The Lifespan of an e-ink e-reader

Luffy · 05-26-2022, 12:46 AM

I'd like to know how long did your immediate preceding e-reader last while functioning passably.

Whether Kindle, Kobo, or other, it would be useful if I got an inkling about the lifespan of e-readers. That is because so far, only two devices have died on me; my Kindle Keyboard, and my Kobo Glo.

So if you give a brief info about your experiences with your reading and your devices, that would help me figure out roughly how much time my PW4 has got left.

MGlitch · 05-26-2022, 01:20 AM

None of my devices have broken or stopped working while I’m my possession. My kobo aura one died maybe 3 years ago but I can’t speak for it’s treatment in the time leading up to its demise.

To the best of my knowledge the Nook Simple Touch which I bought shortly after release is still out there working. As are all the nooks I’ve had. The kobo aura H2Ov1, kobo Forma 8 and 32GB, Libra 2, and Sage all work. The USB port on the 8GB Forma got twitchy which prompted the purchase of the 32GB model, elsewise the USB port may have failed under continued daily driver use.

Take care of your device and it can last you a long time. Possibly beyond the point where a new device would be a very significant upgrade.

maddz · 05-26-2022, 01:33 AM

Let's see:

My 1st ereader was a Palm m500. That didn't die - what 'killed' it was the transition to OSX and I could no longer communicate with it.

The 2nd was a Hanlin device. I fell asleep and rolled onto it, breaking the screen.

Following that, an Aluratek Libre. Being an LCD screen battery life was an issue - I'm a heavy reader and I was charging it daily.

Next was a Kobo Touch. That was still working last year - my partner's mother was using it while staying with us. The issue with that was software again; the Mac was 'swapping' the internal drive for the external SD card.

Then I had an Icarus. It started fine, but then the Mac started not recognising it and when it did, 'swapping' the internal drive for the external SD card.

Now I have a Kobo Forma with a 32 GB drive. So far, no problem!

meeera · 05-26-2022, 02:01 AM

I have an original Kobo Glo, purchased on release, still being used by a relative. Battery life's not good, but it works.

Sirtel · 05-26-2022, 02:42 AM

None of mine have died, but I didn't use any of them longer than 3 years before selling them and getting a newer model. I still have my first two eink readers, basic Kindles from 2011 and 2013 and they still work, but I haven't used them since 2016. I only charge them occasionally for sentimental reasons.

JSWolf · 05-26-2022, 04:24 AM

Kobo Aura H2O. Battery is not bad and it's been going for about 6 years.

Cyclops · 05-26-2022, 04:28 AM

My Sony prs 300 is still going strong after an eon

Sirtel · 05-26-2022, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenberg

Since 2011, it's been a very good period. It's amazing that they are functional. Did you buy them new or used? I was often told that the ones already used last longer, I do not know the real reason.

New, straight from Amazon.

Quoth · 05-26-2022, 06:24 AM

One of mine got broken, it was kneeled on and had no cover. A grandchild has done in two screens by leaving it on the floor.
I've replaced batteries (10 year old cells) in two of mine and one of a friend. One of those is now 12 years old and like new still. The Sony PRS-350 is ancient and still on original cell; chrome worn off one button and replacement stylus made from one for a Nokia phone.

I suspect that life is indefinite if batteries are replaced and it's not physically damaged.

One son has broken about four phone screens, twice by walking into bollards on the edge of the pavement.

Dazrin · 05-26-2022, 10:48 AM

My Kindle 3 died after just over 5 years of use, my Voyage has been going for almost 6.5 years so far. The battery is a little diminished but it's still ok.

I'm not sure how much I would compare the relatively recent (2018) PW4 with my old K3 though; battery and screen tech had a lot of time to change in those 8+ years.

ownedbycats · 05-26-2022, 02:29 PM

My Kobo Aura HD died after approximately seven years. Mostly the SD card going bad, and I also felt something rattling/clunking around inside which hadn't been doing that before. A few days ago I tried to boot it up out of curiosity and it refused to.

Bikeridr · 05-26-2022, 04:39 PM

I still have, and use, my Kindle international. V.3 I think and the model before Kindle Keyboard. Bought upon international release in 2010. Battery life now down from 5-ish weeks to 3-ish weeks. No touch screen, no backlight but that's how I like it. Now, Amazon sent me a mail stating that the onboard kindle store will no longer function from August, but "promises" that I still can use/download my purchased content and all future purchases has to be sideloaded. I can live fine with that.

I just bought a Pocketbook Color, mostly because I was curious of the colour screen and d.t it was heavily discounted. I'll return to this post in 10 years time and report if it still works. (An if also the Kindle still works)

theducks · 05-26-2022, 06:16 PM

My first Astak (2009)was dropped (cracked trace=intermittent).
The second one (2011) needs a Battery.
I replaced the Battery on my K4nt.
Both Kobo are fine.

Luffy · 05-27-2022, 02:00 AM

Thank you all so far, some good advice all round. I don't have a case for my Kindle, but I don't take it out of my house. I make sure I keep it in my room when I go to sleep, and it has lasted for 1 1/2 years so far. Needless to say, I don't know how to replace any Kindle's battery.

I will keep the PW4 at least until 2024, luck willing.

kacir · 05-27-2022, 03:50 AM

My 5 years old current device still works and I expect to use it for many, many years to come. New devices have no features that I would want in my e-ink reader, and many are much worse when you compare software features.

My previous e-ink reader is still used by my daughter. I broke the frame of the reader long time ago, so I have built a cover that holds the reader together to extend the life a little bit ... and here we are 8+ years later.

An even older e-ink device (13 years old) still works, kinda-sorta. There is a glitch in an e-ink screen driver (electronics), but it is still usable. Nobody uses it, the screen is not front-lit.

The oldest e-ink reader Sony PRS500, released 16 years ago - I gave that one away after about 4-5 years. The screen was much darker in comparison with the newer models. I do not know what happened to it, I am reluctant to ask the giftee.

My oldest portable reader - an ancient clam-shell PDA with black and white matrix non-backlit LCD screen still worked when I stopped using it, and I guess it would still work if I tried to switch it on. I can't bring myself to throw it away ...

Do get a cover for your reader, even if it never leaves the room. I dropped my previous reader and shattered the plastic frame around the bezel. The glass substrate somehow survived and the device still works, held firmly in a custom-built cover.

05-26-2022, 12:46 AM	#1
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,461 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	The Lifespan of an e-ink e-reader I'd like to know how long did your immediate preceding e-reader last while functioning passably. Whether Kindle, Kobo, or other, it would be useful if I got an inkling about the lifespan of e-readers. That is because so far, only two devices have died on me; my Kindle Keyboard, and my Kobo Glo. So if you give a brief info about your experiences with your reading and your devices, that would help me figure out roughly how much time my PW4 has got left.

05-26-2022, 02:29 PM	#11
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 8,607 Karma: 61176603 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	My Kobo Aura HD died after approximately seven years. Mostly the SD card going bad, and I also felt something rattling/clunking around inside which hadn't been doing that before. A few days ago I tried to boot it up out of curiosity and it refused to. Last edited by ownedbycats; 05-26-2022 at 06:17 PM.

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05-26-2022, 01:20 AM	#2
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,841 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	None of my devices have broken or stopped working while I’m my possession. My kobo aura one died maybe 3 years ago but I can’t speak for it’s treatment in the time leading up to its demise. To the best of my knowledge the Nook Simple Touch which I bought shortly after release is still out there working. As are all the nooks I’ve had. The kobo aura H2Ov1, kobo Forma 8 and 32GB, Libra 2, and Sage all work. The USB port on the 8GB Forma got twitchy which prompted the purchase of the 32GB model, elsewise the USB port may have failed under continued daily driver use. Take care of your device and it can last you a long time. Possibly beyond the point where a new device would be a very significant upgrade.

05-26-2022, 01:33 AM	#3
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,273 Karma: 28630044 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Let's see: My 1st ereader was a Palm m500. That didn't die - what 'killed' it was the transition to OSX and I could no longer communicate with it. The 2nd was a Hanlin device. I fell asleep and rolled onto it, breaking the screen. Following that, an Aluratek Libre. Being an LCD screen battery life was an issue - I'm a heavy reader and I was charging it daily. Next was a Kobo Touch. That was still working last year - my partner's mother was using it while staying with us. The issue with that was software again; the Mac was 'swapping' the internal drive for the external SD card. Then I had an Icarus. It started fine, but then the Mac started not recognising it and when it did, 'swapping' the internal drive for the external SD card. Now I have a Kobo Forma with a 32 GB drive. So far, no problem!

05-26-2022, 02:01 AM	#4
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I have an original Kobo Glo, purchased on release, still being used by a relative. Battery life's not good, but it works.

05-26-2022, 02:42 AM	#5
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,120 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	None of mine have died, but I didn't use any of them longer than 3 years before selling them and getting a newer model. I still have my first two eink readers, basic Kindles from 2011 and 2013 and they still work, but I haven't used them since 2016. I only charge them occasionally for sentimental reasons.

05-26-2022, 04:24 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,957 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Kobo Aura H2O. Battery is not bad and it's been going for about 6 years.

05-26-2022, 04:28 AM	#7
Cyclops Only need one eye to read Posts: 796 Karma: 6277024 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Darlington, England Device: Kobo Touch N905C, Sony PRS-300, Nintendo DSi XL,	My Sony prs 300 is still going strong after an eon

05-26-2022, 06:24 AM	#9
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,150 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	One of mine got broken, it was kneeled on and had no cover. A grandchild has done in two screens by leaving it on the floor. I've replaced batteries (10 year old cells) in two of mine and one of a friend. One of those is now 12 years old and like new still. The Sony PRS-350 is ancient and still on original cell; chrome worn off one button and replacement stylus made from one for a Nokia phone. I suspect that life is indefinite if batteries are replaced and it's not physically damaged. One son has broken about four phone screens, twice by walking into bollards on the edge of the pavement.

05-26-2022, 10:48 AM	#10
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,631 Karma: 73864785 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	My Kindle 3 died after just over 5 years of use, my Voyage has been going for almost 6.5 years so far. The battery is a little diminished but it's still ok. I'm not sure how much I would compare the relatively recent (2018) PW4 with my old K3 though; battery and screen tech had a lot of time to change in those 8+ years.

05-26-2022, 04:39 PM	#12
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	I still have, and use, my Kindle international. V.3 I think and the model before Kindle Keyboard. Bought upon international release in 2010. Battery life now down from 5-ish weeks to 3-ish weeks. No touch screen, no backlight but that's how I like it. Now, Amazon sent me a mail stating that the onboard kindle store will no longer function from August, but "promises" that I still can use/download my purchased content and all future purchases has to be sideloaded. I can live fine with that. I just bought a Pocketbook Color, mostly because I was curious of the colour screen and d.t it was heavily discounted. I'll return to this post in 10 years time and report if it still works. (An if also the Kindle still works)

05-26-2022, 06:16 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,795 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	My first Astak (2009)was dropped (cracked trace=intermittent). The second one (2011) needs a Battery. I replaced the Battery on my K4nt. Both Kobo are fine.

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05-27-2022, 02:00 AM	#14
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,461 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	Thank you all so far, some good advice all round. I don't have a case for my Kindle, but I don't take it out of my house. I make sure I keep it in my room when I go to sleep, and it has lasted for 1 1/2 years so far. Needless to say, I don't know how to replace any Kindle's battery. I will keep the PW4 at least until 2024, luck willing.

05-27-2022, 03:50 AM	#15
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	My 5 years old current device still works and I expect to use it for many, many years to come. New devices have no features that I would want in my e-ink reader, and many are much worse when you compare software features. My previous e-ink reader is still used by my daughter. I broke the frame of the reader long time ago, so I have built a cover that holds the reader together to extend the life a little bit ... and here we are 8+ years later. An even older e-ink device (13 years old) still works, kinda-sorta. There is a glitch in an e-ink screen driver (electronics), but it is still usable. Nobody uses it, the screen is not front-lit. The oldest e-ink reader Sony PRS500, released 16 years ago - I gave that one away after about 4-5 years. The screen was much darker in comparison with the newer models. I do not know what happened to it, I am reluctant to ask the giftee. My oldest portable reader - an ancient clam-shell PDA with black and white matrix non-backlit LCD screen still worked when I stopped using it, and I guess it would still work if I tried to switch it on. I can't bring myself to throw it away ... Do get a cover for your reader, even if it never leaves the room. I dropped my previous reader and shattered the plastic frame around the bezel. The glass substrate somehow survived and the device still works, held firmly in a custom-built cover.