E-readers and digital tablets are often favored by the traveling reader. Compact, light, these devices obviously do not have the charm of printed books that many prefer. But they have the advantage of being able to carry books by the thousands without overloading your backpack or suitcases.
In this summer period when one is tempted to read a book at the beach or by the pool, the question of their resistance remains. These e-readers that we dream master key do they mix well with sand, dust and water? Before you attack the first chapter of your last e-book“20 Minutes” sums up what you need to know.
Consumer tablets banned from swimming
For Marie, the start of the holidays rhymes with reading galore. The sun is at its zenith, the inflatable mattress ready to set off, and the pool temperature is a comfortable 32°. Among other novels, the assiduous reader has downloaded in her reading light Mazes, the latest crime novel by Frank Thilliez (for 16.99 euros, against 21.90 euros for its paper edition). But isn’t it a bit risky to venture out on your makeshift raft with your e-readr? Yes and no.
First, let’s get rid of the issue of digital tablets. Consumer models such as Apple’s iPad or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab are not resistant. Not benefiting from any IP protection standard (for Ingress Protection, or Protection Index), their use is strongly discouraged in sensitive areas during the summer: at the beach, where sand and salt could corrode their connectors, and even less in wet areas!
Samsung and Huawei once offered rare resistant tablets for the general public, but they are no longer found on the French market. There are still professional or “site” slates, as many “hardened” devices ready for specific uses, such as certain Galaxy Tab Active models from Samsung, those from the French Crosscall, or specialized brands Getac, Zebra or Panasonic. They cannot be recommended for reading in any way.
The IPX8 standard prevails
For readers, it’s a different story. In recent years, manufacturers have invested in the market for e-readers not “hardened”, but water resistant. The first e-reader concerned was the Pocketbook Aqua, launched in 2014. Now, each brand has its model or models compatible with the risks associated with aquatic activity. The Kobo Wise and Kobo Libra 2 ; them Kindle Oasis, paper white, Paperwhite Signature edition ; or Vivlio Touch HD Plus.
The idea for Marie here is obviously not to go read the latest Thilliez at the bottom of the deep end, but to protect herself from an accident that could damage her reading light. For this, risk-free devices are IPX8 standard. Here, no drop resistance or dust resistance (the X indicates that the device has not been tested under these conditions), but an 8 which specifies that the reader can be submerged in at least 2 meters of water for thirty minutes. Typical case: Marie has turned over on her air mattress and her tablet has fallen into the water. At the IPX8 standard, the device should not suffer from this improvised bathing.
Protected electronic circuits
Particularity: if the French tablet manufacturer Vivlio does not display an IPX8 standard for its Touch HD Plus e-reader, it highlights the use of the HzO Protection process which, he recalls, “protects the internal components of the humidity “. Launched in 2012, this nanotechnology-based system is like a protective film that prevents any damage that may be caused by water. Unlike simple devices that may only have seals, the electronic circuits are fully protected by the HZO process.
Minimum budget for a waterproof e-reader: 139 euros for Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite with a 6.8” screen. This is a fairly standard tablet with 8 GB of memory. If you want to buy French, the Vivlio Touch HD tablet is only sold for 10 euros more, with a screen that is certainly smaller (6”), but 16 GB of memory (the equivalent of 8,000 novels).
Useful recommendation: if your waterproof tablet takes on water from the swimming pool, remember to rinse it with clear water, thus avoiding the effects that chlorine could have on its connectors. And a little reminder: the ink process e-ink e-readers have an often overlooked advantage: they allow you to read in direct sunlight. And tan at the same time.