 3 last year. Although the larger screen, increased storage and reverse text “white on black” setting are great, I missed the sharp contrast and deeper black of the Voyage. I also prefer the haptic page turn buttons, which make it easier to hold. Ultimately, readability is the most important feature.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by BiliBug

I did the same. I regretfully traded in my Voyage for an Oasis 3 last year. Although the larger screen, increased storage and reverse text “white on black” setting are great, I missed the sharp contrast and deeper black of the Voyage. I also prefer the haptic page turn buttons, which make it easier to hold. Ultimately, readability is the most important feature.

This thread sure has dampened my desire to upgrade to an oasis But one more question:

Does the inverted mode in oasis looks better than if you just invert your book by editing the CSS? I like dark mode on LCD and OLED screen, but simulating dark mode on the voyage by inverting the book doesn't look so hot to me, as the black looks too grey, the white isn't white, and the text looks less sharp. I attached a book that I've inverted and if someone will test it out I'd appreciate it.

(The azw3 file is the inverted version, the mobi is the normal version. The book is public domain downloaded from mobileread.)

[ArthurianLegends]

Just to chime in late. I returned a PW, after being severely disappointed with the contrast, and after two more replacements, I decided to stay with my Voyage. The Voyage text for some reason just looks sharper, richer and therefore more pleasing to these old eyes. I have the latest Oasis too, which is more my stay at home reader with the yellow light, but my Voyage goes everywhere with me.

(Off subject: I also have kindle touch—prePW... that I'm very fond of, because the text seems to pop off the screen, almost float pleasantly before my eyes without all the layerings.)

In short, I love the Voyage and the Touch and the latest Oasis, but have to agree about the Voyage screen quality.

[Kolja]

I have 3 Voyages and 1 3rd generation Oasis. The screen on my Oasis is very good and completely even, but the contrast is not quite as good as any of the Voyages. I prefer the larger screen, but I do a lot of reading at the table and appreciate the Origami cover and the Voyage is easier to carry in my purse. I'd have to say that overall I prefer the Voyage. The first one developed a pinhole and I purchased a second. When I learned the Voyage was being discontinued I purchased the third one. I returned a 1st and 2nd generation Oasis because of terrible screens and wanted to keep a Voyage around as long as possible. The battery last longer too on the Voyage.

[rashkae]

I don't have a voyage. I have a PW3 and a PW4... When the PW3 was current.. I saw many people compare the Voyage as the better screen. I can say without doubt (with one exception,) that the PW4 screen is a serious regression from the PW3,, contrast is worse and the edges are not as sharp. The extra layers used in the flush screen and waterproofing aver very noticeable when comparing the two.

The one exception is subjectively the colour balance. The PW3 has a very ... harsh blueish light, the PW4 much more beige and more pleasant in evening lighting. There has always been variance in colour temp between individual devices,, so I don't know how much of that will be universally true.