Minecraft on E Ink and the BOOX test
Tablets with E Ink displays aim to expand beyond reading, promising productivity and even multimedia capabilities. But when pushed to their limits, their technical limitations reveal the true extent of this technology.
Paper-like displays, or E Ink displays, are often promoted as an ideal alternative to LCD or OLED screens for reducing eye strain. And as for the readingI completely agree. However, I'm surprised to see how many people use their tablets or monitors E Ink for odd activities, like watching YouTube videos or browsing the internet. So I decided to take this idea to the extreme and load Minecraft on my BOOX eReader. 🎮📚
Android eReaders, confusing marketing, and my mental health at risk
Very few people I know own an eReader. Most prefer to read digital books on their smartphones or iPads for convenience and cost. A basic Kindle costs around $100, but carrying an extra device Alone It seems impractical for reading, even for those of us who use eReaders.
Brands like Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo incorporate tablet-like features into their devices to attract users who want the best of both worlds: the convenience of an E Ink screen with tablet capabilities. However, E Ink screens are slow and have limited refresh rates, so these functionalities are usually restricted to note-taking or calendars.
In contrast, some specialized brands offer true tablets with E Ink displays. Personally, I own two Onyx BOOX tablets running Android. The BOOX Tab Ultra C, released a few years ago, was marketed as a productivity device thanks to its E Ink color display, good processor, and fast refresh rate. The manufacturers were upfront about its limitations, focusing on reading and writing. But many reviewers are obsessed with testing YouTube or web browsing, even suggesting it's viable for multimedia, which I find absurd.
When the BOOX Tab Ultra C It came into my possession through a strange chain of events (a colleague reviewed it in 2023, the manufacturer refused to restock it, and it remained in inventory), and I knew it would be the ideal device to test out absurd ideas. Watching YouTube on the Tab Ultra C is already uncomfortable, so I thought: what could be worse? I wanted an extreme visual challenge, an experience so unpleasant it would make me nauseous. 🤢
Watch Minecraft on an eReader!
I tested the BOOX Tab Ultra C with several games, from the NYT daily crossword to the popular Subway SurfersThey worked, but the experience wasn't ideal; some even made my eyes hurt. The "ultra-fast" mode generates too much ghosting, while other modes cause flickering that can trigger visual seizures.
After trying some basic games, I thought Minecraft combined gameplay with the extreme eye strain I was looking for. I was surprised by the level of discomfort I experienced. You can only make out what's happening in Minecraft during the day, and only if you can endure the persistent ghosting effect, which blurs the screen after a couple of seconds. The sky fills with gray shadows, and the blocks blend together so much that you can walk right past a pig without seeing it. Increasing the render distance only adds details that worsen the visual chaos.
I tried to play for real, I built a house out of dirt, chopped down trees, and completely lost my sense of direction. The sunset was so visually jarring that my eyes hurt terribly, and by nightfall I couldn't see a thing, which led to my death in the game. It ended up being an exhausting experience that made me feel dizzy. 🤯
My experiment to have a truly unpleasant experience on an eReader lasted about 30 minutes. I wanted to continue playing online with friends, but it was impossible to endure any longer. On the other hand, I was surprised that Minecraft ran so well on the BOOX Tab Ultra C. I think that with higher contrast or better color reproduction, the experience could be improved.
To clarify, the BOOX Tab Ultra C is a capable device, but I'm not a fan of the E Ink color display, as it drastically reduces contrast. You almost need to turn on the front light or be in direct sunlight to see it properly, which negates the advantage of a paper-like screen. If I test a powerful black and white Android eReader in the future, I'll repeat the Minecraft test to compare gameplay. 🎮✨
Want to learn more about the best tablets and eReaders? Explore other articles to choose the perfect device for you. Don't forget to share this unique experience and leave us your comments! 📱📖
