Most e-readers persist with the fundamentals: an E-Ink display screen, a bookstore tie-in, and sufficient battery to outlive a protracted trip. At IFA 2025, DuRoBo debuted a extra bold gadget, the Krono, pitched as an “AI-powered ePaper Focus Hub.” That is both a mouthful of promoting or a peek at the place these kinds of gadgets are certainly headed.

On paper (pun meant), the specs look stable. The Krono includes a 6.13-inch Carta 1200 HD show at 300ppi with an 18:9 facet ratio. Beneath the hood, it runs on an octa-core processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, an enormous bounce from the 1GB RAM and 16GB storage you’ll discover on most e-readers like a Kindle or Kobo. Powering these beefier internals is a 3,950mAh battery, although DuRoBo hasn’t shared an precise utilization estimate.

You’ll additionally discover Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C charging, stereo audio system, and twin microphones, the latter powering one thing a bit extra distinctive. On the aspect of the gadget, a rotating wheel doubles as a tactile management and a shortcut for “Spark,” the gadget’s AI-powered observe seize instrument. Maintain it down, and you’ll dictate voice memos that the Krono will transcribe and summarize. In the meantime, the built-in audio system (or any linked Bluetooth buds) let the Krono pull double responsibility as an audio participant for podcasts, audiobooks, or music. Along with regular studying and note-taking options, these instruments place it someplace between a Kindle and a pocket-sized media hub.

Like different e-readers, it presents adjustable entrance lighting for studying in any setting. Nevertheless, not like many fashionable picks, it runs Android 13, that means customers can load up third-party apps and their most well-liked e-book platforms fairly than being shackled to a single retailer. DuRoBo additionally layers in a minimalist UI that goals to create a peaceful, distraction-free expertise, although whether or not that’s correct or simply one other app launcher is unclear.

The Krono is obtainable for pre-sale on Kickstarter beginning as we speak. Models are anticipated to ship in November 2025. DuRoBo says business availability will comply with later this 12 months, priced at about €279.99 (~$327)

If nothing else, it’s refreshing to see a brand new face within the e-reader crowd. Whether or not the Krono finally ends up a productiveness powerhouse or simply one other sensible gadget asking in your voice notes is one thing we’ll need to see when it ships.