Readmoo Unveils Compact Folding E-Reader with Advanced E Ink Display

Foldable OLED smartphones have been available for over six years, but Readmoo, a Chinese company, has introduced the first consumer-ready e-reader with a foldable E Ink screen. The release date and pricing for the mooInk V remain undisclosed, but Readmoo claims a nine-year collaboration with E Ink to create a durable electronic paper display capable of withstanding over 200,000 folds.

When unfolded, the mooInk V features an 8-inch touchscreen powered by E Ink’s Gallery 3 technology. Unlike the Kindle Colorsoft’s Kaleido 3, which uses a color filter over a monochrome E Ink panel to display 4,096 colors, Gallery 3 employs colored ink capsules, achieving over 50,000 shades at 300ppi resolution. This advanced display is currently used in only a few devices, such as the Remarkable Paper Pro from last year.

While E Ink has showcased foldable e-reader prototypes before, its thicker display technology compared to OLED has posed challenges in creating a reliable hinge and a screen durable enough for daily use. This complexity explains the extended development time for Readmoo’s mooInk V foldable e-reader.

Constructed from a lightweight yet robust aluminum-magnesium alloy with a silver metallic finish, the mooInk V weighs approximately 225 grams, slightly heavier than the Kindle Colorsoft. While exact dimensions are undisclosed, its folded size is more compact than a paperback, making it potentially more portable than a Kindle. The e-reader can be fully unfolded for reading or positioned at a 90-degree angle, resembling a physical book, though the comfort of this configuration is yet to be tested.

Unlike foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the mooInk V’s two sides do not align perfectly when closed, with a slight gap near the hinge to minimize stress on the E Ink panel. Nevertheless, it marks a milestone as the first foldable e-reader available to consumers.