Nine years of development to bend the unbendable. It seems like a paradox, but that's exactly what he just made the taiwanese Readmoo with its mooInk V, the first foldable e-reader in history. A device that, at first glance, could be mistaken for a foldable smartphone, but which hides a completely different soul.
The foldable e-reader, whether you are interested in the article or not, is a turning point: it is not just a question of a flexible screen, but it is a bold attempt to definitively bridge the gap between the paper book and the digital experience. A challenge that, moreover, the giants of the sector have not yet managed to win.
“Foldability” is reality
As mentioned, the mooInk V is an e-reader that can fold, just like the Samsung galaxy z fold and similar devices. When opened, it reveals an 8-inch touchscreen powered by E Ink Gallery 3 technology, which uses three colored ink capsules to produce more than 50.000 shades at a resolution of 300ppi.
The body of the device is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy with a silver metallic finish, weighing just 225 grams. Readmoo says that the device, when folded, is small enough to fit in a pair of jeans—essentially, it’s slightly smaller than a paperback book, but not terribly thin (let’s put it that way).
Image: Readmoo
Durability, the eternal problem. Even for a foldable e-reader
As with foldable smartphones, there are also concerns about durability. The challenge has been enormous: e-ink displays They are about four times thicker than the OLED panels used in foldable phones. That's why Readmoo took nine years to develop this product.
Sure, the company claims that the mooInk V can handle over 200.000 folds without a problem. That's an impressive number, considering that an avid reader might get through a few books a month, which would equate to thousands of folds a year. Let's say that at the moment my judgment is suspended. Also for a detail that you can read in the caption of the following photo.
Image: Readmoo
It may not be a book, but it's a little less cold. And that's okay.
This little innovation could represent one of those rare moments when technology doesn't try to completely replace the analog experience, but to approach it with a certain respect.
Readmoo has not yet announced when the device will be available on the market or the price. Considering the advanced features and the comparison with other foldable devices, we can expect a premium price.
It will be interesting to see if other e-reader manufacturers follow this path. After all, the Remarkable Pro It’s already in my backpack (but at what a price!). And Amazon is introducing its first color e-reader, the $279 Kindle Colorsoft, in October 2024, even though it has received numerous complaints about issues with the display, which it says “discolors.” Maybe next time it should take a leaf out of this small Taiwanese company that is quietly testing, and perhaps changing, the industry.
