Uncategorized

YouTube Review: Is E-Ink still what it was created for?

The original promise of E-Ink technology was very clear: a paper-like screen that is easy on the eyes, readable even in sunlight, and consumes very little power. In recent years, however, this focus has sometimes blurred – attempts have been made to turn E-Ink devices into fully functional tablets: Android, Google Play, stylus, etc.

This YouTube review highlights a simple idea – digital picture frames. And this is a very logical connection with E-Ink’s strengths – a static image, always visible, minimal power consumption, no need for fast refresh or interactivity.

In this context, we introduce the Reflection Frame – a 13.3-inch digital picture frame that uses E-Ink Spectra 6 color technology.

What makes Spectra 6 technology different?

  • Kaleido 3 = e.g., Kindle Colorsoft / Boox = monochrome E-Ink + RGB color filter on top

  • Spectra 6 = colored particles in the screen itself, without a filter

Spectra 6 can display 6 base tones: red, green, blue, yellow, white, black. Each pixel is one of these tones — there are no shades or soft transitions.

The trick used to create more colors is dithering (dot/mosaic blending). When viewed up close, it’s more noticeable, but when used in a picture frame (from 1–2 meters away), it blends together.

Major wow factor: color “pop” vs. other E-Ink (and even print)

The reviewer measured color intensity with a spectrophotometer, and according to them, the results were the best they had seen on E-Ink. Key takeaway: red/blue/yellow/black look very rich, and Spectra 6 is not as dark as Kaleido 3 filter solutions.

However, tones that require more blending (e.g., magenta, cyan) appear weaker. In other words, the closer to a base tone, the better the result.

Design and usage: minimalist, and for the right reason

The idea behind Reflection Frame is not to be a tablet. It is a picture frame:

  • can be used in portrait/landscape

  • available in black/white

Changing pictures: NFC + Bluetooth, which is genuinely convenient

The most practical part of the review is changing pictures:

  1. download the phone app (iOS/Android)

  2. select a picture or artwork

  3. bring the phone to the bottom left corner of the frame

  4. NFC initiates the connection, and the picture transfers via Bluetooth

Important detail: NFC must be present on the phone, otherwise this “touch-to-transfer” won’t work.

The screen refresh itself flashes in several stages (typical for E-Ink). Annoying as a tablet, but perfectly fine as a picture frame.

One UX point that could be better: the app stretches oddly sized pictures, and you have to manually adjust for a correct crop.

Conclusion: E-Ink technology applied to the right problem

The reviewer’s final assessment is clear:

  • Reflection Frame uses E-Ink as it was originally intended;

  • a single, clear output (displaying images), long battery life, no unnecessary distractions;

  • not for everyone due to the price, but the technology’s use case is absolutely correct.

If you like “quiet tech” and a paper-like aesthetic on your wall — this is a very convincing example that E-Ink doesn’t have to be a tablet killer to create value.

Also watch the YouTube clip

If you want to truly see how Spectra 6 colors look, how dithering behaves, and how easy it is to change pictures with NFC, then I definitely recommend watching this review. The video gives a 10× better feel than any spec sheet or product photo.