Smartphones are awesome. E-readers are awesome. They’re both roughly rectangular and capable of displaying text, so why not combine them into one? This seems to be the idea behind the Astropad library. And then the thinking suddenly stopped.
Okay, I can see the value in making a larger, more comfortable case for a phone if you’re using it for long reading sessions. And that’s what this box does, with an interesting implementation: Magsafe support for connection and a small NFC tag to “activate” it. When the companion app is set up, placing your phone on the case will activate Do Not Disturb mode, theoretically making it an ideal and more comfortable reading device.
I even like the look of the thing. It’s covered in faux leather and has the name on the ‘edge’, giving you a big piece of gadget to hold on to. The central area is wide enough to accommodate most standard phones, although you’ll obviously need a Magsafe adapter for most Android models and large foldable phones won’t be able to unfold.
Astropad
But here’s the thing: this gadget is about the size of a typical e-reader. It does not bend or collapse in any way. So you don’t save on size or weight by simply putting a Kindle in your bag or pocket.
And it’s $50, which is frankly a bit steep for a piece of plastic, magnets, and an NFC tag. At this price I would at least expect a battery in it, it already has plenty of room and a Magsafe connection. The $10 pre-order discount (ships in six weeks!) makes it barely more tolerable.
If you want to read comfortably, much more comfortably than on your phone, just get an e-reader. Right now, you can get a PocketBook Basix Lux 4 or a Kobo Clara HD for $100 on Amazon, or get a number of older Kindle models and other e-readers for even less. Look, here’s a refurbished Kindle Paperwhite for $50.
Visit your local pawn shop or just sniff the classifieds on Craigslist or Facebook. These e-readers are everywhere, easy to get, and they are designed to be comfortable to hold and read.
I read tons of text on my phone and tons on an e-reader. If I know I will have free time, I throw it in a pocket or bag. I can’t imagine any situation where I would want a device the physical size of an e-reader, with a smaller screen, and without the e-ink display that makes the entire product category viable.
Am I going crazy? I just don’t see how anyone would want this thing, let alone design and build it.
