60 Hz E-Paper Revolution? Daylight DC-1 REVIEW

Summary

The Daylight Computer DC1 is a tablet that stands out due to its innovative transflective LCD display, which offers smooth performance and improved visibility in various lighting conditions. While it provides an impressive 60Hz refresh rate with no ghosting and solid battery life, the device's software feels underdeveloped, with noticeable lag in certain apps and a lack of refined features. Despite its potential, especially for dynamic content, its build quality and design leave something to be desired for the price. The DC1 offers a unique alternative to E Ink devices, but it’s still a niche product with room for improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Daylight Computer DC1 features a 10.5-inch transflective LCD screen that offers a paper-like display experience with fast refresh rates and smooth performance.
• 😀 The DC1 has a **60Hz refresh rate** and **no ghosting**, making it more fluid than traditional e-ink displays.
• 😀 The display can switch to a backlight for use in low-light conditions, making it versatile in various environments.
• 😀 Unlike e-ink screens, the DC1 is not **by stable**, meaning it needs power to maintain the image on the screen.
• 😀 The screen's **viewing angle dependency** has been reduced, allowing for better indoor visibility without needing to adjust the screen angle constantly.
• 😀 While the DC1 offers a unique blue light reduction feature with zero blue light emissions at warm settings, the **reflectivity is lower** compared to e-ink, resulting in a darker screen when backlight is off.
• 😀 The tablet's display includes a **grainy texture** due to the laminated screen, which detracts from the sharpness, especially at higher brightness levels.
• 😀 Despite a solid hardware configuration (Mediatek Helio G99, 8GB RAM), the DC1’s **software experience** feels unrefined and lacks the polish seen in more established e-ink devices.
• 😀 The **pen latency** is impressive in certain apps like Concepts (6-17ms), but the pre-installed apps suffer from much higher latency (around 70ms).
• 😀 The tablet is relatively heavy at 573g, and its **build quality** doesn't feel premium compared to other high-end devices like the Remarkable Paper Pro, especially considering its $730 price tag.
• 😀 The **battery life** is excellent, with up to 34 hours of video playback and 13 hours of reading with the backlight on, outperforming most e-ink devices for dynamic content.
• 😀 While the DC1 offers a promising display and performance, the lack of software optimization, unfinished features, and a lack of premium design make it feel more like a **first-generation product**.

Q & A

What makes the display of the DC1 tablet stand out from other e-paper devices?

The DC1 tablet's display stands out due to its use of a transflective LCD that combines transmissive and reflective technologies, providing a quicker 60Hz screen response and virtually no ghosting. This technology allows for both better readability in different lighting conditions and smoother performance compared to typical e-ink displays.

What are the trade-offs of the DC1's transflective LCD display?

One key trade-off of the DC1's transflective LCD is that, unlike e-ink displays, it requires power to maintain an image. The screen also has a lower reflectivity compared to e-ink, resulting in a darker display in low light when the backlight is off. Additionally, there is a grainy texture on the display caused by the laminated screen protector.

How does the DC1 handle different lighting environments?

The DC1 performs well in various lighting conditions due to its transflective LCD. In bright environments, it relies on ambient light, but the backlight can be turned on when necessary. This results in a maximum brightness of 50 nits, suitable for indoor use, and the screen is also usable in complete darkness with a low brightness setting.

What is the issue with the grainy texture on the DC1's display?

The grainy texture on the DC1's display is a result of a laminated screen protector that was added to provide a paper-like feel. This protector, however, causes the display to appear grainy, particularly when the backlight is turned up, which detracts from the clarity compared to other devices.

How does the DC1 compare to other e-ink devices in terms of pen latency?

The pen latency on the DC1 is still a work in progress. In the Concepts app, latency is impressively low, around 6-17 milliseconds, making it feel almost instantaneous. However, in other apps, like the pre-installed Notes app, latency is much higher, around 70 milliseconds, which is less responsive than most e-ink devices.

What is the impact of the DC1's viewing angle dependency?

While the DC1's display has been improved to reduce viewing angle dependency compared to other reflective LCD technologies, it is still present. Users may notice a slight metallic gradient at the edges of the screen when viewed from certain angles, which can be distracting during regular use.

How does the DC1's battery life compare to other devices?

The DC1 offers impressive battery life. It can last up to 34 hours when playing back video, and around 45 hours when reading with the backlight off. With maximum brightness, the battery life decreases to about 12-13 hours for video and 11-14 hours for writing, making it comparable to many e-ink tablets.

What are the software shortcomings of the DC1 tablet?

The DC1's software feels unfinished and lacks the polish seen in other e-ink devices. While it runs Android 13 and has a minimalist launcher, it is cluttered with pre-installed bloatware, and the included note-taking and reader apps are not optimized for the device. Additionally, the lack of magnetic pen attachment and the absence of a folio case further limit the user experience.

How does the DC1 compare to other e-paper devices like the Remarkable Paper Pro?

While the DC1 has a great display with no ghosting and excellent refresh rates, the Remarkable Paper Pro offers a more refined overall user experience. The DC1 is heavier and has a less premium design compared to the Remarkable Paper Pro, which feels much more polished and offers better build quality.

What improvements would make the DC1 a more compelling device?

To improve, the DC1 would benefit from better software optimization, including more efficient note-taking apps and reduced latency across all apps. It would also be beneficial to address the grainy texture on the display and improve its design to feel more premium. Adding a magnetic pen attachment and folio case would also enhance the device's practicality for everyday use.