The company that makes the screens for the most popular ereaders has just announced a new technology that will make reading on electronic paper displays a better visual experience, while also possibly bringing down the cost of the devices.
E Ink's new On-Cell Touch ePaper is a module that comes with the touch sensor built into the screen itself. Before this, the touchscreens we're so familiar with on ereaders had the touch sensor laminated above the E Ink displays – working as a separate component of the device.
This small change, according to E Ink, will make ereader screens a much better visual experience, with text becoming sharper, clearer and with better contrast.
The new screen technology will work on both black-and-white as well as color displays.
E Ink's Carta grayscale displays – the black-and-white screens on popular ereaders from Amazon and Kobo – will see a 30% increase in contrast ratio, the company claims, while E Ink Kaleido color screens (like the one used in the PocketBook InkPad Color) will get a better 40% bump in contrast ratio and 15% increase in color saturation with the use of the new On-Cell Touch module.
The integration of the touch sensor within the display itself also means the new technology can be used on flexible e-paper screens, like the E Ink Mobius, as well as in TFT (thin-film transistor) displays that have a glass backplane. In theory, that means this tech can be used in TFT LCD displays like the ones on our computer monitors and TVs, potentially making interactive panels more mainstream.
The new On-Cell Touch module uses a stacked design that, according to E Ink, will drop the production cost of making ereaders as it eliminates the step where the touch sensor needs to be added on top of the electronic paper display.
If this saving is passed on to the end user, next-gen premium devices that could potentially replace the likes of the Kobo Forma and Amazon Kindle Oasis might be a bit more affordable. And if this tech eventually filters down to into displays generally, it could reduce the price of touchscreen monitors.
An integrated touch sensor could, theoretically, make the screens more responsive, too. E Ink hasn't released any information in terms of performance, but an "easy on the eyes" experience will be a welcome improvement for avid readers.
The end of financial year sales form one of the biggest shopping events in Australia, and early tax-time deals are already available. So far, it’s been all about the screens, and we’ve seen a number of retailers offer early EOFY sales on laptops, monitors and TVs.
Microsoft is currently offering 15% off select Surface laptop devices, and we’ve also found the brilliant MacBook Air available for less. For TVs, we’re seeing discounted sets from the likes of LG, Samsung, Sony and Hisense.
While some of the early discounts we’re seeing are on last year’s stock, we’ve also found savings available on brand-new TVs, including the exceptional LG C1 OLED. So don’t be fooled into thinking it’s only older tech that gets discounted during EOFY.
We know it can be a lot to trawl through, but excellent deals can be found if you know where to look. That’s where the Australian TechRadar team comes in – we’ll be on hand during EOFY sales to help you hunt down the best bargains on electronics over the month of June, and we’ll list all our finds right here.
The Surface Laptop Go is an affordable laptop that doesn’t cut corners, and it doesn’t make the same compromises as similarly-priced devices. It looks and feels premium, with a lovely display and very comfortable keyboard. As the Business version, it comes with Windows 10 Pro and Microsoft’s ‘Advanced Exchange’ program, so you’ll be immediately eligible for a replacement device if you run into trouble. All models are discounted by 15%, which you can configure with a 10th-gen Intel Core i5 chip and solid-state storage up to 256GB.
The Surface Book 3 is one part laptop, one part tablet. It has one of the best displays and keyboards we’ve tested to date, and the overall design is gorgeous. As the Business model, it’s equipped with Windows 10 Pro, which includes enhanced security and single sign-on. The range is outfitted with 10th-gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and all configs are now 15% off. There are even Nvidia GPUs available for creatives looking to do design work.
Our pick for the best laptop in Australia is now available with a small but sweet discount – an uncommon sight for Apple products. The 2020 edition of the MacBook Air saw a big upgrade to its internals, as it ditched the Intel chips for Apple’s own custom-built processor – the M1. The result is better performance and a longer battery life. This discount is available to eBay Plus subscribers through Wireless 1’s eBay store, just enter the code PLUSES10.
This monitor has a 27-inch IPS panel, so you’ll get excellent colour over a wide viewing angle. 4K resolution will bring out the fine detail, and AMD FreeSync support will help keep visuals smooth and tear-free. It’s already discounted at Dell’s official eBay store, but if you enter the code PNVDG20, you’ll get a further 20% off the already reduced price.
The BX is one of the most affordable options in LG’s OLED range. It emits bright whites, deep blacks and vibrant colours, and overall the picture quality is impressive. It lacks HDR10+, and we did experience motion blur in our review, but if these aren’t important to you, it’s a great option. A number of Australian retailers have the set discounted, but we found it cheapest at The Good Guys’ eBay store. Plus members will get the biggest discount with the code PLUSES10, while anyone can save AU$900 with PPSS1.
The Q60A comes from Samsung’s 2021 range, and it’s the cheapest set with the QLED name. It’s got 4K resolution and HDR support, alongside HDR10+ so you can get a better balance between light and dark. At this price it’s lacking Dolby Atmos audio, but that’s certainly not a deal breaker. This early EOFY discount is available from Bing Lee.
The LG C1 is our new pick for the best OLED TV you can buy. It uses LG’s a9 Gen 4 chipset, which brings better upscaling and uses AI processing to distinguish between objects and their backgrounds. There are four HDMI 2.1 ports as well, great news if you want to use the screen for gaming. All told, you can expect stunning 4K picture quality. eBay Plus members will save the most with the code PLUSES10, but anyone can save AU$400 using PPSS1.
Looking for a monster TV to up your living room? Sony’s 75-inch X9000H offers crisp 4K visuals on an LED panel with full array local dimming and support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The set has an asking price of AU$3,295, but you can pick it up for AU$2,695 if you claim the cash back offer from The Good Guys.
Pining for a massive TV but don’t want to pay out the nose? eBay Plus members can score Hisense’s 75-inch Series 8 telly for just AU$1,345 at The Good Guys’ eBay store when using the discount code PLUSES10. Non-members can still save AU$100 by entering PPSS1. Not a huge amount, but a pretty great price for a 75-incher nonetheless.
EOFY 2021 sale: what and when is it?
Australia’s end of financial year is June 30. That means, from July 1 to the end of October 2021, individuals and businesses will need to file their tax returns with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Prior to that, retailers will be racing to shift old stock to make way for fresh items, and they’ll be slashing prices on plenty of products – which could be tax deductible if you use them for work-related purposes.
Australia’s EOFY sales traditionally begin June 1 and end on June 30, although many retailers tend to jump the gun, offering a few tempting discounts to lure shoppers in towards the end of May. The best EOFY offers will arrive in June though, and not all retailers will have month-long sales.
We’ve found that offers often change through the month, so you’ll need to keep checking back in to see if what you’re after has seen a price drop.
EOFY 2021 sale: deal predictions
If you’re looking to save some money on electronics during Australia’s EOFY sale, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been following tax-time deals for a few years now and can safely predict what you can get for a cheaper price.
So, what kind of tech can you find during EOFY sales in Australia? Plenty. From computers to gaming gear, the best flagship smartphones to noise-cancelling headphones. Here are our predictions for EOFY 2021:
Laptops, PCs & peripherals
Computing gear are some of the most popular items that’s purchased during EOFY. Manufacturers such as Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell and HP will host sales on their sites, but you’ll also be able to grab laptops and desktop PCs from major retailers as well, with average discounts of about 15% to 20%. You’ll be able to snag bargains on accessories as well, with printers, keyboards, mice and SSDs – maybe even those elusive RTX 3000-series GPUs – all going on sale during this time.
Gaming
From Nintendo to Sony and Microsoft – there were plenty of deep discounts on gaming gear last year, but we’re not so certain about 2021. The current-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X are in short supply and often out of stock, so it’s highly unlikely we’ll see them for less. On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite could see some cracking deals (and keep an eye out for bundles too). There’ll also be some blockbuster gaming titles available for cheap if you’d like to expand your gaming library.
Smartphones & tablets
Good smartphone discounts are few and far between throughout the year, but there can be decent deals to consider during EOFY if you’re looking to upgrade your handset. Last year saw some great discounts on Samsung’s then-flagships, so if you’re an Android user, you may be able to score a new phone without having to pay full retail price. It’s also a great time to pick up a discounted tablet as well – particularly iPads – and they’re often tax deductible if you use them for work.
Home entertainment & personal audio
There were plenty of TVs, sound bars and speakers on sale during the last couple of EOFY sales, and we don't expect that trend to change any time soon. And with some excellent 4K smart TVs already seeing price drops outside of big sales, we're looking forward to seeing how much more affordable they'll be during 2021 tax-time.
Portable Bluetooth speakers and headphones will be discounted as well. We’re expecting to see deals on the top-notch Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. We may also get surprised by a rarer discount on the Apple AirPods. While discounted prices may not match Black Friday offers, tax-time deals still see a decent chunk of change saved on premium products.
Cameras
The EOFY sales are also a great time for photographers – beginners, pros or hobbyists – to grab the latest gear. Last year saw plenty of cameras go on sale, particularly from Nikon. We also saw action cameras from GoPro and DJI drop in price last year, so keep your eyes peeled for excellent bargains. Sales on DSLRs, mirrorless snappers, compacts and more are highly likely to see a discount, or if you’re happy with the camera body you already own, we’re expecting lenses, tripods, bags and SD cards to see some decent price drops as well.
Smart home devices
Smart gadgets can now be found for every room in the home – from smart lights to smart security systems, and the speakers and displays to control them all. Amazon discounted its Echo range of smart speakers last year and we're quite sure that will happen again, along with the other smart devices found on Amazon, such as Philips Hue smart lights. You’ll also find plenty of retailers offering discounts on Google's range of smart speakers and displays.
Home appliances
If the appliances in your home are looking a little out of date, the EOFY sales will help you save plenty on the brand-new appliances you want. You can expect to see bargains on Dyson vacuum cleaners, robovacs, fridges, dishwashers, washing machines and plenty more. Retailers such as Myer, David Jones and Peter's of Kensington will certainly have sales, where you could find great deals on smaller kitchen appliances too.
EOFY 2021 sale: best offers from last year
To get an idea of what to expect in 2021, let's take a look at what was on offer last year:
There was a huge packet to save on this dream gaming machine. The series is rated by our colleagues at PC Gamer as one of the best gaming laptops you can buy, making this steeply discounted Razer an absolute steal at the time.
In addition to gaming laptops, we saw plenty of discounts on premium machines, such as this Dell XPS 13. This powerful configuration was a fairly new model at the time, but it was still available with a 20% price drop from Dell. Take that as evidence that it’s not just older tech discounted during EOFY sales.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus (128GB) | AU$999 (save AU$300)
Last financial year, this Samsung S10 Plus was knocked down just shy of the AU$1,000 mark by Amazon. Samsung has now released its S21 family of flagships, so there’s a decent chance we’ll see the S20 series on sale this June.
These excellent noise-cancelling headphones were 20% off during last year’s EOFY sales. We’ve since seen the Bose 700 drop as low as AU$359 during Black Friday in 2020, which could be a promising sign of what’s to come this June.
Sonos Playbar | AU$759 (save AU$240)
This is one of our favourite soundbars, and it usually doesn’t come cheap. But last financial year, Amazon slashed AU$240 off the excellent soundbar, making it a little more tempting to update your home entertainment setup.
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Samsung Display's OLED panels for laptops, which recently secured the SGS certification for gaming performance, has now achieved another coveted distinction. It has got UL’s Greenguard Gold Certification for low chemical emissions for their components.
This, Samsung Display said, is for the first time in the industry.
The panels were featured in Samsung’s latest Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360.
Samsung Display released the low chemical emissions laptop OLED panels which minimized the use of plastic substrate sheets, which can be a main source of VOC emissions.
UL is a global safety science leader, and it has certified that Samsung Display’s nine laptop OLED panels, ranging from 13.3-inch to 16-inch, met the Greenguard Gold Certification standard, UL 2819 Greenguard Standard for Electronic Equipment, a press release from Samsung Display said.
Greenguard Gold certification is awarded to products including electronic and medical equipment that meet UL's volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particle emission standards.
Among the LCD components, the backlight can be a major origin of VOCs for its use of multiple plastic substrate sheets. "According to tests conducted by the company and UL, Samsung’s OLED panels reduced the emission of VOCs to about half of LCD’s emission, thanks to its self-illuminating structure which does not use the backlight," the South Korean company said in its press release.
“Low-chemical-emitting equipment is an important criterion for users when choosing IT devices,” Doug Lockard, vice president and general manager of UL’s retail and consumer products division was quoted as saying.
Samsung Display’s OLED panels were also certified by SGS as Eye Care Display by reducing blue light emission by up to 6.5%. The new technology that adjusts the wavelength of blue light from OLED reduces the portion of the harmful blue light from its entire light spectrum.
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The same report found that customers around the country have started flocking to speeds even higher than 100Mbps – with NBN 250 and NBN 1000 users increasing from 0.3% to 6.9% of the market over the course of three months.
So why are so few Aussies taking on the NBN 100 speed tier? Could a high-speed NBN plan be right for you? In this article, we're weighing up the perks and disadvantages of the 100Mbps internet offering, and assessing whether it's worth the jump from NBN 50.
When comparing two of our most-recommended NBN providers for these two speed tiers – Spintel and Tangerine – we found that the difference in price over the first year between a 50Mbps and a 100Mbps connection was much smaller than we expected.
Over the first twelve months, Spintel's NBN 100 plan works out at AU$953.70, compared with the company's NBN 50 plan, which weighs in at AU$743.70 – a AU$210 difference. Adding a modem to either plan will cost an extra AU$158 upfront.
For Tangerine, the first year on its NBN 100 plan sets you back AU$988.80, while its NBN 50 option costs AU$748.80 over the same time span – a AU$240 difference. Each plan costs an extra AU$130 to have a modem included.
With Spintel's NBN 100 plan, you’ll get a discount on your first six months with the service, so you’ll first pay AU$74 a month before the price reverts back to the standard AU$84.95. Even once the initial discount ends, it’s still one of the cheapest options you’ll find in this tier. For the price, you’ll be getting the best typical evening speed possible at 100Mbps.
Like Spintel above, Tangerine's NBN 100 plan doesn't work out considerably more expensive than its NBN 50 offering over the first year, costing just AU$74.90 monthly for the first half, then AU$89.90 afterwards. The typical evening speed is 92Mbps, which is still solid for this speed tier and compares well with the competition.
Total minimum cost is AU$74.90
Who needs the speed?
As their titles suggest, NBN 100 offers twice the possible download speed of NBN 50, with a maximum rate of 100Mbps compared with 50Mbps.
Generally speaking, the NBN 50 speed tier is recommended for households of two, while four or more residents should go with NBN 100. While this is a good ballpark guide, the amount and type of internet usage should influence your decision above all else.
For households using multiple simultaneous streaming services during peak hours, NBN 50 may not cut the mustard, and if you're in a household with stuttering and pausing while watching Netflix or Disney Plus shows, then NBN 100 may well be worth the upgrade.
For gamers, and upgrade to NBN 100 is unlikely to bring a big improvement to ping time or resolve issues with lag – unless those issues are caused by other users in the same household flooding the connection. If you suspect the latter is the case, then upgrading to NBN 100 could well provide the extra bandwidth you need.
The main NBN 100 upgrade advantage for gamers will come in the form of faster downloads; a 100Mbps connection will be much quicker to download both games and patches, conceivably cutting the time taken by 50%. With today's games sometimes stretching over 100GB in size, that could literally mean hours saved – to download a game of that size, a 50Mbps connection will take almost 4 and a half hours, while a 100Mbps should take around 2 and a quarter hours.
As with any purchasing decision, the 'better' option won't be better for everyone. For light internet users, households of two that stream and don't plan to use it for anything more intensive, NBN 50 is likely to be more than enough.
But for anyone currently running into congestion or that wants their download time drastically cut down, the extra AU$200 or so per year is certainly a small price to pay for double the download speeds – particularly in the context of a plan that already costs around AU$750 annually.
NBN 50 plans
NBN 100 plans
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