Backlight in e-books: a necessity or an extra option

Among experienced users who daily associate their activities with e-books, there is an opinion about the importance of having a screen backlight in the device. It is worth noting that not every manufacturer for certain reasons supplies its device with this function. So how important is artificial lighting for the reader display? Is it worth analyzing the existing range of products to opt for a backlit e-book? What advantages and disadvantages of using devices of this segment is important to know when deciding to buy a device with built-in lighting? We suggest to sort it out.

Backlight in an e-book

When answering the question about the real need to equip the screen of an e-book with special illumination, it is first of all necessary to determine for what purpose and in which segment of products manufacturers, as a rule, embed such an option. Obviously, traditional LCD gadgets do not need additional lighting. They can be read at any time of the day, under any weather conditions, in any situation. However, the fact of harm to the health of the reader’s eyes with the regular use of electronic readers with an LCD display is generally recognized.

Taking care of their consumers, the best among modern manufacturers of products for the electronics market began to use an innovative technology - E-Ink. The main advantage of this technique is the absence of "flickering" lighting on the gadget's display, which minimizes eye strain while holding the gaze on the device’s screen for a long time. Based on the above fact, it is logical to conclude that it is possible to equip virtual books created solely on the basis of electronic paper.

However, the next question follows: “Why then even embed the“ harmful ”function in the maximum“ harmless ”gadget?” That's right, no reason. From the manufacturer’s side, this move can be considered nothing more than an attempt to satisfy the needs and demand of the buyer, thereby earning money by selling his product. Accordingly, without considering individual cases, which are rather the exception, we can safely declare at least the uselessness of the backlight in the E-Ink device, and at the maximum its harm to the user.

In fairness, you should still give an example in which you can pay attention to e-books with built-in LED-lighting. For example, having a busy job, being on frequent trips, a person often does not have the opportunity to prepare a report in advance. Saving time for the task, he has no choice but to read at night to meet the deadlines. Of course, even in this case, you can purchase an additional “flexible” lamp for maximum illumination of the display of the reader. But, you must admit, it is not always convenient to get and attach an additional accessory while in the dark outside the house, but, for example, on the top shelf of a train car.

Moreover, there are studies that have shown a decrease in the contrast of the virtual book screen due to the introduction of a light guide layer into the design of the gadget by the manufacturer.

Summarizing the above, the following advantages of electronic “readers” with built-in backlight can be formulated:

• the ability to use the gadget at any time of the day in emergency situations;
• the ability of the backlight to “whiten” the screen, creating the effect of a “book page”.

Speaking about the disadvantages of “virtual reading” with built-in artificial lighting, the following points can be distinguished:

• the harm they cause to human eye health with regular prolonged use of the device;
• decrease in the contrast level of the displayed text of the document;
• often the "overpriced" cost of gadgets with a similar additional feature.

It is up to each customer to decide whether or not to determine whether or not the backlight is on the screen of an e-book, based on the circumstances in which the purchased device will most often be used directly. We advise you to consider this option “in the context” of other features of the product display for the objective selection of the “ideal” gadget.

1. From the point of view of the technologies underlying the design and manufacture of the display, it is worth paying tribute to the E-Ink readers, rightfully considered the best in their segment. Their superiority over analogues is due to the maximum similarity with paper media, which significantly increases comfort and reduces health damage with prolonged use.
2. The presence of a sensor is an option "for everybody." Users who value the convenience and speed of “interacting” with an e-book with the touch of a finger are advised to pay attention to infrared touch displays. They are the most "thought out" from the point of view of the technical component and more "resistant" to mechanical influences of various kinds. The principle of the gadget’s response to touch in this case is to “break” the radiation network formed by emitters and special sensors located on adjacent edges of the screen. When you touch the sensor, automatic instantaneous calculation of the coordinates of the "gap" with the subsequent "reaction" to the user command.
3. Diagonals of displays of modern "readers" vary from 5 to 10 inches. Of course, in this matter it is also worth considering personal requirements, but we must not forget about the necessary compactness of the device. Most models of e-books are equipped with a six-inch screen, which is the best option both for direct reading and for transporting the gadget and using it outside the home.
4. Resolution for the reader is an indicator responsible for the clarity of the transmission of symbols of the source document to the screen. Based on this statement, it is advisable for the buyer to choose between models of devices with the maximum resolution (ideal - 758 * 1024). However, it is worth considering the likely high cost for a product of similar quality. If there is a limited budget, insufficient to buy a “virtual” reading gadget with a higher resolution, the user should pay attention to the figure of 600 * 800 pixels, provided the average diagonal of the device. Characteristics less than the specified number of points will not be able to please the user with high-quality reproduction of text.
5. The screen contrast of the electronic “reader” can also be called a basic characteristic, important for analysis at the time of purchase. It varies depending on the type of display and, accordingly, the novelty of the model. So, gadgets that have become history have provided the user with a 6: 1 contrast ratio. If we talk about modern E-Ink devices, which are advanced developments, then here the same indicator will already be 16: 1. These figures clearly illustrate a significant “leap” in the development of the reader's design compared to its predecessor. It is important for the buyer to remember that the wider the range of the contrast characteristic, the better the picture can be obtained by adjusting the considered option "for yourself".

Top models

Bearing in mind the above data, together with which it is most advisable to consider buying an e-book with highlighting, it is worth paying attention to the top models of its segment.

PocketBook 631 Plus Touch HD 2

• Display Type: E-Ink Carta, IR
• The presence of a sensor: yes
• Contrast Ratio: 16: 1
• Screen Feature: 6 inch
• Weight: 180g
• CPU Frequency Response: 1000 MHz
• RAM capacity: 512 Mb
• The amount of internal memory: 8 GB
• Memory card support: yes
• Formats that can be used on the device: TXT, DOC, PalmDOC, PDF, fb2, ePub, DjVu, RTF, PRC, TCR, MOBI, ACSM, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, XLS, HTML, CHM, ZIP
• Battery capacity: 1300 mAh
• Additional options: page turning buttons, integrated backlight

Chronos

• Screen Type: E-Ink Carta, Capacitive
• The presence of a sensor: yes
• Contrast Ratio: 16: 1
• Display diagonal: 9.7 inches
• Weight: 450g
• CPU Frequency: 1000 MHz
• RAM: 512 Mb
• Built-in memory: 8 GB
• Memory card slot: yes
• Supported formats: TXT, DOC, PalmDOC, PDF, fb2, ePub, DjVu, RTF, MOBI, PRC, FB3, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, HTML, CHM, ZIP
• Battery capacity: 3000 mAh
• Additional functions: built-in backlight, Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth, page turning buttons on the case

Digma r63s

• Screen Type: E-Ink Carta
• The presence of a sensor: no
• Contrast Ratio: 16: 1
• Display diagonal: 6 inches
• Weight: 160g
• CPU Frequency: 600 MHz
• Built-in memory: 4 GB
• Memory card support: yes
• Valid formats: TXT, DOC, PalmDOC, PDF, fb2, ePub, DjVu, RTF, mobi, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, HTML, CHM, ZIP
• Battery capacity: 1500 mAh
• Additional functions: paging buttons on the case, built-in artificial LED-display lighting

ONYX BOOX Caesar 2

• Screen Type: E-Ink Carta
• The presence of a touch layer of the display: no
• Screen diagonal: 6 inches
• Contrast Range: 16: 1
• Weight: 182g
• CPU Frequency: 1000 MHz
• RAM: 512 MB
• Built-in memory: 8 GB
• Memory card support: yes
• Playable formats: TXT, DOC, PalmDOC, PDF, fb2, ePub, DjVu, RTF, MOBI, PRC, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, HTML, CHM, ZIP
• Battery Capacity: 3000 mAh
• Additional functions: buttons for turning pages, built-in backlight

PocketBook 641 Aqua 2

• Display Type: E-Ink Carta
• The presence of a touch layer of the screen: yes
• Size: 6 inch
• Gadget Weight: 180g (+ - 5g)
• CPU Frequency Index: 1000 MHz
• RAM: 256 MB
• Gadget memory available for filling in files: 8 GB
• Support for various types of memory cards: yes
• The file extensions allowed to work on the device are: TXT, DOC, PDF, fb2, ePub, DjVu, RTF, TCR, MOBI, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PNG, HTML, CHM, ZIP
• Battery capacity: 1500 mAh
• Additional built-in options: mechanical buttons for paging, built-in LED backlight display, Wi-Fi module, waterproof

Knowing the main advantages and disadvantages of using electronic books with built-in backlight, as well as the basic characteristics of top models, together with which a decision should be made on the feasibility of buying a device with artificial lighting for the display, even a novice user can easily find the gadget that is most suitable for him. Everyone has the right to decide for himself, to purchase a “harmless” product, but to experience some difficulties in its operation in the dark or a “harmful” gadget, but convenient to use even at night.