This strange smartphone features a fixed E-Ink display on the front and a detachable LCD on the back

E-Ink screen smartphones offer an excellent reading experience, but they often struggle with the normal Android OS navigation due to the slow pixel refresh rate.

HiSense proposes a decidedly original solution to this limitation with the new A10, a device that combines a monochrome front panel with a secondary color LCD screen, magnetic and entirely independent.

This configuration allows the user to have two devices in one, separating the reading experience from the traditional multimedia experience as needed.

HiSense A10 has a fixed E-Ink display and a magnetic LCD

The main side of the new HiSense A10 features a 6.13-inch touch E-Ink display. The visual rendering closely resembles that of dedicated ebook readers, such as the Kindle Scribe, making the device perfect for reading long documents, taking notes and reducing eye strain during extended sessions.

The real peculiarity, however, lies on the back: a color LCD display that attaches to the smartphone body via a magnetic system. Unlike the recent competitor Bigme Hibreak Dual 2, another Chinese smartphone that permanently integrates a 5-inch LCD on the rear chassis, HiSense’s solution allows you to detach the color module at any time.

The user can even decide to leave the secondary screen at home or to not buy it at all, obtaining a lighter and more compact device, focused exclusively on reading.

Under the hood, the device promises high-level performance. Information leaked on Asian social networks indicates the presence of an 8-core processor built on a 4-nanometer process. It is very likely the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a chip capable of handling demanding tasks and heavy applications without any difficulty.

Completing the known information we find 5G connectivity and the adoption of the operating system Android 16.

Prices and availability

The modularity of the smartphone directly reflects the manufacturer’s commercial strategy.

The base module, which includes only the front E-Ink display, should have a starting price of around 4,000 yuan, equivalent to about 515 euros. The color LCD screen will instead be sold as a separate accessory and could be quite expensive, with estimates around 3,000 yuan, i.e. about 386 euros additional to complete the package.

Regarding international distribution, it seems highly unlikely a formal launch in Western stores or the Italian market.

Fans will still have the option to import the smartphone through major Chinese e-commerce channels, potentially facing shipping and customs costs, as well as dealing with the hurdle of an operating system not translated into our language.