With a gradual shift in consumer preference towards color e-readers and e-note devices, companies like Netronix and, of course, E Ink have much to celebrate. Netronix had a strong run in the market in 2024 and is aiming to replicate that success with even greater fervour in 2025.
The company has said it is expecting sales of color e-reader devices to surpass 70 percent of total sales in 2025, Digitimes reported. This, if true, will make for a considerable jump over the 64 percent share that color e-reader had out of total sales in 2024. The company is hoping shipments will register double-digit growth, more so in the fourth quarter, which is when demand is at its highest, owing to holiday sales.
Netronix also has some exciting projects in the pipeline, which are slated to reach markets in the coming weeks and months. For instance, there is the BooksPad e-reader device that is slated for launch sometime soon. BooksPad will feature a 7.8-inch Kaleido 3 color e-paper display. BooksPad is developed in partnership with Books.com.tw, the largest bookstore in Taiwan.
Then there is also the Mooink V, which too is also under development in partnership with Readmoo. This is clearly one of the most exciting e-reader projects to look forward to in 2025, given that it is adjudged as the world’s first foldable color e-reader device. It is going to have a smartphone-like form factor in its unfolded state, but will enlarge into a larger display when unfolded.
Apart from these, Netronix is also working towards upgrading several Kobo devices. That includes providing a mid-life refresh by providing enhanced hardware components. A version of the Clara BW and Clara Colour has recently been spotted on the Netronix FCC page, though the new models had largely the same model number as the original Clara BW and Clara Colour. That likely points to the upcoming Kobo models having slight modifications over the original.
Netronix is also developing large-format e-paper displays as well. Those include display sizes of 13-inch, 31.5-inch, and 75-inch and are targeted primarily at the signage segment. There is already a considerable shift towards the use of large-screen e-paper displays as digital signage, with the segment poised to add 2-5 percent of the company’s revenue in 2025. The segment is also projected to grow significantly in 2026.
Further, there is a significant rise in demand for color ESL thanks to increased adoption from US-based retailers. The focus in the coming months and years is going to be on color e-readers and e-notes, as well as large-screen color displays to be used for digital signage.
E Ink maintains a near-monopoly in the e-paper display segment while Netronix stands out as a significant player thanks to its diverse product portfolio. That includes e-reader, e-notes, Electronic Shelf Labels, e-badge, digital signage, Electronic Baggage Tag, and grip signage, all of which feature energy-efficient e-paper displays.