PocketBook InkPad Color 3: From Niche to Mainstream | REVIEW
This is the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 and it was definitely one of the most surprising product launches in the ereading space in late 2023.
Why you ask?
Well because Pocketbook launched the InkPad Color 2 not too long before this one, and I actually haven’t even published my review of that one at this point, because I wasn’t able to finish it in time before they launched the Color 3.
The reason for it being released so soon after the InkPad Color 2 was the high demand. E-Ink wasn’t able to deliver the older Kaleido Plus displays in higher numbers, so PocketBook made the switch to Kaleido 3. So that’s how the InkPad Color 3 came to be so quickly.
So this is a Color E-Ink eReader with Kaleido 3 display technology, which is the same tech we’ve seen in a couple of E-Ink tablets from Boox and Bigme before.
But there’s a big difference: This isn’t a tablet. It’s an ereader. It’s laser focused on reading, still offers a couple of useful extras, but doesn’t run Android and therefore can’t be expanded with apps.
So let’s check it out and see if it’s worth considering as your next ereader.
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/ @chalidraqami
🔗 LINKS
► 10% discount in the EU with coupon allesebook for all PocketBook ereaders on pocketbook.de (affiliate): pocketbook.de/de_de/pocketboo...
► PocketBook InkPad Color 3 (affiliate): geni.us/6EXKly
► PocketBook InkPad 4 Review: • PocketBook InkPad 4 RE...
► PocketBook Era Review: • PocketBook Era REVIEW:...
🎬 CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:29 Why Was It Launched So Quickly?
01:24 Design & Specs
04:58 Build Quality, Optionally Available Front-Cover & Handling
06:25 E-Ink Color Display
10:40 Frontlight Quality
11:17 Dark Mode
12:31 Frontlight Adjustment With A Timetable
13:09 Modern & Intuitive UI
13:59 Data Privacy & Lock-In Practices
15:24 Usability & Features
15:45 Library
16:23 Reading eBooks, Text Styling, Dictionaries, Note Taking
17:44 Text-To-Speech (Demo)
18:56 Audiobooks & Music
19:21 PDF-Functions
20:20 PocketBook Store
21:10 Battery Life
21:32 Conclusion
🖖WHO AM I
I'm Chalid, and I've been a fan of e-ink technology for a very long time. I've been reviewing e-ink devices since 2010. After more than 100 different e-reader tests for my German website, this channel is dedicated to sharing my experiences with the latest e-readers, other e-paper devices, and sometimes other tech in English as well.
🔗 DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE
The tips, tricks and experiences shared are for guidance only; any actions taken based on these are solely at your own risk. Some links in the description contain affiliate links, which means that if you buy something through these links, I will receive a small commission on a purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much for supporting the channel.
🔖 TAGS
PocketBook InkPad, PocketBook InkPad Color, Pocketbook InkPad Colour, Pocketbook InkPad Color 3, PocketBook InkPad Color3, Pocketbook InkPad Color 3 Review, Pocketbook InkPad Color 3 Hands-On, Pocketbook InkPad Color 3 Test, PocketBook InkPad Colour 3, Pocketbook Color 3, E-Ink Kaleido, Color E-Ink, Colour E-Ink, Kaleido 3
#pocketbook #eink #ereader
Wow, this was the most in depth review i have saw to an e-reader device ! Great job !
Tried it and found it to have the best colors of any eink tablet. Only downside is screensize making it hard to read comics, which is what its designed for. If they release a 10 inch version ill be extatic!
Less features than the Boox mini tab C, but a lot cheaper. If you only use the ereader to read books, comics or manga, then I think this is a better buy.
I want to buy an e-reader only for reading. Does this have chrome/browser where I can access libgen or scihub to download papers and articles?
Really insightful review, thank you!
Could you please make a comparative between Inkpad Color 3 and Boox Note Air 3C?😊
Wow, congrats with amazing review! I like deep dive approach very much.
This looks nice thanks for sharing. I was waiting for the viva, I have the era and prefer the side grip format with buttons. I would really love if they did an era style color ereader with 10 inch display.
Chalid, thank you for an, as usual, excellent review. You address all the important points including privacy and battery life and I especially appreciate that you always check important facts by yourself. I agree this is a really good and user friendly color e-reader. However, personally I think it was a mistake by Pocketbook to skip the SD-slot that was on the first version of Inkpad Color. The internal 32 GB is more than enough for ordinary ebooks but not necessarily so for a large library of color comics, color magazines, audio books and music files.
A little downside of the Inkpad Color 3 is the slightly darker screen in comparison to the Inkpad Color 2. And the front-light is not as even than that one on the Color 2. Other than that, I agree. The sub-pixels of the color layer is much less visible on the 3 than on the 2, which is as great improvement. The Color 2 has kind of a linen aesthetic.
Thanks for the indepth review. Very helpful as I'm in the maeket for color e-reader. Does it comes with preloaded Google Playstore?
No, the InkPad Color 3 doesn't run Android at all, so it's not possible to install apps.
Hello. On Vivlio / Pocketbook readers, it is impossible to find the reading option to align / justify the text. Does this option please please and if so, do we access it? Thank you for your help
Thanks for the thorough review from a happy owner of this device! You didn't mention one important feature - ability to lend DRM-protected ePub books in the public libraries. This is available in all recent Pocketbooks.
How recent? 😮 Because I don't have thar in my Pocketbook Era
@@alicedalexandriteIIRC using the web browser but not sure which formats are supported
@@luc7976 thank you, I will try that later!
Your comment helped me a lot! I needed to know that! Please, is it possible to write on it with a different thing to a finger (I think it's called a stylus from a tablet) or does it only work with the finger?
@@MOOMOOGAA I would be interested to know this, too. Maybe capacitive styluses would work with it?
Thx for these interesting infos! I would like to see a comparison between the Inkpad color 3 and pocketbook era color ;-)
Will follow soon :)
What an amazing review! I decided to replace my kindle when I found out how much data it was collecting and that it could remove books that were purchased. This seems like the best choice for me. Is there an even better option out there for privacy or is pocketbook the best?
Thanks! :) Yes, personally I'd say PocketBook is the best right out of the box when it comes to data privacy, because you don't need an account to use it and it still offers pretty good connectivity functions (Dropbox sync, sending ebooks to the device through an email, browser with downloading capabilities). But for the sake of completeness: I'm not sure if they have the ability to delete purchased ebooks from an ereader. I never have heard of it happening with PocketBook, but I can't rule it out neither. Because with certain DRM-protections (CARE DRM with a lending license for example) I suspect that is still possible. The other option is to use an Android tablet, root it and then use a firewall to block unwanted traffic. But that's a bit of work to set it up and I'd also say not 100% bullet-proof depending on the device.
Thanks for the review! How does the display compare to the Boox Mini Tab C?
I'll do a separate comparison video between the two. But I'd say they are very, very close and the differences mostly come down to settings. The PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is a tiny bit better when it comes to very fine detail though. IMHO the biggest difference in real world use is the frontlight: The LEDs on the Boox Tab Mini C are located at the top, and on the InkPad Color 3 at the bottom of the screen. So when looking at the screens at a larger than 90 degrees angle, the InkPad Color 3 looks better. But you can always turn the Boox Tab Mini C by 180 degrees to change that ... ;-)
@@ChalidRaqami Thanks very much for the info! Will keep an eye out for that review but this already helps to make a decision
How would you compare the battery inkpad color 3 and Inkpad 4 ? Which one has better battery?
Please do a comparison video of InkPad color 3 and Boox tab mini C! One question. Can I set my book cover as the screensaver on the InkPad color 3? I know it’s not an option on the Boox 🙁
I've a comparison planned already! Unfortunately time is a bit tight, so it might take a little to finish it. Yes, you can set you book cover as the screensaver :)
Thank you for the review! Do you find the page turn buttons being all the way at the bottom of the screen to be ergonomically bad, or is it easier to reach those than it seems like?
I definitely prefer having them on the side, like on a Kindle Oasis or PocketBook Era. But below the screen they are honestly also fine and easy to reach - just a matter of taste imho.
Great review! Can I access my Kindle library with this?
Thanks! No unfortunately no direct access to Kindle ebooks. It can open AZW and AZW3 files if they aren't protected. But KFX and KF8 files aren't supported. So it really depends on your library how easy friction-less the switch to PocketBook would be.
thank you so much, I just purchased the product through your affiliate link using the 10% discount, I also got the cover included! I just hope I won't have problems using it, as I am Italian and live in Italy. Can you tell me if there are any problems in this case? Thanks again
Shouldn't be an issue - you can set the UI language and keyboard layout to Italian, there are IT->EN, EN->IT and IT->IT dictionaries available as well and you can download 3 different Italian text-to-speech voices. I'd say the PocketBook software is one of the better localized ones out there. Only the built-in store might have a limited supply of Italian ebooks, but you can get always epub ebooks from somewhere else. Have fun! :)
Now time for some decent buttons on those pocketbooks
Many thanks for great review! I have pocketbook inkpad 3pro. Reading books. My device is a bit slow for me and i want to change to something more faster and modern with the same screen size. Is this inkpad color 3 worth it or there is may be something better on the market? money not the problem. Thanks in advance
The PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is a bit faster in terms of responsiveness, but not a huge difference all in all. I'd say the InkPad Color 3 is worth it, if you want to get a color E-Ink screen. If that's not something you need, I'd recommend sticking with the InkPad 3 Pro. There's not much competition in that specific size segment and other than getting a color screen, nothing worth trading it in for imho - as long as your Inkpad 3 Pro is working without issues.
@@ChalidRaqamiMany thanks. So will keep waiting then. Great channel 👍👍👍
Hi, Chalid. You persuaded me, I bought it. Loving it so far. I found most of the features, but one that's important to me. Can I have time on screen when I read? I can see the clock when I exit the book, but not during reading. Can it display watch on reading screen? Thank you 😊
Sorry a bit late, but I don't mean to persuade, but to inform ;) To show the clock you can permanently show the status bar when reading a book. You can find that option in the book's settings: Tap the center of the screen (inside an ebook), tap "Settings" go the the last tap (with that "zoom"-icon) and switch on the status bar. It'll show up at the top, so you can see time, battery and WiFi status while reading.
@@ChalidRaqami Hi, thank you for the tip. I like it better when I see the clock. I also wanted to ask if you know... I have a magnetic case, but when I open it, it doesn't start reading, I have to turn in on manually, right bottom click. Is it a faulty case, or is it not possible to start reading so? I had similar case on PW2 and as soon I opened it, it would go to the page I was reading last...
Благодаря онлайн переводу смог получить интелектуальное удовольствие от Вашего видео. 👍
Is the cover the generic 'Pocketbook Inkpad Color Leather Case'? Not seeing it for sale anywhere.
It's this one: pocketbook.de/de_en/7-8-inch-cover-flip-regular-black
Happier without android. I'm still using my kobo aura one and still getting updates. I like Linux for it's simplicity. This looks very tasty.
I’m curious if the screen will look better than the old Carta screen in the Aura One.
How does would you compare the color and battery of this to bigme Galt (gallery 3 ink) and the battery life as well
Colors are similar, but screen brightness on the Bigme Galy is better, because there's no extra RGB-layer on the screen. Battery life with the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is much better than on the Galy.
Hi there. Would you mind to help me please. I didn't get from the video. What do you recommend to choose : inkPad color 3 or inkPad 4? Thank you in advance.
Hi, it depends. :D Do you prefer to get a more paperlike reading experience, without the need to use the frontlight? Then get the InkPad 4. If you like to have colors and don't mind using the frontlight, get the InkPad Color 3. In terms of their functions, both are essentially the same, with very, very minimal differences. You can't really go wrong with either one imho.
How is the the crispness and contrast of the text in B/W comparing with Inkpad 4 while frontlight is on?
It's like 95% as crisp and 85% of the contrast. You won't really notice the sharpness only a slight difference in contrast when side by side or when you have big spots of black. Compared to something like the IP 4 or Newer Kobos. It's also less paper looking because to get a nice white bg you need more backlight.
Contrast is a bit better on the InkPad Color 3, when both ereaders are set to the same brightness. But The InkPad 4 gets brighter (around 10 nits), so when turning it all the way up, the InkPad 4 looks a bit better imho. Crispness is better on the InkPad 4, because when looking closely, you can still see the RGB filter on the InkPad Color 3. But with a reading distance of 30+ centimeters, the difference is barely noticeable. As @PixogenPixels mentioned, it's less paperlike. Kaleido 3 is much better than Kaleido Plus, but still a bit worse than E-Ink Carta (InkPad 4). So you get this slight grain on the InkPad Color 3. But it's not a huge deal as far as I'm concerned - even when reading regular text. I'm saying that as someone who doesn't like using Kaleido Plus displays for reading.
Yeah besides the dark screen, the color layer is the first thing I noticed and it had me worried when I first opened it. But as I backed up just slightly at a still pretty close reading distance the whole layer basically disapears and you lose that crystalline screen door look. It really is an impressive device for someone who doesn't want android. @@ChalidRaqami
Help: I bought this after watching this video, but my Kobo books don’t seem to work. I used Calibre on it already and the files work with my Boox Page, but not Pocketbook Am I doing it wrong?
The way you described it, should have been enough to make the files work on the InkPad Color 3. You could try to copy the files to the InkPad with Calibre and let it convert the ebooks in the process. Or if you did that already, you could copy them to the device via the Windows File Explorer directly. Either way should work for epub-files. You can also check out mobileread.com and ask for help there, there are a lot of knowledgeable people on there who should also be able to help.
Hi, very good review, thanks. A question, compared as the only ereader feture, how you prefer this, the Boox Tab Mini C or the Bigme Galy? Saludos
Thanks! I'd go for the Boox Tab Mini C. It's more refined in pretty much all aspects. The one advantage the Bigme Galy has, is the lighter screen, so you can use it without the frontlight just fine. But other than that, the Boox Tab Mini C is better imho.
@@ChalidRaqamifor me it would be an easy decision if the mini tab c didn't have the big bezels and have a more modern design. But maybe you don't notice that after a while. Also the weight might be downside in comparison. Otherwise fast refresh and app store is great plus.
@@ChalidRaqami just noticed B&H says Tab Mini C is discontinued. Question if it then will be replaced soon? Or it's just B&H not receiving anymore.
@@luc7976 I somehow doubt it, because the Tab Mini C isn't old enough and there's not really anything to improve upon in terms of technology right now imho. But who knows ... Onyx Boox can be a bit erratic with their releases. I didn't expect the Boox Tab Ultra C Pro either, but here we are :D
@@ChalidRaqami Yes agree, could be generic code from B&H internally that doesn't indicate global availability.
I am trying to decide between this device and the Inkpad 4 for manga and books. What would you recommend?
For regular (b&w) mangas and books I'd go for the InkPad 4. Only if you read colored Mangas or Comics, the InkPad Color 3 is better imho. But both are pretty good, so it's mostly a matter of taste imho.
After thinking on it definitely think I want a colored screen so I can read colored manga. Thinking the Inkpad Color 3 might be the perfect choice but how would you compare to the Boox Mini C? Only worried about reading function as I plan to get a Remarkable 2 for note taking@@ChalidRaqami
Completely off topic, but where and how did you get your LCARS display behind you?
You can find it here (not my work): www.mewho.com/titan/ 🖖
Is it possible to remove touch function and use the buttons instead? Many thanks
Partly - you can disable the touchscreen in books and only use the buttons to turn a page. But using the device with buttons only isn't possible.
Is there any way to password protect the device so people can't read or interact with your reader? For example, if I take it to work, but don't want people to see I'm a big manga fan, can the device be configured not to allow access unless a password is provided?
No, unfortunately not. You can only set a password for the device's settings, but not for general usage.
@@ChalidRaqami That’s unfortunate, it looks amazing but the lack of an option to lock the device is a deal breaker for me. It seems like such an obvious oversight.
What models of readers are in the minute video 3:30. One will be Color 3, the black and white one is what model please
Hi - that's the PocketBook InkPad 4. Essentially the same device, just with a regular black-and-white E-Ink screen and a flush front. You can find my review of it here: kzhead.info/sun/Z5yAm6WehKN9n40/bejne.html
If i dont need the writing function, would you choose Boox mini tab C or this? the price wouldnt be a factor
It depends... :D Boox Tab Mini C: + Android app expandability + Better PDF-viewing options + Scratch resistant front glass + More multimedia capabilities + Note-taking with the stylus PocketBook InkPad Color 3: + Lower weight and more compact feel + Physical buttons + Better reading-focus (dictionaries, inbuilt shop, DRM-compatibility, etc.) + Better data privacy + Cheaper So depending on what's more important to you, either one can be a good choice. Personally I prefer using the InkPad Color 3 when it comes to simply reading, as I find the handling more comfortable thanks to the lower weight and the physical buttons.
@@ChalidRaqami thanks for the reply, would have went with the pocketbook but its not on sale any longer and the mini c still is. so for the 20$ price difference (basically the cost of the included case) and the cost of the pen2 pro think ill just get the boox
@@ChalidRaqami Please, is it possible to write with a stylus from a tablet on Inkpad Color 3?
@@MOOMOOGAA No, that's not possible unfortunately. The needed WACOM technology is not available in the InkPad Color 3. It only has a capacitive touchscreen.
@@ChalidRaqami Hello, I heard that traces of touch on screen is issue so it is recommend to buy some touch screen. Do you have some recommendation with that? I was thinking about Lea Screen PocketBook740 but I am not sure if it would fit. Lea Screen PocketBook740 has resolution 1872x1404 px. One more question. I have read that black and white has better resolution (ppi, density) in this model. So basically when I read in black and white it changes mode to better quality in simple terms or should I somehow change mode in settings? Sometimes I would like to read in better resolution black and white books. Really thanks in advance (btw. great video)!
Ppt PowerPoint ???
PocketBook Inkpad color 3👍👍👍
Do Pocketbook devices last long?
I'd say yes, they are pretty durable. I have many older PocketBook ereaders here and most of them still work without any issues. On 3 or 4 the batteries died after I didn't charge them for months or even years. But that's to be expected and happened to others as well. The one thing that I found annoying with older Pocketbook devices is that the coating on some ereaders breaks down after a couple of years and they get sticky. The new devices seem to use a different material, so I don't expect that problem with those.
boox tab mini c vs PocketBook InkPad Color 3 ?
Check this out, just published today: kzhead.info/sun/aJmPl52ermWXjYk/bejne.html
@@ChalidRaqamiMuchas gracias! :D
An e-reader with decent color that doesnt phone home to China, regardless of whatever permissions you gave it, is all I want in a product.
Can you edit update txt files? Does it allow OTG through USB to transfer files? Can you connect a keyboard with OTG on the USB C like w/ Boox? Can you share with me how much it weight in grams? Thx in advance!
Really weird the colors look way better then on the boox air c. More saturated and more true to the colors.
Yeah, I'll definitely come back to the differences between the 10 inch Kaleido 3 devices and the smaller ones in another video, because the 7.8 inch displays definitely look better.
Chalid, handsome!
Can you download PDF files to it?
Yes, you can either copy PDF files to the device via USB-C or use the browser to download PDFs as well.
How is the web browser?
It's fine for quickly checking something or even using alternative stores. But it can't compete with the Boox Tab Mini C's Android browser in terms of responsiveness.
@@ChalidRaqami and in terms of colors, wich Is the best?
@@stefanofaillace9801 Boox Tab Mini C and PocketBook InkPad Color 3 are very similar. I'd say both are equal with only very minor differences. So I recommend making a buying decision of one over the other based on the functions you need. The Boox Tab Mini C is a device that can essentially do everything (apps, note taking, reading), the PocketBook InkPad Color 3 is "only" a dedicated ereader with audiobook support - but also much cheaper.
The main problem with this is no Kobo or kindle support.
Can I use Pen on it ?
You sound like Speedy Gonzales
The screen looks better than note air 3c, however the device design is outdated and looks like its been iterated from an early 2000s blackberry
More interesting design than the mini C imo 0:58. The rounded corners are also very functional when holding it. A mini air 3c design could be nicer looking perhaps?
Battery, battery, battery!! it's like any other tablet XXXXXX
150 ppi!!! Are they joking?
I never understood why people buy readers and not tablets, specially if comic/manga if a consideration.
In my case I love reading in digital, but after doing it 30 min in my iPad, my eyes hurt. E-ink devices are a solution for me.
got pocketbook and it is not durable. Kobo is more durable
without kindle all these pads are just useless...
not if your looking for something to read out of copyright pdfs