Pocketbook Inkpad One: Linux-based e-ink tablet tested
8.5.2026
Translation: machine translated
The latest e-ink tablet from the Swiss company Pocketbook is based on Linux. The pen support makes the device an enduring companion for sketches and notes.
The Pocketbook Inkpad One combines an e-reader and notebook in a practical 10.3-inch size. I can also upload files to the e-ink tablet in various ways, from the Pocketbook shop to Dropbox and email. However, some functions are too complicated.
Display and design: exactly the same!
The Inkpad One from Pocketbook is the perfect size for an e-reader with a note-taking function. It measures 24.4 × 17.3 × 0.5 centimetres and weighs just under 400 grammes. This means it can be stored in a rucksack to save space and still offers enough surface area for reading PDF files and taking notes. It also sits comfortably in the hand, even when I'm reading for long periods of time.
Pocketbook has installed a 10.3-inch e-ink display with a resolution of 1404 × 1872 pixels (226 ppi) in the Inkpad One. This is not outstanding, but is enough to display texts and greyscale images with sufficient sharpness.
The built-in E-Ink technology is called E-Ink Mobius and is based on plastic. This makes the e-reader lighter, thinner and more resistant to breakage than glass-based e-ink displays. I like the feel and the display is not prone to fingerprints. Thanks to the aluminium frame, the e-ink tablet feels pleasantly cool and high-quality.
Hardware: typically slow but durable
The Pocketbook Inkpad One is equipped with a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor. This is perfectly adequate for an e-ink tablet and offers a good balance between smooth page-turning and low power consumption. The RAM comprises two gigabytes, which is fine. It generally reacts somewhat sluggishly due to the e-ink technology. I haven't got used to this yet, so patience is required.
I am surprised by the generous internal memory of 32 gigabytes. This will probably last you quite a long time, as the average e-book is only two or three megabytes in size. If you like to download audio books, it's a different story, of course. Such a file can quickly take up 500 megabytes.
Bluetooth 5.0 is available for connecting headphones. Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) is also included, although this is not specified in more detail. In my tests, I always had a good connection via my home Wi-Fi.
Pocketbook claims a battery life of up to one month. I didn't get it empty during my test, but would estimate the battery life at two to three weeks with regular use. That's still enough for longer holidays. The device is charged in just under 90 minutes via the USB-C port.
The Stylus 2 with integrated battery is also included in the scope of delivery. It is also charged via USB-C and probably lasts even longer than the tablet. Unfortunately, it doesn't attach magnetically to the device, so I could easily lose it. What I therefore strongly recommend is a case. You can place the stylus there and the tablet goes into sleep mode immediately when you close it.
How to transfer books and files to the e-reader
The Inkpad One is based on the Linux operating system, currently version 4.9.56. Updates are released irregularly and on demand, so far over a period of around 5 years. The open ecosystem does not tie you to a single shop or platform. The user interface is also clear and tidy. The only thing that annoys me is the book tips on the homepage - luckily I can deactivate them.
I also customise the start page in other ways: I replace the confusing «Notes» app, which only shows the notes I have scribbled in the books. Instead, I choose Notepad, the real notebook feature of Pocketbook.
Pocketbook provides a selection of books in various languages for free. If I want to upload my own, there are several options and 25 formats that the e-reader supports. These include the common EPUB, FB2, PDF, AZW and the comic formats CBR and CBZ. E-books with Adobe DRM and LCP DRM are also supported.
The most present variant - because I have direct access on the home page - is the Pocketbook online shop. It's good if you want to download a specific book, but it runs far too slowly on the e-reader for browsing and the selection is limited. If you want to borrow books from public libraries, you can do this either via Onleihe or Libby, both of which are available as apps.
My favourite is the Pocketbook Cloud. I upload all my files to the cloud in the browser on my PC - linked to my Pocketbook account. If the e-reader is connected to the WLAN, it synchronises the files automatically. This works quickly and without any problems.
If you want to upload previously purchased books to the Inkpad One via Dropbox, this is done with an account in the tablet's web browser. This is a real test of patience because the browser takes a long time to load. Once linked, however, this is no longer a problem and I have direct access via the Dropbox app.
With Send-to-Pocketbook, you can email the books to yourself - although I tried this in my test without success. Otherwise, you can load the books directly onto the PC using a USB-C cable.
Reading and writing: also suitable for manga
I generally find reading on the Inkpad One very pleasant. The resolution for illustrations could be higher, but it's good enough for my mangas. It's a shame how little I can adjust. For example, the e-reader always scrolls from right to left, although it would be the other way round for mangas. That's why I'm forced to turn the pages the wrong way round. I also don't have the option of displaying two pages next to each other in landscape format. But these are very specific niggles.
The Inkpad One offers an automatic brightness and light function. This is particularly helpful in the evening when I'm reading to help me fall asleep. The light function then switches to a warmer colour temperature and keeps me less awake.
I use the text-to-speech option to have books read to me - provided I connect the e-reader to wireless headphones or jukeboxes. This works reliably. The tablet supports several languages such as English, French and Spanish directly, with more available for download. Various male and female voices can be downloaded for each language. They don't sound particularly natural and don't come close to official audio books, so it wouldn't be for me. For the visually impaired, there is an option to have texts read aloud. However, I recommend downloading real audio books directly onto the device.
I take notes with the stylus provided. The stylus feels good and the rough surface of the tablet provides a good grip. I notice the long response time of the device when making quicker strokes.
I also find the complicated way of making marginal notes in a book annoying.
I have to go into a note mode to do this. Simply tapping the book page and selecting a tool for marking or making notes is not possible. Once I'm in the note function, I have to scroll through the book using the two arrow keys displayed and can no longer swipe to the next page.
The integrated notes app is limited to the bare essentials, but is sufficient in most cases. I miss more brush tools and a layer function. But I can still paint pictures.
A little tip: If you write handwritten notes directly into a file, you should not change the font size of the document afterwards. Otherwise the notes will shift. This is also a problem with other e-readers.
Pocketbook therefore has a good alternative: comment boxes. If you want to make an addition to the text, use this tool to highlight a word and write the notes directly into the comment box using the digital keyboard. This is then permanently linked to the marked position and does not move when you adjust the layout and font size.
Funny addition: playing Sudoku and chess
Pocketbook also provides a few games in the apps that are quite entertaining. I find solitaire - as with most e-readers - a bit awkward in greyscale. I can hardly tell the difference between red and black. Chess works very well - even in pairs. Sudoku is also fun. Only the doodle app seems superfluous to me because it can do even less than the note app. I was also disappointed by the calendar app. It does nothing more than display dates and times - so I can't write any appointments in it.
In a nutshell
The Swiss scores with an open system
The Pocketbook Inkpad One is a superior mixture of e-reader and digital notebook. Thanks to its 10.3 inches, it is not too big for travelling and still offers enough space for mangas and doodles. The user interface is tidy and Pocketbook offers a practical selection of apps on the device. Some of them could offer a bit more functions and I also miss certain settings when reading comics. The tablet is sluggish, but I know that from most e-readers.
Overall, with the Inkpad One, the manufacturer offers an affordable e-ink tablet with a note-taking function that doesn't have to hide from the competition.
If you want more functions and apps, I recommend the Viwoods AiPaper. It runs on Android and can be loaded with all apps from the Google Play Store. It is also faster than the Inkpad One. However, the battery life is slightly shorter and you pay considerably more.
Pro
- Clear user interface
- Ideal size for manga and notes
- Good value for money
- Various options for loading books
Contra
- some settings are missing or complicated
- Certain apps offer too few options
Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away.
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