Last September, Amazon and many other companies launched their latest eReaders and other reading devices, all with a major advertising campaign. However, one of them has gone largely unnoticed in the tech scene, even though it's not inferior to the other devices. This eReader is called the Tolino Epos , an eReader from the German Tolino Alliance.
This device represents a dramatic shift in eReaders, as it abandons the 6-inch screen size and adopts a 7,8-inch display , matching the size of the Kobo Aura One. It's a direct competitor to the Aura One, an alternative for those seeking a similar device, and a serious threat to Amazon and its Kindle Oasis.
The Tolino Epos features a 1 GHz Freescale i.MX 6 processor with 512 MB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. Its dimensions are large due to the screen size: 140 × 209 × 8.2 mm and 260 g . The screen uses Carta HD technology, a backlit touchscreen. The screen size is 7,8 inches (almost 8 inches) with a resolution of 1872 × 1404 pixels and 300 ppi . Like the latest eReader models, the backlighting makes the screen very white during the day and emits light with an anti-blue light filter at night to promote better sleep.
The Tolino Epos only has a microUSB port and Wi-Fi connectivity. It lacks a microSD card slot, so the eReader's internal storage cannot be expanded. This lack of ports is due to its HZO coating, which makes the eReader water-resistant . While not IP68 certified, it is equally effective against water.
The new Tolino Epos is waterproof thanks to the HZO coating
The software on this device is particularly interesting, not only because of the different formats it supports, including the most popular ones like Epub, PDF, and TX with DRM , but also because it allows you to change the library from which you buy ebooks , letting the user choose which library to buy ebooks from and not necessarily having to do so in the ebook libraries associated with the Tolino Alliance.
Something that other devices do not have or do not allow and that I find especially comfortable for the user. Another of the functions that it incorporates is the possibility of going from PDF to text, being able to make the reading of the pdf files easier and faster than with the original file. The PDF format is also supported by the device and is even optimized so that the reading of these types of files can be better than so far on these devices. Something that is especially useful for many users who only work or read PDF files.
The Tolino Epos's battery life remains the same as previous devices, lasting 4 weeks (depending on wireless usage), which is hard to believe considering it has a 1.200 mAh battery , a small battery for a large screen.
The price of this device is higher than usual, as is the screen. It can be purchased for €249, the price of a premium eReader . This is the same price as the Kindle Oasis and slightly more than the Kobo Aura One, but unlike those models, it offers a larger screen and more storage.
It seems that of the three, the Tolino Epos is superior, at least in terms of price/quality ratio. However, this eReader is more difficult to obtain than the other devices, as it can only be purchased in countries where the Tolino Alliance is present, that is, Central European countries, and only through the official websites of these stores. Even if you can get hold of this device, it might be worthwhile, especially if you're looking for an eReader with a large screen.