Hisense will release the A10, a smartphone built around an electronic paper main display, in China on August 28, 2026. Its defining trait is a separate color LCD that attaches magnetically to the back, so color and motion are added only when they are actually needed. Ahead of the launch, hands-on images have revealed how the screens switch and what silicon sits inside.

E Ink on the Front, a Removable Color LCD on the Back

The front of the A10 is a 6.13-inch monochrome E Ink panel. Because it reflects ambient light instead of emitting its own, it suits long reading sessions and handwritten notes, while photos, color manga and video remain awkward.

Devices that pair E Ink with an LCD are not new. Most of them, however, build both panels into the chassis, which means anyone who never touches the LCD carries the extra thickness and weight for nothing. The A10 tackles that by making the color LCD detachable. On days when color is unnecessary, the thin E Ink body travels alone; on days that call for photos or maps, the LCD snaps onto the back.

The color LCD is not bundled with every configuration. Reports indicate it ships as standard with the higher-tier model, while the lower-tier model treats it as a separately sold accessory. Being able to buy the handset alone if the LCD holds no appeal is something only the A10 offers right now.

Three Ways to Switch, Including a Dedicated Hardware Button

The published hands-on images show three routes for switching displays once the LCD is attached: a physical side key called the Ink Smart Key, a toggle inside the quick settings panel, and a floating on-screen control described as a quick ball.

Dual-screen devices tend to fail when switching feels like a chore, because owners eventually settle on one panel and ignore the other. Keeping a hardware button that flips between front and back with a single press reads like a decision made by people who have actually lived with this class of device.

The E Ink side is driven by a display controller called the T2000, a timing controller that manages image quality including refresh behavior. How far that dedicated chip suppresses ghosting and sluggishness, the perennial weakness of electronic paper, will shape how the A10 is judged.

Qualcomm QCM6690 Inside, Running Android 16

The A10 runs on Qualcomm's QCM6690, also known as the Dragonwing Q-6690. It is an octa-core part built on a 4nm process, ships with Android 16 and supports 5G. The same chip powers the Boox Note X6 e-paper tablet, so it has a track record in this category.

It sits in the entry to mid-range bracket rather than at the high end. For a device centered on reading and glanceable information, though, power efficiency governs daily usability far more than peak throughput. Accept the narrow remit and this configuration rarely feels short.

Pricing has not been announced, but the choice of silicon suggests the A10 will not land in premium territory.

Import Only in Japan, Yet Nothing Else Quite Like It

Hisense is a familiar television brand in Japan, but the company does not sell smartphones there officially, and the A10 has so far been announced for China only. Earlier E Ink handsets such as the A5 and A9 reached Japanese enthusiasts through personal imports.

Anyone importing one for use in Japan should confirm whether it carries technical conformity certification, known locally as giteki, since overseas handsets fall under Japan's Radio Act.

Even so, no other device currently offers this particular bargain: live on electronic paper, then bolt on an LCD only when color matters. For someone hunting a reading-first phone who still occasionally needs maps and photos, the concept lands.

Summary

The A10 pairs a 6.13-inch E Ink main display with a color LCD that magnetically attaches to the back. Switching happens three ways including a hardware key, the internals are a Qualcomm QCM6690 with Android 16, and the China launch is set for August 28. Selling the LCD separately to keep the handset light is the kind of design choice that resonates most with long-time electronic paper users. An official Japanese release looks unlikely, so importing remains the only route, but the pricing news is worth waiting for.