Apple could be testing color e-ink displays for foldables

One of the coolest trends in the display space in recent years has been the introduction of color e-ink displays, improving upon the standard e-ink displays seen on the likes of Kindles and other conventional e-reading devices.

Now, TF International Securities analyst and long-time Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed on Twitter that Apple is testing electronic paper displays (EPD) for a future foldable’s cover screen and “tablet-like” applications.

Kuo adds that color e-ink displays could become a popular option for cover screens on foldables due to the power-saving tech, suggesting that Apple is indeed testing color panels rather than monochrome e-ink screens. Check out the screenshot of the tweet below.

E-ink displays indeed have impressive power-saving tech, generally displaying still images and text without using electricity. This advantage does come at the expense of a decent refresh rate and brightness though.

Still, the combo of a foldable phone with an external e-ink display (color or monochrome) could very well result in some major battery life gains in some scenarios. For example, people who spend a large amount of time using their foldable phone when closed could see a significant endurance boost. This could also be a boon for always-on displays on clamshell foldables, consuming less power when displaying the time and other notifications.

This apparent Apple device only seems to be in testing right now, so don’t hold your breath for a commercial release just yet. But we wouldn’t mind seeing an Android-based foldable with an e-ink display of some sort too.