Colour ereaders aren’t new, we have had a good few come via from smaller gamers within the ereader market, significantly from Chinese language firm Onyx and Switzerland-based Ukrainian model PocketBook. We have even examined a couple of right here at TechRadar – such because the Onyx Boox Nova Three Colour and the PocketBook InkPad Colour – however we have by no means actually loved how the colours regarded on display screen.

They give the impression of being very washed out and unsaturated – and that is due to limitations within the display screen tech that is been used thus far. A lot of the present colour ereaders use E Ink Kaleido screens, which have the aptitude of displaying 4,096 colours at not more than 100ppi decision. And the rationale colours look pale is due to filters layered on the display screen.

These washed-out colours on an ereader ought to quickly be a factor of the previous, nevertheless, with E Ink letting unfastened its Gallery Three display screen tech (introduced earlier in 2022) to be mass produced, and this guarantees to make studying digitally in colour a much more pleasing expertise – nice information for followers of comics and graphic novels.

The E Ink Gallery Three colour display screen tech can show over 50,000 colours – placing the Kaleido shows to disgrace – and on the common 300ppi to match the monochrome display screen. Importantly, the colours ought to look good and brilliant due to a four-particle ink system for every pixel. The cyan, magenta, yellow and white pigments ought to enable for a a lot fuller colour gamut.

And this display screen is being mass produced for mainstream use, with PocketBook already saying that its subsequent ereader – the PocketBook Viva anticipated to hit cabinets in March 2023 – will carry this new display screen tech.

Viva la colour

When the PocketBook Viva turns into obtainable in March 2023, it should possible be the primary E Ink Gallery 3-toting colour ereader available in the market; it is positively the primary to be introduced.

The Viva goes to be an 8-inch pill, with a design similar to the reasonably handsome PocketBook Period. And, just like the Period, it should sport a built-in speaker as properly. That is not what’s acquired us enthusiastic about making an attempt out the Viva; we’re actually eager to see how the colours pop on display screen.

Usually, most ereader makers have their very own proprietary frontlight tech getting used on their gadgets. The Gallery Three display screen, nevertheless, comes with E Ink’s personal ComfortGaze frontlight expertise in-built, which guarantees to cut back the results of blue mild. In line with E Ink, the brand new display screen is able to lowering blue mild by as much as 60% – that is vital, as colour ereaders do not sport adjustable mild temperatures to keep away from photographs and textual content showing… properly, jaundiced. 

Kindle the color-ereading future

PocketBook is not the one model to associate with E Ink on adopting the Gallery Three display screen. Onyx has additionally finished so, however we’re but to listen to a couple of colour e-ink pill utilizing this new display screen tech from the Chinese language producer. Different firms have additionally signed up – iFlyTek, Sharp and iReader simply to call a couple of. When alternate options to the PocketBook Viva shall be obtainable, nevertheless, is anybody’s guess.

Smaller ereader makers apart, we’re but to see the large gamers give clients a colour choice – thus far, there’s not a single colour Kindle or Kobo. It is considerably comprehensible that neither Amazon nor Kobo needed to undertake the E Ink Kaleido screens and their predecessors, given the compromises.

With the supply of the E Ink Gallery Three display screen, although, we’re hoping this may change and that the following e-ink system to hitch our greatest ereader round-up can be a colour Kindle or Kobo. Here is hoping.

• Cannot resolve between a Kindle or a Kobo? Learn how the 2 methods differ.