Amazon set to introduce new Kindle model with advanced Color ACeP Technology in 2025
Amazon is set to revolutionize its Kindle e-reader range next year, with the introduction of Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) technology, according to tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Tianfeng International Securities. Notable for his accurate predictions, Kuo anticipates that Amazon will unveil color Kindle e-readers, equipped with E Ink ACeP technology, in sizes of 6 inches and 10 inches.
The new color e-readers are expected to offer improved color representation through ACeP technology, which achieves full-color images without color filters. This results in enhanced saturation and contrast, and superior responsiveness due to the Oxide backplanes used in the technology. However, the advanced technology will likely come at a premium, as Kuo projects 40 to 60 percent higher prices for ACeP-enabled Kindles compared to monochrome e-paper models.
The global market for color e-readers is projected to experience significant growth in 2024, accounting for 8 to 10 percent of the total e-reader market. This boost is attributed to upcoming color models from Rakuten Kobo and reMarkable, with production anticipated in the first and third quarters of the year. Notably, reMarkable plans to adopt ACeP technology, potentially for a 12-inch model, further driving Amazon's aggressive push into color e-readers in 2025.
The expansion of color e-readers is expected to benefit content publishers by increasing e-book sales and contributing to the sustained growth of the global e-reader market, projected to reach 15 to 20 million units annually by 2025. By releasing the next generation Kindle with ACeP color technology in 2025, Amazon aims to transform the e-reading experience, enabling new ways to read educational materials, comics, and magazines.
Meanwhile, the electronic shelf label (ESL) market is also evolving due to increased demand from Walmart. While Walmart initially planned to phase out tricolor ESL production by 2024, E Ink may accelerate this transition following Walmart's adoption of quad-color ESL. This shift, slated for the second half of 2024, offers E Ink the opportunity to promote quad-color ESL to other clients, despite the estimated 10 percent higher unit price compared to tricolor ESL.
Despite challenges regarding the transition to color technology, E Ink remains optimistic about the broader application of electronic paper across various sectors, including e-readers, ESL, digital signage, and more. With the completion of ESL inventory digestion projected by the first quarter of 2024, E Ink is positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the market.
- As Amazon prepares to launch color Kindle e-readers in 2025, equipping them with E Ink ACeP technology, it's clear that other gadget manufacturers aren't far behind, as reMarkable also plans to adopt this technology for a potential 12-inch model.
- The growth of the global e-reader market in 2024, projected to account for 8 to 10 percent of the total e-reader market, is not only attributed to Amazon's color Kindles, but also to upcoming color models from Rakuten Kobo, smartphones, and other unmentioned gadgets, all benefiting from advanced technology like ACeP.
