Color e-reader displays like E Ink's Advanced Color e-Paper (ACeP), Tianma's Color LCD, and ClearInk could transform the market in 2020 and 2021. As someone who's examined these technologies hands-on at events like Display Week, I've analyzed their potential to challenge mainstream devices like Amazon's Kindle.
Contents:
1. ClearInk's color e-readers in 2020?
ClearInk does color and video for less money
Problems: ghosting, color accuracy, and waveforms
2. Color E-Paper ACeP 2nd generation in 2020?
3. Color filter matrices for e-readers?
4. Reflective color LCD from Tianma
5. Hisense Color E-Reader Phone
Kindle Color in 2020 or 2021?
In short, if you're seeking a color e-reader, late 2020 marks the earliest realistic arrival. Here's why it's worth the wait.
New display technologies rarely emerge; most updates are incremental on a three-year cycle. True breakthroughs are scarce, making their debut in devices a major event. Sri Peruvemba, former head of marketing at ClearInk Displays, predicts 2020 or 2021 could deliver one.
ClearInk unveiled its tech in 2016 and has partnered with Lenovo and Tianma. Unlike typical e-paper, it delivers cost-effective color video without backlighting.
E Ink's Triton was the last color e-paper in readers but failed to reach Kindle levels due to high costs, low contrast, and slow refreshes—it couldn't handle video effectively.
ClearInk achieves around 4096 colors (high color) with a 33Hz refresh rate suitable for full-motion video, akin to broadcast TV or YouTube. Here's footage I captured at Display Week 2019:
The clarity stems from electrophoresis using a single, smaller pigment for blacks and whites—co-developed with Merck—versus E Ink's dual pigments, which slow refreshes. Peruvemba notes the result: higher contrast, lower power use, greater resolution, and color video with a filter.
ClearInk's video mode uses 80-90% less power than LCDs and supports 33Hz playback, slightly jerky but viable. No updates from Display Week 2020, as they skipped it.
ClearInk isn't flawless. It shows ghosting (image retention):
Engineers attribute this to early prototypes. Color accuracy matches Triton 2—adequate for textbooks and comics, not pro use. Like E Ink, it needs custom waveforms and software; LCD drivers won't work directly.
Peruvemba shared they're developing drop-in LCD replacements, easing manufacturer adoption.
At Display Week on August 2, 2020, E Ink announced its 2nd-gen Advanced Color e-Paper (ACeP). Onyx's Color Boox Poke, listed with ACeP 2, launches August 10 for ~$260—$100 over Poke 2. Videos suggest Kaleido instead.
See E Ink's ACeP 2 demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT-5WJWs_mw
ACeP 2 renders black-and-white pages rapidly—a leap from gen 1—but colors stutter slightly. Saturation shines for reflective tech, using four pigments (slower refreshes). SoCs aid fast turns, but early panels are pricey, signaling high consumer costs past 2021. For Kindle color, ACeP's saturation suits manuals and comics.
Color Filter Arrays (CFA) layer colored liquid crystal filters over electrophoretic panels like E Ink, creating color at reduced resolution.
Top CFAs hit ~4000 colors on Carta, but resolution drops. They're cheap, easy to add, use plastic (lighter, durable)—ideal for edutabs. Kindle color? Likely CFA-based.
Tianma, a top display maker, offers "Electric Bag" reflective color LCD—no backlight needed, frontlight compatible. 10.5-inch for education: 12:1 contrast, 191 PPI, 11% NTSC gamut (half competitors'). Low-cost, simple integration; priced like emissive LCDs. Tianma eyes 2020 availability for eye-friendly kid devices.
Hisense's A5 (B&W E Ink phone, $220 on AliExpress) evolves to A5C and A5 Pro CC with Kaleido (CFA + Carta). A5C is slow; Pro CC's Unisoc T610 enables video. Both limited: color depth, ghosting, resolution.
Kindle's color gap persists; no 2020 release likely. Options: CFA panels. Q1 2020 saw iFlytek Android (US-sanctioned) and iReader C6 (Android, 1GB RAM, 16GB, March 26 via JD.com). Amazon skipped color since 2018; rivals Kobo/B&N eye ed market edge.
