Hisense is taking an unusually bold approach to one of the biggest weaknesses of e-ink smartphones: the slow refresh rate that often makes Android feel compromised. With the Hisense A10, the company is pairing a 6.13-inch e-ink display with a detachable LCD that can be attached magnetically when a more conventional screen is needed.
The idea is simple, but the execution is unusual. Instead of waiting for e-ink panels to become fast enough for every situation, Hisense is offering a second screen as an accessory, giving users a way to switch between reading-friendly efficiency and a more familiar smartphone experience.
A detachable screen instead of a built-in compromise
The main panel on the Hisense A10 is a 6.13-inch e-ink display, visually similar to what is used on Kindle-style e-book readers. The LCD accessory will be sold separately, and Hisense has not revealed its full specifications yet.
What makes the concept stand out is the flexibility. Hisense has shown the A10 in two states: with only the e-ink display in use, and with the detachable LCD attached on the back. That setup allows the phone to keep the low-power benefits of e-ink for some uses, while still offering a more traditional display when needed.
Android 16, 5G, and an unnamed Snapdragon 4nm chip
Hisense has not fully introduced the device yet, but the A10 is said to run Android 16 and support 5G connectivity. It is also expected to use an unnamed Snapdragon chipset built on a 4nm process.
According to gsmarena.com, that combination places the A10 in a category of its own, since it mixes a modern Android platform with a display concept that remains far outside mainstream smartphone design. The result is less about playing it safe and more about trying to solve a long-standing usability problem in a different way.
Pricing puts the concept firmly in premium experiment territory
The Hisense A10 is priced at CNY 4,000, or about $590, for the phone alone without the LCD accessory. The detachable magnetic LCD is expected to be expensive as well, with estimates reaching CNY 3,000, or about $440.
| Component | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hisense A10 | 5G phone with Android 16 and a 6.13-inch e-ink display | CNY 4,000 |
| LCD accessory | Detachable magnetic screen sold separately | Up to CNY 3,000 |
If those figures hold, the full setup becomes a costly proposition for a device built around an unconventional dual-screen idea. Even so, the target audience is likely to be users who specifically want e-ink efficiency without giving up the option of a standard LCD.
Bigme is also testing a similar direction
Hisense is not the only company exploring this space. Bigme recently introduced the Bigme Hibreak Dual 2, which combines a 6.13-inch e-ink display on one side with a permanently attached 5-inch LCD on the other.
The difference lies in the design philosophy. Bigme chose an integrated dual-screen format, while Hisense is going further by making the LCD detachable, turning the A10 into a more flexible but also more unusual experiment in smartphone design.
