Analysis of the Energy eReader Max

I've been testing this device for the past few months thanks to the folks at Energy Sistem. It's the first Android e-reader I've tried , and now let's see what I think 

The Energy eReader Max is a 6″, touchscreen, non-illuminated ereader that you can buy for €99-125 , highlighting the possibilities it offers with the use of Android.

First I leave the technical data so that you can see its characteristics and then I will tell you about the sensations that it has caused me and what I think of this device.

Technical characteristics Energy ereader MAX

SCREEN

• 6 ″ touch screen
• E ink Letter Display with electronic ink and 16 levels of gray.
• Resolution: 600 x 800 pixels (H x V) / 166 dpi
• Anti-reflective system
• 163 x 116 x 8 mm
• 160 gr

PROCESSOR

• 1.0Ghz ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor

OPERATING SYSTEM

• 4.2 Android Jelly Bean

ANNUAL REPORT

• 512 MB DDR3 RAM
• 8 GB of internal memory expandable via microSD / SDHC / SDXC cards (up to 64 GB)

CONNECTIVITY

• WI-FI 802.11 b / g / n

DRUMS

• Battery type: Polymer Lithium, rechargeable
• Capacity: 2.000 mAh
• MicroUSB port powered
• Battery life: up to six weeks of use on a single charge (based on half an hour of daily reading, with Wi-Fi connectivity disabled)

CONNECTIONS

• MicroSD / SDHC / SDXC slot (up to 64GB)
• MicroUSB port.

OTHERS

• Supported formats: Books: TXT, PDF, EPUB, FB2, HTML, MOBI.
• Supported image formats: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
• Supports books with Adobe DRM protected content
• Thousands of Android apps available through the Google Play Store

Packaging

I like to talk about how ereaders are packaged, because it gives us a very important first impression.

The device arrived beautifully presented, in a sturdy and attractive box, with interior details that make a very good first impression . The black dust jacket with the Energy Sistem logo protects the device when the box is opened, and the velvety lining, among other things, are small details that, even if not immediately apparent, inspire confidence in the purchase.

In this sense they have done a very good job. But let's talk about the device itself and everything it has given us.

Impressions and appearance

Aesthetically, it's a beautiful device. It has page-turn buttons on both sides , making it ideal for both right- and left-handed users, or for different ways of holding the reader. It also has a central button at the bottom to return to the home screen when you're lost in the menus.

The back is made of smooth plastic, and its appearance is deceiving, as it looks like it might slip, but the grip is actually very good . You can easily hold it with one hand without accidentally touching the touchscreen. I like wide bezels on e-readers, especially touchscreen ones, because, as I mentioned, they allow you to hold the device properly and avoid constantly activating the screen and turning pages.

In hand the touch is pleasant. The entire cover is made of smooth plastic and as we have said with a very good grip, nothing slips and that is very comfortable. The size is correct for a 6 ″ device. And although it might seem a bit heavy, I consider it normal. As I have said, it has a symmetrical side button to control page turns.

Display and operation of the ereader Max

This is where we'll really put the Energy Sistem e-reader through its paces . It features an e-ink Carta Display with 16 ink levels and a resolution of 600x800 and 166 dpi. The image quality is decent, though not as high as some other devices; it falls a bit short.

We can read it well and enjoy it, but when we compare it to other well-known brands, we see the differences and that missing piece it lacks to be a great e-reader. Despite the refresh rate, if we look closely, we notice the ink smudging with the letters that was there before, and it lacks a bit of contrast.

The main drawback of the Energy Sistem MAX is its lack of smooth operation . Page turns are slow and there are some odd transitions, and to a lesser extent, startup is also laggy (it takes 35 seconds to boot up, but I don't consider that a major issue). This lack of smoothness is especially noticeable when using writing functions; it struggles to keep up with our typing speed.

At the battery level, it perfectly fulfills what an ereader is, forgetting in several weeks to have to recharge. Not being enlightened helps a lot.

The strong point. Android and its possibilities in the ereader

It is the first reader with Android that I try and the truth is that I was surprised by its possibilities.

For me the strong point of the device is that it incorporates Android as an operating system. The possibilities of using eReader skyrocket.

The idea is NOT to turn it into a tablet . Each gadget has a different function, and e-readers are for reading, but being able to use apps from the Play Store allows us to connect with social networks and send information to the e-reader. Thanks to Android, we can enjoy a large number of apps and integrations with our reading.

We can connect Twitter, Facebook, to share quotes or excerpts from the text we're reading . Goodreads, etc. But these aren't integrations. You use the app just like you would your smartphone.

But where we can really take advantage of it is when sending information to the ereader. We can use Pocket, drive, mail, we can send books, documents or read articles that we have marked from our PC browser, laptop or smartphone.

Conclusion

A correct ereader with which you will enjoy your readings, but it is not a device for the most demanding or comparable to the high ranges. Android gives you very interesting use options that are not possible in conventional ereaders, but it lacks the screen and the fluidity when using it.

I see in the MAX with Android, a base to improve. With screen and fluidity changes it could become a great ereader. The base is there.