I’m a Big Fan of E Ink, So This New Screen Phone Available From Hisense Makes Me Excited

IE Ink is cool. It’s easy to read, doesn’t drain the battery and looks like real paper (sort of). Having more than one phone screen is also good. The new Hisense A10 fits both those bills, which is why it piqued my interest.

Hisense — a Chinese company known for consumer electronics, especially televisions and appliances — officially announced the A10 on Monday. As posted by a reputable insider, Experience More on Weibo, the phone’s large screen uses E Ink, and has a removable color LCD screen on the back. Hisense had teased the A10 last month.

Initially available in China for around $600, it is not clear when it might reach US markets. Gagadget said it’s likely that American buyers will have to go through AliExpress, eBay or other specialist sellers.

The insider said that the removable magnetic screen may not be included with the phone and will be sold separately. It may be similar to Vamvo screen which can be connected to iPhones and Android phones.

A10 can offer customers more flexibility. They can simply take their main E Ink phone with them to call and text, keep their battery life strong, or they can attach a second screen for videos, games or other applications that require color and graphics. Hisense did not specify how the two screens will communicate with data.

In terms of specifications, Experience More said the A10’s large screen measures 6.13 inches and is E Ink black and white. With Android 16, the phone uses 5G and uses a 4nm Qualcomm octa-core chip, which is not as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

A representative for Hisense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It draws on E Ink

I’m impressed with Hisense’s unique twist on the trend of “the more screen, the better,” as foldables take center stage and the Apple Ultra or Fold may debut this fall. But I’m more interested in the second screen being paired with the main E Ink screen.

E Ink phones are a very lucrative sub-market. By replacing harsh, glossy screens with paper-like displays, they eliminate glare, reduce eye strain and significantly boost battery life. The main trade-off is that they are not built for fast scrolling or watching videos. But for fans, that uncluttered simplicity is the biggest draw.

I used Amazon’s Kindle and a Kobo e-reader — two of CNET’s the most reviewed brands — and it’s surprising how easy it is to read books about them. With non-glare screens and matte finishes, they look and feel like real paper. I like the combination of a simple E Ink phone with video and app diversity.

Tech reviewer Austin Evans, who has nearly 6 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, said the Hisense A10 offers a nice return on a simple phone experience without sacrificing useful apps.

While most of us know we spend a lot of time on our devices, going back to a flip phone means losing easy access and social connections, Evans told CNET.

“The E Ink phone is usually compatible with the apps you rely on, but the screen quality and refresh rate are severely limited for scrolling doom.” In other words, the E Ink phone can give us smartphone functionality without smartphone addiction.