E Ink Colors Are Not Vivid, Do People Really Use It to Browse the Web? Why Is Eink Mode Specifically Optimized for E Ink Reading Experience?
I will express my views through the following points:
First, many web contents are not primarily focused on "viewing images" but rather on "reading text." For example, news articles, blog posts, technical documents, research reports, long forum posts, and online novels. The core of this type of content is text, not vivid images. In this context, the characteristics of E Ink are very suitable: stable display, non-glare, fatigue-free reading for long periods, and clear readability even in outdoor light.
Second, the value of E Ink lies not in "multimedia entertainment" but in "deep reading." LCD/OLED screens are suitable for video, gaming, and social browsing; E Ink is closer to the reading mode of printed books. Many people buy e-readers specifically for long reading sessions. If the content on the web (such as articles or long texts) can be read in a way similar to e-books, it can transform a lot of originally scattered online content into "readable pages."
Third, there are already many E Ink devices capable of browsing the web, such as BOOX and Bigme tablets that have high refresh rates, or Dasung and Bigme E Ink monitors. Many users of these devices read web articles, technical documents, Wikipedia, news, and even long novel websites. However, most websites are currently designed to be optimized for LCD screens, so reading on E Ink often encounters distracting animations (which are even more bothersome on E Ink), scrolling delays, and issues with fast refresh algorithms that result in less clear image quality (heavier pixelation) and excessive distracting elements.
Fourth, what Eink Mode actually addresses is the "reading experience" rather than the "color issue." Its main functions also include:
- Converting webpage layouts to a reading mode similar to books, with paginated reading instead of infinite scrolling
- Reducing distracting elements
- Enhancing the text reading experience (coming soon)
All these adjustments can make E Ink devices read web content more naturally, although such processing currently faces many technical challenges.
Finally, there is another important but often overlooked reason: Eink Mode is actually preparing for the future of E Ink devices. Many people still associate E Ink with "black and white, dull colors." However, the new generation of E Ink technology can actually present very vivid colors, even achieving color effects close to full-color poster printing (over 60,000 colors). Therefore, the issue today is not about "color limitations," but rather about refresh speed.
When E Ink needs to display very saturated and precise color images, the overall refresh time becomes longer. If we use the current mainstream "scrolling web pages" to browse content, the screen needs to continuously update at high speed, and E Ink can only use a faster but less vibrant refresh mode; otherwise, the display will lag behind the scrolling animation. However, if future E Ink devices adopt different forms, such as:
- Two-page reading devices
- Four-page folding devices
- Book-style multi-page displays
The situation would be completely different. How so? When you are reading two pages of content, the invisible back pages can actually update slowly in the background. This way, E Ink has ample time to complete high-quality refreshes, presenting more saturated and detailed color images. By the time you turn the page, the new page has already been updated. In this reading mode, E Ink can maintain its original characteristic of being "as comfortable to read as paper" while also presenting images and web content with quality close to that of color posters.
In other words, the "infinite scrolling web pages" we are accustomed to today are actually designed for high-speed LCD screens and mouse scrolling. But if future reading devices are closer to "a book that can be folded," then a paginated web reading experience would become more reasonable. What Eink Mode is doing is exploring this reading method in advance: transforming web pages from "scrolling information streams" back into "content that can be read page by page." As future E Ink hardware develops further, this reading mode will appear even more natural and better utilize the potential of E Ink display technology.
In summary, Eink Mode is not about turning E Ink into a color entertainment tablet, but rather converting web content into a form more suitable for "reading." E Ink may not be suitable for "viewing all web pages," but for "reading-oriented web pages," it may actually be one of the most comfortable screens. And there is actually more of this type of content online than many people imagine.