Color E-Ink Has Finally Made Its Way to Smartphones. But What’s the Point?
Arkadiy Andrienko
Bigme, a brand specializing in e-paper devices, has released the HiBreak Plus smartphone, whose main highlight is a compact color display based on E-Ink Kaleido 3 technology.
The device features a 6.13-inch screen that combines the functions of an e-reader and a smartphone. In color mode, the display shows up to 4,096 shades at a density of 150 ppi, but when reading text or working with monochrome content, the density increases to 300 ppi. The manufacturer also claims a 52 Hz refresh rate, which is quite high for e-paper and only recently did monitors using the same technology hit 60 Hz. For comfortable use in the dark, there's a front light with 36 brightness levels.
The HiBreak Plus is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. According to the official specs, it uses an 8-core MediaTek MTK6765 processor — an entry-level chip commonly found in budget devices. The developers have put in a 4,500 mAh battery, but considering the energy efficiency of E-Ink displays, this should result in significantly longer battery life compared to traditional smartphones. The device runs on Android 14 with full support for Google Play Services, allowing you to install all the usual apps, including messengers and social networks.
The smartphone supports dual SIM cards with 4G LTE connectivity and GPS. There’s also a headphone jack and a fingerprint scanner built into the power button. Smartphones and monitors aren’t the only devices getting E-Ink screens; the technology is also actively making its way into smartwatches.
Like all Kaleido 3 displays, the HiBreak Plus screen produces less saturated colors compared to AMOLED or IPS panels. Due to the nature of the color filter, the image can look slightly grainier than on a regular smartphone. Still, for those looking for a companion device with a display that's easy on the eyes, or who want to combine a phone and an e-reader in one body, it’s a reasonable compromise. Sales are set to begin on April 20th, with the smartphone priced at $249.
So, would you trade the vibrant colors of an OLED screen for the paper-like quality of an E-Ink display in exchange for longer battery life and less eye strain? Share your thoughts in the comments.
