Verse Lite: New e-book reader focuses on the basics and supports online lending

Some readers might already be familiar with PocketBook, which is a brand that’s now selling the new Verse Lite e-reader at several retailers. The device can also be ordered from an Amazon marketplace seller in the US for $156 plus shipping.

The PocketBook Verse Lite is an e-reader in the classic sense, which means that it's designed for reading books and not for other tablet applications, so it differs from other Android tablets with e-ink displays. Consequently, users can’t install additional apps on the Verse Lite, and it doesn’t support a stylus either.

That said, the e-book reader weighings around 6 oz and lacks a physical button to turn the page. According to the manufacturer, it’s not protected against water damage. On the other hand, the Verse Lite has a 6-inch e-ink display with a pixel density of 212 DPI, which can display 16 grayscale levels but not colors. A front light is integrated and can be useful for reading in the dark.

Moreover, the e-reader is powered by a dual-core SoC with a clock speed of 1.0GHz, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. A 1,000mAh battery is built-in as well. The device measures approximately 4.3 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches and can load new books via WiFi, for instance from PocketBook Cloud or Dropbox. The device also supports online lending of books, which can save some money. Last but not least, it features a dictionary and supports a total of 25 different e-book formats.