Apple could be testing color e-ink displays for foldables

Publish date: 2023-02-19

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

TL;DR

One of the coolest trends in the display space in recent years has been the introduction of color e-ink displays, improving upon the standard e-ink displays seen on the likes of Kindles and other conventional e-reading devices.

Now, TF International Securities analyst and long-time Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed on Twitter that Apple is testing electronic paper displays (EPD) for a future foldable’s cover screen and “tablet-like” applications.

Kuo adds that color e-ink displays could become a popular option for cover screens on foldables due to the power-saving tech, suggesting that Apple is indeed testing color panels rather than monochrome e-ink screens. Check out the screenshot of the tweet below.

E-ink displays indeed have impressive power-saving tech, generally displaying still images and text without using electricity. This advantage does come at the expense of a decent refresh rate and brightness though.

Still, the combo of a foldable phone with an external e-ink display (color or monochrome) could very well result in some major battery life gains in some scenarios. For example, people who spend a large amount of time using their foldable phone when closed could see a significant endurance boost. This could also be a boon for always-on displays on clamshell foldables, consuming less power when displaying the time and other notifications.

Would you buy a foldable with an e-ink cover display?

95 votes

Yes

75%

No

25%

This apparent Apple device only seems to be in testing right now, so don’t hold your breath for a commercial release just yet. But we wouldn’t mind seeing an Android-based foldable with an e-ink display of some sort too.

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