Best device for reading in the sun?

[Bookchin]

Would like to hear from anyone who has experience reading outdoors on both an e-reader, and a tablet.

I want a device that I can use outdoors and also on the bus when the sun is streaming through the bus windows.

I'm guessing that an e-reader screen would be washed out by the sun? And that a tablet might offer more workaround options, such as increasing the brightness, or reading white on black text? I don't know.

Also, do anti-glare screen protectors work when the sun is fairly bright?

Which type of device is better for reading outdoors?

[Deskisamess]

E-ink is fabulous in the sun. Back-lit screens not so much.

[DNSB]

I'll have to second Deskisamess. At present, eInk is the best solution for reading in sunlight.

E-ink works off reflected light so as long as the light level isn't high enough to hurt your eyes, you'll be able to read without issue. Most ereaders also lack the high gloss screen surface so you won't have as many problems with reflections.

The reflected light is also why you see responses when someone refers to an eInk screen as being backlit informing then that it's a frontlight not a backlight.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Bookchin

I'm guessing that an e-reader screen would be washed out by the sun?

You guess wrongly. The brighter the ambient light, the greater the contrast of an eInk screen. They work very well indeed in direct sunlight.

[theinfamousj]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

E-ink is fabulous in the sun. Back-lit screens not so much.

Thirding this advice.

I have an eInk device with an optional front light. It is old, but rock solid. Great for reading at the beach. Also good for reading at night by the light of its own front light.

I cannot play Candy Crush on it, but I can read, and that is all I want it for anyway.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[ZodWallop]

Same as everyone said, e-ink looks better in sunlight.

I've heard LCD screens have gotten better at reading in sunlight and maybe they have. But last week when I was reading at the park on lunch, my brand new Pixel 3 screen's display was barely visible in direct sunlight, but my trusty old e-ink Kobo Aura was just fine.

[Tarana]

Just tested both my Voyage and Kindle Keyboard in direct sun. EASY to read. A tablet (and Ipod) are difficult to read, if at all, in the sun, due to the glare.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Bookchin

Also, do anti-glare screen protectors work when the sun is fairly bright?

e-ink screens do not require anti-glare screen protectors

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

e-ink screens do not require anti-glare screen protectors

Actually, I've seen one e-Ink screen that would require a anti-glare. It was a Chinese made unit that had a high gloss screen which, as the owner explained, was supposed to make text sharper and give higher contrast. It may have succeeded at that purpose but under normal lighting, you had to hold it at odd angles to reduce reflections.

[barryem]

I read on my e-ink readers in the sun a lot every summer and much of the spring and fall. I have a nice comfy chair on my front porch for just that. Most of my porch reading is in the afternoon when the sun is on my porch so I have the chair turned sideways to avoid having the sun in my face. The result is sun coming from my right side. It's as comfortable reading this way as it is reading indoors.

If I sit with my back to the sun in a way that lets the sun hit the Kindle screen directly then it's less comfortable but it's still a lot more comfortable than reading on my phone or tablet.

With my Samsung phone I can read with the sun hitting the screen but it's difficult. It's not worth doing. Sitting sideways so it's not hitting right on the screen is better and can be worth doing but it's still far from idea. The same is true of my Samsung tablet. My Ipad is just a little better but not enough to make much difference.

Barry

[Bookchin]

Thanks to all.

I assume then that an anti-glare screen protector would not make enough of a difference on a tablet compared to an e-reader?

[church mouse]

Originally Posted by Bookchin

Thanks to all.

I assume then that an anti-glare screen protector would not make enough of a difference on a tablet compared to an e-reader?

I have matt anti-glare screen protectors on my Asus tablet and my iPad mini and they do help with sun glare (at the expense of some reduction in overall sharpness). With the backlight turned to max I have been able to read in bright sunlight (UK bright, that is) but not as easily as with my eink readers.

[HLS]

I read outside a lot. E-ink is the best. No glare. Clean crisp screen.

[Marinolino]

Originally Posted by Bookchin

Thanks to all.

I assume then that an anti-glare screen protector would not make enough of a difference on a tablet compared to an e-reader?

I always use ultra-matte anti-glare screen protectors on my LCD readers because I find it much better that way for reading both outside in the sun (on the street/park/beach or in the bus/train) but also inside the lighted room with distracting reflections on the screen and would usually also use a homemade paper sunshade together with sunglasses & sunshield cap if I don't read at home in the shade (blanket over the rope, under the porch roof, tree ...).

I use matte anti-glare screen protector on my glossy Hanvon E930 eink reader too, whereas for non-glossy eink screens I don't find it necessary for reading outside in the sun, just putting sunshield cap on or sunglasses or both, as with any paper book.

[Bob Willis]

An e-ink reader will be perfect for reading outside, which will protect your eyes from glare. I used the Onyx Boox Note to read outside a lot, and that works well.