Onyx Unveils Android-Powered eInk Smartphone E43 and eBook Readers R65 & C65
Onyx is actually an old hand in the eBook reader market. However, in Europe, it doesn’t have major distribution partners, making the brand relatively unknown here and more of a niche player alongside Amazon, Kobo & Co.
That said, the Onyx devices aren’t lacking in terms of software features—in fact, quite the opposite. Onyx Boox devices often offer a plethora of different options that are barely matched by any other manufacturer. A significant downside up to now has been the unintuitive software of the devices. But this appears to be changing, as Onyx is now relying on Android as the operating system for its new generation of devices—which finally promises ease of use.
Onyx Boox E43 Smartphone
It was already known that Onyx has been working on an eInk smartphone for quite some time. It has been shown multiple times at trade shows, but it hasn’t yet been launched to the market. Now Onyx is officially introducing another smartphone. This one is called the Onyx Book E43.
The E43 smartphone, which has a 4.3-inch display, runs on Android 2.3 and utilizes an eInk display (the specific technology used hasn’t been disclosed yet). Operation is via a capacitive touchscreen. Particularly important for phone operation is the built-in front lighting, similar to what is found on the Kindle Paperwhite & Co., allowing the smartphone to be used effortlessly in any lighting conditions.
For wireless connectivity, in addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a GSM connection is available. A 3G connection is not included. While it’s not strictly necessary, as the current screen might be too slow for multimedia content, the EDGE data connection could become a bottleneck when surfing the internet on the go.
The software of the Onyx Boox E43 has been tailored to the needs of the eInk screen: high contrast, clear shapes, no transition animations. A bit unfortunate, however, is the use of a glass front surface, common with most other smartphones. It arguably wasn’t necessary, as various current eBook readers with capacitive touchscreens demonstrate.
All in all, it is certainly an interesting device that will not only allow for energy-efficient reading but should also achieve long battery life in general operation. The device is set to be released in Asia in July 2013 and in Europe in the second half of the year. It remains to be seen whether the targeted market launch will succeed here. No price details have been announced yet.
Onyx Boox R65 eBook Reader with Front Lighting & C65
The next two new products are eInk eBook readers with a 6-inch screen. The Onyx Boox R65 features front lighting and an infrared touchscreen, while input for the C65 is through a capacitive touchscreen without lighting.
The screen resolution of the Onyx Boox R65 is 1024×758 pixels, which likely means an eInk Pearl panel is used. On the homepage, there are contradictory specifications for the Onyx Boox C65, listing both 800×600 pixels and 1024×758 pixels. The decision on which panel will ultimately be used might not have been final yet. Alternatively, it could simply be an error in the website maintenance. At any rate, the C65 is expected to be a cheaper budget version without front lighting.
A distinctive feature of the two devices will also be the Android 2.3 operating system. Unlike other eBook readers with an Android base, the Onyx devices will evidently not try to hide their roots and will even allow access to their own app launcher and market. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the finished product.
Otherwise, the devices offer tried-and-true Onyx virtues: 4 GB of internal storage that can be expanded via a memory card, comprehensive file format support, and audio support. On the downside, the weight of the Boox R65, at 248 grams for a 6-inch device, is relatively high.
No exact release date or price is known for the two eBook readers yet. However, we will keep you updated. In the meantime, you can get a good first impression of the Boox E43 and Boox R65 in the following video. Here you can find the Onyx spec sheets.
