Electronic readers are one of the essential tech objects. Useful at the beach or under the tree, they are in more and more homes. But thanks to this new accessory, launched by the Astropad brand, the iPhone could soon compete with them.
The firm has just launched the “Bookcase”. With this small device, it is possible to slide your iPhone (or another smartphone) inside to transform it into an e-reader. According to Astropad’s marketing speech, this device would provide better comfort when reading.
The big strong point of this accessory is obviously the grip. With Bookcase, Astropad promises a more pleasant experience for the user, while the iPhone is currently not known for its e-reader capabilities, although it has all the technical arguments to carry out this task.
Use your iPhone as an e-reader
However, this is not a simple case that covers the phone to use it more comfortably. Indeed, the Bookcase has an NFC chip and a companion application. It is thus possible to configure shortcuts to enable reading each time the iPhone is integrated into the Bookcase.
The company also thought about making it compatible with Apple’s MagSafe standard for better fixation of the phone in the case. According to Astropad, it is perfect for use, especially in transport, during lunch breaks or even before bed.
The main strength of this device is that it replaces a classic electronic reader, which can, depending on the model, cost from a few dozen to a few hundred euros. Here the device is sold for $40 on the Astropad website.
Why use your iPhone as an e-reader?
The big strong point of e-readers is their refresh rate. In other words, the image displayed on the screen does not regenerate much. We often talk about a rate of 1 Hz (i.e. once per second). This low refresh rate allows you to enjoy a better experience with more comfortable reading and less eye fatigue than on a traditional smartphone screen.
But in recent years, iPhones have also had an adaptive refresh rate. Apple phones are technically capable of going down to 1 Hz and providing very good reading comfort. Finally, regarding the size of the screen, which can be a barrier to reading on iPhone, the latest models from the Apple brand with the iPhone 16 Pro Max in particular and its 6.9 inches diagonal can largely do the affair.
This little accessory can be a good solution for reading on your iPhone from the Apple Books application, which has a very extensive catalog, including many classics available for free. For example, you can enjoy The Count of Monte Cristo in its original version written by Alexandre Dumas for free.
