suggested devices for reading large complex pdf files

[sovre]

At the moment I am using an iPad Pro with the Goodreader app to read my large complex pdf files. It works great but the main problem for me is the size and weight of the device. I want something smaller and lighter. The iPad mini would be perfect, but I just don't want to shell out that kind of cash for an iPad mini only to use as an eReader. So I've been looking at available Android devices that are about the same size and there only seem to be two.

I have actually used a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 (SM-X115) 8.7" tablet and it would be perfect for me - except one thing, the screen quality is really poor, and the text is not clear and crisp on this tablet at all. I recently learned about another tablet of the same size by a company I've never heard of: ALLDOCUBE. They make a tablet called the iplay 60 8.4" which has a great looking high resolution screen, but I have not personally used this one and am hesitant to buy it because 1) I've never heard of the company 2) a lot of reviews about failures/malfunctions and 3) the company offers no warranty whatsoever for their product, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence!

Are there any better options out there that I don't know about? Would appreciate any suggestions you have and if anyone actually owns the iPlay 60 I'd like to hear about your experience with it and whether or not you recommend it.

[Aleron Ives]

You probably want to look at the various Android tablets made by Onyx Boox. The Leaf/Page series is 7", the Nova series is 7.8", and the Note series is 10.3". They have various models, both BW and using Kaleido 3 colour panels.

[JSWolf]

Given how much a large screen Onyx costs, you'd be better off buying a stand for your iPad.

[downeaster59]

There are several factors to keep in mind here. For large complex PDFs, you'll want a display that is large and high resolution and a device that has a reasonably good CPU. You have that already in the iPad Pro. Smaller displays may make your PDFs harder to see and read.

Do you need a color display? Do you need a display that has its own light, as most tablets do? If you want color, you may find color E-Ink isn't quite sharp enough for you yet.

Every device involves some sort of compromise. You'll need to decide if the size of the iPad Pro is worth it for the benefits of reading PDFS on that device. An 8 inch device is smaller, but will it be large enough to make your PDFs truly legible?

One device I'll suggest is one I have - the Onyx Boox Go 10.3. It does not have a light, so you'll need to use it in well-lit places that would be suitable for paper books. It's not color. However, it has a sharp display. It's available new for about $380 US. That may be more than your budget allows. However, I'd agree that, when push comes to shove, you have a great setup as is!

[Quoth]

The TCL Nxtpaper 11 (10.9″ Nxtpaper 2.0, < €200, SD Card) and TCL Nxtpaper 14 (14.25″ Nxtpaper 3.0 & 3:2 aspect, < €300, 256 G Flash) are far better than any iPad for reading. True non-reflective, no shine, no glare screens that work in full sunlight (set to auto brightness) or indoors (manual brightness).

I've tried DXG 9.7″ (total junk), reMarkable & Elipsa (10.3″ & both no use for too many PDFs) and the Kobo Sage 8″ (better than 10.2″ and works for PDF instruction books, not Letter, A4, big text books, Journal papers, magazines)

The 10.9″ Nxtpaper 2.0 isn't an ideal aspect, but works with most documents. The 14.25″ Nxtpaper 3.0 is 3:2 which is very good for two up in landscape and ANY PDF doc in Portrait. Pocketbook App. I have 11 & 14 models. The 14 is first time ever I can read any document without big PC screen or printing.

Get it with cover and Pen.
The Nebo Notes (android bought app) beats reMarkable, Elipsa, Sage, MS OneNote etc.

I've compared same PDFs on iPad and Nxtpaper 11. The Nxtpaper, properly adjusted, is comparable to mono eink with the front light on. The eink is only better for reflowable mono novels when ambient light is enough for frontlight off.

Battery life is huge at sensible brightness and only reading as it's 10,000 mAh. As good as some eink with front light on.

In reality the Nxtpaper 14 (pro version no advantage except to gamers) is almost the area of 2 x 8″ ereaders!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The TCL Nxtpaper 11 (10.9″ Nxtpaper 2.0, < €200, SD Card) and TCL Nxtpaper 14 (14.25″ Nxtpaper 3.0 & 3:2 aspect, < €300, 256 G Flash) are far better than any iPad for reading. True non-reflective, no shine, no glare screens that work in full sunlight (set to auto brightness) or indoors (manual brightness).

I've tried DXG 9.7″ (total junk), reMarkable & Elipsa (10.3″ & both no use for too many PDFs) and the Kobo Sage 8″ (better than 10.2″ and works for PDF instruction books, not Letter, A4, big text books, Journal papers, magazines)

The 10.9″ Nxtpaper 2.0 isn't an ideal aspect, but works with most documents. The 14.25″ Nxtpaper 3.0 is 3:2 which is very good for two up in landscape and ANY PDF doc in Portrait. Pocketbook App. I have 11 & 14 models. The 14 is first time ever I can read any document without big PC screen or printing.

Get it with cover and Pen.
The Nebo Notes (android bought app) beats reMarkable, Elipsa, Sage, MS OneNote etc.

I've compared same PDFs on iPad and Nxtpaper 11. The Nxtpaper, properly adjusted, is comparable to mono eink with the front light on. The eink is only better for reflowable mono novels when ambient light is enough for frontlight off.

Battery life is huge at sensible brightness and only reading as it's 10,000 mAh. As good as some eink with front light on.

In reality the Nxtpaper 14 (pro version no advantage except to gamers) is almost the area of 2 x 8″ ereaders!

In this case, the iPad is a lot better for handling complex PDF given that the app the OP is using is the best for PDF.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In this case, the iPad is a lot better for handling complex PDF given that the app the OP is using is the best for PDF.

Really? You've used PDFs in Pocketbook, Xodo and Nebo on a decent Android? Not a budget supermarket model.

First I ever heard any iOS app was best for PDF. There are reasons than make an iPad Pro better than a decent Android with Active Stylus, but PDF isn't it.

Also Nebo is also regarded as one of the best to annotate PDFs on iOS. The TCL Nxtpaper screen is WAY better. I've have them side by side here. Some of the schools here use the iPad pro exclusively (no paper text books). Apple has bought their way into 2nd level here.

[John F]

Originally Posted by sovre

At the moment I am using an iPad Pro with the Goodreader app to read my large complex pdf files. It works great but the main problem for me is the size and weight of the device. ...

Originally Posted by Quoth

The TCL Nxtpaper 11 (10.9″ Nxtpaper 2.0, < €200, SD Card) and TCL Nxtpaper 14 (14.25″ Nxtpaper 3.0 & 3:2 aspect, < €300, 256 G Flash) are far better than any iPad for reading. ...

The iPad Pro weighs0.98lbs (11") or 1.28lnbs(14")

The Nxtpaper 14 weighs 1.68.
The Nxtpaper 11 weighs 1.02.

So for the OP the Nxtpaper 14 doesn't seem like the best device for reading, and the Nxtpaper 11 seems questionable.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Really? You've used PDFs in Pocketbook, Xodo and Nebo on a decent Android? Not a budget supermarket model.

First I ever heard any iOS app was best for PDF. There are reasons than make an iPad Pro better than a decent Android with Active Stylus, but PDF isn't it.

Also Nebo is also regarded as one of the best to annotate PDFs on iOS. The TCL Nxtpaper screen is WAY better. I've have them side by side here. Some of the schools here use the iPad pro exclusively (no paper text books). Apple has bought their way into 2nd level here.

I know the app the OP is using. I know the iPad. I know eInk. I know it's rather expensive for a large enough eInk device to read PDF.

The app the OP is using is one of the best apps available for handling PDF. It could be the best.

[fjf]

I agree with Quoth, the TCL nxtpaper 14 (just got one) is a very good tablet with a nice matte screen for reading big complex PDFs; i.e. a whole page of a newspaper in pdf format. Never had an ipad pro to compare, but I suspect they both are similarly big and heavy. A big readable screen (13"-14") comes with some weight.

[Quoth]

Anything over 9.5″ gets too tiring to hold and needs propped on knees, tummy, bed, chair, desk etc and needs a cover with a feature to allow it to stand, or a cheap book holder for table (about €2 here).

The Nxpaper 11 & 14 covers are lighter than the one for the 10.3" Elipsa. There are many kinds of iPad covers. The school one I've seen makes the iPad heavier than Nxtpaper 14 in cover. Also the 11 & 14 have 10,000 mAH battery. (Actually 10.9" and 14.25")

Even the the 10.3" einks and 10.1" Android LCDs are too heavy to read in the hand for long, that's why some of the Lenovo models with big batteries have a built-in folding out foot.

An 8″ eink can be held as as long as you like, but even at 300 dpi it's far too small for many PDFs. Great for epub reflowable novels. The Kindle DXG (9.7″) is too heavy for prolonged hand reading and has small battery and only 150 dpi Pearl screen.