E Ink unveils new color screen

E Ink, a Taiwanese company that produces screens for nearly all e-readers on the market, has introduced the Kaleido 4, an updated version of its color screen. The company claims the new screen offers twice as many colors, brighter whites, and 50% more contrast compared to the previous Kaleido 3 model.

Addressing e-reader screen criticisms

These improvements aim to address common criticisms of current color e-readers, which are often said to have duller screens and faded colors compared to black and white e-readers. The Kaleido 3, released in 2022, is still used in many color e-readers sold in France, including the recent Boox Note Air6 C.

How the color screen works

The Kaleido 4 retains the traditional principle of an electronic ink screen, applying a color filter (red, green, blue) to the standard black and white electronic ink. This method allows for fast display and good battery life but also reduces screen brightness and halves the resolution, typically from 300 ppi to 150 ppi.

Enhancements in color and performance

E Ink states the Kaleido 4 can reproduce twice as many colors as its predecessor. The white background on the screen would have a 15% increase in reflectance, making it appear less gray and improving contrast and reading comfort. The company also claims a 50% improvement in contrast.

New capabilities and limited availability

On the electronic side, new algorithms enable the Kaleido 4 to read videos at up to 18 frames per second, compared to 12 for the Kaleido 3. However, E Ink has not disclosed the maximum resolution of the new screen. Currently, only one device uses the Kaleido 4: the M10C II, a note-taking tablet from Hanvon, which is sold exclusively in China.

Future plans and competing technology

It remains unclear when and where other devices using the Kaleido 4 will be available. Kobo, Onyx Boox, Bigme, and Nook may release models with the Kaleido 4 in 2027, but no further details have been provided. It is uncertain whether Amazon might use the new screen for its Kindle devices. ReMarkable, a Norwegian brand, currently uses E Ink Gallery 3 screens, which employ a different technology that does not use a color filter, offering better resolution but a worse screen refresh rate.