Are e-ink readers really better for your eyes than phones?

Reading books on the phone is convenient but can easily cause eye strain due to blue light. E-ink e-readers are introduced as a solution to protect eyesight. Is e-ink really superior to smartphones in eye care?

A young man is reading a book with an e-ink e-reader in the park.

In the digital age, reading on electronic devices is becoming more and more popular. Let's take a look at e-ink technology and see how it really affects the eyes.

E-ink display technology

E-ink, or electronic ink , technology developed from research at MIT in the late 20th century, uses millions of microscopic ink particles filled with positively and negatively charged particles, encased in a transparent gel between two electrode layers.

When an electric field is applied, the ink particles move, with white particles rising to the surface to create a bright background, while black particles sink to form letters or images. This process creates a stable image without the need for a constant power source to maintain it, just like ink on real paper.

Additionally, the e-ink display reflects ambient light instead of emitting light from within, reducing glare and allowing for comfortable reading in direct sunlight without fading. Furthermore, it only consumes power when changing content, resulting in battery life that lasts for weeks or months.

According to Tuoi Tre Online 's research, the latest improvements from e-ink screens such as Carta 1200 or ComfortGaze are integrated with backlights that adjust the color temperature from warm to cold, reducing blue light while still maintaining the natural reflection. Resolution usually reaches 300 ppi, providing sharp text without flickering, helping the eyes relax for a long time.

Additionally, e-ink technology also supports features like enhanced anti-glare and more gradual color display in new models, making it not only suitable for reading but also extending to note-taking or document viewing, all while prioritizing eye comfort.

With the Carta 1300 launching in 2025, the refresh rate is increased by 25% compared to the Carta 1200, reducing ghosting and improving contrast to 20:1, providing a smoother experience for both reading and handwriting.

Comparison with phone screens and impact on eye health

Phone screens mainly use LCD or OLED, which emit light directly from pixels to create images, causing the eyes to be constantly exposed to artificial light, especially blue light, which can disrupt sleep and increase eye strain.

The big difference is that LCD/OLEDs require high refresh rates for smooth images, creating micro-flickers that the eyes perceive, contributing to computer vision syndrome like dry eyes or headaches.

Research from the Harvard School of Public Health in 2023, still to be confirmed by new analysis in 2025, found that e-ink causes three times less stress to retinal cells than LCDs, thanks to reflecting natural light instead of emitting light.

While OLEDs offer vibrant colors and high contrast, they're still more likely to cause dry eyes than e-ink, as the light-emitting display reduces blink frequency — a 2025 study from Université Paris highlighted e-ink as reducing eye surface disturbances in both dark and bright environments .

Overall, e-ink offers a more paper-like experience, reducing long-term eye strain, although some argue that both can cause irritation if used incorrectly.

Furthermore, according to 2025 reports from E Ink, the use of e-ink significantly reduces the amount of ROS (reactive oxygen species) that are harmful to eye cells, especially when compared to LCD in low light conditions, where e-ink's warm backlight only emits the minimum light needed.

Additionally, ComfortGaze in e-ink reduces blue light by up to 60% and harmful elements by 24%, providing better eye protection than adjustment modes on phone screens.

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Tuan Vi

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/may-doc-sach-e-ink-thuc-su-tot-cho-mat-hon-dien-thoai-20250912180210597.htm