Chinese manufacturer Bigme has launched the Hibreak Plus, an Android smartphone with a 15.6 cm (6.13 inch) E Ink Kaleido 3 color display designed for paper-like reading and extended battery life. Priced at $249 (€229), the phone represents one of the more affordable entry points into color E Ink smartphones and is expected to ship on 2026-04-20.
The Hibreak Plus features a Kaleido 3 display that combines a 300 PPI grayscale E Ink layer with a 150 PPI color filter overlay, delivering 4096 colors alongside sharp black and white text. The screen supports up to 52 frames per second refresh rates and includes a frontlight with 36 brightness levels for viewing in various lighting conditions. Bigme pairs this with modest specifications including 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, an unspecified octa-core processor, and a 4500 mAh battery. The phone runs Android 14 with Google Play Store support and includes dual SIM slots for 4G LTE connectivity, GPS, and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button.
Without a complete spec sheet, it appears the Hibreak Plus slots between Bigme's existing models. The original Hibreak uses a black and white display, while the Hibreak Pro offers 8GB RAM and 256GB storage but also lacks color. The new model brings color to the same 15.6 cm (6.13 inch) form factor at a lower price point, though the tradeoffs in memory and storage are significant.
E Ink Kaleido 3 displays trade the vibrancy and responsiveness of traditional smartphone screens for readability and battery efficiency. Colors appear muted compared to LCD or OLED panels, and fast-moving content leaves ghosting artifacts that make video and scrolling less appealing. For users prioritizing reading or seeking to reduce screen time through deliberately slower interfaces, these characteristics become advantages. An optional accessory pack includes a protective case and capacitive stylus for handwriting input.
