Technical Specifications
The PocketBook Touch Lux 3 offers a balanced mix of features for e-reading enthusiasts. Let’s explore its key specs and capabilities.
Display Details
The Touch Lux 3 boasts a 6-inch E Ink Carta HD touchscreen. This display provides a paper-like reading experience with sharp text and minimal glare. The screen resolution is 1024 x 758 pixels, delivering crisp visuals for text and images.
The device features a built-in frontlight with adjustable brightness. You can easily read in various lighting conditions, from bright sunlight to dimly lit rooms. The frontlight is designed to reduce eye strain during extended reading sessions.
Hardware Capabilities
Under the hood, the Touch Lux 3 packs a 1 GHz processor and 256 MB of RAM. This combination ensures smooth page turns and quick navigation through menus. The e-reader comes with 4 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card.
Battery life is impressive, lasting up to one month on a single charge. The device supports a wide range of e-book formats, including:
- EPUB
- FB2
- TXT
- DJVU
- RTF
- HTML
You can also view images in JPEG, BMP, PNG, and TIFF formats.
Connectivity Options
The Touch Lux 3 offers both Wi-Fi and micro-USB connectivity. Wi-Fi allows you to download books directly to your device and sync your reading progress across multiple devices.
The micro-USB port serves two purposes:
- Charging the e-reader
- Transferring files from your computer
You can easily side-load your existing e-book collection or purchase new titles from various online bookstores. The device also includes a web browser for basic internet browsing when connected to Wi-Fi.
Real-World Usage
The PocketBook Touch Lux 3 shines in everyday use. Its features cater to avid readers looking for a solid e-reader experience without breaking the bank.
Reading Experience
You’ll find the 6-inch E Ink Carta screen easy on your eyes. The 1024×758 resolution delivers crisp text, even in small fonts. With 16 grayscale levels, images look clear too.
The frontlight lets you read comfortably in any lighting. Adjust it from soft to bright with 10 intensity levels. No more squinting in the dark or dealing with glare outside.
The lightweight design (155g) means you can hold it for hours without fatigue. Its compact size fits perfectly in your hand or bag.
Navigation
Getting around the Touch Lux 3 is a breeze. The touchscreen responds quickly to taps and swipes. You can turn pages, adjust settings, and browse your library with ease.
The physical buttons offer an alternative for page turns. This comes in handy when reading one-handed or with gloves on.
The home screen shows your recent books and lets you jump into your library or the store. The menu system is logical and easy to learn.
Battery Life
You’ll love how long the Touch Lux 3 lasts between charges. With moderate use, expect up to one month of reading time. Heavy users still get 2-3 weeks easily.
The 1500 mAh battery charges fully in about 3 hours via micro-USB. A quick 30-minute charge gives you enough juice for several days of reading.
Wi-Fi use drains the battery faster, so turn it off when not needed to maximize life.
Special Features
The Touch Lux 3 packs some nice extras. Built-in dictionaries help you look up words instantly. Just tap and hold on any word to see its definition.
Text-to-speech lets you listen to books. It’s great for multitasking or giving your eyes a break. The quality isn’t amazing, but it’s usable.
You can load your own fonts for a personalized reading experience. The device supports a wide range of file formats, including EPUB, PDF, MOBI, and more.
The PocketBook cloud syncs your books and reading progress across devices. This lets you pick up right where you left off on your phone or tablet.
Performance Analysis
The PocketBook Touch Lux 3 offers solid performance across several key areas. Let’s take a closer look at how it measures up in speed, file support, display quality, and battery life.
Speed Tests
The Touch Lux 3 boots up quickly, taking about 15 seconds from power-on to the home screen. Page turns are swift, with a barely noticeable 0.5-second delay. This makes for smooth reading, even when flipping through pages rapidly.
Book loading times are reasonable:
- Small ebooks (under 1MB): 1-2 seconds
- Large PDFs (over 10MB): 5-7 seconds
The device handles multiple open books well, letting you switch between 3-4 titles without lag. The on-screen keyboard is responsive for typing notes or searching, though not quite as snappy as a smartphone.
File Format Support
The Touch Lux 3 shines in its wide file format compatibility. It supports:
- eBook formats: EPUB, PDF, FB2, TXT, DJVU, RTF
- Image formats: JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF
- Audio: MP3 (for audiobooks)
This variety means you can read almost any ebook file without conversion. The device handles complex PDFs well, maintaining formatting and allowing zooming. Comics and manga in CBR/CBZ formats display clearly, though page turns are slightly slower for these large files.
Screen Quality
The 6-inch E Ink Carta screen offers crisp text and clear images. With a resolution of 1024×758 pixels (212 PPI), letters appear sharp even at small font sizes. The 16-level grayscale renders images and charts in good detail.
The front light is even across the screen, with 8 brightness levels. This lets you read comfortably in any lighting, from bright sunlight to a dark bedroom. The matte screen reduces glare, making long reading sessions easy on the eyes.
Battery Longevity
The Touch Lux 3’s 1500 mAh battery delivers impressive longevity. With average use (1 hour of reading per day, Wi-Fi off), you can expect:
- Up to 4 weeks between charges
- About 8,000 page turns per charge
Heavy readers might need to recharge after 2-3 weeks. Using the front light at high brightness or keeping Wi-Fi on will drain the battery faster. A full charge takes about 3 hours via micro-USB.
The device has good standby time, losing only about 5% charge per week when not in use. This means you can pick it up after a break and still have plenty of battery left for reading.
Comparison Section
The PocketBook Touch Lux 3 stands out in the e-reader market. Let’s look at how it compares to other devices and its place in the industry.
Contemporary Competitors
The Touch Lux 3 faces stiff competition from Kindle and Kobo devices. Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite offers a similar 6-inch screen and backlight. The Kobo Clara HD matches with 8GB storage and a ComfortLight PRO feature.
PocketBook’s edge? Its support for more file formats. You can read ePub, PDF, and even CBR files without conversion. This flexibility is a big plus for many readers.
Price-wise, the Touch Lux 3 sits in the middle. It’s more affordable than premium models but pricier than basic ones.
Previous Models
The Touch Lux 3 improves on its predecessors in key ways. The screen is sharper, with 212 ppi compared to the Touch Lux 2’s 166 ppi. Battery life has also gotten better.
The new model keeps popular features like the microSD slot. This lets you expand storage, unlike some competitors.
One change you might not like? The Touch Lux 3 dropped the audio jack. If you enjoyed audiobooks on older PocketBooks, you’ll miss this feature.
Market Position
PocketBook aims for the middle ground in the e-reader market. They’re not as well-known as Amazon or Kobo in some regions. But they’ve carved out a niche with their versatile devices.
The Touch Lux 3 appeals to readers who want more than a basic e-reader. Its file support and expandable storage attract tech-savvy users.
In Europe, PocketBook has a stronger presence. They’re less common in North America, where Kindle dominates.
The company’s focus on reading-only devices sets them apart. While some brands add tablet-like features, PocketBook sticks to what e-readers do best.
Conclusion
The PocketBook Touch Lux 3 offers a solid e-reading experience with a mix of useful features and a few drawbacks. Let’s take a closer look at its value, whether you should buy it, and how it might hold up over time.
Value Proposition
The Touch Lux 3 gives you good bang for your buck. You get a crisp E Ink screen, long battery life, and support for many file formats. The built-in light is handy for reading in dim settings. The device feels well-made and comfortable to hold.
You’ll find some useful extras like a web browser and dictionary. The 4GB storage lets you carry lots of books. Wi-Fi makes it easy to download new reads.
The software can be a bit slow at times. The store doesn’t have as many titles as some rivals. But for the price, you get a capable e-reader that covers the basics well.
Recommendation
Should you buy the Touch Lux 3? If you want a simple, affordable e-reader, it’s a good pick. It’s great for reading novels, textbooks, and other long-form content.
The Touch Lux 3 is ideal if you:
- Read a lot of ebooks
- Want a backlight for nighttime reading
- Need support for many file types
- Like having some extra features beyond just reading
It may not be for you if:
- You want the latest and greatest tech
- You need a color screen
- You’re looking for a tablet-like experience
Consider your needs and budget when deciding. For many readers, the Touch Lux 3 hits a sweet spot of features and price.
Long-Term Viability
The Touch Lux 3 should serve you well for years to come. Its simple design means fewer parts that can break. The E Ink screen is durable and doesn’t strain your eyes like LCD screens.
PocketBook has a track record of software updates. This helps keep your device fresh and fix any bugs. The wide file support means you’re not locked into one ecosystem.
The battery will likely lose some capacity over time. But with its long life, this shouldn’t be a major issue for quite a while. The basic nature of e-readers means they don’t become outdated as quickly as other gadgets.
With proper care, your Touch Lux 3 could be a trusty reading companion for many years.
