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Pocketbook Lux 4 Homepage

Pocketbook Lux 4: Basic yet Functional E-Reader

The Pocketbook Lux 4 stands as a testament to the manufacturer’s trend of releasing devices within limited generational expansions. However, despite its basic nature, this e-reader surprises with certain luxuries that make it more than just a bare-bones device.

Compared to its predecessor, the Lux 4 boasts several improvements. Notably, it introduces three color variants – black, silver, and green, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the RAM has been doubled to 512 MB, although users might not perceive a significant boost in speed.

Despite minor lags when zooming or navigating through texts, the device operates adequately for e-reading purposes.

 

Lets dive in and find out more…

Pocketbook Lux 4 Specification

Features  Pocketbook Basic Lux 4 Pocketbook Verse Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Pocketbook Era
Price
Release Year 2023 2023 2023 2022
Display
Screen Size 6" 6" 7.8" 7"
Resolution 212 psi 212 psi 300 psi 300 psi
Front Lights
Warm Lights
Hardware
Weight 155 g 186 g 265 g 228g
Storage 8 GB 8 GB 32 GB  16 GB
Connectivity Bluetooth, Wifi Bluetooth, Wifi Bluetooth, Wifi Bluetooth, Wifi 
Battery life 1500 mAh 1500 mAh 2000 mAh 1700 mAh
Software
OS Linux Linux Linux Linux
Play Store 
Audiobooks 
Book Library  Multiple Book Store Support Multiple Book Store Support Multiple Book Store Support Multiple Book Store Support
Formats ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB(DRM), EPUB, FB2, FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB(DRM), EPUB, FB2, FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT ACSM, AZW, AZW3, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB(DRM), EPUB, FB2, FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF (DRM), PDF, PRC, RTF, TXT ACSM, CBR, CBZ, CHM, DJVU, DOC, DOCX, EPUB, EPUB(DRM), FB2, FB2.ZIP, HTM, HTML, MOBI, PDF, PDF (DRM), PRC, RTF, TXT
Features
Waterproof
G Sensor
Expandable Memory 
Page Turn Button
Speakers
Bluetooth
Other Features  PocketBook Cloud, ReadRate, Dropbox, Send-to-PocketBook PocketBook Cloud, ReadRate, Dropbox, Send-to-PocketBook PocketBook Cloud, ReadRate, Dropbox, Send-to-PocketBook PocketBook Cloud, ReadRate, Dropbox, Send-to-PocketBook

Aspect of Consideration

  • Pros & Cons
  • Design
  • Display
  • Reading
  • Software
  • Audio Features
  • Note Taking 
  • Connectivity & Battery
  • Pricing

Pros and Cons of Pocketbook Lux

Pros

  • Backlit screen suitable for various lighting conditions
  • Supports micro-SD cards for expandable storage up to 32 GB.
  • Supports 17 file formats including EPUB, PDF, TXT, and DOC
  • Stylus-compatible note-taking feature available.
  • Clear and concise home screen for easy navigation, with pre-loaded applications like a calculator and various games.

Cons

  • Lacks capabilities for displaying manga or PDFs excellently.
  • 6-inch screen might not be ideal for users accustomed to larger displays.
  • Missing advanced functionalities like warm light or ComfortGlow.
  • Relatively slow performance with minor lags observed when zooming or navigating through texts.
  • Smooth back texture prone to fingerprint smudges.
  • Runs on a tailored Pocketbook OS & lacks third-party app support. 

Design & Build Quality

The Lux 4 follows the typical Pocketbook design ethos—square top corners and rounded bottoms, catering to ergonomic comfort while holding the device. Its physical buttons—back, forward, and home—add convenience, although the presence of a Micro USB port instead of a more modern USB-C stands out.

The absence of a distinct LED indicator on the body is compensated by integrating it into the button at the bottom, contributing to a clean and uncluttered look. However, the back’s smooth texture tends to attract fingerprints, despite efforts to maintain cleanliness.

 

Weighing a mere 155 grams, the Lux 4 is highly portable, making it a viable choice for on-the-go readers. 

Pocketbook Lux 4 Homepage

Display

The device comes with a 212 PPI screen providing a decent and crisp display. However the screen size of 6” may not be ideal for everyone especially for those used to a bigger screen.

The e-reader’s display supports a backlight, ensuring comfortable reading experiences in various lighting conditions. While slight screen flickering occurs when transitioning from bright to dim environments, it remains manageable and doesn’t hinder readability.

 

Moreover, the device accommodates micro-SD cards, enabling users to expand storage by up to 32 GB, facilitating easy access to additional content like PDFs or other documents.

Ghosting: While ghosting might be slightly noticeable, it remains manageable, especially when avoiding the dark mode. Users can further minimize ghosting by adjusting page refresh frequencies, enhancing the reading experience.

Pocketbook Lux 4 Notification Bar

Reading

Contrary to expectations of multifunctionality, the Lux 4 remains primarily an e-reader, not an all-encompassing multimedia device.  The Lux 4 impresses with its core function as an e-reader. The home screen neatly organizes libraries, allowing users to browse collections, genres, or even sync with Pocketbook Cloud. However, its capability to display manga or PDFs remains limited, not excelling in these areas.

 

Supported Formats: The Lux 4 caters to diverse reader preferences by supporting 17 file formats, including EPUB, PDF, TXT, and DOC. However, it lacks compatibility with Amazon’s proprietary AZW format.

Backlit Screen: A singular glow light—referred to as front light—is included, which can be toggled on or off. However, advanced functionalities like warm light or ComfortGlow are absent, as they are deemed for intended use.

Note Taking: Noteworthy is the stylus-compatible scribbling feature, although it’s more suitable for jotting down quick notes than extensive writing due to its minimal functionality.

Web Browsing: Despite its capability to handle games like chess or Sudoku and facilitate RSS feed reading, the device’s suitability for web browsing remains limited due to other more versatile devices in the market.

Pocketbook Lux 4 Reading
Pocketbook Lux 4

User Interface and Software

UI: The user interface presents a clear and concise home screen, offering access to libraries, notes, a store, a browser, and various pre-loaded applications. The browsing experience, while functional, lacks certain cities’ library access, limiting its usability in some regions.

Navigation: Despite a learning curve in navigating settings and going back within the interface, Pocketbook provides an adequate range of settings and options for personalization.

It offers a basic array of settings such as Wi-Fi sync, task manager, flight mode, and a dark mode that swaps colors, enhancing readability. Notably, the device operates solely on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, lacking support for the faster 5 GHz band, which might limit connectivity options for some users.

Apps: The device runs on tailored pocketbook OS and does not support thired party apps. The integrated apps, cannot be controlled or uninstalled. Despite this, certain useful functions like note-taking, are appreciable. The device’s preloaded apps, including a calculator and various games, are also acknowledged, although not universally necessary.

Pocketbook Lux Apps

Pricing

Keeping the price bracket the device has all the essential features that you require out of a E Reader. If you are not a fan of the Amazon Ecosystem and what something different yet reliable Pocketbook Lux 4 can be a decent choice. 

What is Included in the package? The Pocketbook Lux 4 arrives in a modest yet functional packaging, containing the e-reader, a warranty card, and an instructive leaflet cautioning about potential damages. Additionally, it includes a quick start guide for basic navigation and a micro USB cable for charging. The unboxing experience is straightforward, focusing on delivering the essential components required to kickstart the e-reader.

 

Conclusion

Despite certain limitations, such as its relatively slow performance, lower resolution, and lack of advanced features, the Pocketbook Lux 4 stands out for its affordability., it fulfills the primary role of an e-reader effectively, making it an enticing option for budget-conscious readers.

As an addition to Pocketbook’s lineup, the Lux 4 caters to those seeking a straightforward and functional e-reader without the bells and whistles of higher-end devices.

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