Top 10: Shockproof rugged e-Ink e-readers

2018. Kobo Forma - e-Ink reader with IPX8 case



Kobo has introduced a new eBook reader called the Kobo Forma. It’s Kobo’s most advanced e-reader to date and surpasses the Kindle Oasis in several aspects. It features a similar design to the Kindle Oasis with page buttons on one side of the screen and a contoured back (but without the wedge). You can read in both portrait and landscape modes and the screen can be set to rotate automatically. The Kobo Forma boasts an 8-inch screen and is waterproof. You can borrow eBooks directly from Overdrive, which helps save money over time. It also includes ComfortLight technology to reduce the bright white screen when reading at night. The Forma’s adjustable front light is gentle on your eyes and gradually decreases blue light exposure, helping you read before bed and then fall asleep easily. This e-reader has an IPX8 rating and is waterproof for up to 60 minutes. Additionally, the Forma comes with the popular library app OneDrive pre-installed, allowing you to easily connect your library account to the e-reader.


2018. Kobo's latest e-reader is called the Forma



In a move that could only be described as suspiciously convenient for book lovers and those perpetually battling gravity, Kobo has unleashed upon the world the Forma—a sleek contraption of e-ink wizardry that looks like it might actually know what it's doing. Tagged as the latest evolution of their e-reader series, the Forma sports an 8-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel display, which is fancy talk for "it makes words look pretty." It boasts an ergonomic design that cunningly includes a handle on one side, making it feel less like a gadget and more like a thoughtfully cooperative book. Buttons have even made a triumphant return, perching themselves on the side to ensure page-turning is an effortless flick of the thumb rather than an awkward smear across glass. At a featherweight 197 grams, it’s lighter than its forebear, the Kobo Aura One, yet Kobo swears it’s tough enough to endure two-metre tumbles or aquatic misadventures up to an hour deep—perfect for the clumsy or overly ambitious bathtub readers among us. This marvel of modern literary enablement starts at a cool $299.99 CAD for the 8GB version, proving once and for all that reading has never been quite so delightfully indestructible.

2016. Earl, an E Ink survival tablet - didn't survive



In 2014, a “backcountry survival tablet” called Earl was introduced through a crowdfunding campaign. Featuring a 6-inch E Ink screen, solar panels, various radios and other features, the campaign aimed to raise $250,000 but ended up collecting $700,000. The concept of an E Ink tablet with open Android, solar power, a water and dust-resistant casing, frontlight, high-resolution maps, GPS, weather sensors and radios was especially appealing to outdoor enthusiasts. The Earl could also handle basic tasks like e-reading. However, designing and producing such a device proved to be much more complex and time-consuming than originally expected. The Earl was initially slated for release over a year ago, but the developers reported that it is still under development. Even Onyx provided significant assistance with the creation of the Earl tablet. Ultimately, the project has been discontinued.


2014. Earl - a shockproof rugged e-reader



Earl is an Android device featuring a 6-inch flexible, sunlight-readable E-ink screen (1024x758) with a front light. It's akin to a Backpacker's Guide to Earth (it should have "Don't Panic!" somewhere on it). It boasts impressive resistance to water and dust and can endure temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero. Additionally, it includes a solar panel, making it ideal for attaching to the outside of your pack (assuming you're not hiking in the UK). The price starts at $299 for pre-orders (the crowdfunding campaign has ended). Being Android-based, you should be able to install an ePub reader, such as the one from Graphilos Studio. The meetearl.com page notes that ePub, MOBI and PDF formats are supported, but it's unclear whether this software is pre-installed or not.