TritonPanelsWhat a CBR or CBZ file is
A CBZ is a ZIP of page images. A CBR is a RAR of page images. The phone’s Files app does not read either of them as a comic, so the pages, the order and your place need a reader. How to open CBZ and CBR files walks through import on iPhone, iPad and Android.
What opens on iPhone and iPad
| Format | iPhone and iPad |
|---|---|
| CBZ | Opens |
| CBR | RAR4 opens. RAR5 does not. |
| CB7 and CBT | Open |
| Opens | |
| EPUB | Image-based, DRM-free comics only. A text EPUB does not. |
The app looks at the bytes, so a file that lost its extension can still open. Copy-protected comics from another store’s app do not. PDF and image EPUB are covered again in reading PDF and EPUB comics.
When a CBR will not open
If a CBR fails, the usual reason is RAR5. TritonPanels does not open RAR5. The file is not damaged in a way the app can repair. Extract the pages and zip them into a CBZ, which loses nothing. Why a CBR will not open and converting CBR to CBZ are the steps, on a computer, before the file goes onto the phone.
Saying an app “opens CBR” does not mean it opens every CBR. Ask which RAR version.
Getting the file onto the iPhone
Use Import from Device, Open in TritonPanels from the share sheet, or a Dropbox or OneDrive folder. Google Drive files are picked through the Files app. A comic dropped into the app’s folder in Finder is imported on its own. iOS or iPadOS 17 or later is required. The same reader runs on Android 7.0 or later.
On the iPad, spreads and page fit are the extra controls. Those are on the comic reader for iPad page.
What to look for
For a CBR reader on an iPhone, the useful questions are narrow. Does CBR open, or only CBZ? If CBR opens, is RAR5 included or only older RAR? Are CB7, CBT, PDF and image-based EPUB in the same app? And is the app actually on iPhone, not only on iPad?
Panels’ CBR page says Panels opens CBR, CBZ, 7z, PDF and image-based comic EPUB on iPad without converting, and that the same install covers iPhone and Mac. It describes comic EPUB as an image-based book, not a reflowable text EPUB. It does not say which RAR version a CBR may use. The premium guide lists comic EPUB in the free column, and Dropbox, OneDrive and SMB as Premium. How those apps compare more widely is in best comic reader apps for iPhone and iPad.
Price
TritonPanels is not free. New subscribers get a 14-day trial, then a subscription from €0.49 a month or €4.99 a year in Ireland. There are no ads and no account. Reading progress for a file on the phone stays on that phone, unless the comic is also on Komga or Kavita.
Frequently asked questions
Can TritonPanels open CBR files on iPhone?
Yes, when the CBR is RAR4. A RAR5 CBR will not open. Convert that file to CBZ and the pages come across.
What is the difference between CBR and CBZ?
CBZ is a ZIP of page images. CBR is a RAR of page images. TritonPanels opens both, with the RAR4 limit on CBR.
Why will some CBR files not open?
They are usually RAR5. TritonPanels does not support RAR5. Zip the extracted pages into a CBZ.
Does it open CBZ, CB7 and PDF as well?
Yes. CBZ, CB7, CBT, PDF and image-based DRM-free EPUB open on iPhone and iPad. Text-only EPUB does not.
Is there one CBR reader for iPhone and iPad?
TritonPanels is the same app on both, on iOS or iPadOS 17 or later. It also runs on Android 7.0 or later. There is no Mac version built for the Mac. The iPad app is listed for Apple silicon Macs but is not verified for macOS.
Do I need an account to open a CBZ?
No. There is no TritonPanels account. The app is a subscription after a 14-day trial, and it has no ads.
Sources
Checked 16 October 2026. Claims about other apps come from the pages linked below. TritonPanels claims come from this site.
Read your comics with TritonPanels
A comic and manga reader for iPhone, iPad and Android. CBZ, CBR, CB7, CBT, PDF and image-based EPUB from your device, your cloud, a network share or your own Komga, Kavita or OPDS server — single page, spreads, continuous scroll or Panel by Panel. No ads, no account. 14-day free trial, then a monthly or yearly subscription.
Your own files: TritonPanels reads comics you already have. It does not sell, host or supply comics, and it cannot open copy-protected (DRM) purchases that are locked to another store’s app. Komga, Kavita, Calibre, Dropbox and the other names on this page belong to their owners, who do not endorse TritonPanels.