I will admit, I was a slow adopter to the promises of eInk devices. It took me awhile to try out an eInk reading device, and once I did, I was sold on the crispness of the display, long battery life, and capacity for carrying hundreds of books in one device. Since then, I’ve checked out other ePaper devices, with varying levels of success. One that looks very, very intriguing is the just-announced DuRoBo Krono.
DuRoBo Krono: what it is
According to the press release, the DuRoBo Krono is a “smart ePaper Focus Hub”. What does this mean in practical terms? It’s taking everything you love from your favorite eInk eReader, putting it into a cell phone form factor, and then removing all of the distractions our phones can provide.
It has a 6.13” screen (300 PPI), and 128GB of on-board storage. What might you want all that space for? Well, for one, you can load in a bunch of eBooks (the obvious thing), but then there are some surprises there. First off, you can record voice notes for yourself. Have that idea hit you while you’re walking to the office? Don’t fire off an email - record it on the Krono as you’re walking, and you’re good to go. And it’s not just an audio recording you’re dealing with - it can also transcribe it for you.
The other interesting feature is the ability to load in audiobooks to load in (another use for that storage). These can be listened to via the built-in speaker, or via the bluetooth headset that you’ve got synced to the device.
Interacting with the device
This is another interesting area for the DuRoBo Krono. Yes, it has a touch screen, and you can type and swipe as you would on any modern device. But there’s also a roller button on the left-hand side that allows you to navigate through the menus, as well as kick off that voice note recording. You’ve also got a set of buttons on the other side of the device, just like the regular volume rockers we’re used to.
Using the device
Under the covers, the DuRoBo Krono is a full Android 13 device (running on the 8-core processor and 6GB of RAM), which means you can install whatever apps you might need (say, your favorite eBook store), and then download what you need over WiFi. You’ve also got an adjustable dual-tone frontlight, meaning you can fine tune the lighting to what you need.
Wrapping things up
What I particularly like about the DuRoBo Krono is the form-factor. I enjoy reading on my Kindle, and it’s always in my work bag. But sometimes you head out and get stuck waiting somewhere, and then, no reading material. With the more phone-like form factor of the DuRoBo Krono, that will make it much easier to always have it with you, and make use of all the capabilities.
What’s even more interesting about the DuRoBo Krono is the fact that it’s not a “regular” product launch. It’s actually going live on Kickstarter. While the MSRP is set at $279.99, there are the expected discounts for being on Kickstarter:
Super Early Bird: 1 unit + 1 leather case, priced at €249.99, limited to 50 spots.
Early Bird: 1 unit + 1 leather case, priced at €259.99, limited to 150 spots.
Early Bird Bundle (2 units): 2 units + 2 leather cases, priced at €499.99, limited to 100 spots.
It’s launching today, with delivery (and general availability) expected by the end of the year. durobo.com
Tech Specs
HD Carta 1200 Display – Paper-like reading with 300 PPI clarity
Spark: Voice Mode &Text Mode – Hands-free voice memo capture with AI-powered transcription
Open Android Platform – Freedom to install the tools you want
Minimalist UI – Clean, intuitive, and designed for deep focus
Adjustable Front Light – Comfortable reading in any environment
Long Battery Life – Stay unplugged and immersed for longer
128GB Storage + 6GB RAM – Store a library’s worth of content