Finally, a Smartphone Built for Reading and Focus
Take back your focus with the HiBreak Plus: a $249 color E Ink smartphone that pairs paper-like reading with a productivity-centered design.
If kicking back with an e-book in a quiet spot is more your speed than doomscrolling through social media, then unfortunately, modern smartphones just weren’t made for you. But you’ll still need to use one, of course. Doing without isn’t much of an option in today’s world; even if you can get by personally, work life will demand connectivity. So basically, you have to use a smartphone or settle into an off-the-grid cabin in the middle of the wilderness.
Before you pack your bags, a new phone from Bigme called the HiBreak Plus is worth checking out. It has a large, color E Ink display and was designed to minimize distractions. The design of the HiBreak Plus is more likely to unlock your creativity than it is to get you scrolling social media. Yet it is a fully functional Android phone, so you can stay connected to the world and get real work done.
The HiBreak Plus is built around a 6.13-inch Kaleido 3 color E Ink display, capable of rendering up to 4,096 colors at 150 PPI, or crisp black-and-white content at 300 PPI. Unlike traditional OLED or LCD screens, this display reflects ambient light rather than emitting it, making it easier on the eyes during long reading sessions and far more visible outdoors. A built-in frontlight with 36 brightness levels ensures usability in darker environments without sacrificing that paper-like experience.
The phone runs Android 14 with full access to the Google Play Store, meaning users aren’t locked into a limited ecosystem. You can install your usual productivity apps, messaging tools, and media services, though the device’s strengths clearly lean toward reading, note-taking, and focused work rather than entertainment. In fact, the limitations of E Ink — such as slower refresh and ghosting during fast motion — may actually help curb mindless scrolling.
Bigme claims a refresh rate of up to 52 frames per second, which is unusually high for E Ink. While that won’t make it a gaming powerhouse, it does make navigation and stylus input noticeably smoother than older E Ink devices. Speaking of input, the HiBreak Plus supports a capacitive stylus, allowing users to jot down notes, annotate documents, or sketch ideas with a natural, paper-like feel.
Under the hood, the device features modest hardware, including 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 octa-core processor. It’s not built for heavy multitasking, but it’s sufficient for its intended purpose. A 4,500mAh battery promises days of active use or weeks on standby — one of the biggest advantages E Ink devices have over traditional smartphones.
Other features round out the experience, including dual SIM 4G connectivity, GPS, a fingerprint sensor, and a 5MP front plus 20MP rear camera setup. While it won’t replace a flagship smartphone for photography or performance, that’s not really the point.
Priced at $249, the HiBreak Plus is very affordable for professionals, readers, and anyone looking to reclaim focus in a hyper-connected world. It’s less about doing everything — and more about doing the right things better.