Is it expected that all e-readers in the year 2025 will feature color e-paper?
Colour e-readers are heating up the digital reading scene! Rakuten Kobo took a bold leap in 2024, introducing the Kobo Clara Colour and Kobo Libra Colour to the market, with a splash that got tech enthusiasts talking. But will Amazon and Barnes & Noble follow suit in 2025? Let's delve into the colorful world of e-readers!
Ever since the introduction of the original Amazon Kindle in 2007, e-readers have been a game-changer for the publishing industry. For a decade, the focus was mainly on black-and-white e-paper displays. A few visionaries dabbled in colour, but the response was lukewarm, with poor sales.
In the present day, there are a select few who have been experimenting with colour e-paper technology for a couple of years now. Companies like Pocketbook and Onyx Boox are notable, with smaller regional players, primarily based in China and Taiwan, catering to their local markets.
Traditional news media and online tech blogs usually ignore colour e-paper developments until recently, when Rakuten Kobo burst onto the scene. The reception for the new Kobo devices has been nothing short of fantastic. However, Kobo has stated that there's still room in their portfolio for both black and white e-paper and colour e-readers in the foreseeable future.
So, what about Amazon and Barnes & Noble? According to Ming-Chi Kuo of Tianfeng International Securities, Amazon is planning to bring out at least two new colour Kindle devices in 2025, featuring Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) technology from E Ink. As for Barnes & Noble, there's no news on their plans yet. It's possible they might follow suit if Amazon takes the plunge into colour.
Michael Kozlowski, editor-in-chief of our platform, has been a keen observer of the e-reader landscape for the past 15 years. His insights have been featured in various publications, including the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post, and the New York Times.
As of now, here's the latest on Amazon and Barnes & Noble's colour e-readers:
Amazon: The US tech giant has already launched the Kindle Colorsoft, featuring a 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display, offering vibrant colors and readability in direct sunlight. While there are no confirmed plans for new color e-readers in 2025 from Amazon, rumors suggest they may launch new devices, potentially including an affordable model.
Barnes & Noble: There's no concrete information on Barnes & Noble releasing a new colour e-reader in 2025. They've primarily focused on their Nook e-readers, which lack the color capabilities found in Amazon and Rakuten Kobo's offerings.
As the market continues to evolve, brands like Rakuten Kobo are leading the charge in the realm of color e-readers. Will Amazon and Barnes & Noble join the party in 2025? Only time will tell! Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting future of digital reading!
Smartphones and gadgets enthusiasts might be eagerly waiting to see if Amazon and Barnes & Noble will also venture into the color e-reader market in 2025, following Rakuten Kobo's successful launch of their color e-readers. If Amazon introduces new color Kindle devices featuring Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) technology from E Ink, it might influence Barnes & Noble to follow suit.
