Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.
| Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 109 mm (millimeters) 10.9 cm (centimeters) 0.36 ft 4.29in |
| Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 160 mm (millimeters) 16 cm (centimeters) 0.52 ft 6.3in |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 11.3 mm (millimeters) 1.13 cm (centimeters) 0.04ft 0.44in |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 200 g (grams) 0.44 lbs 7.05oz |
| Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated based on dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 197.07 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 11.97 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black Red White |
SoC (System on a Chip)
System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.
| SoC (System on a Chip) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Freescale i.MX508 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor. | 65 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications. | ARM Cortex-A8 |
| Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7-A |
| First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes) |
| Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM. | 256 kB (kilobytes) 0.25 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel. | 1 |
| Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 800 MHz (megahertz) |
| The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted. | 512 MB (megabytes) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends. | E Ink Pearl |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches. | 6 in 152.4 mm (millimeters) 15.24 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate Screen Width | 3.57in 90.67 mm (millimeters) 9.07 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate Screen Height | 4.82in 122.49 mm (millimeters) 12.25 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.351:1 |
| Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail. | 758 x 1024 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail. | 212 ppi (pixels per inch) 83 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device. | 63.89% (percentage) |
| Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen. | capacitive Multitouch |
| Screen shades - 16 Clear Infrared touchscreen |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 |
Sony was at the forefront of the e-paper segment - for many enthusiasts, the iconic Sony Reader PRS-505 became the first reader, Japanese developers were the first to release an E Ink reader with built-in backlight (Sony Reader PRS-700), and in the subway you can still meet people with extremely successful aluminum models Sony Reader PRS-3×0/6×0. Unfortunately, the current Sony Reader PRS-Tx product line cannot boast of similar success, for obvious reason with the Amazon name. Nevertheless, the third model of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 line continues to move in the right direction, it received an updated design, a new E Ink Pearl HD screen, but most importantly, a “smart” cover integrated into the case, which allows you to start reading simply by opening a book. .
Versions, equipment
The Sony Reader PRS-T3 e-book is offered in three color options: black, white and red, while absolutely all surfaces are made in the main color, including the front and back panel, sides and cover.
The front panel of all three versions of the reader is made of slightly rough matte plastic, although the predecessor Sony Reader PRS-T2 had only a matte black version, while the white and red versions had a less practical glossy finish.
The CIS version of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 comes in a thin flat cardboard box with localized design. All available information is given in English and Russian, and even in the photo of the reader you can see the beginning of the novel “How the Steel Was Tempered”. Of the packaging design features, we note a clear indication of support for the popular FB2 format and a warranty card in a separate plastic bag.
Removing the outer shell reveals an origami box made from unassuming recycled cardboard. In addition to the actual reader inside, you can only find a short USB/micro-USB cable and a quick start guide in Russian and Ukrainian. Note that the international version of the bundle includes a plastic stylus, but the charger and branded backlit cover, if necessary, will have to be purchased separately.
Embedded cover
At first glance, the novelty looks almost the same as the previous version of the Sony Reader PRS-T2, but it is not. Unlike the monoblock design of its predecessor, the third model of the series has a “smart” cover integrated into the body, which not only protects the screen, but also acts as a decorative back panel. Such a solution allows to significantly reduce the overall dimensions and weight compared to the standard “reader + cover” version.
Magnets built into the front of the cover securely fix it on the front panel of the device and, in addition, automatically “wake up” the reader as soon as you open the cover and put it into sleep mode as soon as you close it. Note that in nature there is also a simplified version of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 with a conventional plug on the rear panel instead of an integrated cover, but it will not be sold everywhere.
To remove the cover, you need to carefully snap off the latches around the perimeter of the rear panel, after which you will have access to service information, a microSD memory card slot, and power contacts. You can use the Sony Reader PRS-T3 with the cover removed, but you should not do this, at least for aesthetic reasons. You should also take into account the non-zero probability of accidentally shorting the contacts that are used to power the optional removable cover with a built-in LED lamp.
We note the rather original design of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 card reader - this is not a miniature slot with a plug in one of the sides of the case, but a large rectangular recess in the center of the rear panel with an activity indicator and a slot hidden in the inner edge. As a result, the memory card in the “loaded” state is practically invisible, and the recess is necessary only to make it easier to remove it from the case.
Design, connectors
Despite the use of the screen of the same 6-inch diagonal, the Sony Reader PRS-T3 model has become noticeably more compact compared to its predecessor. If the width of the model has lost only 1 mm, then the difference in height between T3 and T2 is as much as 13 mm. But the weight comparison is more difficult to make, since the predecessor weighed 168 grams without a cover, and the new one weighed 200 grams with a cover. If you remove the cover along with the back panel, then weighing will show about 140 grams, which is quite good for a 6-inch reader.
The front panel of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 is made of slightly rough matte plastic. The screen is quite seriously recessed into its surface due to the features of the infrared module. Despite the possibility of touch control, the reader is equipped with a number of hardware keys. The design of the control block remains the same - these are five buttons in the form of corresponding icons - two arrows, a house, a "Back" sign and a "Menu" list. The sharp edges and unique shape of each of the buttons allow you to accurately determine by touch which one is currently under your fingers.
The rear surface of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 case, including the sides and part of the integrated cover, is made of anti-slip soft-touch plastic. But the front side of the cover is made of leather, and on the outside it is a smooth surface with a natural texture and no markings, and inside there is a soft suede part with a miniature Sony logo and a recess for a row of control keys. As a result, while reading, you touch a soft-touch coating that is pleasant to the touch or an equally pleasant leather surface.
There is absolutely nothing interesting on three of the four sidewalls of the reader, and only on the bottom edge you can find a minimum-sufficient set of a power button with a charge level indicator, a Reset hole and a micro-USB port for data transfer and battery charge. Support for audio files, and therefore headphone output, was abandoned by the developers in the second generation of the Sony Reader PRS-Tx family.
Functionality
The Sony Reader PRS-T3 is equipped with a 6-inch E Ink Pearl HD screen with a resolution of 1024 by 758 pixels and a Clear Touch infrared sensor module. There is no built-in backlight, like most of the current flagship readers, in this model, lovers of reading before going to bed will have to purchase a branded cover with a lamp. On the one hand, this is a step forward, since the previous model of the family was content with an E Ink Pearl matrix with a lower resolution of 800 by 600 pixels. But on the other hand, in terms of the two most important consumer properties - image quality and the presence of backlighting, the Japanese reader is inferior to the segment leader Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2013), which boasts a more recent E Ink Carta screen and front lighting, which you do not have to buy separately.
The device is running a Russified interface based on the Android OS, which allows us to hope for the appearance of custom firmware, so loved by some e-reading enthusiasts. The reader supports JPEG, PNG, GIF and BMP image formats, as well as TXT, ePub and PDF book formats. Modifications intended for sale in the CIS countries additionally support the locally popular FB2 format. It is interesting that we are talking about FB2 files, the device still does not support the FB2.zip archive version. Built-in memory is 2 GB of which only 1.2 GB is available to the user. However, the presence of a slot for memory cards allows you to completely remove the problem with the lack of free space.
The Sony Reader PRS-T3 is equipped with a 1000 mAh battery, a full charge of which, according to the manufacturer, should last for 2 months, if you read half an hour a day or 30,000 page turns. The battery charge from 0 to 100% lasts 2.5 hours when connected to a PC USB port and 2 hours when using a charger. The reader also supports ultra-fast charging - just 3 minutes should be enough to read 600 pages of text.
Interface
The presence of a touch screen and 5 hardware keys at once make it quite comfortable to control the Sony Reader PRS-T3 - a specific element is selected by pointing with a finger, and the context menu is opened, the transition back or to the main screen is carried out using the buttons. You can flip through the pages either with the help of two hardware arrows (by the way, holding the hardware “arrows” for a long time leads to fast rewinding of the text), and with a characteristic scrolling gesture, while simply touching the edge of the screen does not work.
The main interface window is divided into several zones. At the very top is a service line with icons for the wireless network and the degree of battery charge, and it is proposed to judge the state of the latter using only four divisions. By touching the upper right corner, you can quickly turn on or turn off the Wi-Fi module, as well as read system notifications. By pressing the Menu button, you will see the current time for a few seconds.
The central part of the screen is occupied by your current book and the four most recently added files. Moreover, if in the latter case the matter is limited to the covers and the title, then for the book that you are currently reading, the author's name, reading progress in digital and graphic form, as well as the date of the last opening are also available. If you like to read several books at the same time, then you will certainly appreciate the opportunity to see not one, but four recently opened text files at once.
And finally, at the very bottom, you can find three icons that go to the sections “Bookshelves”, “All Notes” and “Applications”. The library has standard features for sorting and displaying books, search and location marks (built-in storage or memory card) are also available. The Notes section lets you organize all the quotes you've highlighted, and the last tab contains links to the Browser, Dictionary, Pictures, Memo, Pictures and System Settings, Evernote, and Facebook apps.
In the system settings of the Sony Reader PRS-T3, you can set the necessary swipe gesture, determine the language of the menu and keyboard (Russian or English); Application Settings contains useful features such as a preferred font size, an option to force a full screen refresh every time the page is turned, a choice of default dictionary, slide duration, and three pages of system web browser settings. The remaining items contain the settings familiar to any modern device.
In reading mode, you see only the text and reading progress in the form of the current / last page of the book. Thanks to the optimization of the page refresh algorithm, artifacts practically do not manifest themselves, so there is no particular need for a full page refresh with a black fill. A long touch brings up a pop-up context menu with options to copy, send, and search for a word or phrase. At the same time, the most interesting is the ability to translate a word from Russian into English, from English into Russian, or to clarify the meaning of an English word in the Oxford Dictionary.
The Sony Reader PRS-T3 settings menu is called by a hardware button, and not by tapping in the center of the screen, as is usually the case with touch devices. The “Navigation page” item allows you to navigate to the desired page using the slider, specifying the number or content. The “Font” item contains 8 font gradations and 6 different types. “Pictures” and “Notes” allow you to respectively leave handwritten and text notes to the text of the book, “View Settings” is more interesting when reading PDF rather than text files, and the “Advanced” item is interesting for the ability to change the text orientation (only two options) and find out complete information about the book.
Exploitation
In the previous sections of the review, we have told almost everything that is worth telling about the Sony Reader PRS-T3 reader, and now we will dwell on the impressions of its operation in more detail.
The idea with a built-in cover, if you wish, you can find a lot of disadvantages associated with the lack of alternatives to this proposal. Some people do not like covers in principle, because they want to get the thinnest, lightest candy bar without moving parts and do not need a separate screen protector (for example, they only read at home). Someone does not like the design of the branded cover, and in another case, he would be happy to change it to a variant from a different material, with a different color/pattern and fixation method. You should not lose sight of the increase in the cost of the reader because of this “free” cover, since it will be almost impossible to buy a version without a cover in our country.
The second major complaint about the Sony Reader PRS-T3 cover was the method of fixation. We understand that a more “gentle” mount, which would be easier to remove, would likely become correspondingly less secure. But if you often remove the cover to, for example, remove a memory card, then sooner or later you will probably get tired of this clicking. In particularly unfortunate cases, plastic latches can simply be broken out. The situation is even worse if you have purchased a branded cover with an LED lamp and are going to regularly change the covers for reading on the road and before bed. Naturally, such claims will not arise from those who remove the cover only once - in order to insert a memory card.
On, and now about the merits of this Integrated Snap Cover. It just fits perfectly into the design and construction of the Sony Reader PRS-T3 reader, thanks to which it delivers aesthetic and tactile pleasure during operation. This solution is very much like a regular book, since you do not have to press any buttons to start reading - just pick it up, open the cover and get to the same page on which you finished reading. You get used to this “warm lamp” model of behavior very quickly and you begin to expect the same behavior from other readers, but alas ... We should also note the maximum energy savings, because the reader goes into standby mode as soon as you close the cover. What is especially valuable is that you do not need to force yourself to this action (as in the case of pressing the buttons on the case), it is familiar to anyone who has ever held an ordinary book or magazine in their hands.
Thus, it is up to you to decide whether the built-in cover is an advantage or a disadvantage, since this assessment is essentially subjective.
Sony Reader PRS-T3 video review
Results
As a result, the Sony Reader PRS-T3 is a rather interesting update of the line of Japanese readers with an original design solution in the form of a smart cover built into the case. The device will certainly appeal to lovers of comfort and minimalism, although it has not received the latest E Ink Carta screen and trendy front lighting.
Liked
Built-in cover with magnetic fixation and automatic screen lock
1024 x 758 E Ink Pearl HD screen
Updated design, minimal body dimensions
Practical materials, excellent solution for the block of control buttons
Two ways to turn pages (hard buttons, touch screen)
MicroSD card slot available
Support for FB2 format, Russian-language interface
Did not like
- high price
- no built-in backlight
- integrated cover features
The product was provided for testing by Origami, the official distributor of Sony products in Ukraine, http://www.origami.co.ua
 |
Sony PRS-T3 Notify when available |
| Operating system | Android |
| Keyboard type | buttons + touch control |
| Accumulator battery | there is no data |
| Operating time (manufacturer's data) | up to 2 months (Wi-Fi off), up to 1 month (Wi-Fi) on - with 30 minutes of reading daily |
| Dimensions, mm | 109x160x11.3 (with cover) |
| Weight, g | 200 (with cover) |
| Diagonal, inches | 6 |
| Permission | 1024x758 |
| Matrix type | E Ink Pearl HD |
| Touch screen, technology | touch (infrared) |
| Additional screen | — |
| Built-in memory | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | microSD |
| Text | ePub, PDF, TXT, FB2 |
| Audio | — |
| Images | JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP |
| Video | — |
| USB | microUSB |
| Audio jack | — |
| Other | — |
| IrDA | — |
| Bluetooth | — |
| WiFi | + (802.11b/g/n) |
| 3G (EDGE) | — |
| Accelerometer | — |
| QWERTY keyboard | — |
| speaker | — |
| FM receiver | — |
| Browser | + |
| Organizer | — |
| Dictionary | there is no data |
| Games | — |
| Reading aloud (Text to speech) | — |
| book store | + |
| More | integrated cover |
How long have you been holding a book in your hands? Plain, paper, smelling of time and printing ink? What about electronic? They say that they also managed to go out of fashion. We, paraphrasing Mark Twain, note that rumors about the death of readers are greatly exaggerated.
We decided to compare - thanks to the Ulmart online store - two e-books, PocketBook 626 and Sony PRS-T3. And at the same time, we learned from an expert what interesting things are happening in this segment of gadgets.
Both readers - and these are the latest models in the company's device lines - are equipped with E Ink Pearl touch screens with a resolution of 758x1024 pixels. From a technological point of view, this is not the latest development - at the beginning of last year, the next version of the E Ink Carta electronic ink screen and the first model based on it - Kindle Paperwhite were presented. However, the new screens have not yet taken root, and readers with E Ink Cart displays are still a curiosity (today, in addition to the Kindle reader, only the freshly released German Tolino Vision is equipped with this "generation" of electronic ink screens).
PocketBook 626
from 6000 rub.
Screen: 6'', 758x1024, 16 grayscale, E-Ink Pearl, backlight, sensor
RAM: 256 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Wi-Fi, microUSB, microSD (up to 32 GB)
Battery: 1500 mAh
Formats: EPUB, PDF, FB2, FB2.ZIP, TXT, DJVU, HTML, DOC, DOCX, RTF, CHM, TCR, PRC (MOBI) + JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF
Sony PRS-T3
from 5000 rub.
Screen: 6'', 758x1024, 16 grayscale, E-Ink Pearl, sensor
RAM: 512 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Wi-Fi, USB, microSD (up to 32 GB)
Battery: 1000 mAh
Formats: EPUB, PDF, FB2, TXT+JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
Before comparing the devices in detail, we talked to Vladimir Prokhorenkov, editor-in-chief of the-ebook.org portal, who spoke about what is happening with e-books in general.
GTTF: How interesting are readers today for users and how has this segment of the gadget market changed in general?
Vladimir Prokhorenkov: The main peak of interest passed just two years ago. Now the consumer crisis is superimposed on popularity. Accordingly, the demand has slightly decreased. There is an outflow of those companies that are not enthusiastic in the market. Gradually, a limited number of manufacturers remain, and until they can surprise with some kind of innovation, all devices on the shelf are similar to each other like two drops of water. The market could be spurred on by a new wave of readers that will offer consumers some feature that will differentiate them from the old generation of devices. There is not even a stagnation, but a slight decrease in interest.
GTTF: How will technology develop in general, what awaits us in the near future?
V.P.: At the end of last year, new items came out - this is a new E-Ink Carta screen and a joint development of Sony and E-Ink with a size of 13.3 inches, which uses a Sony matrix that can be bent within certain limits. Accordingly, there will be products in this direction. They are interesting mainly for the corporate market because of the high price.
GTTF: Does the user really need such flexibility of the screen?
V.P.: Modern screens are glued to glass substrates, so even if the screen remains intact as a result of excessive impact, the substrate breaks easily. The flexible control TFT-layer allows you to bend the screen - the device can be slightly bent or leaned on it with your hand.
GTTF: What advice would you give to a person who is buying a reader for the first time?
V.P.: First, decide what he will read, books in what formats. Then - in what conditions will he do it: is there enough light or will it be a dark room, will he do it in transport or before going to bed.
GTTF: And how price can affect the choice?
V.P.: You don't have to pay the maximum amount. A high price is usually a marketing positioning. Therefore, it is necessary to focus not so much on the price as on the properties that the consumer wants to see in the final product.
What is unique about E Ink technology - at least look from the side, even under the spotlight - the information remains easily distinguishable. The screens of both readers are exactly the same - if you conduct a "blind test", even the developers themselves are unlikely to distinguish one model from another. Font rendering here has improved compared to previous models, and this is important for comfortable reading.
PocketBook is equipped with a screen backlight - by the way, more uniform than in previous models - but it does not come with a case. Sony has the opposite - and this is the main difference between readers from each other. For information: a good case for PocketBook will cost about 1000 rubles, and a backlit case for Sony can be found for 1500.
It feels like both readers are convenient to use. Assembly and body materials - do not raise questions. PocketBook due to the thickness and curved back cover (without a case) looks a little more elegant, and Sony boasts comfortable embossed buttons.
The amount of built-in memory is not so relevant for readers - unless you read in PDF format. Nevertheless, Sony has equipped two, and PocketBook - four gigabytes of memory (naturally, smaller volumes are available). Both books support microSD cards (up to 32 GB).
A more important parameter is format support. PRS-T3 works with a minimum set of standards: ePub, PDF, TXT, FB2 + common image file formats. The 626th also supports graphics, and the number of text formats here is under two dozen. Of the most valuable - DjVU and Word files.
Mobile applications have long settled in readers. On the reader from Sony, you will certainly be interested in the possibility of working with Facebook and Evernote - in the first case, you can share quotes from books, in the second, you can create and read your own notes. PocketBook can work with Dropbox, and besides, there is a useful service for downloading books via Wi-Fi (registration in the service is required, and sending books to the reader is done via e-mail).
Yes, both models are equipped with Wi-Fi. What else do you need to access the Internet? That's right, browser! The thing is useful, but it is unlikely that you will use this feature often. Why? The constant redrawing of the screen is not for the faint of heart (see how it looks in our video on the Geek to the Future YouTube channel).
If we talk about speed, then there are no special tests for readers - you can pick up a stopwatch, you can start from subjective sensations. And here Sony comes out ahead - all applications and the interface as a whole work without any brakes. Well, everything that concerns the reading process itself is perfected in both gadgets. We also note that PocketBook sometimes behaved strangely after a reboot: for several minutes the reader slowed down and reacted poorly to touch gestures, but then it “warmed up” and worked in normal mode.
That's what none of the readers have, so it's an MP3 player. This solution has its pros and cons. But in general, given that today the audio player is built almost into irons, the buyer is unlikely to feel left out. You can, of course, complain about the inability to listen to books, but listen to the monotonous voice of the robot, believe me, it’s still a pleasure.
The battery life of readers can be measured in days or the number of pages. But the use of backlighting or “wifi” greatly complicates this task. And the result, of course, will differ from those indicated on the box - moreover, it is known in which direction. Nevertheless, you can focus on the work of both readers from one charge for a week - a maximum of two - if we talk about "book swallowers". Well, the backlight will reduce this time by 4-5 times (Sony has a proprietary backlit case powered by the battery of the reader itself).
Let's summarize. Both devices do not have any pronounced shortcomings and the choice can be made based on personal preferences. They are not cheap, but similar analogues, for example, Onyx Akunin Book, are comparable: in our opinion, both models can be considered an excellent gadget for everyday reading - see for yourself by looking at our comparative
Readers from Sony are traditionally a success with Russian buyers. The first model that enjoyed increased popularity was the Sony PRS-505 device. Then there was a not so successful backlit reader Sony PRS-700, and later a series of models - PRS-350, PRS-650, PRS-950, equipped with screens with diagonals of 5, 6 and 7 inches. Until 2011, all models were produced in aluminum cases, the era of plastic came with the release of the PRS-T1 model. The Japanese manufacturer has narrowed the line of branded E-ink readers to just one device by introducing this reader. The reader turned out to be very successful, and in the first years after the release it sold no worse than the market leaders in e-books - Amazon Kindle readers. In 2012, Sony's competitors, primarily Amazon and Barnes & Noble, released models with a full and high-quality screen backlight, allowing you to read from an E-ink reader in the dark. Sony did not do this, releasing an updated PRS-T2 model without backlight. Finally, in 2013, the latest model of the manufacturer saw the light at the moment - Sony PRS-T3 to which our review is devoted.
Differences from Sony PRS-T2
The fundamental difference between the previous model and the new one is that the latter has a non-removable, "smart" cover that turns on the reader when you open the lid and turns it off when you close it. This innovation is really relevant, since E-ink screens are very fragile, and besides, it is well implemented. The back of the cover is directly the rear panel of the reader, due to which the device practically did not increase in thickness. The lid that covers the reader's screen is also very well made - it is thin, but dense enough to protect the screen. One way or another, any reader needs a cover, since all such displays are prone to damage if the reader is carried without a cover, for example, in a bag.
Interface
The reader menu has not undergone any special changes compared to the previous T2 model. In particular, the same view of the Home page is used, which is divided into several touch zones. At the very top on the black bar is a panel with notifications, battery indicator and Wi-Fi connection status. If you click the "Context Menu" button (the rightmost key), this panel will display the current time.
The middle part of the screen is reserved for showing the cover of the last open book. The view can be switched to the last four books that you opened (very convenient for those who read several books at the same time). Below are four recently added books.
At the bottom of the page are three sections: Bookshelves, All Notes, and Applications. The first section displays all downloaded books. It has the ability to create so-called "Collections" for which you can distribute books. It is worth noting that, as in previous models, the reader does not "see" ordinary computer folders, that is, the file system is not supported. Collections are virtual folders for the reader's internal menu. This principle of library organization is not to the liking of all users, but it is often used on popular Western readers, and the Sony PRS-T3 is no exception. The file system is used to sort books in and . The "Notes" section displays quotes you have saved from books. "Applications" are additional functions of the reader, we will talk about them in more detail below.
In reading mode, by pressing the "Context menu" button, you can call up settings for a part of the text. Six subsections are available here: "Navigation page" (viewing the contents, moving to the desired page in the book), "Font" (selecting the font type and letter size), "Notes" (adding text comments to the text of the book), "Drawings" (handwritten comments), "Set View" (for viewing PDF files in various modes), and "Advanced" (rotate the screen to landscape orientation, detailed information about the book).
The interface on the new product is not without some features. For example, using the touch screen, you can turn pages only by swiping your finger across the display, but not with a short press. Also, you cannot increase the size of the letters in the book using the multi-touch gesture (spread fingers apart). But in general, the controls, menu structure and settings on Sony PRS-T3 will be very clear and user-friendly for any e-book handling skills.
Functional
The reader supports TXT, FB2, EPUB, PDF e-book formats. In the case of FB2, it is important to note that the device only works with unzipped files, that is, files of the FB2.zip type, which are often found in online libraries, must be extracted from the zip archive before being loaded into the reader. In general, Sony PRS-T3 supports the most common formats in libraries, especially EPUB and FB2. These types of files should be used to read books, since PDF and TXT are rather computer formats that are not very suitable for reading on a reader.
The novelty is equipped with 2 GB of internal memory, as well as a slot for an additional flash drive up to 32 GB. The memory capacity has not increased compared to the T1 and T2 models. The user has access to 1.2 GB, which is enough for about a thousand books. In this regard, it is not necessary (if at all necessary) to buy an additional memory card for the reader, with a capacity of more than 2-4 GB.
In addition to reading, the reader has some additional functions:
It is especially convenient to use dictionaries. When reading a book, you can highlight unfamiliar words in the text with your finger and receive a translation in a pop-up window. The browser on the PRS-T3 is by far the best we've seen on E-ink readers. Of course, you need to make allowances for the fact that the e-ink screen is slower compared to LCD displays, and is not suitable for full-fledged Internet surfing. However, the browser supports downloading books, and if you wish, you can read a news site through it or check your mail.
A successful addition to the functionality of the reader was the Evernote application. This program is for a computer, where it is designed for writing and editing texts. On the Sony PRS-T3, you need to enter the login and password from your Evernote account, after which you can upload the text notes stored there to the reader. You can, and vice versa, create a note on the reader and "upload" it to Evernote on your computer. Content is synchronized using Wi-Fi. On the reader, texts are converted to TXT format for subsequent comfortable reading.
The device uses a 1000 mAh battery, one charge of which, as the manufacturer assures, should be enough for 2 months of use with a daily half-hour reading. Testing the novelty for about a week, we can say that this is most likely true, since during our testing the charge level has not decreased by a single division.
Model software Sony PRS-T3 is based on the Android OS, but this does not mean that any additional programs and applications can be installed on the reader. In the case of past models, this made it possible for amateur programmers to write various custom firmware that expanded the set of supported formats. It is possible that for T3 such additions will soon appear on the specialized forums. However, it is worth noting that such firmware usually complicates the management of the reader, in addition, the novelty already uses the most popular types of files (in particular, FB2 and EPUB) found in online libraries.
conclusions
Concluding our review of the Sony PRS-T3, we highlighted all the advantages and disadvantages of the Japanese reader:
Minuses:
- lack of screen backlight;
- there is no file system support for sorting books (the reader does not "see" folders).
Pros:
- built-in "smart" cover with the function of auto-shutdown of the screen;
- the most compact size among 6-inch readers;
- excellent screen (high resolution 1024 x 758, white background, rich black color);
- very high scrolling speed;
- support for common formats (EPUB and FB2);
- high-quality and practical materials for the execution of the case;
- factory Russification and official warranty.
A quality e-reader from a manufacturer of e-books with a long history. Except for the fact that the reader is not backlit, the latest innovation in E-ink readers, this model has no disadvantages over other popular readers. The backlight of the Sony reader is not enough, but this is actually its only drawback. The novelty offers its advantages in the form of high speed, excellent screen, support for popular formats, very compact size, easy operation, which will surely appeal to many buyers.
Hello. We all know for a long time that there are many readers from different Chinese companies. But, as it turned out, there are serious manufacturers on this market, no, I'm not talking about YotaPhone with its two “super” displays, but about Sony. And now we will talk about the Sony Reader PRS-T3.
As you know, they are greeted by clothes ... Despite the beautiful cover on the box, everything inside is made of ordinary cardboard and this is a little disappointing. The kit includes: various waste paper (instructions, warranty ...), a USB cable with the ability to connect to a PC, and the device itself.
The book itself is made in a minimalist design. The manufacturer tried to arrange all the buttons and connectors at the bottom of the device. So, for example, on the bottom of the device there is a power button, a reset button, and a standard USB connector.
All other faces of the device remained empty. The back cover is removable, and, like the rest of the book, is made of pleasant to the touch, but very easily soiled soft touch plastic. 
I would like to note that the book comes with a case attached to the back cover and made in the likeness of cases from samsung. There is nothing interesting under the cover, only a micro SD card slot and technical information. 
On the front side there is a 6-inch e-link touch screen with a resolution of 1024x758 pixels, which is quite enough for comfortable reading and working in the browser. The screen supports 16 shades of gray, there is no built-in backlight. 
Under the screen are five main buttons, these are the page turning buttons, the home button, the back button, and the menu button. 
The dimensions of the device are not large, it is 16 cm high, 11 cm wide, and only 11 mm thick, with a weight of 200 grams. The book also has a built-in 1000 mAh battery, which lasts for 3-4 months with wi-fi turned off, with wi-fi always on, the operating time is reduced to 2-3 months.
As for the firmware, the system does not slow down and does not freeze. At least I didn't notice it.
When connected to a computer, the book updates the firmware and due to this, each time the performance increases. The book has 2gb of built-in memory, which is enough for a decent number of books, but, as I wrote above, there is a slot for microSD cards up to 32gb inclusive. Also in the book there is a wifi module version 802.11n with a good range and good energy efficiency. There is also an interesting mode that turns off wifi when idle for more than 10 minutes and automatically connects it when you enter the browser. The book supports the main formats of books and images: TXT, PDF, fb2, ePub, JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG. Sony was able to find a balance between the book and its additional features. Yes, it has neither a player nor a radio, as in its Chinese counterparts. But on the other hand, it has some useful features that we will not dwell on much, but simply list: a browser, a dictionary (Oxford Dictionary), drawings, text notes, image viewing, and note integration with Evernote.
In reading and browser modes, there are horizontal and vertical modes of operation, with font size and design settings. As I said earlier, the book does not freeze even when opening PDF files and heavy web pages, which certainly cannot please.
To summarize: for your $200, you get a pretty good device with a competent system and not a bad design, and even from a well-known brand. Over the past 8 months since the purchase, the book has never disappointed me and made me look in the direction of competitors.
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