Hisense has firmed up the launch details for what is shaping up as one of the more unusual smartphones of the year. According to Notebookcheck, the Hisense A10, an e-ink handset with a magnetic detachable color display, will go on sale in China on August 28, 2026. The date closes a months-long tease that began in June 2026 and continued with a design reveal in July 2026, when the company officially showcased the design of the device.
A different dual-screen logic
The A10’s architecture inverts the usual dual-screen formula. Notebookcheck notes that competitors like the Hibreal Dual 2 treat the standard color panel as the primary screen and an e-ink panel as the secondary. The Hisense A10 takes the opposite approach: the e-ink panel remains the primary screen, while the detachable display has a regular panel and is magnetic, snapping on when the user wants color.
That order matters. E-ink readers have built niche followings on long battery life and outdoor readability, but they remain awkward for video, gaming, or any task that benefits from smooth color refresh. A magnetic clip-on color screen is a low-friction way to opt into those tasks without giving up the e-ink default, and it lets buyers decide whether they want the trade-off at all.
Inside the A10
Notebookcheck reports that Hisense has confirmed the silicon: the Qualcomm QCM6690, marketed as the Dragonwing Q-6690. The same chip family powers e-ink devices such as the Boox Note X6, and the publication benchmarks its performance against the Unisoc T9100. On paper, that places the A10 in entry-level territory, which is consistent with the affordability framing Notebookcheck applies.
The primary e-ink panel is driven by a T2000 TCON chip, which Notebookcheck says handles the screen’s refresh rate and other display characteristics. The publication also flags that Hisense has not yet shared full specifications for the detachable LCD, and the real-life photos shared by a Hisense official named Lao Zuo show only that the panel has decent brightness and color production in the publication’s assessment.
Three ways to switch
One practical question for any dual-screen device is how users actually move content between the two panels. According to Notebookcheck, the A10 offers three switching modes.
A physical Ink Smart Key on the device. A button inside the quick settings shade. A button inside the quick ball overlay.
Having three paths is notable, because earlier dual-screen phones have often shipped with a single, occasionally buried toggle. The quick ball option in particular suggests Hisense wants muscle-memory switching, not a settings deep dive, and the photos from Lao Zuo confirm these three options as the documented ways to make the switch.
Pricing and packaging
Notebookcheck states there is no official word on price. The publication’s working assumption, given the entry-level SoC, is that the A10 should be affordable, but that is analysis rather than a confirmed figure. Equally important is what ships in the box: the secondary color display will not be bundled by default and will be sold separately. That keeps the base price lower but also means buyers who want the dual-screen experience are paying for two products. For reference, the Vamvo magnetic display currently sells for $39.99 on Amazon, though it is unclear whether that is the same accessory Hisense plans to offer.
What to watch on August 28
The China launch should answer the open questions. Notebookcheck lists three that still matter for any buyer or partner evaluating the device.
The official retail price of the phone itself. The retail price of the magnetic color display as a standalone accessory. Full specifications for the detachable LCD, including resolution, refresh rate, and brightness in nits.
There is also the question of whether Hisense plans any markets outside China. Notebookcheck’s coverage is silent on international availability, which is typical for e-ink-first devices that have historically launched in limited geographies. The e-ink phone category has spent years as a curiosity, and Hisense has been one of the few brands willing to keep iterating on it, so any expansion beyond China would mark a notable shift in strategy.
Why this matters
The modular approach is a clear sign that the company sees a market beyond dedicated readers. A magnetic, modular color panel is cheaper to ship than a built-in second screen, and it lets buyers decide whether they want the trade-off at all. For users who mostly read, the e-ink default stays intact, while those who occasionally need color can attach the accessory without committing to a heavier device year-round.
What remains unknown before launch
Several commercial details are still unresolved. Notebookcheck reports that Hisense has not announced the A10 price, and the detachable LCD will be sold separately rather than bundled with the phone. Hisense also has not published the secondary panel specifications. Those gaps matter because the accessory price, brightness, battery impact and availability will determine whether the dual-display idea is practical beyond a product demonstration.
For now, the facts on the table are limited to what Notebookcheck has reported: a confirmed China launch on August 28, 2026, the Dragonwing Q-6690 SoC, a T2000 TCON driving the primary e-ink panel, three documented switching modes, and a separate-purchase detachable display. Everything else, including price, LCD specs, and the all-important question of how well that magnetic attachment holds up under daily use, remains to be confirmed when Hisense takes the wraps off the A10 later this month.