14 DAY TRIAL // The line between different device categories has been blurring at a fast pace, lately. We have seen tablet/laptop hybrids, tablets with phone capabilities and more, but what about an eReader you can use to call your friends? We have that checked, as well.
Smartphones with e-Ink displays aren't exactly a novelty anymore. In the beginning there was the YotaPhone, and at MWC 2014 the next-gen YotaPhone 2 was announced with a release date pegged for later this year.
The YotaPhones are actually dual-screen smartphones with an e-Ink display on one side and an LCD one on the other. It might take us some time to get accustomed to dual screen devices like this, but e-ink displays come boasting several benefits, including extended battery life. Another device that ships equipped with a secondary screen, where notifications are received is the Notion Ink Adam II tablet.
Anyway, we’re here to talk about a new e-Ink display device called the Onyx InkPhone (via Engadget). This is actually an eReader at core, which comes bundled with phone calling capabilities. The device is pretty rudimentary and packs a simple 4.3-inch e-Ink display, but customers might find this product appealing due to its impressive battery life.
According to Onyx, the eReader should last up two weeks on a single charge, despite being powered by an unimpressive 1800 mAh battery.
The InkPhone is quite limited compared to other smartphones on the market today, but that’s because its main purpose is to act as an eReader (compatible with ePub, Mobi and PDF files). Even so, unlike the Kindle or Nook that have to be tweaked in order to get access to the Google Play Store, the InkPhone offers that right off the bat.
So think about it, if your life depends on having the ability to access a bunch of Google Play apps, having a two-week sustainable device is a good idea after all. Even more, the InkPhone comes complete with a web browser and email and users can sideload apk files onto the phone, since the device runs Android Gingerbread.
The InkPhone receives its life power from a low-power Rockchip CPU and offers 4GB of internal storage (we’re not given the details about RAM). Like most smartphones, the eReader also has a camera.
The InkPhone could turn out to be just what some customers are looking to buy and it will soon make it on the market, somewhere around next month. Amazon will have it for sale, in case you live outside Germany or Poland, for $195 / €140.