Best e-readers with mechanical buttons

In terms of body dimensions, the PocketBook 629 Verse mobile reader with a 6-inch ink screen turned out to be similar to an ordinary smartphone. The device is comfortable to carry with you on an everyday basis in a spacious clothing pocket or a woman's handbag.

The model greets the user with a monochrome E Ink Carta display with a resolution of 1024x758 pixels. The screen is capable of displaying 16 shades of gray, it supports touch control and is equipped with adjustable SMARTlight backlighting with flexible color temperature settings. There are also physical buttons on the "chin" under the display for navigation.

The software shell for the e-book is something self-written based on Linux. The interface here is intuitive, and the reader supports the vast majority of common book and photo formats. Files can be downloaded to it via Wi-Fi. They are supposed to be stored in an internal 8 GB drive, and if there is not enough free space, an expansion slot for a microSD card ( up to 32 GB inclusive) comes to the rescue.

The e-reader has a pre-installed browser and many dictionaries. Without a power outlet, the device will easily last a month or even longer - everything directly depends on the volume of reading and the use of the screen backlight. The model is powered by a 1500 mAh battery. Finally, the book will please with its compact body dimensions of 156x108x7.6 mm and light weight - 186 g.

While the budget segment of e-books is equipped with 6-inch screens, the middle class of e-readers can boast larger displays. Let's take, for example, the ONYX BOOX Page model, which is equipped with an E Ink Carta 1200 matrix with a diagonal size of exactly 7 inches and a high pixel density of 300 ppi.

The e-reader has a monochrome screen (16 shades of gray), it supports touch control, and is equipped with an advanced Moon Light 2 backlight system with separate brightness settings for cold and warm shades. You can turn book pages either by tapping the display or using mechanical buttons on the wide side edge of the case. When you change the orientation of the screen, the buttons also change their purpose (the forward/backward functions change places).

The reader's hardware consists of an eight-core processor from Qualcomm, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal data storage. Part of the disk space is occupied by the Android 11 operating system for its needs. However, if necessary, the device's memory can be expanded using a microSD card - the model has an expansion slot.

Since the e-book runs on Android, it has absolutely no problems reading any text file formats. In addition, MP3 and WAV audio files are easily played through the e-book reader's on-board speaker. The model allows you to surf the Internet, watch videos on YouTube, and it can also read aloud (Text-to-Speech technology). The e-book does not present any unpleasant surprises - it can be recommended for serious and long-term use.

The PocketBook Ink Pad 4 e-reader is a solid mid-range solution. The model is optimally balanced in terms of price and functionality.

The book has a 7.8-inch E Ink Carta 1200 screen. It has a resolution of 1872x1404 pixels, which gives a pixel density of exactly 300 ppi. The display is equipped with SMARTlight backlighting with brightness and color temperature adjustments, and shockproof glass is placed on top of it, which also protects the screen from scratches. The control here is combined: touch and button.

PocketBook e-readers have always been famous for their omnivorousness in terms of supporting various file formats. The model in question is no exception — it can read almost anything and everything. Moreover, Ink Pad 4 is equipped with a built-in speaker and can play audiobooks. The device has 32 GB of memory to store the file library.

The model supports cloud services and has the ability to access the Internet via Wi-Fi. The energy core of the e-book is a 2000 mAh battery, which is “packed” into a case with IPX8 water protection rating. The only complaint about the reader is that dirt and fingerprints are very noticeable on its matte back. Otherwise, PocketBook Ink Pad 4 can be called a real hit in the middle segment of e-books.

The Kobo Sage is a solid mid-range e-reader that features a quality touchscreen and good old-fashioned mechanical buttons for easy page turning.

The buttons are located on the wide frame of the case to the right of the display - its role is performed by the E Ink Carta 1200 matrix with a resolution of 1920x1440 pixels with an 8-inch diagonal. This provides a high pixel density of 300 ppi, which ensures clear rendering of any fonts. In addition, the screen supports work with a stylus, but you will have to buy the Kobo Stylus pen separately.

For comfortable reading of books in low ambient light, the gadget display is equipped with adjustable ComfortLight PRO backlight. It changes brightness and color temperature. The model received a proprietary interface based on the Linux distribution and acquired an internal 32 GB drive. In addition to an extensive list of supported text formats, the device is capable of playing audiobooks, but only those purchased in the official Kobo store. Sound is transmitted to paired Bluetooth headphones or a wireless speaker.

An important advantage of the Kobo Sage is its waterproof IPX8 case. The book can be safely immersed in water(no deeper than two meters and no longer than one hour). The model can be safely taken with you to the bath or to the beach. The battery of the e-book is charged through the contact group of the symmetrical USB type C connector.

The ONYX BOOX Palma model is made in the image and likeness of modern smartphones. With the only exception that it has a monochrome E Ink Carta 1200 ink screen.

The gadget's display with a diagonal size of 6.13 inches has an aspect ratio of 18:9 - the image is displayed on it in a maximum resolution of 1648x824 pixels. The panel supports the display of 16 shades of gray, has a backlight with a color temperature adjustment function and is "under the cover" of the protective glass ONYX Glass. Of course, the screen could not do without touch control, which is complemented by mechanical buttons on the right side of the case.

The model's relationship with smartphones can be traced in the operating system used - the e-book runs on Android 11 OS with access to Google Play Market. You can install any applications from the store: various "readers", instant messenger and social network clients, mobile games, etc. The reader's performance is provided by an eight-core processor from Qualcomm and 6 GB of RAM. The model also has a capacious storage device of 128 GB, and there is also a slot for a microSD memory expansion card.

For voice calls via messengers, the e-book has two microphones and stereo speakers. The latter will also serve for listening to audiobooks. The most surprising thing is that the model has a 16 MP rear camera. Wireless communications of the e-reader are represented by Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth v 5.0 adapters. Well, the power supply of the book is established from a capacious 3950 mAh battery.