Our Experts Have Tested
15
Products in the Ebook Readers Category This year
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better bribe decisions. ( Read our editorial mission. ) however, the GlowLight 4 ‘s smaller, 6-inch empanel is n’t all bad ; it makes the device very light and pocket-size at 4.7 by 6.2 by 0.2 inches ( HWD ). It ‘s well smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and an inch shorter than the Kobo Libra 2. Another advantage of the GlowLight 4 is that its blind is less reflective than those of its competitors .
The GlowLight 4 is made of soft-touch plastic ( Photo : Sascha Segan )
other aspects of the Nook ‘s purpose are acquit downsides, including its adjourn riddle. The recess screen shape is debatable because it tends to collect more scatter and dirty over clock than the flat-front screens on newer Kindles and Kobos ; the latter screens are besides easier to wipe clean. In summation, the GlowLight 4 is n’t rainproof, unlike similarly priced Kindles and Kobos. The physical page-turn buttons on both sides of the Nook ‘s battlefront are a thoughtful, desirable feature. They have a light, satisfying chink and make the device comfortable for both right- and left-handed consumption. The GlowLight 4 uses the mod USB-C standard for charging. Like other stream midrange ebook readers, the GlowLight 4 has a color-changing front light. Its bluest coloring material setting seems a bit whiter than on the Kobo, while its most chicken setting is indeed identical yellow. You can set the discolor manually or let the device automatically adjust it based on the time of day. In my experience, I found the light to be identical even .
You can change the luminosity or color of the front light ( Photo : Sascha Segan )
Inside, an Allwinner B300 1.5GHz central processing unit and 2GB of RAM power the device. The Nook has 29GB of available storehouse, although lone 5GB is release for sideloading ; the rest is for Nook books, which is a short ton of storage for an ebook reader that does n’t support audiobooks. It connects to your Wi-Fi via the 802.11n standard, but does n’t support Bluetooth or any audio playback ( it lacks both speakers and a earphone mariner ). Barnes & Noble says the 1,400mAh battery should allow the Nook to stopping point a hanker while without a recharge, but I do n’t think that ‘s accurate based on my workweek ‘s worth of anecdotal test. The ebook reviewer handled about one long book before requiring a recharge, although, to be fair, I did n’t need to recharge it mid-book .
Simply for Reading
Barnes & Noble ‘s read software is american samoa basic as it comes. You can sideload EPUB and PDF documents onto the Nook, a well as read ebooks you purchase from Barnes & Noble. Kobo readers offer wider format support than both the GlowLight 4 and any Kindle device. Of course, the most significant gene to consider when it comes to format support is where you have purchased ebooks in the past. It ‘s not easily to transfer Barnes & Noble, Kindle, and Kobo books across platforms, in part because the serve for removing DRM is highly kludgy. For case, the prevailing method for removing Barnes & Noble ‘s DRM requires using Android developer tools .
Text looks sharp and clear ( Photo : Sascha Segan )
The home screen defaults to an abstract traffic pattern ; unlike on a Kindle, you thankfully do n’t see any ads. The main interface shows your ledger library ( you can arrange titles into shelves or collections ) ; the store ; and a promotional section called Barnes & Noble Readouts that displays excerpts and serials the storehouse is trying to push. The main UI is perfectly snappy, unlike that of its dull harbinger. Within books, you get eight fonts with a compass of sizes and margins ; the common mesa of contents and bookmarking options ; and a dictionary. You wo n’t find any of the extra X-Ray- or Goodreads-type features that Amazon provides for its Kindles .
PDFs display quickly, but the screen makes the textbook very little by default ( Photo : Sascha Segan )
The GlowLight 4 offers poor support for public libraries. The clunky process of getting a book from your library to your Nook involves memorizing an Adobe password, downloading books to your personal computer, and then copying them to your reader via a cable. On a Kobo, you can borrow books directly from your device. On a Kindle, you can wirelessly receive titles from your library ‘s web site. Although it ‘s outside the oscilloscope of this review, many people hack Nook ebook readers to run Android apps, something you ca n’t do on a Kindle. We do n’t think anyone has done that with the GlowLight 4 so far, but, to be average, the device is calm newfangled. In any case, if you truly want to run Android apps on a smaller ebook reader, the Onyx Boox Poke 3 ( $ 189.99 ) is a better choice because it runs on Android 10 .
Left to right : Kobo Libra 2, 6-inch Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 ( photograph : Sascha Segan )
Although most ebook readers immediately have larger screens, the Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 4 is a more pocket-size alternative with a smaller ( but still sharp ) 6-inch jury. We besides like its childlike, dapper interface and quality page-turn buttons. If you own lots of Nook books and need a new ebook reader, the GlowLight 4 is a worthwhile ascent from any of its predecessors. however, the Nook can ’ thyroxine quite compete with the latest ebook readers from Amazon and Kobo. For exemplify, Amazon ‘s Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, has a flat movement, and offers a bigger screen, though it lacks physical buttons. Kobo ‘s Libra 2, interim, is raincoat, keeps the physical buttons, and works more seamlessly with your public library ’ second digital collection. If you ‘re buying an ebook reader for the first time, we recommend either of these models over the Nook.
Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 4
3.5
See It
$ 149.99
at Barnes and Noble
MSRP $ 149.99
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Barnes & Noble GlowLight 4 is a simpleton, compact e-reader for anyone with an extensive collection of Nook books, but it ca n’t match the features of similarly priced competitors .
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