Durobo Krono: A unique Android-powered e-reader that is everything but a smartphone
There's a market for e-readers that are shaped like smartphones such as the Boox Palma 2 and the Moaan inkPalm 5, as they are more compact than the conventional e-readers like the Kindle. Now, there's a new challenger in this space called the Durobo Krono, and it stands out from the competition with its design.
Described as a smart ePaper device, the Durobo (stylised as DuRoBo) Krono has a similar form factor to the Boox Palma 2. They even have practically identical specifications. However, Durobo has adopted quite an interesting design and added features not available on the Boox Palma 2 (curr. available on Amazon for $269).
While the front doesn't look any special with its thick bezels including a thicker chin, the back and the sides are the more interesting parts. On the back of the Krono is a cylindrical tube that runs across the width of the phone. The cylinder terminates into a dial on the left side of the device and a round convex power button on the right. Durobo calls this cylindrical bar the Axis and it houses a bunch of LEDs too which are said to be breathing lights.
The dial on the left serves as a sort of record button when you press and hold it. Durobo says users can quickly record an idea, a reminder, or just a voice note which can then be converted into texts and summarized using AI. A single press of the dial can be used to call up the on-board AI assistant called Libby. Durobo doesn't say if the dial itself can be used to scroll through menus, webpages, and texts.
With respect to specs, the Krono has a 6.13-inch HD Carta 1200 touch display with a 1648 × 824 resolution (300 ppi) and an adjustable dual-tone front light. It is powered by an octa-core processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has a 3,950mAh battery capacity that charges via USB-C.
In addition to dual microphones, the Krono has speakers too, making it possible to listen to audio books, podcasts, or playback audio recordings. It runs an open version of Android 13, so users can install Android apps such as WhatsApp which can be used to make voice calls over a Wi-Fi connection since the Krono doesn't have a SIM card slot.
Available in Black and White, the Durobo Krono will be launched in August, but there's no info on how much it will cost. However, interested buyers can sign up on the device's Indiegogo page for an early bird discount a free protective case.
