Over the past couple of years , I ’ve try out a handful of twist with report - like CRT screen . All offer up , more or less , the same set of benefits . A panel that feels like paper to the touch , cuts down on blue lite exposure , and — if potential — even eschews the backlight in party favour of a silver screen that mull over light or else of emitting it .
Some of the ideas , especially those from Onyx , have been telling . But the biggest challenge has been the panel speed . Onyx ’s tablet are cracking , but they often have low refresh rates that dramatically slow down the scrolling velocity , even for something as mundane as reading a PDF .
As you jump to the colourful e - ink iterations , ghosting artifact and short faithfulness leave a jarring impression . There is always some visual caution . After all , for devices that rely entirely on onscreen interaction and serve all that information on a gore , why should it birth a severely underwhelming experience ?
Taiwan - base HannStar , which make consumer electronic gizmo under the HannSpree brand , has a radical root in the conformation of its EcoVision screenland technical school . It ’s a full - colour exhibit that come in both contemplative and backlit format , but most importantly , it ’s a 60Hz dialog box .
For context , theiPhone 16also serves a screen that reach a 60Hz refresh pace form , which mean the HannSpree EcoVision Panel is nearly as suave as the one on Apple ’s in vogue smartphone . What we have for examination here is the HannsNote 2 , an Android gimmick that is a extol one - of - a - form newspaper - like reading ticket .
What makes the HannsNote 2 so special
Before we dig into the specific of just how HannSpree snap the code for a 60Hz “ normally scroll ” experience on a composition - like screen without any backlight , let ’s briefly go over what a sunstruck screen is all about .
Most screens around us produce their own light , either in front - lit or backlit formatting . They also offer the ability to adapt the luminousness output depending on the external light levels and the strain your eyes can take . Think of a Kindle , a regular tablet , or a smartphone sieve .
Then there are reflective screens , which miss lightly - producing ironware inside . Instead , they bank on the ambient light to reflect and show subject on the screen . The whole approach is actually a merger of calorie-free absorption and musing through a layer of picture element , which are illuminated to show ikon after ambient twinkle is reflected through it .
Theoretically , this glide path promises much lower world power phthisis . Plus , it rids the projection screen of blue light emission , and the brooding approaching is easier on the eyes as well since that ’s technically how we see the balance of the populace around us .
TheOnyx Boox Gois one such deterrent example of a musing projection screen with a monochrome advance . Then , there is theDaylight Computer DC-1 tablet , which take a hybrid approach by bid a sunstruck and backlit modal value for viewing content on the control board . Yet , both equipment only put up a dark - and - clean watch format .
The technology at play on the HannsNote 2 is the HannStar Argentum Birefringence system , which promises up to 80 % low power consumption than a regular LED - backlit control panel . In gain to the color production and higher refresh rate , the update response has been reduced to unmarried - digit msec levels .
A truly special tablet display
One of the biggest draws of the HannsNote 2 is the full - semblance 10 - stop multitouch panel , which is open of farm an telling gamut of 16.7 million colors at 24 - bit colour profundity . The resolution is not exactly eye - popping at 1200 x 1600 pixels cross across a 3:4 panel , but for reading and watching the occasional television , it gets the task done .
The slate itself is just 4.9 mm across and weighs only 350 grams . The anatomy quality is solid , and thanks to the wraparound leather last on the rear shell and one of the erect edges , the HannsNote 2 feels more like a vintage leather notebook computer . You get the usual lot of power and bulk buttons and a few trap practice on the rounded sharpness for audio output .
The EcoVision panel is fantastic , even though its airfoil sense more like the case of TFT resistive covert that press touchscreen speech sound into the mainstream for the first metre . The viewing angle is not too unfit either , at 120 point . There is n’t much of a color shift to be seen here , just like an average LCD blind .
But as you move the slate , the onscreen content gets dimmer or burnished ( say : indicate brilliance ) depending on the direction of sluttish beams falling on it . In a nutshell , how many eyes can comfortably learn content on the HannsNote 2 ’s screen , or just how much angulate freedom a single person can take , count entirely on the origin of light around . That ’s both a good and bad thing .
Under the sunshine , you wo n’t have to fiddle with the angle at which you halt the slating . Indoors , you might struggle , as the more overhead artificial ignitor source there are , the harder it get under one’s skin to avoid the strong glare artifact on the screen . HannSpree order Digital Trends that it ’s launching theme - like tablets with a front - light feature soon .
sit down in a coffee shop class , I could n’t avoid those ashen reflexion patches from the spark around me . Moreover , the brighter it is , the more jarring it look on the HannsNote 2 ’s screen . If you ’re reading something with a coloured screen background ( like Batman comics ) or watching videos , the ambient public eye evidence to be quite a pain in the neck . Also , keep in head that there is no way to adjust the color volume ( unlike the Onyx Boox tablet ) or play with brightness output , so you ’re pass on with no other selection but to convert the angle at which you are holding the tablet or careen your smear until you find a position that hold the humble reflexion toll on the colors .
I knead predominantly on an iPad Pro with a bright OLED blind . I love its colors and asperity , but the eye fatigue is ineluctable . The HannsNote 2 ’s screen is more aristocratical on the eyes . After a writing seance lasting about four hours in a garden , I did n’t sense any emphasis in my eyes , which is rare .
The shine, and the stumble
Now , what I ’ve described above are mostly outlier lawsuit . Look at how legible the EcoVision display is in a burnt umber shop with various form of LED and hang lamps attached to the cap . The only shrewish outcome is the deficiency of proper demarcation , which can be achieved against a white background or a backlit computer architecture , neither of which is available here .
On the positive side , HannsNote 2 ’s color presentation is quite pleasant . It looks the best under natural light source , and thanks to the runniness of a 60Hz panel , the tactile sensation interaction do n’t feel out of character reference , especially the zoom and drag gestures . Sketching with a USI style was a no - fuss experience without any issue .
I have n’t encountered any make - or - let on hurdles integrate it into my work flow . From reading on the train to using it as a secondary reference screen for keeping an eye on social feeds and workplace chats , the HannsNote 2 has turn out to be a helpful addition . There are enough pel for an casual reading sitting or picking up interior decoration ideas from Pinterest . Just do n’t push it at task where you deal with many colors . A perceived subtlety of jade green on the EcoVision instrument panel sour out quite different when I consider the same post on the iPad Pro ’s OLED sieve .
The problem , of course , is the color of the ambient sparkle . For model , if your workspace is threatening on yellow spark — or you ’re one of those “ RGB everywhere ” souls — the EcoVision panel can take you for a color reflection drive , and not necessarily in a honorable way .
HannSpree ’s EcoVision instrument panel is claimed to provide a “ 20:1 ambient demarcation ratio ( ACR ) ” toward better visibility in sunlight and with a glare - free approach . For the most part , it ’s true . Not come across rumination artifacts on a screen is a relief . The total absence seizure of shadow artifacts from the previous frame – a problem for every other eastward - ink screen out there – is a secret plan changer .
It ’s a perquisite that require to be seen and felt in person . born luminance or otherwise , the smooth paper - like screen on the HannsNote 2 is a joy to use . It feel different to touch and view , yet it also stand up out in its own unequalled way .
What’s not so good about it
This is where you pay the innovation tax . The EcoVision Paper Display end up blow a mickle more power than an average reflective or backlit tocopherol - ink screen , all because of that high refresh rate jury .
My everyday usage form call for reading in a Brave web browser and occasionally checking Gmail and oeuvre apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams . The average mileage I got was about 35 to 40 minutes of custom for each quarter of the shelling juice .
The most late depth psychology of stamp battery waste pipe in the options app said that with 75 % battery in the cooler , the HannsNote 2 would last only about 2 hours and 5 proceedings . Those are serious bombardment anxiety figures . After enabling adaptative battery and mogul - saving musical mode ( which set off dingy mode , holdup notifications , and lowers background natural process ) , the mileage wo n’t increase by any healthy margin .
Even Hannspree remark that the work up - in bombardment is only good enough for 2 to 3 hours of video watching . That ’s not entirely unexpected , as the slate only comes fit with a 2.200 mAh battery , which is half the size of it of an mediocre smartphone stamp battery .
On the impudent side , it ’s a small battery and fills up promptly . On a few occasions , I just rescind - charge it with my telephone . Yes , you might not always behave a USB - vitamin C cable system , and there is no reverse wireless charge convenience available here , so there ’s that .
It ’s reasonably evident that the king of beasts ’s share of expense went into the presentation tech . The motorcar is power by a quad - core Rockchip RK3566 Si with four Arm Cotex - A55 cores paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of warehousing . This is not just the form of firepower accommodate for an Android pad . A reading gadget ? Well , it ’s more than enough . Everything is liquid for reading , picture watching , process on a document with a stylus or Bluetooth keyboard , and scrolling the social media feed .
Just do n’t burden the slate with a circle of backdrop activity or attempt to run games . cheat and card games ? bonny enough . Anything with animation and computer graphic pizzaz ? Do n’t do that . You will feel the stutters . Thankfully , no distressing thermal issues have popped up for me so far .
Who is the HannsNote 2 for?
So , here ’s the most important question . Should you get this gimmick ? Conversely , who is the target audience ? “ Tablet or iPad users who want a display with eyecare features . The EcoVision Paper Display declare oneself true 8 - bit , non - FRC ( frame rate ascendency ) , flicker - free , anti - glare , and zero blue light features , ” HannSpree tells Digital Trends . The company is also eyeball Kindle and Kobo devotee looking for a swanky display acclivity .
The HannsNote 2 currently hold up for the eq of $ 350 in Europe . Keep that Leontyne Price tag in the context of what you assay from a tablet . Do you want a no - frills reading machine that is easy on the eyes , rather something like e - ink , and that can take note while mimicking the feel of paper ? If the answer is yes , this tablet will offer you a silky smooth experience , unlike any other eye - favorable newspaper - like panel . How about you tot up a few million colors to it and then make it finger as normal as an iPhone ’s screen ?
Then peradventure add the versatility of a full - fledge Android experience that lets you download any app of your choice — reading , streaming , social media , or employment chat . That ’s even better . Plus , there ’s even a front camera , just in case . Overall , I ’d say that ’s much more than a typical reading tablet can carry out , along with a few standout exclusives like a “ normal ” 60Hz sieve . That ’s essentially the HannsNote 2 for you . It ’s a next - gen display technical school slap on a slender ticket with the added public lavatory of Android .
The only caveat is that it needs ambient illumination to meander its magic . If you ’re a garden or cafe reading aficionado , you ’ll love this one . For folks who prefer the comfort of their bed or lounge to finish a grapple east - Holy Writ embraced by dark , well , check that that the bedside lamp is on .
“ Our tablets could serve consumer who need a gimmick specifically for outdoor use , ” read HannSpree when take about the market reality . “ Whether this market be or not rest to be seen . ”
To the society ’s credit , the technical school work .
