SPC Dickens Light Pro - A good inexpensive alternative [Analysis]

SPC is still just one more player in this e-book market that seems to be eaten up by Amazon and Kobo now that BQ is completely out of the game. For this reason, SPC has decided to fill that gap left by the Spanish brand by wanting to offer products that directly rival in terms of value for money with rivals.

We take an in-depth look at the new SPC Dickens Light Pro, a budget-friendly alternative with numerous features typically found in higher-end models. With this release, SPC is knocking on the door of e-reader users, reminding them that there are still options beyond the usual choices. We've reviewed it so you can learn more about it.

Materials and design

In terms of materials, the SPC Dickens Light Pro is comparable to other options offered by Amazon, for example. It features a matte black plastic finish that, in this case, easily resists fingerprints, which we appreciated because we don't have to constantly clean the device. To aid in this, the back has a series of micro-perforations that improve both grip and make cleaning easier, as we mentioned earlier.

• Dimensions 169 x 113 x 9 millimeters
• Weight: 191 grams

There's a noticeable bottom bezel, which houses the central button that takes you directly to the user interface's home menu. Frankly, given the touchscreen, this button doesn't seem entirely necessary. At the bottom is the power button, which, however, is quite small—a design choice I find hard to understand. To the left of the power button, we find a microSD card slot and, finally, the microUSB charging port. It doesn't mention any water or splash resistance, which is typical for products in this price range. Otherwise, it's a compact and lightweight device.

Memory and basic connectivity

The SPC Dickens Light Pro starts with 8GB of internal memory, more than enough for the average user, but it's worth remembering that you can expand this memory, as well as interact with the eReader's content, via its microSD card slot. However, modifying content isn't as straightforward as using the microUSB port, which allows you to do without any software; it's as simple as dragging your books to the internal memory and they'll appear on the eReader.

• Supported formats: EPUB, PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, TXT, RTF, FB2, MOBI, CHM, DOC.

In this respect, we have no problems, as we can even view PDFs as plain text for easy interaction. The SPC Dickens Light Pro excels in this area, lacking tedious software or limitations for those who simply want to spend a few minutes loading their books onto the e-reader and starting to read— a welcome feature.

Display and user interface

We have an electronic ink panel (presumably made by Amazon) with a stable and fair refresh rate with the Kindle and Kobo at the same price. For its part, it has a light with six levels of intensity that is sufficient at the same time that we can even adjust the warmth of this lighting, a functionality that more and more eReaders devices are adding in a clear path marked by Kobo previously.

• Resolution: X
• Density: About 300 pixels per inch

The user interface will allow us to adjust different levels of font size, as well as zoom in on PDFs, adjust pages, take advantage of the dictionary and of course read vertically or horizontally at the user's request.

• Library management by folders
• Decent file history
• Search and markup within text

As for this user interface, without being as elaborate as the competition, this SPC Dickens Light Pro does not lack the main functions.

Autonomy

The SPC Dickens Light Pro features a 1.500 mAh battery , whose biggest drawback is precisely its microUSB charging port— a negative point considering the product's recent launch and the fact that USB-C is now an industry standard. Nevertheless, it takes just over two hours for a full charge and offers up to 30 days of battery life depending on usage, light intensity, and settings. In this respect, achieving 20 days of battery life is quite easy. For obvious reasons, there is no wireless charging capability, and the power adapter is not included in the package.

A "free" cover, a good option

Often, with eReaders, we're in the same boat as with mobile phones: we need to buy cases, especially if these eReaders are going to be used outdoors, primarily to protect the screen. I always recommend not buying a case if you're only going to read at home, but if you're going to be taking it out, it's practically essential.

At this point, the SPC Dickens Light Pro includes a rigid case on the back that fits perfectly, along with a very well-made, magnetic, faux-leather cover that barely adds to the device's weight and is quite comfortable. More brands should consider including these small cases, whose manufacturing cost must be minimal, with the product packaging to create a complete experience that allows us, as is the case with this SPC Dickens Light Pro, to enjoy the device right away without having to make any further purchases.

Editor's opinion

At this point, we're looking at the SPC Dickens Light Pro, a device that generally has limited online stock (presumably due to high sales volume) and is offered at a price of €129,90 on the official SPC website with free shipping. However, it is in stock on Amazon, where it's offered at around €115,00, so we definitely recommend purchasing it from there.

If you want to escape the usual and round off the experience with its included cover, you have all the features of the mid-range, adding a lightweight user interface and the possibility of managing your library without limitations at a market price.

Pros and cons