Report: PocketBook Is Launching a Color E-Reader This Year

E-readers are now well established and an ideal device for reading thousands of books indoors and outside, but they lack one thing: color.

That's set to change this year thanks to PocketBook.

As Heise reports (translated), the Swiss company counts itself as the third largest manufacturer of E Ink e-readers and is set to embrace color in the second half of 2020 by utilizing a brand new panel called the E Ink Kaleido.

Kaleido is thought to be capable of displaying 4,096 colors while retaining all the benefits of existing E Ink panels, namely only requiring power to change what's visible on the screen and being readable outside on a sunny day.

It seems likely Kaleido is the next iteration of the color E Ink panel we got to see in action late last year.

The new e-reader is called the PocketBook Color and will ship with a 6-inch screen, just like the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite currently offer.

The addition of color will certainly attract attention, but we're going to pay a premium for it.

PocketBook initially plans to release the Color in Europe for 200 euros, which translates to a $220 price tag for the US.

That still comes in well below the $299 7-inch Kindle Oasis, though.

According to The Digital Reader, 2020 could end up being the year of the color e-reader.

Two Chinese companies (iFlytek and iReader) announced 6-inch color devices last month, although neither has appeared for sale yet.

Kobo and Amazon are also thought to be preparing color devices, with the one big difference being Kobo is expected to use E Ink, while Amazon is adopting alternative screen tech.

For now, the best e-readers seem to be a toss up between Kindle and Kobo models, but if you enjoy digital comics or view a lot of color documents, it might be worth waiting a few months to see what color options appear.

E-readers are now well established and an ideal device for reading thousands of books indoors and outside, but they lack one thing: color.

That's set to change this year thanks to PocketBook.

As Heise reports (translated), the Swiss company counts itself as the third largest manufacturer of E Ink e-readers and is set to embrace color in the second half of 2020 by utilizing a brand new panel called the E Ink Kaleido.

Kaleido is thought to be capable of displaying 4,096 colors while retaining all the benefits of existing E Ink panels, namely only requiring power to change what's visible on the screen and being readable outside on a sunny day.

It seems likely Kaleido is the next iteration of the color E Ink panel we got to see in action late last year.

The new e-reader is called the PocketBook Color and will ship with a 6-inch screen, just like the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite currently offer.

The addition of color will certainly attract attention, but we're going to pay a premium for it.

PocketBook initially plans to release the Color in Europe for 200 euros, which translates to a $220 price tag for the US.

That still comes in well below the $299 7-inch Kindle Oasis, though.

According to The Digital Reader, 2020 could end up being the year of the color e-reader.

Two Chinese companies (iFlytek and iReader) announced 6-inch color devices last month, although neither has appeared for sale yet.

Kobo and Amazon are also thought to be preparing color devices, with the one big difference being Kobo is expected to use E Ink, while Amazon is adopting alternative screen tech.

For now, the best e-readers seem to be a toss up between Kindle and Kobo models, but if you enjoy digital comics or view a lot of color documents, it might be worth waiting a few months to see what color options appear.