The Asian Hyread brand has just announced the future release of a new-generation color e-reader with a 6-inch screen: Hyread Gaze Mini C.
Hyread is a little-known brand that is looking to make a name for itself by rapidly offering one of the first e-ink color e-readers with a 6-inch screen using Kaleido 3 technology.
Kaleido 3 is the latest in color screen technology. It aims to display full-color pages with paper-like quality.
The advantage of Kaleido 3 screens is that they offer brighter colors, which comic book fans should appreciate.
But there's a problem: with a 6-inch screen diagonal, reading comics isn't made any easier on a screen of this size. My article on e-readers for manga actually mentions this point.
A screen size of at least 7.8 inches seems more coherent to me.
Still, it's nice to have color, if only to appreciate book covers and to be able to underline passages of text in color.
Here are the technical specifications for this Hyread Gaze Mini C e-reader:
- Kaleido 3 electronic ink screen: 300 PPI in black and white, 150 PPI in color
- Color touch screen (4096 different colors)
- Physical buttons for page turning
- 1.8 Ghz quad-core processor
- 3 GB RAM memory
- 32 GB storage (expandable to 1 TB with SD card)
- Wi-fi
- Bluetooth 5
- Speakers
- Microphone
- USB-C
- Android 11 system
- File formats supported: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, DOC, TXT, FB2, RTF, HTML/HTM, DJVU/DJV and CBZ
The presence of an Android operating system makes it possible to install new applications. However, e-ink e-readers with Android often have shorter battery life than classic e-readers from leading brands.
With an advertised price of $239, this Hyread Gaze Mini C e-reader is aimed at the more affluent and adventurous readers who want above all to enjoy a good color e-ink screen coupled with an Android system.
In theory, it's possible to enjoy all your Kindle, Kobo or Pocketbook digital books on the Hyread Gaze Mini C by installing these booksellers' applications.
But, for a reader simply looking for a simple e-reader, the price is clearly too high compared to affordable models from Kindle, Kobo or Pocketbook.
