E Ink has been at the forefront of e-ink technology for years, and their Kaleido color displays have been a popular choice for e-readers. However, with the recent release of the Kaleido 3, it's time to take a look at how these two generations of displays compare.
Real-World Comparison
To get a better sense of the differences between Kaleido 1 and Kaleido 3 displays, I compared two e-readers: the Vivlio Color (which uses a Kaleido 1 display) and the Bigme S6 Color+ (which uses a Kaleido 3 display).
Note: the Vivlio Color is a Pocketbook Color with a Kaleido 1 screen rebranded for the french market. It is technically the same as a Pocketbook Color.
Picture: Kaleido 3 (left) and Kaleido 1 (right)
As you can see, the Kaleido 3 display on the Bigme S6 Color+ produces colors that are significantly deeper and more varied than the colors on the Vivlio Color's Kaleido 1 display.
The text on the Kaleido 3 display is also sharper and easier to read.
Comparison with Tablets
While tablet displays offer even more vibrant colors, it's important to remember that e-ink displays are designed to mimic the look of paper.
As a result, the colors on e-ink displays are less harsh and more eye-friendly for long reading sessions.
As you can see in the image above, the tablet's LED display produces a much higher contrast than the e-ink displays. However, the colors on the tablet are also oversaturated and "bleed" together, making the image look less natural.
Comparison with Printed Paper
When compared to printed paper, the Kaleido 3 display on the Bigme S6 Color+ comes surprisingly close.
The colors are not quite as rich as the printed paper, but the overall reading experience is very similar.
Conclusion
The Kaleido 3 display is a significant improvement over the Kaleido 1 display. The colors are richer, the text is sharper, and the refresh rate is faster.
If you're looking for the best possible e-ink reading experience, then a Kaleido 3 display is the way to go.
While the Kaleido 3 technology is mature, there is still room for improvement. I would like to see even richer colors, a higher resolution, and an even faster refresh rate in future generations of e-ink displays.
Overall, I am very impressed with the Kaleido 3 display. It is a major step forward for e-ink technology and I believe that it will continue to improve in the years to come.
