Paperlike 103: 60 Hz E Ink monitor getting a global launch

Dasung is probably one of the most well-known manufacturers in the niche of E ink based monitors. These are widely used in e-readers such as the Kindle models, but Dasung utilizes the technology to create large, portable monitors. The company unveiled the Paperlike 103 just over a month ago, which is now available in the company's home market of China for the equivalent of around $270. Whether the model would get a global launch was unclear until now, as the Paperlike 103 is currently the focus of a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo with the aim of a global launch. Information on price and availability, however, are still pending.

The Paperlike 103 measures 10.3 inches diagonally and is quite small, even for a mobile monitor. The screen has a resolution of 1,872 x 1,404 and an aspect ratio of 4:3. E Ink technology confers particular advantages in terms of easy readability in bright ambient light, while a front light allows it to be read in dark spaces. It remains unclear whether another advantage - namely low power consumption - will be possible on the Dasung 103 with its high refresh rate. In any case, the 60 Hz refresh rate is likely to result in higher energy usage compared to slower E Ink displays.

The panel cannot display colors; the Paperlike 103 is advertised as being "ideal for wordsmiths", i.e., those who work a lot with text and text-based applications. On the other hand, the 60 Hz refresh rate makes for smoother mouse movement, smoother page scrolling and better video playback, albeit in black and white. Lastly, a USB-C port allows for screen mirroring and extension on both computers and smartphones.