60Hz E-ink Display: Dasung Paperlike 103 Unveiled With 10.3-inch Display

[GGforever]

E-ink displays have an undeniable advantage over traditional monitors when it comes to a select few tasks. E-ink displays do not emit their own light, making them far easier on the eyes, especially for longer workloads. However, E-ink displays have always suffered from extremely slow refresh rates, which makes them borderline unusable for anything apart from reading. However, technology always catches up with expectations, and it appears that we will soon have 60 Hz E-Ink displays on the market. Prominent brand Dasung has already unveiled its offering with a 60 Hz panel, dubbed the Paperlike 103.

The 10.3-inch E-ink display sports a 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1,874 vs 1,404, and features a 60 Hz refresh rate. The panel can only display grayscale images, and boasts an integrated front light to allow usage in low-light conditions without any hassle. This is necessary for usability when an external light source is not available, because as previously mentioned, E-ink displays do not emit their own light. Of course, since E-ink displays have typically only offered less than half the refresh rate of the Paperlike 103, the display is expected to be far more power hungry. Like other E-ink displays, the paperlike 103 is impressively thin, at just 5 mm. The monitor is already available in China for a price of around $280, although an international launch is not in sight for now.



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[lexluthermiester]

Ok, I'm impressed. It'll be really amazing when they do it in colour.

 

[AGlezB]

Almost useless, I'd say. The only use I see for this is reducing the time it takes to refresh the screen.

The only advantage of e-ink is mantaining an image without expending extra power and it's main disadvantage is that refreshing the screen is very power-intensive. If you have the extra power, i.e. the display is plugged into the wall, you don't need e-ink.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Almost useless, I'd say.

Then you're not the target audience. For readers, who actually spend time reading, this will be a god-send.

 

[AGlezB]

Then you're not the target audience. For readers, who actually spend time reading, this will be a god-send.

Right about the first, wrong about the second.

I've been using e-ink readers for the last decade and of all the functionality reading would be the least affected by an increase in refresh rate.
The most affected? Battery life.

YMMV, of course.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Right about the first, wrong about the second.

I've been using e-ink readers for the last decade and of all the functionality reading would be the least affected by an increase in refresh rate.
The most affected? Battery life.

YMMV, of course.

I use one too. I find the refresh rate irritating enough that I am looking forward to an e-book reader with one of these displays.

 

[AGlezB]

I use one too. I find the refresh rate irritating enough that I am looking forward to an e-book reader with one of these displays.

Some times it bothers me too and I'd love to have a high refresh rate e-ink if and only if it could be used without instantly draining the battery dry.

Now, if you look at shop.dasung.com you'll only ever see refresh rate claims on monitors, never on tablets and the reason is simple: power.

Battery life in e-ink readers is usually counted in "page turns" with each "page turn" mostly equal to one screen refresh because refreshing the screen is very power-intensive.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Battery life in e-ink readers is usually counted in "page turns" with each "page turn" mostly equal to one screen refresh because refreshing the screen is very power-intensive.

So instead of lasting 4 or 5 days on a single charge it'll last 3 or 4 days? Ok, I'm fine with that.

 

[AGlezB]

So instead of lasting 4 or 5 days on a single charge it'll last 3 or 4 days? Ok, I'm fine with that.

If that were the case I'd be fine too. If.

 

[lexluthermiester]

If that were the case I'd be fine too. If.

Looking at the specs, it's not an "if". 20% more power to do 60hz? Ok, I'm fine with that. Sure it'll impact battery life but not to any degree that will be as bothersome as the low refresh rates of current displays. That's all I'm getting at here.

 

[AGlezB]

Looking at the specs, it's not an "if". 20% more power to do 60hz? Ok, I'm fine with that. Sure it'll impact battery life but not to any degree that will be as bothersome as the low refresh rates of current displays. That's all I'm getting at here.

Well, if you buy one let me know how you like it, preferably after a few months of use.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Well, if you buy one let me know how you like it, preferably after a few months of use.

I will likely remember this. Will do.

 

[Rightness_1]

I've never seen an e-ink based device with a refresh rate over 5Hz! Is there an ultra-low powered SOC, the type they typically use with readers on the market that can actually do 60Hz?

 

[lexluthermiester]

I've never seen an e-ink based device with a refresh rate over 5Hz! Is there an ultra-low powered SOC, the type they typically use with readers on the market that can actually do 60Hz?

Oh yes. There isn't a single e-reader SOC that can't. Try to remember, 60hz is no new. An 8088 from the 1970's can display text as simple graphics at 60hz. Even modern low spec SOCs can do so with ease.