PocketBook Era
Comparisons
How this device stacks up against the alternatives.
The Era is PocketBook’s 7-inch reader, and its stand-out feature is a real built-in speaker on top of Bluetooth — few e-readers have one. Add side page-turn buttons, IPX8 waterproofing, open format support and on-device Adobe-DRM library books, and it is one of the most capable mid-size readers on paper.
- Kobo Libra Colour. The same 7-inch size with buttons and waterproofing, plus a colour screen and stylus support, but it is a dedicated Kobo — no built-in speaker, audio limited to Kobo store audiobooks over Bluetooth, and a closed format list. Choose the Libra Colour for colour, note-taking and Kobo’s polished store; choose the Era for the speaker, open audio and format freedom.
- PocketBook Verse Pro. The same software and audio features in a smaller 6-inch body, but with no speaker — Bluetooth only — and a smaller battery. Choose the Verse Pro for pocketability and a lower price; choose the Era for the larger page, the speaker and the bigger battery.
- Kobo Sage. An 8-inch Kobo with buttons, waterproofing and stylus support. It is larger and pricier, better for note-taking and PDFs, but again with no speaker and Kobo-only audio. Choose the Sage for the big screen and stylus; choose the Era for audio and a lighter device.
The specification table below is generated from each device’s data.
| Specification | Era pocketbook | Libra Colour kobo | Verse Pro pocketbook | Sage kobo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 7 in | 7 in | 6 in | 8 in |
| Resolution | 1264 x 1680 | 1680 x 1264 | 1072 x 1448 | 1920 x 1440 |
| Colour screen | No | Yes | No | No |
| Front light | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warm light | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 16 GB or 64 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Page-turn buttons | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stylus support | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Audio support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 235 g | 199.5 g | 176 g | 240.8 g |
| Released | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
Specifications only, drawn from each device's data. Fuller head-to-head write-ups are being added — for now, each device's own hub has the detail. Comparisons and rankings here are independent and never paid for; see our editorial policy.