Chinese e-reader technologies drew considerable interest at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, as major players presented advances in core electronic paper display systems and digital stationery applications — achieving steady progress in technological self-reliance.

"When Chinese brands move beyond price-based competition and focus instead on strengthening core technologies and building integrated ecosystems, the global development of China's digital stationery sector can truly begin," an executive of domestic e-reader brand Hanvon said during the tech show held from Jan 6 to 9 in Las Vegas.

For many years, global competition in the e-reader market has been shaped by a limited number of technology pathways, the executive said.

"International brands such as Amazon's Kindle have maintained strong user loyalty, mainly due to early adoption of advanced electronic paper display solutions that deliver faster refresh rates, higher contrast, and improved visual stability," he added.

At this year's CES, however, Chinese companies signaled a shift in this landscape. Hanvon introduced its Clear7 Ultra e-reader, featuring the company's self-developed T2000 full-area refresh engine, it is one of the first domestically developed models to adopt an Oxide-based high-voltage fast-refresh electronic paper display.

The qualitative upgrade in hardware technology has directly translated into improvements in user experience, particularly in areas most sensitive to everyday interaction. The company said the Clear7 Ultra now delivers a 35 percent increase in display refresh speed and a 10 percent improvement in contrast, while reducing power consumption by approximately 30 percent.

In terms of key performance indicators, the device is broadly comparable with the 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite, and in practical use — including page-turning smoothness and ghosting control — it demonstrates advantages in certain scenarios.

Market data has underscored the sector's strong momentum. According to data from consultancy Runto Technology, global shipments of electronic paper tablets reached 16.24 million units in the third quarter of 2025, up 71.3 percent year-on-year.

While overseas markets continue to be driven by brands such as Kindle and reMarkable, Chinese manufacturers have also seen rapid growth. Hanvon Technology has reported that its domestic shipments have doubled for three consecutive years.