Sony Brings New, Smaller “Digital Paper” Tablet

After last year’s DPT-RP1 “Digital Paper” tablet expanded the horizon on e-Ink products and refined the control of document editing on tablets, Sony doubled down on its product with the newly-announced DPT-CP1. While both are e-Ink tablets that utilize a stylus to annotate or create documents, DPT-CP1 is a refreshing and more user friendly addition to Sony’s “Digital Paper” line.

The DPT-CP1 does not necessarily add improve on its predecessors already impressive e-Ink features. However, when compared to last year’s model, the DPT-CP1 is much smaller and much more manageable. The DPT-RP1 came in A4 paper size (8.3 x 11.7 in) on a 13.3-inch screen and weighed 12.3 ounces. On the other hand, the DPT-CP1 comes in A5 paper size (5.8 x 8.3 in) on a 10.3-inch screen with a 1404 x 1872, 224 dots per inch resolution and weighs less than 8 ounces. It is also only 5.9mm thick! What’s even more awesome is the fact that it can last up to a month on a single charge!

Sony highlighted that, “digital Paper combines the simplicity of reading and writing on real paper with the convenience of digital features.” While it is a great tool for those who want a more interactive eBook reader and document viewer that doesn’t cause heavy strain on the eyes, it is a highly niche product and will only be released in Japan.

Additionally, the DPT-CP1 is still pretty expensive. While last year’s version cost around $750, the DPT-CP1 has a 70,000 yen price tag. Converted to US Dollars, this comes to around $650. With a price that high, it won’t threaten Kindle’s market position any time soon.