E-readers are evolving fast, and not just in storage or refresh rates. Many of the latest models from the biggest brands have brought color e-ink back into the spotlight, promising richer comics, covers, and illustrations without giving up that signature paper-like feel. But for every reader excited to see hues on their home screen, there’s another who swears grayscale is best.

From the Kobo Libra Colour to the Boox P6 Pro series, color displays (like Kaleido 3 panels) are on the rise. These models cater to readers who want graphic novels, children’s books, textbooks, and other visually rich content to look the way they were intended. Even menus, app icons, and book covers pop with a little color. Meanwhile, highlights and scribbles (on stylus-supported models) also stand out more vividly, which is likely why Amazon just launched a colorful Kindle Scribe, and reMarkable’s Paper Pro Move now sports a color display too.

I’ve never been shy about the fact that I’m a Pixel fanboy. Pixels are the only phones I’ve ever bought with my own money, and they’re the reviews I most look forward to writing each year. I want to try the latest software wrinkles, and I just have to know what the new hardware feels like in my hand. And usually, I’m willing to give Google a lot of grace, because I almost always want to find a reason to like its latest updates.

For once, though, I feel like Google has taken the idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” just a little too far. Google had a perfect window to grace its book-style foldable with the right mix of updates, leapfrogging the Galaxy Z Fold 7… but it didn’t. Instead, it’s given the Pixel 10 Pro Fold the bare minimum, and I just can’t get excited about it.

Samsung’s One UI skin has many valuable features, but one I recently rediscovered somehow outdates the company’s latest user interface. I’m talking about Edge Panel. This legendary feature has flown under my radar for many years, but I recently rediscovered it in my constant quest to streamline my smartphone setup. I’m so glad I tried it, as it has added significant utility to my minimalist, productivity-focused home screen.

Let me offer a brief tutorial if you aren’t familiar with Edge Panel or have never used a Samsung phone. The Edge Panel was initially rolled out on Samsung’s early Edge smartphones, which ran the much-maligned TouchWiz user interface. These devices offered a gimmicky tapered screen edge where icons were placed, effectively turning the side of the phone’s screen into a secondary display packed with shortcuts. The idea was solid, but I never appreciated the execution.