Bigme teases world's first phone with color e-ink screen for reading

Bigme, a small Chinese company, might be on the verge of revolutionizing mobile devices with its upcoming HiBreak Dual phone. The innovative device features a novel combination of a standard LCD screen and a color E-Ink display in a single device.

A dual-screen concept

The E-Ink panel is designed for reading, checking notifications, and reducing eye strain. This Technology is familiar to many, as it's the same screen Technology used in Kindle e-readers. It looks like actual paper, consumes less battery power, and is more comfortable to stare at for long periods than OLED or LCD screens.

However, it's worth noting that E-Ink screens refresh slowly, making them unsuitable for video or anything with rapid on-screen motion.

The HiBreak Dual's color E-Ink panel, likely based on E-Ink's Kaleido 3 Technology, might handle more than just plain text. It could display comics, magazine layouts, color-coded notifications, and web pages in a way that looks presentable, although not as vibrant as the main LCD screen.

Bigme's track record raises concerns about the software and global availability of the HiBreak Dual. While the company has made solid E-Ink hardware, its software has been criticized for being clunky and unreliable. Moreover, Bigme's products rarely launch outside of China in any real capacity.

Despite these hurdles, the concept of a dual-screen phone with E-Ink has significant potential. It could help mitigate phone addiction by providing an eye-friendly alternative for reading and notifications. However, for now, the HiBreak Dual remains a tease, with no concrete details on specs, pricing, or a release date.