REETLE SmartInk I

Most iPhone cases do one job, protection, and often add bulk while doing it. REETLE SmartInk I tries to do more. According to the maker, it combines a portable E-Ink reader, AI transcription and summarization, one-press recording and a smart to-do display in a single case. The name blends "Read" with "Beetle," a nod to both the paper-like screen and a shell meant to protect like a beetle's carapace.

A second screen on the back

The E-Ink panel is the centerpiece. The maker positions it as a to-do display you can check without waking the iPhone, a place to show QR codes or business-card details, and an e-book reader that stays legible in sunlight while sparing the phone's own battery. The pitch is aimed at people who currently carry a Kindle or similar device alongside their phone.

Record, transcribe, summarize

A dedicated button on the case starts recording with a single press. The maker says the audio is then transcribed automatically by AI and condensed into a summary, with the example of pulling next tasks, owners and deadlines out of a project meeting. Recordings, transcripts and to-do lists can be viewed and edited in the Reetle mobile app, which connects over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and also delivers software updates.

Thin, by the maker's numbers

• Battery thickness: under 1mm
• E-Ink display module: under 1.5mm
• Overall thickness: under 4mm (also described as 4mm)
• Protection: described as military-grade, with corner guards and tempered glass
• Charging: dedicated cable; can be charged alongside the iPhone

The developers say they used AI-assisted simulation and structural verification to balance thinness and durability. On battery life, the campaign states that with about an hour of e-book reading per day, a single charge could possibly last from several days to around a week, an estimate rather than a firm rating, since E-Ink draws power only when the screen refreshes.