Looking for an affordable Android e-reader

[therealTOEBEANS]

Hello everyone! I don't need something super powerful, I don't need color, I don't need something that can run fancy games or anything fancy enough to type or draw on...

I just want something with a fair sized screen (bigger than a phone) That can play audio files and run rudimentary android apps.

My use case scenario is pretty much saving my actual phone battery. I listen to a lot of music and read a lot on the long bus rides I take (which drains when I also use GPS to help me know which stop to get off on haha). Also at work, when I want to listen to music and not look like I'm on my phone too much at my desk.

I pretty much want to use Libby (which my local libraries use), KO Reader, VLC (and so file access,) and other simple android apps. Kobos and Kindles are, to me personally, silly, since I can't use Libby or any other app I want. Android is the way to go!

If anyone has any ideas for devices like this (affordable, not powerful, android, fairly sized screen) do please help a poor battery-challenged goofball out I'd be most grateful.

Cheers everyone!

[Sirtel]

As I understand it, you want eink, because you say you don't need color? If so, what do you plan to use VLC for? A typical eink device sucks at playing videos.

If it's not eink you want, then any cheap Android tablet would do for those purposes.

[therealTOEBEANS]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

As I understand it, you want eink, because you say you don't need color? If so, what do you plan to use VLC for? A typical eink device sucks at playing videos.

If it's not eink you want, then any cheap Android tablet would do for those purposes.

Sorry, haha, yes I meant eink, mostly because of the battery life to offload some use from my phone, but also for the better reading experience; screens are really rough on the eyes after a while.

I only want VLC to play audio files like songs and audiobooks. That won't be its main use, of course, it'll mostly be for reading.

Something that I saw recently was the Bigme B751C, but that one's color. That kind of thing is what I was thinking of. Is there a similar device without color, or is that one my best bet?

Sorry for the confusion )

[Sirtel]

Onyx Boox Darwin or Page, perhaps? Both can play audio files and are cheaper than the Bigme you mentioned.

https://onyxboox.com/boox_darwin9
https://onyxboox.com/boox_page

[therealTOEBEANS]

These *are* interesting...

I did some digging, and found that the Darwin 9 *would* have been perfectly what I was after, but that it's not available in my country. (?) I couldn't really find any info on it in english at first glance...

I did look at the Page, though. That led me to the Poke 5...! That looks right on the button. I'm practically ready to purchase!


My next question, if you have any guidance, is about *where* to purchase it. What online marketplace is best for buying these devices?

Cheers mate! Wouldn't have gotten this far without your help!

[Sirtel]

Onyx ships worldwide from their online shop.

[DNSB]

Or you can try the Boox selection on Amazon though their availability seems to vary by the day.

[therealTOEBEANS]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or you can try the Boox selection on Amazon though their availability seems to vary by the day.

This is definitely something that I was confused about, haha! I found out that in my local area Best Buy has very predictable stock. I think I'm going to buy it there!

Thanks for everyone's help!

[meeera]

Originally Posted by therealTOEBEANS

My use case scenario is pretty much saving my actual phone battery. I listen to a lot of music and read a lot on the long bus rides I take (which drains when I also use GPS to help me know which stop to get off on haha).

I feel like the best and most economical fit for this is a portable battery pack.

[khalleron]

Eink readers DO NOT have big batteries. Their famous 'long battery life' is due to the fact that eink screens do not use much power. If you're primarily going to be playing music and listening to audiobooks, the battery is going to drain MUCH faster than you're expecting.

meeera is correct that the best solution to your problem seems to be using a battery pack or power bank, which are much cheaper than another android tablet.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by therealTOEBEANS

That led me to the Poke 5...! That looks right on the button. I'm practically ready to purchase!

I'm a big fan of the Poke5.
If you buy it from Best Buy it's $10 cheaper, but you don't get the magnetic sleep cover.

I wouldn't want to get into this other channel of Darwin 9.
Also, there are more Poke5 users here for HW/SW support.

I hope that Onyx will stay accessible for hacking.
But there is always a fear that the next version will be locked down hard.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by khalleron

Eink readers DO NOT have big batteries. Their famous 'long battery life' is due to the fact that eink screens do not use much power.

When readin they use no power. Flipping/turning pages uses the power.

Originally Posted by khalleron

If you're primarily going to be playing music and listening to audiobooks, the battery is going to drain MUCH faster than you're expecting.

Actually the phone can last longer as it turns off the screen. The eink ereader uses very much more power to listen to audio than for reading.

Originally Posted by khalleron

meeera is correct that the best solution to your problem seems to be using a battery pack or power bank, which are much cheaper than another android tablet.

Yes, about €20 here for one like a fat phone that gives about x4 or more running time (and audio books/music are a tiny fraction of consumption compared to video or phone calls as the screen should blank. Turn off all visualisation and screen notifications).

Reading text with brightness only enough is less battery use than video or phone calls. A battery pack will extend that to more than all day.

[therealTOEBEANS]

hello everyone! thanks for all of your amazing advice. I ended up buying it anyway, and despite you guys being somewhat right about the battery life while listening to audio through a Bluetooth headset, I'm still finding it to have better battery life than my phone!

also, your advice about using a portable battery pack is very prudent, and in fact... I already have that! It works great, but my phone still dies, even with... two of them!! I think my phone just has a poor battery after many years of use, and so buying a new device is actually in fact cheaper than replacing the whole thing, maybe even also just the battery. I also like to take a really long time for my long long commute, and I also use my phone for light entertainment while studying, like music and everything else, while away from a outlet -- I really do tax it. I really appreciate your advice anyway!

I'm finding that the Poke 5 is very high quality, and the reading experience is, obviously, far, far superior to my phone. by a massive margin! I'm finding now that it's such a lovely thing to be reading on something so nice that I don't even listen to audiobooks so much anymore! of course, just reading books on the slow refresh rate setting makes the battery last far far longer.

all of my battery banks really really improve the battery life of this little e-reader, though. So I'm finding that I can actually watch movies on the bus on the fastest refresh rate setting: all while keeping my phone charged, *and* my e-reader charged!

all in all, excellent purchase, great decision. I really appreciate everyone's help! another happy mobileread forums newbie!

[Renate]

Originally Posted by therealTOEBEANS

I'm finding that the Poke 5...

Come over to the dark side!
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=357286