[yjgyhj]

I want to recommend getting an e-ink smartphone.

I've tried the Hisense A5 and the Bigme Hibreak, and software-wise, found the Bigme Hibreak to suck a little less, as I could not access the Google Play store on the Hisense.

I had one with colour, and one without.

The black and white screen is much better.

Both sadly run outdated Android versions, so I don't do anything like banking on my e-ink phone.

But I have found that not having a LCD screen in my pocket, literally gives me hours of my day back. It literally saves a huge portion of my life from being wasted in the evil pit that is ad-funded recommendation algorithm services.

LCD screens, videos, and ad-watch-time-maximising recommendation algorithm services (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, etc) attract our eyes like moths to a flame.

I have not finished multiple books per month since my pre-smartphone childhood days, until getting an e-ink smartphone.

My Bigme Hibreak, that is my daily driver, runs Android 11, and I don't get timely notifications on e.g. messaging apps. It also came without case and screen protector, which is a big minus.

Do you have experience with e-ink smartphones? Which makes and models work for you?

[KeplerBoy]

I'm sorry, as much I'd like to buy a e-ink smartphone, your recommendations doesn't read like a recommendation at all.

Notifications and a kind of recent android version are two deal breakers.

[yjgyhj]

You're not wrong. Notice how I mentioned my favourite model "sucks less" than the other one. What ever company sells an e-ink smartphone with a fantastic camera and up-to-date Android will get my money for ever.

[KeplerBoy]

I wonder why all these eink devices seem to be stuck on Android 11. Did google change something about bringing android to weird devices?

[imzadi]

I'm hearing good things about the Palma. I currently have a first gen paperwhite and am looking to upgrade. I'm thinking either the palma or the kobo libra color. They are about the same price, I think.

[jerojero]

I have the Palma.

It's pretty good. The only problem is that the glass on the screen scratches easily. If you're okay with a screen protector then it should be fine.

In terms of software, it has access to the playstore but I actually haven't downloaded any apps on it. I've used fdroid and aurora store.

I installed a minimal launcher called unlauncher. I use Koreader as my main reader and I have it there most of the time so that I unlock/lock the e-reader and I'm taken directly to the book. It has amazing support on this device (I've used other android based E-readers and support wasn't the best). Can't change front light from the Koreader app though, which is slightly annoying.

Other than that, and the main reason I got an android e-reader, is that I use an android based manga reader. The experience is amazing. Yes, the manga reader is not fully optimised for e-reader screens like Koreader is but it works well enough that it's not a problem.

Overall, it's a really nice E-reader. My favourite thing about it is the size and form factor. Really, I have a 6 inch Kobo reader and this one is much easier to carry around. I'm very much used to reading on my phone anyway so the size is very comfortable for me.

Overall, it's been a positive experience. I'm waiting for either a color device in this form factor with kaleido 3 or perhaps another b/w with carta 1300.

But yeah, it's positive. Hardware is good and software can be made enjoyable.

[yjgyhj]

Thanks for sharing! I too have looked at the Palma, but without it also being a phone, I can't go for it, because I'd have to carry it and a LCD-screen phone.

Colour e-ink works by having a colour filter over the screen, and every third pixel being dedicated to each colour (please correct me, people who actually know the details!).

Therefore they inherently have lower resolution, and are also by nature around 2/3 less white in the pixels not displaying anything. When reading text, most pixels are uncoloured, meaning in most cases you significantly lose screen resolution, compared to b/w e-ink. Thus, with colour e-ink screens, unless you're out in sunlight, you'll need backlight most of the time. This is my reason to keep using the black and white versions, and it might be something for you to keep in mind when you select your next reading device.