iPhone 5 for reading?

[kyrax12]

How good is the iphone 5 for reading long series of novels and such?

I was thinking the 4 inch screen with its high resolution display will make reading for a long time more doable without the strain.

 

[Eug]

It ain't no e-ink.

 

[openwheel]

Terrible choice

 

[pm]

I do it all the time... I have Kindle for iOS for mine and I use it to read books pretty much every night. Works for me...

 

[CA19100]

Any backlit screen is going to cause strain. For reading novels, you'd definitely be better served with an e-ink device like a Kindle. (And I say that as a guy surrounded by glowing rectangles all day... for books, my Kindle is the only way to go!)

 

[Ravynmagi]

I have a Kindle e-ink, but these days I mostly use my Kindle Fire HD for reading books. I do notice the e-ink is a bit more relaxing on the eyes, but I'm not really bothered by reading on the LCD.

From time to time I use my Nexus 4 to reading (I don't own an iPhone) and I enjoyed reading on that too. The main negative is I have to change pages more frequently. Also I wish the Kindle app would let me change pages with the volume button (perhaps the iPhone version does, they skimp on the Android version).

 

[Bateluer]

Poor choice for so many reasons. Not only an LCD screen, but a tiny LCD screen. Thats going to suck after a few minutes of reading.

The real kicker is, that your phone is also your main communication device. Reading on it locks the screen on, and the screen is one of the three biggest power suckers on a touch screen device.

Spend the money on a real reading device.

 

[benzylic]

I have a Kindle e-ink, but these days I mostly use my Kindle Fire HD for reading books. I do notice the e-ink is a bit more relaxing on the eyes, but I'm not really bothered by reading on the LCD.

From time to time I use my Nexus 4 to reading (I don't own an iPhone) and I enjoyed reading on that too. The main negative is I have to change pages more frequently. Also I wish the Kindle app would let me change pages with the volume button (perhaps the iPhone version does, they skimp on the Android version).

You can change the page with the volume key, you just have to enable it in settings

 

[bearxor]

I've read a few book on my iPhone 4 when I was had it. Like said, it's no eink, but I can't imagine any one decice would be better/worse in this regard.

 

[webdave]

Personal preference, I think it is fine. I've read novels on a Blackberry 8310 and old Palm devices before.

 

[nerp]

Too small. Get a tablet.

 

[Silenus]

All the above. While reading on a high DPI LCD can be decent....for long form reading e-ink is vastly superior. And the only disadvantage it used have (required outside light source) is now gone with things like the kindle paperwhite and nook glowlight. Add that to the massive battery life advantage on an e-ink device. If you decide you dont need one fo the "glow" types the regular old 6" Kindle is as low as $70! That is basically pocket change compared to ANY smartphone or tablet.

 

[Yuriman]

I didn't think much of Kindles before I got a free Kindle Touch from my bank as a sign-up bonus. It's definitely leagues above any backlit LCD in terms of experience and comfort. You might be just fine with the iPhone's screen but I think if you had a Kindle on your nightstand you'd find yourself not touching the iPhone much anymore.

 

[Sheep]

Reading on a phone is fine in a pinch (e.g., while commuting on a bus/train without a tablet/e-reader) but I can't do it for long periods of time on a small screen.

I've personally never had any eyestrain issues reading on a Nook Color or a Nexus 7, but I also don't read as much as some people do (maybe a novel a month, at most).

 

[Aganazer]

On my Android phone I use the black background and turn the brightness as low as I can. I figure the less light emission the better. No noticeable eye strain. I'd be more concerned about the small screen on the iPhone. Its already annoyingly small with a 4.5 inch display and I'm hoping to get a larger screen on my next phone for this very purpose.

 

[TuxDave]

I use mine to read but the e-ink kindle that I borrowed was a lot nicer for reading for sure.

 

[bigrash]

I wouldn't recommend it for reading books. Even at 4", the screen is way too small for that.