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For library enthusiasts, having an e-reader can be beneficial for a number of reasons, particularly if you’re looking for something that mimics the look of a book while still being able to store large libraries of novels, magazine articles, and more. As great as they can be, manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to stand out from other products – like those Kindle alternatives that still use page-turning buttons – and one company is taking inspiration from Apple to bring something different to users.
Besides a few other features, what’s special about the $279.99 DuRoBo Krono E Ink device is that it has what the company calls a Smart Dial. The watch face can help users navigate the Krono, and Apple fans may notice some similarities between it and the Digital Crown on an Apple Watch. Users interact with either button in essentially the same way – either rotating them or pressing them like buttons to perform different actions – although the way they help a user may be slightly different.
The 6.13-inch Krono doesn’t shy away from influence from the wider tech world, as it runs the Android operating system more commonly found on devices in Google’s ecosystem. This version of Android even includes access to the Google Play Store, so users have access to a wide variety of third-party apps. The e-reader also has its own brand of artificial intelligence (AI), but users may want to check out reviews to understand the big picture around this device. All things considered, this could be another reason why some say there’s no need for a Kindle anymore.
The DuRoBo Krono takes inspiration from Android and Apple
On an Apple Watch, a digital crown can help users navigate the device, and it can be pressed like a button or rotated like a wheel. It’s used to perform all kinds of actions, like pressing and holding the digital crown to activate Siri. On the Krono, the Smart Dial can also be rotated or pushed, and it allows you to refresh the screen, browse the web, start recordings and even change the front lights.
Besides the Smart Dial, the Krono has additional features that users might like, including a 300 PPI HD display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and an octa-core processor. It’s also backed by a 3,950mAh battery and an included speaker for listening to audiobooks or podcasts. The device also includes the company’s AI assistant, Spark AI, which can provide summaries or capture “daily inspirations” through voice or text.
Taking a quick look at what users had to say about the Smart Dial, one poster on the r/eink subreddit praised the hardware’s potential, although they wished they could customize it. On Amazon, customers liked the watch face, although one user mentioned that it doesn’t work with all available reading apps. It’s also worth mentioning that while the device holds a 4.1-star rating on Amazon, with 72% of reviewers giving it 4 stars or higher, 18% of reviewers have given it a 2-star rating as of this writing. Users may want to check reviews before purchasing, but we can also recommend e-readers on Amazon that users swear by.
