[cherioo]

Those exists now, in the form of eink Android phone/tablet. The refresh rate of eink makes their experience suboptimal, but some find it usable enough.

You can search for Boox tablet, or Hisense A5 phone.

[Wowfunhappy]

Oh that's interesting, I missed this one: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/review-onyx-boox-max3-a...

I know I shouldn't be complaining about price now that I've heard it exists at all, but $840 is really steep! I was thinking something more like $400. I know it's a niche product, but even so.

[akavel]

Take a look at the smaller models, like Onyx Nova 2 or Note 2; if you're ok with smaller size, they're cheaper

[microtherion]

The Max3 has a giant screen (larger than the biggest iPad Pro). I'm still getting used to mine, but I mostly like it.

The web browsing experience is OK, but it's slow and monochrome.

[Wowfunhappy]

Monochrome is expected. Do you say it's slow because of the screen's refresh rate, or do pages take a long time to render?

I'm kind of eying the BOOX Nova2, which is in my price range at $340. The screen is 7.8", which is ~ 2" smaller than what I'd ideally want, but not by much.

[microtherion]

It's mostly the refresh rate, I think. The processor is fairly decent.

[m463]

what was interesting was this one:

I thought the boox was interesting

But what about this one? https://amzn.com/B07XG9T898

it's a lenovo laptop with an e-ink screen

[Wowfunhappy]

It's interesting, but I really have no interest in a laptop I can't type on.

On a tablet, I just acknowledge that I won't be typing, and I live with it due to the form factor's other advantage (namely, it's easier to lay back on the couch with a tablet than a laptop).

[m463]

I think there's an actual keyboard on the other side of the e-ink screen. So It appears to have an lcd display, an e-ink display and a keyboard.

[Brian_K_White]

No the keyboard is a virtual keyboard using the e-ink display.

You can type, in the sense that what you type is appearing on the fast color screen not the e-ink, so you can go as fast as you want.

But it's probably terrible because there are no mechanical keys, just a flat touch screen displaying a virtual keyboard like an ipad.

[int_19h]

Also Kingrow K1, although I'm not sure they're available for sale anywhere yet - I got mine from the crowdfunding campaign. It makes for a very convenient eInk reader with the corresponding apps installed (and it comes with Kindle out of the box).

Unfortunately, there's no Google Play Store on it. But that doesn't preclude web browsing with Chromium or Firefox.

[criddell]

There's also ones from Sony, Supernote, and Remarkable.

[cherioo]

None of those appears to be Android, which IMO makes them have less utility value. There's definitely pros and cons though, and one should research which is right for them.

[criddell]

Android sucks on tablets. I had a Nexus 7 which is probably the last and only decent Android tablet.

I know the Remarkable has some third party software for it because it's running a version of Linux. The others probably do as well.

[int_19h]

Huawei M5 8.4" is an excellent Android tablet very much in the spirit of Nexus 7 (but with better screen and other hardware).

[coverband]

I used to think so too, until I tried and bought one of the recent Samsung Tabs. Excellent experience on par with iPad.

[criddell]

Sure, the hardware is great. Depending on what you do, it's the software that is miles behind. The Android app situation is worse to begin with and Android developers pay almost no attention to big screen tablets because so few people have them. The app situation on the iPad isn't amazing, but it is better. I think Procreate alone is responsible for a lot of iPad sales.

Plus Android tablets are deceptively expensive. They aren't going to receive updates for as long as the iPad and when you sell it, the resale value is as good.