what Apple can do with this technology

Apple is rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone with a special screen on the front of electronic paper. But what else can Apple do with such an e-ink screen? iPhoned tells you!

Apple and e-ink

A foldable iPhone with an extra e-ink screen is secretly very cool. But what else could Apple use this technology for? And what are the advantages (and disadvantages) of this electronic paper? We tell you.

The benefits of e-ink…

There are several advantages to an e-ink screen, but the most important one is the low energy consumption. That’s because the special screen only needs power to refresh the content. If nothing on the screen needs to be adjusted, this screen does not consume any power.

For example, when you show a clock on e-ink (with the minutes and the time), the screen only uses a little power if the time needs to be updated. That is why an e-reader on which you read books lasts so long on one battery charge. Only when changing a page does the reader use a bit of its load.

…and the cons

On the other hand, an e-ink screen does not emit any light by default. So it’s not much use at night unless you have a light with you. For that reason, many e-readers have small lights on the side, so that you can also use them in the dark. In the sunlight there is nothing to worry about, and these screens made of electronic paper are easy to read.

Another disadvantage of e-ink is that the screen cannot be updated quickly. Modern e-ink screens can refresh about two to three times per second. So you can’t use the screen to watch movies. You really need a lot more refreshments per second for that.

There is still some gain to be made in the rendering of colors. There are e-ink screens that can show color, but they have a lot fewer colors than, for example, the screen of your iPhone.

E-ink in future Apple devices

If Apple starts processing an e-ink screen in the iPhone, this could provide a breath of fresh air. For example, how about a small screen on the back of your iPhone, on which you can always read the time and your notifications? Without it being a drain on your battery.

If Apple actually intends to do this, they are certainly not the first. There is already a smartphone with e-ink. This is the YotaPhone and this device has an e-ink display on the back. The device is now (almost) no longer for sale.

Another example could be a screen in an iPad cover or maybe on your AirPods case. Your remaining battery life can also be included on this. There were once cases for the iPhone with an e-ink screen, called InkCase. But Apple has never made them themselves.

Or how about a keyboard for your Apple iPad with keys that consist of small e-ink screens. Handy if, for example, you want to type a different language or use special characters a lot.

Future music for e-ink

The best thing is, of course, if Apple can somehow incorporate an e-ink screen into the screen of your iPad, iPhone or Apple Watch. Then e-ink can be used to always show the time. Or maybe a nice picture or photo.

Such a hybrid e-ink screen will of course also come in handy if you read a lot of books on the iPad. Are you finished reading and do you want to check YouTube? Then your iPhone will switch to the default screen.

And the biggest benefit of all this? Your iPhone lasts even longer with a battery charge. And that is of course always a good thing!

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