Insights on the E Ink Kaleido 3: A Complete Breakdown of Its Tri-color E-Paper Technology
E-Ink Kaleido 3: Color E-Paper Revolution
The latest color e-paper, E Ink Kaleido 3, has just landed for e-readers and digital note-taking devices, promising a richer color experience and improved performance. Here's a peek under the hood to understand what makes this new kid on the block so special.
Enhanced Colors: Kaleido 3 shines with a 30% increase in color saturation compared to its predecessor, E Ink Kaleido Plus. With 16 levels of grayscale and 4,096 colors in its arsenal, it's ready to dazzle your eyes. But what about those washy colors from the previous versions? Worry not, as E INK promises K3 reduces light scatter and loss of color, ensuring vibrant hues.
ComfortGaze Revolution: E Ink's new front light technology, ComfortGaze, takes the spotlight with its focus on reducing the blue light output, lowering the Blue Light Ratio (BLR) and Blue Light Toxicity Factor (BLTF) by up to 60% and 24% respectively. Say goodbye to those pesky eye strains! And the best part? ComfortGaze isn't limited to Kaleido 3 alone; it's compatible with traditional e-readers and e-notes.
The Inner Workings: Previous color e-papers were limited to 4,096 colors and 100 PPI. Kaleido 3 breaks that mold with a color accuracy of 150 PPI, achieved by placing the Color Filter Array closer to the ink layer. E INK also made some updates to the print pattern, switching from glass to plastic to reduce the light scatter and loss of color. In addition, Kaleido 3 uses RGBW colors and not CMYK, providing a more accurate color reproduction.
Bigger and Better: Kaleido 3 is optimized for a range of screen sizes, from 7.8 to 13.3 inches. While the resolution may remain the same across all screen sizes, E INK hints at the potential for future enhancements as technology evolves.
All Aboard the Compatibility Train: Kaleido 3 plays nicely with various display panels, including E INK Carta 1200, 1250, and On-Cell Touch. This means wider compatibility with devices, from Amazon Kindle Paperwhite to Onyx Boox Nova 3 Color. And, with better performance and reduced latency, the future of e-paper displays looks brighter than ever!
Settling the Waiting Game: Brands like Onyx Boox, Pocketbook, iReader, iFlytek, and Bigme are expected to unveil new hardware featuring Kaleido 3 later this year or early in 2023. So hang tight, color enthusiasts; the future of e-paper displays is just around the corner!
Michael Kozlowski, editor-in-chief at our platform, has been covering audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. His articles have been featured in CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and more. Catch him in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Kaleido 3's integration with gadgets expands beyond traditional e-readers, as it also supports digital note-taking devices, making it a appealing choice for those seeking improved performance and a richer color experience in their smartphones and e-readers.
The new ComfortGaze front light technology found in Kaleido 3, compatible with numerous e-readers and e-notes, significantly reduces blue light output, lowering both Blue Light Ratio and Blue Light Toxicity Factor, contributing to a more comfortable reading experience.
Notably, Kaleido 3's advanced technology includes higher color accuracy at 150 PPI, achieved by positioning the Color Filter Array closer to the ink layer, and the adoption of RGBW colors instead of CMYK, promising more accurate color reproduction in various e-gadgets.
