Pocketbook Verse Pro Color Review: The Best 6-Inch e-reader!

Pocketbook is back with a premium version of its 6-inch e-reader, the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color, featuring a stunning color e-ink display. I’m providing a comprehensive review of this device on this page. You will also find a video to better understand how the e-reader works.

Video Review

Packaging

As usual, let's start by examining the box and packaging of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color e-reader.

The e-reader arrives well-protected in a cardboard box that contains the device, a short startup booklet, and a USB-C cable for charging the e-reader and connecting it to your computer.

The booklet is solely for getting the e-reader up and running and for beginning its use. It includes everything you need to use the device right away since you will be guided through the setup process when you start the e-reader.

You will also have access to a very comprehensive manual in the form of an ebook, which is available in your e-reader's library.

The e-reader has the same design as the Pocketbook Verse Pro, and I was pleased to discover that its protective case is compatible with the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color Color.

You will find four buttons under the screen, including those that are very useful for turning the pages while reading a book. The e-reader is waterproof, boasting an IPX8 certification, and features 16 GB of storage to carry thousands of e-books with you.

HD Color Screen, Touch, and Lighting

If you've already read the review of the Pocketbook Verse Pro, you know what to expect from this e-reader. That's why I will focus on the main highlight of this new version: the 6-inch Kaleido 3 color screen.

We have a 6-inch next-generation color e-ink display here. This screen utilizes a different technology that presents text and images with a finish akin to paper. It's worth mentioning that we're getting very close to what you would expect from a printed newspaper, book, or magazine.

Technically speaking, e-ink doesn't really use pixels (but rather types of capsules), but the specifications state the following:

• 1072 x 1448 pixels – 300 dpi for black and white
• 536 x 724 pixels, 150 dpi for color

You read that correctly: the screen's resolution is lower for displaying colors. However, this is difficult to notice in practice since every illustration combines both black and color. Given that text is printed in black 99% of the time, this doesn't pose an issue for reading.

While color is no longer a surprise, I must emphasize that the colors on this screen are excellent. In fact, they are even deeper than those displayed by competing e-readers like the Kobo Libra Colour. This is quite a remarkable surprise because the screen uses the same technology. This means that the manufacturer of the e-reader can "tune" the color e-ink screen they use.

Thus, this Pocketbook e-reader not only has better color calibration, but it is also faster than its competitors from Kobo!

In summary, the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color offers one of the best color screens I have seen so far (and I've seen quite a few over the past few months, as you can see on the e-reader review page).

It's very pleasant to browse through the book covers in your e-reader's library or bookstore. As for comics, we'll discuss that a little later...

Regarding black-and-white display, it also performs very well. Compared to its black-and-white sister, it's clear that this color screen does not offer as high a contrast. However, once again, it is one of the best color screens I have used for displaying black-and-white texts.

In terms of lighting, it provides a nice, uniform experience with a very gradual adjustment. There is also the SmartLight system, which filters blue light by tinting the lighting in a yellow/orange hue.

In short, this screen is a delightful surprise, allowing you to enjoy your books under excellent conditions.

Wi-Fi, USB, Storage, and Library

You can create a free Pocketbook account to use your e-reader, but this is not mandatory. This account allows you to access an online bookstore via the e-reader's Wi-Fi connection.

This bookstore gives you access to new releases, bestsellers, promotions, and free books that you can download directly to the e-reader. The Pocketbook Verse Pro Color has a USB-C port (cable included) to connect the e-reader to a power outlet (adapter not included) or to a computer for charging.

The e-reader supports EPUB files. If you already have books in this format, you can transfer them from your computer to the e-reader.

The Calibre software works very well with this e-reader for managing your digital books. Be sure to check that you have the latest version installed to avoid any issues.

Software and Interface of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color

The software on this e-reader is very comprehensive and offers many features beyond just reading eBooks.

Here are the main functions of this device:

• eBook Reading: Enjoy your collection of digital books.
• Bookstore: Buy and download new books directly.
• Library: Manage both eBooks and audiobooks.

Settings:

• Wi-Fi: Connect to the internet easily.
• Accounts and Synchronization: You can create user accounts if you share the e-reader.

Customization of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color:

• Adjust lighting settings
• Gyroscope settings
• Key programming on the screen
• Gestures in reading mode
• Startup logos (to display the book cover while in sleep mode)
• Set start action (home screen or currently reading book)
• Screen refresh options
• Bluetooth connectivity.

Applications:

• News: Synchronize RSS feeds.
• Calculator: Basic calculating functions.
• Dictionary: Look up words easily.
• Photo Gallery: View your pictures.
• Digital Photo Frame: Use the e-reader as a digital frame.
• Calendar and Clock: Keep track of time and dates.
• Music Player: Supports MP3 format.
• Web Browser: Simple and straightforward.
• Notepad: A handy place for notes.
• Scribble: A basic drawing application.
• Solitaire: The classic card game.
• Sudoku: Enjoy this popular puzzle game.
• Coloring: A fun app for kids who love to color.

With these features, the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color offers a versatile user experience beyond just reading eBooks.

eBook Reading Test on the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color

The most important aspect of evaluating the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color e-reader is the reading experience, which is excellent thanks to the high-definition e-ink screen, making reading very pleasant.

The lighting is easy to adjust, allowing you to find what suits you best. You can even turn it off completely to use natural light, just like with a paper book.

The e-reader is lightweight and compact, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. I read for over two hours without any discomfort.

For those who read in the dark, there is a "dark mode" that displays text in white on a black background. This is very easy on the eyes, especially at night.

You can, of course, customize the text display with the usual options:

• Line spacing
• Margin size
• Hyphenation (on or off)
• Font size
• Font choices: AR PL New Sung, Deja Vu Sans, Deja Vu Serif, Droid Sans MTI Arabic, FreeSerif, Liberation Sans, Liberation Serif, OpenDyslexic, OpenDyslexic Alta, OpenDyslexic Mono, PT Sans, PT Sans Caption, PT Serif, RaghuHindi, and Roboto
• Page number display
• Status bar showing battery level and time

In addition to this, the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color offers small tools for note-taking in your eBooks:

• Highlighting words with 4 available colors (the joy of a color screen!)
• Dictionary definition search via an integrated dictionary
• Bookmark functionality
• Note-taking with a virtual keyboard (similar to a smartphone) to comment on specific passages

As always with Pocketbook, this e-reader provides a very comprehensive reading solution.

However, it lacks some advanced statistical options found in certain competitors like Kobo or Kindle. For instance, it is not possible to display the remaining reading time in a chapter or a book. You can still see the number of pages left.

This doesn't hinder the reading experience, and personally, I didn't miss it.

Reading Comics, Manga, and PDFs

The 6-inch e-ink screen has an excellent resolution of 1072 x 1448 pixels, ensuring that even small characters are displayed accurately. The e-reader handles PDF files well, allowing for the reading of documents and manga.

However, reading PDFs can sometimes be challenging. Comfort depends on the content; with a lot of graphics or small text, even with a color screen, you may find yourself needing to zoom in, which can make the reading experience less enjoyable.

For manga, most pages are readable, but the 6-inch screen is smaller than printed manga. If a panel contains a lot of text, you may need to zoom in, which can become tedious. That said, it is delightful to explore some illustrations in color!

In summary, while the e-reader performs well, the screen is somewhat small for optimal manga reading. It also depends on the manga style, with some being less text-heavy than others. For better comfort when reading manga, it is better to choose a device with a larger screen, like the Pocketbook InkPad 4 or the Kobo Libra Colour.

When it comes to magazines and comics, the screen is indeed a bit small for this purpose, and zooming will often be necessary. Fortunately, the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color supports commonly used formats like PDF, CBR, and CBZ, so navigating through documents is quite easy.

If you primarily intend to use this e-reader for reading color comics, I encourage you to stop here and check out reviews of e-readers with larger screens.

Text-to-Speech and Listening to Audiobooks

The Pocketbook Verse Pro Color offers three features for audiobook playback:

• Listen to audiobooks purchased from the Pocketbook bookstore.
• Listen to MP3 audiobooks that you already have.
• Convert eBooks into audiobooks using the text-to-speech feature.

To listen to audiobooks, you will need to have either a USB-C to audio jack adapter (not tested) or use the Bluetooth function.

Technical Specifications of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color

Here are the technical specifications of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color e-reader:

• Screen: 6-inch Kaleido 3 e-ink display with a resolution of 1072 x 1448 pixels (300 dpi for black and white) and 536 x 724 pixels (150 dpi for color)
• Processor: Dual-core ARM, 2 x 1 GHz
• RAM: 512 MB
• Storage: 16 GB
• Ports: USB-C
• Water Resistance: IPX8
• Gyroscope: Automatically orientates the e-reader in landscape or portrait mode
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for audio features
• Battery: 1500 mAh
• Supported eBook Formats: EPUB, PDF, FB2, FB2.ZIP, TXT, DJVU, HTM, HTML, DOC, DOCX, RTF, CHM, TCR, PRC (MOBI), JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF
• Audio Formats: MP3, M4B
• Dimensions: 108 x 156 x 7.6 mm
• Weight: 182 g

These specifications make the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color a versatile e-reader suitable for both reading and listening to content.

Review of the Pocketbook Verse Pro Color Color: The Best 6-Inch Color E-Reader on the Market!

The Pocketbook Verse Pro Color is quite impressive.

I find it superior to the Kobo Clara Colour and even the Pocketbook Verse Pro. It also outshines the Kindle Paperwhite thanks to its color screen.

Of course, its only real drawback is its price: at $169.99, it is slightly more expensive than the competition. However, it offers more features and a color screen. For instance, no other brand offers text-to-speech functionality.

Its IPX8 certification makes it robust, making it a great e-reader for readers who want to take their device on the go (public transport, vacations). Nevertheless, I always recommend using a protective case to prevent any damage.

The e-reader also has numerous customization options and excellent compatibility with popular eBook formats (including EPUB). If you occasionally read manga, it can work well for that too—just don't be too demanding.

Pros:

• Excellent color e-ink display with SmartLight lighting
• 16 GB of storage
• IPX8 water resistance
• Wide compatibility with file formats
• Audio compatibility and text-to-speech functionality

Cons:

• No reading statistics
• Slightly high price
• Screen too small for fully enjoying color comics

Overall, the 5-star rating (out of 5!) is well deserved for thePocketbook Verse Pro Color, which has become the queen of its category.