Hannspree launches ‘Lumo Reader Tablet’ to minimize eye strain
The tablet doesn't use backlighting and has other features meant to be easier on the eyes.
Key Points:
- The Hannspree Lumo has a paper-like LCD with no backlight.
- It is used as an e-reader (paper effect), but still has a 60Hz refresh rate and 16.7 million colors.
- However, it is a very basic tablet due to its specifications.
If you spend long hours staring at screens and want something that’s easier on your eyes but doesn’t make you feel sluggish, Hannspree may have the answer. Hannspree, a German company focused on vision health and green technology, has introduced the Hannspree Lumo, a “dynamic paper tablet.” The company says the tablet emphasizes eye health without sacrificing visual quality or speed.
We don’t see a lot of big innovations in the tablet market – or, for that matter, the e-reader market – but the Hannspree Lumo innovates in both areas by essentially being a full-fledged tablet and e-reader in one.
It does this by having a 7.8-inch paper-like proprietary LCD display that, unlike typical LCD screens, doesn’t depend on a backlight. Instead, it reflects ambient light, like an actual piece of paper. The result is that the screen isn’t harsh on your eyes, allowing for a pleasant reading experience as you’d get on an e-reader.
However, where a typical e-reader’s screen has a slow refresh rate and monochrome images or muted colors, the Hannspree Lumo promises rich, colorful content, as its screen can reproduce 16.7 million colors, has a 60 Hz refresh rate, and a 5 ms response time.
Hannspree says its latest innovation is called “ecoVision,” a proprietary technology that uses ambient light to illuminate the Lumo screen. When there is little ambient light, such as in the evening, this Android 14 tablet Lumo has a front LED light. The smart light also automatically adjusts its brightness based on ambient light levels.
For anyone who struggles with eye strain or screen-triggered headaches, the Lumo could be appealing.
“By combining visual wellness, color, speed, and flexibility, Lumo represents a fundamental shift in how tablets can and should work,” manager Martin Kent said. He added that the Lumo tablet has “greater consideration for our health. and it isn’t just another e-reader.”
All of which sounds very promising, but as far as Android tablets go, the Lumo’s specs are very basic. Its screen has just a 728 x 1024 resolution, and there’s just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It also has just a 3,000mAh battery, though it can supposedly still last for up to 6.5 hours with the front light at maximum brightness.
Other features include an optional USI 2.0 stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, an eraser button, and a real writing feel. A 10-point multi-touch allows you to use both the stylus and finger touch simultaneously.
The Lumo is also outfitted with a microphone, 4GB of memory, and Bluetooth 5.0. It’s priced at £299 (roughly $400), though there’s no word yet on whether it will get a US release.
The e-reader market is projected to double by 2035, from $8.46 billion in 2023 to $16.93 billion, with an annual growth rate of 6.51%. E-reader technology has continued to evolve since its early days.
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