Smartphones with foldable OLED screens have been around for more than six years, but Chinese company Readmoo is the first company to announce a ready-to-use e-reader with a foldable E Ink display. Details on when the mooInk V will be available and how much it will cost have not yet been announced. However, the company says it has worked with E Ink for nine years to develop an electronic paper screen that they claim can withstand more than 200,000 bends.
When open, the mooInk V has an 8-inch touchscreen based on E Ink’s Gallery 3 display technology. Unlike the Kindle Colorsoft’s Kaleido 3 screen, which uses a color filter over an E Ink black and white panel that limits color reproduction to 4,096 shades, Gallery 3 uses color ink capsules that can reproduce more than 50,000 shades at 300 ppi. Currently, only a small number of devices use Gallery 3 technology, such as last year’s Remarkable Paper Pro.
Although E Ink has shown prototypes of foldable e-readers in the past, their display technology is much thicker than OLED panels, making it difficult to develop a reliable hinge and screen that can withstand the rigors of daily use. This is the main reason why Readmoo has taken so long to develop and perfect the sophisticated panel used in the mooInk V e-reader.
According to Readmoo, the body, made of a lightweight but durable aluminum-magnesium alloy coated with silver metallized paint, weighs about 225 grams, which is only a few grams heavier than the Kindle Colorsoft. Specific dimensions are not listed, but when folded, it is smaller than a paperback book, potentially allowing it to slip more easily into a pocket than a Kindle. The e-book can also be turned flat for reading or used at a 90-degree angle, similar to reading a printed book, but it remains to be seen how ergonomic it is to hold it in this position.
The two sides of the mooInk V don’t seem to fit together perfectly when the device is folded, as phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 do. There’s a noticeable gap near the hinge to reduce stress and damage where the E Ink panel actually folds. But it will also be the first folding e-reader available to consumers.
