Pocketbook Era Review - Is it better than Kindle?

Today, we do a review of the Pocketbook Era and compare it against the Kindle Oasis. Which one is best? I do my best to show you all the pros and cons!
Pocketbook Era: geni.us/slU0iCo
Website for buying ePubs: ebooks.com/
0:00 Up-Front Summary
0:56 What is Pocketbook?
1:34 Pro #1 - Build Quality & Design
3:23 Pro #2 - The Display
4:00 Pro #3 - Water Resistance
4:16 Pro #4 - Built-In Speakers & Text-to-Speech
4:51 Pro #5 - Other Apps
5:47 Pro #6 - User Profiles
6:09 Pro #7 - Turn Off Recommendations
6:30 Pro #8 - Customize Touch Gestures
7:01 Pro #9 - Customize Logos
7:21 Pro #10 - Easy ePubs
8:15 Pro #11 - Privacy
9:08 Con #1 - No Sleep Mode
10:06 Con #2 - Page Turn Buttons
10:34 Con #3 - Finding & Loading Books
11:59 Con #4 - Taking Notes
12:55 Con #5 - Exporting Notes
13:32 - Recap & Final Thoughts
Disclosure: Some links in the description may be affiliate links, which earn me a commission for qualifying purchases. I'm also a participant in the Amazon Associates program. To learn more, you can read my affiliate transparency disclaimer here: go.maneetpaul.com/affiliate-d...
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[@mahfros]

I love my pocketbook era. The fact it can read multiple ebook formats is great. It gives me freedom to read more books and not lock to Amazon environment. I have kindle ppw 11th gen. I use it mostly to read KU books. I love both ereaders and for me it serves different needs for me.

[@alicedalexandrite]

As someone already mentioned, you can reassign physical buttons in the parameters. But right out of the box Era will go to sleep if you click power button twice. And, of course, if you have a cover for this ereader, it will go to sleep when cover's clised.

[@DrTavaresChannel]

Great review! I also liked your video editing: the alternating views of the 2 cameras, and the view of the device made it look ultra professional. Great job!

[@alisharo58]

Thank you for mentioning how pressing the page turn buttons feel.

[@Safaricom_]

Great review really enjoyed it.

[@LeNguyen-cf5nw]

If flexible is something you seek, I recommend Android based e-readers. I'm currently using the Onyx Boox Leaf 2 (next in line is Onyx Boox Page). I love not being tied down to one ecosystem, being able to use the kindle app and every file format is really nice. The customisation can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when you have to adjust setting to make your reading time more enjoyable. But the ability to get all the extra features (sd card slot, physical page turn buttons, Android software) outweigh the cons.

[@rachel_espinoza]

I ordered mine! It’ll arrive next Tuesday

[@davemaverick8438]

thanks for the video, im stuck between this one and pocketbook Lite, which is same price but larger display, which one would you choose?

[@queen_in_yellow]

I told you! Remember me? I have had the Era since they came out, and I recommended this to ya. I have the Touch HD 3 as well.

[@PippyPets]

Great review.

[@wayne0220]

Thanks for the great review! I’m wondering if you would consider a 1 year update on this review. There have been a number of firmware updates which say in the change log they addressed issues around performance when highlighting and many others. Also I noticed that they support robust key mapping with regard to the lock/sleep functionality. Finally I am wondering if the sync with Google books would act as a backup for seamless book syncing.

[@FranzBinder20]

Is it possible to customize the page buttons so that a long button press turns the touchscreen completely on and off?

[@goodguymario]

Hey. Pocketbook 4 seems great in specs. I want to import manga from my computer (via usb preferably) and read them in a supported format. Have you tried any visual novel of some short? Would you recommend it for that specific use? Thanks in advance!

[@kristine6215]

I appreciate your videos and I wish I had found your channel before I sprang for the 2022 Paperwhite! It’s a great device, but it’s too big for my small ish hands. I’m subbing and keeping my eye out for a kindle basic with warm light lol

[@rohanaheer9172]

Keep it up paaji

[@dansmith3085]

I've been curious about the Pocketbook InkPad X because of the large screen. However, at this point my eyes have gotten so bad that it's easier to just hold what I'm reading up close to my face, so I might end up with a 6 inch device like the Kobo Clara.

[@fucazombie]

I just got mine and I absolutely love it. So glad not to be in the Amazon ecosystem.

[@smoklares9791]

Can i take e note with stylus?

[@satchillananda]

My mom has an Touch HD 3 at the moment, and I know you can change the On/Off button behavior in the settings. How is the contrast in comparison to the Paperwhites carta 1200 screen? I heard a lot of people saying it lacks contrast and is more grayish than black.

[@cjfetters]

can I read Barnes and Noble Nook books on this devise?

[@susanvoddraska3831]

If I heard you correctly it has text to speech, which is reason enough for me to consider buying it.

[@Maneetpaul]

Yep! That's definitely a great feature!

[@dennisginel1335]

But the text to speach feature can be used with the help of any smartphone.

[@susanvoddraska3831]

@@dennisginel1335 how?

[@jaredsanchez2027]

great review! it makes me want to upgrade my 6 year old kindle (which refuses to break! lol) at this point i’d like to get an OASIS 2 (is that even a thing…?!) which do you prefer… oasis or paper white?

[@duesenberger]

Thx for this review. I liked the Era, but I was missing some features, especially the search option. In Kindle I cklick on one of the characters and can search the occurences in the book. This option isn't there in the Era. And the Kindle is much brighter than the Era.

[@lecheast1]

What is the case you are using on your Oasis? Do you have an affiliate link?

[@Maneetpaul]

That's Amazon's Kindle Oasis case in "Marine Blue", here is an affiliate link for it it :) geni.us/AYeEXA

[@jessicamskinner9445]

On the Kindle it does have text-to-speech and Bluetooth

[@queen_in_yellow]

As of 4 days ago, the new firmware update 6.8, Era now has dark mode.

[@techp0p]

The Kobo Libra 2 seems to be another viable competitor to this device - which did you like better? I love my Libra 2, but my one small gripe is the software. It's... not great.

[@vampbat]

I am between these 2 devices right now! I am wondering if this ereader can do everything the Pocketbook seems to. I love the “stats” that a Libra has, but the converting documents will need plugins and fiddling. I believe, outside of DRM content, the pocketbook just…reads things! Very tough choice, here. I am trying to move on from my frankly restrictive 6” Kindle. Good luck to us both!

[@Netjerett]

Thanks for the review, would be a viable option if Amazon truly decides to discontinue the Kindle line or for someone who doesn't want Amazon looming over them and the ability for all their books to be deleted just like that.

[@Blackmind0]

before buying one i could use the kindle and the pocket book for a few weeks, i bought the pocket book and i like it....

[@jita14]

Which e-reader is best for senior citizens’ eyes 🙏

[@LvUhcX]

Go big 9.7+

[@jita14]

@@LvUhcX 💝thank you🙏

[@bashfullJ88]

Probably the Kindle Scribe. Since it's a bigger 10 inch eReader you can increase the size and how many words on the page.

[@GrayHomeVideo]

Speaking as a senior citizen, the Kobo Sage with an 8" screen is very nice. Hits the spot of not being too large and heavy, while still giving the option of larger font size and still having a decent amount of text. But everyone's eyes and needs will vary.

[@jita14]

How does one send books downloaded on kindle to pocketbook ?🙏

[@allaarkhangelskaya7695]

You can't do it directly. You need to have an epub file.

[@jita14]

@@allaarkhangelskaya7695 Can one store one’s kindle books& documents on an old computer so it’s save from being deleted?

[@Manjusinghable]

Please help me buy a perfect e-reader. Highly confused. Kindle Scribe , Onxy Boox tab ultra C and pocketbook 2 ……. etc.

[@LvUhcX]

It up to you

[@Manjusinghable]

@@LvUhcX But I can’t decide.

[@arthurborisow1475]

I wonder why nobody talks about reading experience. What I lack in many readers is a feature to show how much time left in chapter. Not pages! Time. As far as I know only Kindle and Kobo provide such feature out of the box

[@Selenkiy]

What's the point? It's stupid.

[@bwoymitjah6191]

Hi. I just got a new Pocketbook ERA yesterday. Everything is fine except one thing - the battery drains really fast when the frontlight is on in a full mode. It took my e-book about 3-4 hours to get low on charge. I don't know whether it is a faulty battery or a regular thing for this book. Could you advise whether I have to return the book to the seller or keep it?

[@robin_birdie_]

ppl complain about crappy screen quality of this model. you should be worried by this more than a batter that drains predictably faster while using led frontlight.

[@vampbat]

@@robin_birdie_I think there is a minor light gradient on these devices, but big, horrible issues were a “first batch made in September” thing. I hope you can find more recent reviews on the Era!

[@cjfetters]

do you prefer Kindle?

[@robin_birdie_]

The company wasn't founded in Switzerland. The company was founded in Kyiv by a Kyiv native citizen. And it still has its R&D office located in Kyiv and the guy is still in charge. Go to Wikipedia, do some basic research.

[@Maneetpaul]

Thanks for clarifying. Their HQ moved to Switzerland in 2012, according to Wikipedia.

[@maxinelko]

Wow, the company was founded in 2007 in Ukraine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@-Filip-]

The best reader if you do not want to be a part of any ecosystem or slave to ads.

[@bobwest4839]

Out of date review. Also, the review is dominated by the reviewer's use of his ereader, which I think is not mainstream. The ERA is also simple to put into sleep mode. Just push the power button twice. Also, if you side-load books using Calibre like I do, the ERA is far superior to any kindle. Also, he didn't touch on the ability to program the brightness and smartlight to match your use of the reader. I don't give this review much credit. It's out of date and heavily biased.

[@Maneetpaul]

I’m definitely a Kindle person, I don’t shy away from that. This was just my perspective as somebody who is completely new to the Pocketbook ecosystem. Bias is intended! 😅

[@bobwest4839]

I would recommend thoroughly understanding an ereader before reviewing it.

[@sachinketkar8110]

Ww don't get them in India. Alas!!

[@dennisginel1335]

Find the speakers absolutely unnecessary. If they issued a vertion without them and cheper, would be nice.

[@Selenkiy]

Покупать книги на Амазон глупо,заметки для большинства(99%)людей не нужны.

[@dr.reverse8285]

first lol

[@Maneetpaul]

second! :)

[@rusyaidirahman119]

why need ebook reader when we have tablets.

[@mcul3474]

do you even think before you speak?

[@rusyaidirahman119]

@@mcul3474 why bro dont we read articles, news, social media post, comments, using tablets/smartphone. Why need multiple device when can utilise all in one with single device.

[@FranzBinder20]

Because they display the text in a way that is more comfortable for the eyes. Reading a lot of text on a normal screen would be annoying.

[@rusyaidirahman119]

@@FranzBinder20 understood, thanks sharing

[@claudi6349]

I'm using my tablet until I find the right E-reader. Unfortunately my 10 year old Sony E-reader doesn't work for use of the online library. My tablet works great when I'm inside, outside in the sun it was very difficult to read. At least I have until Spring to get a new reader. I am very interested in the Pocketbook Era ... but the poor battery is holding me back.