PocketBook, the ebook reader company headquartered in Switzerland, has a range of color-screen readers. One of them, the InkPad Color 3, boasts waterproofing, a smartlight and a feature which Amazon has never introduced for U.K. readers: access to library books. Here’s all you need to know.

Display Specs: Bigger And Sharper Color

The Color 3 has a 7.8-inch display (the Kindle Colorsoft display is 7 inches) with 300ppi resolution for black-and-white text and images and 150ppi for color content. These match the Kindle Colorsoft but it’s worth noting that the InkPad Color 3 has color resolution 50% higher than the earlier InkPad Color 2.

Colors are muted and pastel rather than bright and over-saturated. This is the nature of color ebooks and Amazon’s color effects are similar in mood, though a touch more vibrant.

Design: Physical Buttons Vs. Flush Screens

The PocketBook’s touchscreen is complemented by a row of four physical buttons which stretch across the device at its base.

Two of them are page forward and page back controls, which some prefer to tapping on a display. The left-most button takes you from what you’re reading to the home screen and the one on the right edge works to invoke or lose the menu button and works as the power button with a long-press.

The rear of the reader is ridged to provide a grippy feel. Where the Kindle Colorsoft and Paperwhite, for instance, have displays which are flush to the front of the reader, here the screen is recessed. This creates a slight "lip" that protects the screen, which some users may prefer, but please note it can occasionally catch dust.

Pricing And Weight Comparison

The pricing in the U.K. is a touch more than that for the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. Amazon’s device costs £269 ($363) while the PocketBook model is £279.99 ($378). Both have 32GB storage capacity. The Colorsoft Signature Edition also has wireless charging.

So, why would users consider PocketBook over Kindle?

Well, there’s the 7.8-inch display, though the PocketBook is bigger and heavier than the Kindle Colorsoft — 270g against Amazon’s 218g.

But for U.K. readers there’s that library advantage. The Libby app which allows users to borrow books digitally from their local library is accessible around the world, and a special version of it, PocketBook x Libby is available here.

It’s simple to set up with your U.K. library card and books can be borrowed with just a couple of taps on the screen in the app. This is something Amazon doesn’t offer in the U.K.