What's your ideal 4:3 tablet screen size to read most PDF books?

avid01 · 12-11-2015, 07:53 AM

Common screen sizes are 7.9", 9.7" and most recently, 12.9"

Assuming the device has no significant weight. Just accounting for size and handling it.

HarryT · 12-11-2015, 08:00 AM

I read a lot of PDFs and find my 9.7" iPad Air 2 to be ideal. The perfect compromise between size and portability. The iPad Pro is just too big for me.

theducks · 12-11-2015, 01:51 PM

for PDF, I really want the WHOLE page shown at original size at the minimum

(I read schematics and parts assembly manuals with old eyes )

Fluribus · 12-12-2015, 03:27 AM

For PDF, I'd rather have 12.9". For standard reading, I'd rather have 9.7".

avid01 · 12-13-2015, 02:27 PM

I (OP) am probably with the majority here, feeling 9.7" (4:3) might be the best screen size for most PDF documents (I read).

But here's the deal:
- 5.5" phablet for general use, also OK for reading most web articles ePUB books, easily holding it with one hand
- 12.9" ginormous tablet to replace my laptop (a fun read)

Now it would be the ultimate luxury to have a 3rd screen size (9.7", decent quality, for quite a bit of money for the screen time I'd spend on it), just, or, mostly for PDFs. Which are an although important, but surely not the most important use case for me.

Maybe I need a little more convincing to give it a go. :P

(Ha also says [of the iOS line] with the advent of phablets and ginormous tablets, the middle range iPads (Mini and Air) are the most endangered species)

leebase · 12-17-2015, 11:17 AM

9.7" for me. I haven't tried anything larger. But I do have smartphones and iPad Mini's (wife and daughter). The mini is nice, but I do like the full size better. I now have a "phablet" which makes reading on my phone much better.

But still, if I am on my couch, in my bed or hotel room - it's my iPad I grab to read.

Tarana · 01-10-2016, 12:40 PM

As much as I love the 12.9", it is too heavy to read for long and too bulky to transport (maybe if I was young, a student with a backpack?). If I need a screen larger than 9 (my Nook HD+), I just go to the computer.

GlenBarrington · 01-16-2016, 12:10 PM

I'm using the Lenovo A10 tablet (A generic Android, not the upscale Yoga) and it has a curious aspect ratio of roughly 2/3. I really like this for reading since it allows me to set the reader software (Kindle mostly) up into 2 columns each of which are roughly the same size as my 6 inch Sony 300 which was my first e reader and is still quite comfortable.

Curiously, I shoot photos at a 4/3 AR but then again I rarely display photos on my Lenovo.

View Poll Results: What's your ideal 4:3 tablet screen size to read most PDF books?
7.9"	4	16.00%
9.7"	13	52.00%
12.9"	5	20.00%
Other, comments	3	12.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

12-11-2015, 07:53 AM	#1
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	What's your ideal 4:3 tablet screen size to read most PDF books? Common screen sizes are 7.9", 9.7" and most recently, 12.9" Assuming the device has no significant weight. Just accounting for size and handling it.

12-13-2015, 02:27 PM	#5
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	I (OP) am probably with the majority here, feeling 9.7" (4:3) might be the best screen size for most PDF documents (I read). But here's the deal: - 5.5" phablet for general use, also OK for reading most web articles ePUB books, easily holding it with one hand - 12.9" ginormous tablet to replace my laptop (a fun read) Now it would be the ultimate luxury to have a 3rd screen size (9.7", decent quality, for quite a bit of money for the screen time I'd spend on it), just, or, mostly for PDFs. Which are an although important, but surely not the most important use case for me. Maybe I need a little more convincing to give it a go. :P (Ha also says [of the iOS line] with the advent of phablets and ginormous tablets, the middle range iPads (Mini and Air) are the most endangered species) Last edited by avid01; 12-13-2015 at 06:58 PM.

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12-11-2015, 08:00 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I read a lot of PDFs and find my 9.7" iPad Air 2 to be ideal. The perfect compromise between size and portability. The iPad Pro is just too big for me.

12-11-2015, 01:51 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,889 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	for PDF, I really want the WHOLE page shown at original size at the minimum (I read schematics and parts assembly manuals with old eyes )

12-12-2015, 03:27 AM	#4
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	For PDF, I'd rather have 12.9". For standard reading, I'd rather have 9.7".

12-17-2015, 11:17 AM	#6
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	9.7" for me. I haven't tried anything larger. But I do have smartphones and iPad Mini's (wife and daughter). The mini is nice, but I do like the full size better. I now have a "phablet" which makes reading on my phone much better. But still, if I am on my couch, in my bed or hotel room - it's my iPad I grab to read.

01-10-2016, 12:40 PM	#7
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,030 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	As much as I love the 12.9", it is too heavy to read for long and too bulky to transport (maybe if I was young, a student with a backpack?). If I need a screen larger than 9 (my Nook HD+), I just go to the computer.

01-16-2016, 12:10 PM	#8
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	I'm using the Lenovo A10 tablet (A generic Android, not the upscale Yoga) and it has a curious aspect ratio of roughly 2/3. I really like this for reading since it allows me to set the reader software (Kindle mostly) up into 2 columns each of which are roughly the same size as my 6 inch Sony 300 which was my first e reader and is still quite comfortable. Curiously, I shoot photos at a 4/3 AR but then again I rarely display photos on my Lenovo.

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