TL;DR
At CES 2026 the author saw a wide range of e-paper devices — from e-readers to phones and smartwatches — and found promising advances alongside lingering limits. A handful of products (Mudita Kompakt, Boox Palma 2 Pro, Pebble Time 2/Round 2) illustrate both the potential and the pitfalls of building around e-paper displays.
What happened
The writer reports that e-paper technology, once confined to early experiments and e-readers, is appearing in an expanding range of gadgets in 2026. The Motorola Fone F3 — identified as the first e-paper phone — will mark its 20th anniversary on 28 November 2026; that early device struggled commercially and was phased out by 2009, by which point Amazon had launched the Kindle. At CES 2026 the author handled multiple modern e-paper devices. The Boox Palma 2 Pro, an Android e-reader with a color screen, underwhelmed due to hardware and inherent e-paper limitations. In contrast, the Mudita Kompakt, a minimalist phone with a custom OS tuned for e-paper, performed smoothly and ran sideloaded apps like WhatsApp and Spotify without notable flicker. Pebble’s Time 2 and Round 2 smartwatches demonstrated color e-paper that avoided common artifacts and delivered multi-day battery life in prototype form. The author concludes that success will require original product designs rather than attempts to mimic OLED flagships.
Why it matters
- E-paper is no longer limited to e-readers: phones, watches and frames now use it, expanding possible use cases.
- Devices built around e-paper need software and hardware designed for its constraints rather than direct OLED imitations.
- Battery-life advantages on e-paper wearables could shift product design priorities in low-power categories.
- Manufacturers face a strategic choice: innovate around e-paper’s strengths or risk poor user experiences by copying mainstream flagship designs.
Key facts
- Motorola Fone F3 is identified as the first e-paper phone and will reach a 20th anniversary on 28 November 2026.
- The Fone F3 was aimed at low-end markets and, adjusted for inflation, cost about $32.74.
- The Fone F3 was phased out by 2009; by that time Amazon had launched the Kindle (as stated in the source).
- By 2026 e-paper technology appears across e-readers, phones, smartwatches, and digital picture frames.
- Boox Palma 2 Pro is an Android e-reader with a color display that the author found underwhelming due to hardware limits and e-paper constraints.
- Mudita Kompakt is a privacy-focused minimalist phone with a custom OS built for e-paper; it ran preinstalled and sideloaded apps quickly with minimal flicker.
- Pebble’s Time 2 and Round 2 smartwatches use color e-paper; prototypes showed no significant ghosting or flicker.
- Reported prototype battery life: Pebble Round 2 roughly one to two weeks; Pebble Time 2 up to 30 days (per the author’s CES impressions).
- Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky said the Round 2’s shorter battery life compared with the Time 2 was due to a reduced battery size to fit a thinner frame.
What to watch next
- Whether Mudita and similar companies can scale e-paper phones beyond niche, privacy-focused markets — not confirmed in the source.
- How Pebble’s Round 2 and Time 2 perform in real-world reviews and final production units after the CES prototypes.
- Whether manufacturers adopt OS and UX designs built specifically for e-paper rather than attempting to replicate OLED smartphone experiences.
Quick glossary
- E-paper: A display technology designed to mimic ink on paper, generally offering high readability and low power consumption for static content.
- E-reader: A portable device primarily intended for reading digital books and documents, commonly using e-paper displays.
- OLED: A display technology that produces light from organic compounds, known for deep blacks, high refresh rates, and vibrant color.
- Prototype: An early sample or model of a product used to evaluate design, functionality, and feasibility before mass production.
Reader FAQ
Is e-paper replacing smartphones?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are there color e-paper devices today?
Yes; the source cites color examples such as the Boox Palma 2 Pro and Pebble’s Time 2 and Round 2.
Do e-paper devices offer long battery life?
Some do. The author reports Pebble Round 2 prototypes lasting about one to two weeks and the Time 2 about 30 days.
Can e-paper run common apps?
The Mudita Kompakt handled preinstalled and sideloaded apps like WhatsApp and Spotify without notable performance issues, per the source.
Why did the early Motorola e-paper phone fail?
The source says the Fone F3’s e-paper display simplified tasks like texting and it struggled commercially, leading to its phase-out by 2009.
I saw the future of e-paper at CES 2026, and I'm excited for it Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police | chatchaiyo / Shutterstock By Jon Gilbert Published 26 minutes ago…
Sources
- I saw the future of e-paper at CES 2026, and I'm excited for it
- Best of CES 2026: The top 18 gadgets worth watching
- What Not To Miss at CES® 2026
- CES 2026 Recap: Every Tech and Gadget Announcement
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