The upcoming release of Pocketbook’s latest e-reader, the Pocketbook InkPad Eo (model name PB1042), is generating anticipation in the tech community. Set to hit the market in the next month or two, the device recently secured FCC certification for sale in the United States. As has been mentioned on the FCC website, the device secured the FCC certification on January 11th, 2024.
Coming to the device itself, the Pocketbook Eo resembles a 7.8-inch e-reader akin to the Pocketbook Era. The image available of the device suggests the inclusion of two speakers for audiobooks, music, and podcasts, and is complemented by Bluetooth connectivity. There is also a USB-C port for charging and data transfer as well as a MicroSD slot for expanded storage. Then there also are four microphones which raises intrigue about possible voice functionality. This, if true, is going to be interesting as Pocketbook hasn’t explored voice dictation or real-time AI voice translations before.
Examining the design, it seems that the Pocketbook InkPad Eo also shares similarities with the Bigme S6 Color+. Notable commonalities include the placement of the power button, fingerprint sensor, SD card slot, speakers, and microphones. If this aligns with reality, the device is powered by an octa-core 2.3 GHz processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal storage, with the option to expand further to up to 1 TB using an SD card. Supporting Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi, the device boasts a 3000 mAh battery.
The software remains a mystery as it is not known yet if it will run Linux or Android. Also not known whether the upcoming device will feature a black-and-white screen, or adopt the Kaleido 3 color e-paper display, as seen in the Bigme device. Questions also linger about note-taking functionality, pondering if the Pocketbook InkPad Eo will be a basic e-reader or incorporate advanced note-taking features. Notably, Pocketbook and Bigme have maintained a collaborative partnership spanning over a decade.