Your next color e-reader will probably fold in half

Summary

E Ink and Readmoo have unveiled the mooInk V, which is the world’s first foldable color e-reader.
The mooInk V leverages E Ink’s Gallery 3 e-paper technology, and it can withstand up to 200,000 folds.
There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but the e-reader is expected to be showcased again at Display Week next month.

E Ink and Readmoo have joined forces to unveil the mooInk V, which the two companies describe as being “the world’s first foldable color e-reader.” The product was showcased at Touch Taiwan (via Good e-Reader), a technology trade show taking place in Tapei from April 16 through 18.

The mooInk V features an 8-inch display panel that can be folded in half, and it makes use of E Ink’s colored and flexible Gallery 3 technology. It offers a pixel density of 300 pixels per inch (PPI), and it can display close to 50,000 different colors on screen. Additionally, the device can be unfolded at both 90-degree and 180-degree angles for a more flexible reading experience.

According to E Ink, the mooInk V is the product of close to a decade of research and development, and it has been designed to withstand 200,000 folds. The product weighs in at 8.99 ounces (255 grams), making use of an aluminum-magnesium metal alloy to reduce overall mass. Externally, it features a handsome design with relatively slim white bezels, and a slight crease down the center of the screen.

At this time, we have no information on the pricing and availability of the mooInk V. The e-reader is expected to be showcased once again at Display Week next month in California — hopefully, this latter event will give us a clearer picture of a possible US launch.

Amazon needs to make a dual-screen Kindle – here’s why

With Panos Panay at the helm, a Surface Duo-shaped Kindle e-reader is just begging to be made.

Conceptually, I love the idea of a foldable e-reader

Presumably, the mooInk V is the first of many folding e-readers to come

With the relative proliferation of book-style foldable Android phones in recent years, and the advancements made in color e-paper technology, it’s no surprise to see the emergence of a foldable color e-reader device like the mooInk V.

The ability to carry a miniature tablet-sized display in your pocket is compelling in the smartphone scene, and it makes a lot of intuitive sense to graft the concept onto e-readers as well. Personally, I’ve been patiently waiting for a Surface Duo-style e-reader with dual display panels, but a single-screen foldable is probably as close as I’ll ever get to such a product hitting the market.

I wonder just how ruggedized the world’s first color foldable e-reader will prove to be in the real world.

My one concern with the mooInk V is to do with its durability. We’ve seen recent foldable smartphones adopt official IP water resistance ratings, which is a positive development in the foldable tech scene, but dust and grains of sand remain a major concern. With so many people opting to use their e-readers outdoors and at the beach, I wonder just how ruggedized the world’s first foldable color e-reader will prove to be when exposed to the elements.