Pocketbook is planning to release a new entry-level e-reader called the Verse Lite. This will be the first Pocketbook without manual page-turn buttons in a very long time and entirely rely on the touchscreen display. When it comes out in the next couple of weeks, it will retail for $129.
The Verse Lite will feature a 6-inch E INK Carta e-paper display with a resolution of 1024×768 and 212 PPI. PocketBook Verse Lite’s built-in front light is ideal for reading in low-light conditions, whether in bed at night or in a dimly lit room. Unlike smartphones or tablets, which illuminate the face, Verse Lite uses diodes around the frame to light the screen gently, not the user. Thanks to E Ink technology, Verse Lite lets you read with the front light wholly turned off – unlike tablets and smartphones – offering a more natural reading experience with zero Blue Light emission.
Underneath the hood is a dual-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. It does have an SD card to increase storage further. WIFI is available only on the 2.4 band, and USB-C is used to charge and transfer data. It is powered by a paltry 1000 mAh battery, but since it runs Linux, it should still provide a few weeks of constant usage before recharging.
PocketBook Verse Lite supports 25 popular e-book and graphic formats, including comic and manga, for more versatile reading. Support for Adobe DRM and LCP DRM-protected formats allows users to access content from various online stores and libraries. Equipped with Wi-Fi, PocketBook Verse Lite gives users the freedom to shop in virtually any online bookstore worldwide. Cloud services enable effortless library management and book synchronization across multiple devices. Alternatively, Dropbox service makes e-book delivery to the device fast and easy.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.