Daylight DC1 First Look: Out Of The Darkness

We still need computers; we just need them to be calmer. So goes the pitch from a new company called Daylight, whose DC1 promises a “new kind of computer, designed for deep focus and wellbeing.”
To tech geeks, it might come off as a shameless cash grab; to Ashwagandha-eating earth biscuits, the perfect way to fight screen addiction. To me, it’s an opportunity to spend an intentional afternoon away from my other screens on Governor’s Island. No press junket; no sponsored travel - just a three-minute boat ride from my South Brooklyn apartment with two pre-production samples and one question on my mind: does this so-called “Kindle on crack” really change the way I compute?
[ABOUT MRMOBILE'S DAYLIGHT DC1 FIRST LOOK]
MrMobile's Daylight DC1 First-Look/Hands-On was produced following one week with two pre-production DC1 review samples provided by Daylight.
MrMobile does not offer manufacturers the opportunity to preview, edit or approve content before publication. Neither Daylight nor any other manufacturer provided compensation in exchange for this coverage.
[LINKS]
World's first 60+ FPS e-paper display | Daylight [S3]:
• World's first 60+ FPS ...
Smartphones May Affect Sleep-but Not Because of Blue Light [WIRED]:
www.wired.com/story/blue-ligh...
Daylight Computer: Design and Hardware Q&A [Design Theory]:
kzbin.info7TdBub1B9QQ
This Computer Eliminates Eye Strain | Anjan Katta:
• This Computer Eliminat...
‘A myth and a business’: Inside the real Silicon Valley with Tod’s NO_CODE [Gentlemans Journal]:
www.thegentlemansjournal.com/...
The World’s First Blue Light Free Computer | Anjan Katta & Tristan Scott:
www.tftc.io/worlds-first-blue...
[CHAPTERS]
00:00 Strain
01:57 Ordinary tablet, extraordinary display
04:04 Why would you want a screen like this?
05:57 Promise (& promises)
09:12 The competition
10:29 Not for me - but maybe for you
[SOCIALIZE]
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/ captain2phones
threads.net/themrmobile
threads.net/captain2phones
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[DISCLOSURES]
This post may contain affiliate links, which afford Future plc a commission should you make a purchase. This does not affect MrMobile’s editorial content. See Future's disclosure policy for more details:
www.futureplc.com/terms-condi...
Additional information concerning MrMobile’s ethics policy can be found here:
mrmobile.tech/ethics
#daylight #dc1 #tablet #android #rlcd #kindle #epaper #eink #displays

[@itchylol742]

i like the reviews of more niche and specialized tech, keep up the good work!

[@ChristopherPoitras]

I like these too even though companies like this will probably be out of business in a few years.

[@ThatsPety]

I respect you for talking that much to the ceo and still saying the brutally honest conclusion you said

[@AtulVinayakS]

The writing on Mr Mobile's videos are top notch

[@AdamJRichardson]

Mr Mobile on tech and Tom Voelk on cars are the best writers and editors (of text and video) on KZbin. So tight and economical.

[@ak_hoops]

facts

[@Design.Theory]

Thanks for the shout out. I loved hearing your perspective in this review!

[@TheMrMobile]

My pleasure - your video was very informative and I appreciate you sharing stories from the design process! Link for those interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYXHc6iYZqdsh7M

[@chrisdufford3759]

So cool to see a familiar face here! Great product, John!

[@Design.Theory]

@@chrisdufford3759 thanks emt chris!

[@MikeOBrienMedia]

"so called kindle on crack" really got me hahaha As usual, great video! Nobody does it quite like MrMobile

[@janpul1590]

It's insane right, his video's don't feel like product video's, they just feel natural. No idea how he does it.

[@thefrener794]

Nonsense just buzz words to make you think it is edgy and deserving of the high price. 200 dollars at most.

[@TylerWoodfin]

Hoping for the best for your cat!

[@MaiElizabeth]

Me too ❤❤❤

[@mistermagnifico]

Came for product review stayed for the narrative

[@lilrowbear]

I’m really happy to see matte screens and e-ink screens become more popular. I don’t think this Daylight v1 will be the device to get me to switch, but maybe a v2 once they iron out some of the issues.

[@hdtravel1]

They need to get the price way down !!!

[@_lisan_al_gaib]

this isn't e-ink, it's misleading, even now people are getting misled by this product

[@idle_sheep]

This isn't e-ink!! It's a reflective LCD screen (meaning it has no backlight but instead uses the light around you to illuminate the screen), the same kind of screen that was on the gameboy advance 20+ years ago. It's important to distinguish because e-ink has many advantages (amazing battery life and paper-like eye feel probably being the bigger ones) that this device does not have. This device is a compromise between e-ink and regular lcd displays, trying to achieve a similar look to e-ink while not having the downside of slow refresh rate.

[@Natsukashii1111]

Tcl nxtpaper is way ahead of this crap. Reflective color screen in a competent tablet, not a 100$ tablet sold for 7 times the price to tech bros.

[@TischTosh]

True, wish TCL was highlighted!

[@NathanBudd]

You are without a doubt the best script writer on KZbin. So expertly eloquent. A genuine joy to listen to! Glad you're back.

[@kingzach74]

So true. Could also be why his videos take so much longer than other KZbinrs though. Definitely worth the wait of course.

[@ziginox]

When I first saw the announcement, I had a feeling that it might be a reflective LCD. While using that tech itself isn't revolutionary, making it at such a high pixel density while maintaining contrast is impressive. The kindle-like frontlight layer is also a hell of a lot better than the one on my old Palm m515, where I first fell in love with the tech.

[@mrgw98]

I was thinking GameBoy and GameBoy Color, but PDAs are a great example too. It felt kind of weird for it to be touted as a new invention when it really is more of a refinement of a screen technology that has existed for decades now.

[@ziginox]

@@mrgw98 oh yeah, same tech as the GBC, thankfully it seems more reflective than the original GBA! I still hold the m515 in high regard. In an era before the Kindle, I read many books on that device. The color was a bit washed out for sure, but it was at least sunlight-readable in an era where backlights were lacking.

[@shiorinyan]

Yeah. Reflective LCD is pretty nice, and while I personally much prefer e-ink (Mostly, because it feels more comfy to *me*, and low refresh rate is a non-issue), its always nice for other methods... of achieving such things, to be developed, and put out on the market. More choice, always nice.

[@Natsukashii1111]

Reflective lcd is already sold by other companies in color too. This to me is just selling several times the price to tech bros something that already exist better.

[@vvvvvvvvvwv]

@@Natsukashii1111 Which other tablet has a reflective LCD?

[@jacobpierce2548]

“The strain of existing in 2024” I felt that

[@squirtle88]

As someone who only uses tablets for personal use occasionally, this is a nice middle ground between e-ink and bright/glossy LCD and OLED devices, great battery battery life and easy to see outdoors while still being able to watch an occasional youtube video is huge in my opinion.

[@zeeshanzia7480]

Question is would u or how many people would buy for 799 ?

[@something.with.m]

Your alliteration will forever be legendary! I think you're one of the only KZbinrs that really puts thought, passion, and energy into their scripts. As a writer myself, I really think it's time to (if you haven't already) start putting together a book that chronicles your journey through tech over the last two decades and how it has impacted u not just technologically, but also socially, physically, mentally, and emotionally - that last one being an important point to highlight given your love for nostalgia in tech. It may start off as a passion project, but may very well become a bestseller!

[@AnthonyMartinez6567]

When ever I see a notification for Mr mobile I runnnnnnnnn sometimes I don’t even care about specific products it’s just the aesthetic of his amazing videos just sets the day for success! lol love the work brother!

[@insertnamehere6559]

There is actually some compelling evidence of fraud on Rabbit's part in Coffeezilla's deep dive into the company, unfortunately

[@robster7787]

This particular review is weirdly reminiscent yet refreshing. It reminds me of your time back when you worked with PocketNow. Structure, organization, pacing, it reminds me of your iPhone 6s review specifically.

[@gormauslander]

LCDs used to refract sunlight. From a $7 Walmart watch to the Gameboy advance. There's no reason they can't keep doing that, and I'm really interested in seeing this technology appreciated enough to continue development.

[@startedtech]

To be fair, the game boy advance was fairly bad at reflecting light all things considered...

[@m4t7eo]

Devices of old, with passive matrix displays did reflect light (that's why all the old Nokias had an always on display, showing time and notifications) but they had real bad contrast under passive light. Modern passive LCDs (like the one here, the ones in the Garmin Instinct series, some sport GShocks, the old Pebble, the Playdate) are in a whole other ballpark. As far as clarity and contrast go, I'd say they look like an eink from a few generations back.

[@No_True_Scotsman]

​@@startedtechThe Game Boy Advance screen reflected less light than a black hole

[@timg2727]

*reflect

[@GinsuSher]

Funny you mentioned the gba. That thing was really bad at doing that. 😂

[@seth8858]

MrMobile's titles and thumbnails are underappreciated imo. Artsy and elegant, and not click-baity in the slightest. The whole channel really is a work of art 👌🏻

[@MiguelGonzalez-ku1ei]

I hope MrMobile keeps getting the views he deserves. It's no doubt one of my two favourite tech channels. It's Marques and Michael Fisher for me

[@scottishfanta]

Why did the start of this video hit home so much for me? Micheal, I swear I been watching you since i was a kid and you never cease to amaze and inspire me with your content

[@furqansiddiqui8437]

NGL The start hit differently, for a second I thought he is planning to halt KZbin for some time. Man his narration is always on point

[@compmanio36]

I'd recognize the TNG Technical Manual anywhere. A man of culture.

[@MikeStavola]

Everything about this product aside, I love the amber monochrome look of the screen.

[@mrgw98]

A lot of e-ink tablets have the same lighting system with that amber to white variable back light. Some Amazon Kindles even have it.

[@U2haveaniceday20]

Thank you so much for sharing Enjoyed. Glad that there are others enjoying peace and quiet outside.💯✌️

[@Cargo_Bay]

i hate how its frowned upon to have bezels on tablets and phones now, hah. They're great for having places for your hands or fingers to rest that doesn't touch the display.

[@TheStrategyWargamer]

Love The NX-01 Cap. Buying that next. Finishing up watching Voyager, Enterprise is next :) “Neptune and back in six minutes”

[@alliejr]

Just turn off the notifications. Android and iOS have an “off” button for a reason. My only notifications are phone calls. I check my email (and other apps) when I choose, not when the phone dings.

[@ozyman25-wn5yo]

That's the best idea. I turned off all non essential apps notifications. Just message and calls. 🤙

[@_daniel.rad_]

Literally

[@_hanz73]

Yep!! I despise random unnecessary notifs

[@GalacticStarForge42]

The IOS focus modes do that too, probably something like that on Android as well. It automatically turns on when I get to work or college by location and I don’t get any notifications except for the few people I set to hear from.

[@kingrhoam93]

At this day and age, I tend to prefer videos that are scripted as essays. This is why Mr. Mobile is BY FAR my favorite creator in all the platform. I literally have a WPWF playlist to which I fall asleep to. Kudos Michael!

[@RMILLSMMA]

Another shockingly entertaining review. Honestly you're really head and shoulders above others in this form factor of review / 1st impressions video. 😲

[@kingzach74]

Why does Michael Fisher only have 1.25 Million subscribers? He really should have WAY more, given he has the BEST written videos of any KZbinr on the planet. His like one of those introspective writers of television programs that are like documentaries. But done in such a way as to not be monotone like a lot of crappy documentaries, instead being a joy to watch and listen to. Just the right amount of passion and joy imbued to keep you awake and at the same time relaxed.

[@NikKotov]

This was the first Android tablet I purchased. It’s like you said - an intentional device, on a similar scope as the kindle.

[@derekisthematrix]

Thank you for the summary statement at the end of the video Michael. You nailed it.

[@Nems271]

I get the philosophy behind it. I get so bombarded by work, customers family and friend notifications, not to mention other random mail stuff that I have even turned my notifications off on my smart watch. I could really see my self having a much more polished version of this. (I really conected with the sentiment of the intro).

[@MiguelRPD]

$729. I'm sorry but this is going to fall. Selling me a "device away from your device" isnt going to fly at that price.

[@patsmith1129]

I love the video! You should do a series of more of these intentionality/offline products :)

[@kevinmikulaj]

Another great review. I appreciate your style and delivery method. Keep up the good work.

[@MrPatonMarshall]

I like where they're going with this tech and see it being a lower powered less eye straining alternative in retail and restaurant applications. I hope they grow and iterate in positive ways. A tablet could be just the beginning to something bigger.

[@pawepiat6170]

It's missing the LTE modem so much! The best use case for it is reading the web. Current e-ink tech doesn't do scrolling well, and no website is optimized for paged use. I read on my commute, be it blogs, news, books, or even reddit, and eink ebooks only do the book part well. Ofc, some color capability for the web wouldn't hurt. This could be *the* reading device.

[@CropdusterMiller]

Great vid, glad you still stick with your guns on reviews like you did years ago. Looking forward to seeing your coverage on the Light Phone III too.

[@rayansailani4465]

the writing of these videos is just insane, loved every second of this review :)

[@themasterstech9077]

Mr mobile sincerity I will always appreciate. Fan since pocketnow

[@TechBoi68]

Excellently jnformative and entertaining as per usual, looking forward to seeing your coverage on the light phone 3 when it drops, liking more and more the idea of making a phone a phone again and not an all in one entertainment and social media device

[@steve86sabas]

Michael, thank you for constantly introducing these fringe tech products. I am super interested in this device and will follow its development.

[@coscorrodrift]

I learned about it on twitter, some people i follow have been raving about it, glad to see your review and to hear some comparisons to other stuff.

[@mundo472]

Always enjoy your prose and very thorough and thoughtful reviews, Michael!

[@Specz187]

As a 3rd shifter who uses black out curtains to sleep during the day i love that both my zflip4 and kindle paperwhite have the blue light filter. It really works, my eyes feel way less strained when i turn on dark mode and the filter. I believe the phone does grayscale mode but at that point id stop using my phone and just go to bed lol idk about this tablet but glad to see your videos popping up in my recommendations again after 6 months.

[@Watcheswhileeating]

Always a good day when a MrMobile video drops! 😊😊

[@furqansiddiqui8437]

I wasn't feeling well but watching the video with that narration, for some reason just made me feel a lottt better The script is immaculate........AS ALWAYS 💯

[@Webinthamind]

Wish you the best tiur reviews are crisp to the point and transparent.

[@diasporadica]

Its a brilliantly written video. I like the idea behind the product, the fact that we acknowledge how distracting our digital lives have become and that there is movement in the tech industry towards solving it. Maybe some product in future will be able to suceed in helping us regain our focus.

[@mrnobodytonoone]

LOVE your script!!! It is so refreshing, like cold marg at a beach on a hot summer day!

[@Clockwork_Planet]

Holy cow, Slashdot! I didn't know it was still a thing. Your video prompted me to log into my old (circa 1999) account and fall down the rabbit hole.

[@ThomasWong]

Buy the cheapest iPad, turn on Grayscale colour filter, turn on Night Sight, put on a matte screen protector, boom - Daylight DC1. 🤯

[@adrianteri]

The opening to this is just awesome!

[@tynanpurdy]

So glad to finally see a professional reviewing this

[@TheJunky228]

I like the e-paper-like lcd display. I'd actually probably find it really cool to get that sort of display on my phone or desktop. it'd be really really cool if they sold/licensed the tech so that drop-in replacements could be produced and installed into devices designed for normal lcd screens. like if I could get an epaper-like display for my xz1compact and swap it in, that would be sweet

[@MikkoHiiri]

Always excited to see your content!

[@psychoboogie2]

great overview, have a nice shortcut for monochrome and turning off connectivity to focus on iPad. was thinking the same thing...

[@KontrolStyle]

4:29 a proud user of blue light glasses for computer use, they were $12 bux; like magic my eye strain was gone. I hate having to wear glasses, but it helped me use the computer again.

[@captjc]

I’ve been using Gunnar glasses for over 10 years. Those things work great for me. Back in the CRT days everyone thought I was weird for using actual sunglasses when I was on the computer.

[@Danominator]

This is the most unremarkable year for technology so far, and that's AFTER the AI buzzword took over...what a shame.

[@davidconnor5874]

Right. If you just look at the content of this channel and MKBHD's, it's noticable that they've branched out their subject matter, the flow of new products is dry right now.

[@ingusmant]

I seen worse, and we're in a recession

[@Danominator]

I'm frankly glad that this year of dryness has allowed Michael to branch out. It's fun laughing at AI pins but I find his personal content more interesting.

[@sshah2545]

AI worth having doesn’t happen in a year. Look at Siri, it’s taken her like 12 years to grow a brain

[@Danominator]

Imagine using Siri as a competent example lmao, and it's gonna get even worse with that AI 😓

[@maxpayne69.]

That silky smooth refresh rate on an e-ink display looks surreal & awesome!

[@Cromuland]

It's not an e-ink display. It's a customized LCD screen

[@bestechYtBotBH]

I would never get a daylight DC1, either way, MrMobile made this video a absolutely entertaining experience. This has to be in my top favorite youtube videos 😊

[@DrFumi]

I didn't hear you bring it up at all, I'm curious if you have any plans to check out the Super Note? I've fallen in love with my Nomad since I've gotten it, and it's whole gimmick is a very high refresh rate E-Ink display, to mimic the feeling of writing as much as possible.

[@Lord_Reset]

Having checked out the super note, it's hard to see any path forward for eink versus what daylight has with Livepaper. It's just... that much better!

[@RobertKirkpatrick84]

Id buy this as a Kindle replacement, but not for more than 300. They are going to have to either figure out a way to lower prices, or get acquired by Amazon to be able to produce in mass quantities to lower prices

[@JJ-cq6hu]

Lessssssgooooooo!!!! I never thought Mr. Mobile will review this!!!

[@menturinai1387]

I love the idea of this tablet! I really hope there is a future for devices like this.

[@cesarcantua]

Imagine a second screen on the back of your phone using this technology? That would be sick!

[@whiskeyshots]

I've got a Kindle Scribe that I absolutely love for reading ebooks, taking notes, and journaling. I could see myself replacing it with this. I'm excited to see what it's like at release. Also, he's right about the bezels, they make things more comfortable to hold, and I hold a grudge against the rest of the world for driving manufacturers to make them go away. 😁

[@ak_hoops]

Phenomenal video especially the writing

[@abdallica]

Can't wait for the Light Phone 3 review! Hope you can grab an early review unit.

[@Toguse]

Been fan of your videos, since you made it in previous channel. Then followed you here. I think in 8 years ago or so.

[@flyingpj]

Best get well wishes for your cat!!!!

[@GoldenBeholden]

I've come to trust your opinion over the years, but everything else I've seen about this product, company and founder has been giving me all the wrong vibes. Whenever they claim something about hardware, I just have to take their word for it, but when they talk software -- something I _do_ know a whole lot about -- their claims are rife with bafflingly stupid ideas.

[@alex_ob1]

Fantastic video, really thoughtful.

[@SaetronYT]

Best wishes for your cat! As a avid user of eInk Android tablets, this looks quite interesting as it fixes the around 25 images per second refresh rate of my Onyx. Though its a bit disappointing that they removed the color as that nowadays is also quite common for eInk systems. But nonetheless an interesting alternative which could be awesome for some users.

[@Desa79]

I'm sorry, but this video made me aware of the TCL Nxtpaper. It looks like a far better deal.

[@extrajava9175]

The LCD reminds me a lot of the screens on the OLPC laptop...things. Where you could turn the backlight off and it turned into a transflective, old-school gameboy display. Except this has way better contrast

[@Lord_Reset]

The display on the DC1 is awesome, it totally presents as paper but is way better. It's something you need to see for yourself in person!

[@HumblElephant]

once again, mr mobile has solidified himself as one of the BEST tech writers on this platform - like how the hell did this 12:30 video feel like 5 minutes??

[@JessicaFEREM]

I was expecting you to have installed Niagara seperately. having it preinstalled is a nice touch. Definitely my favorite launcher and any time I deal with stock or normal launchers I eventually cave and install niagara instead. I can't live without it on my phone.

[@claudiobizama5603]

For me, the main feature is already there, the screen. But I will patiently wait for a second, third or beyond, revision of this. Once everything is ironed down and with hopefully with lower price.

[@ForeverSilent004]

Transflective LCD panels need to catch on more! Moto 360 Sport had the best watch display

[@joebot86]

I really like the tablet, i like the lit by sunlight screens, i just wish it wasn't so much.

[@LetsSyncFanEdits]

Between the new watercolor-style video transitions and the ever-colorful wording of his video scripts, there's no one truly like MrMobile!

[@mrgw98]

You should look into the Eyemoo S1 and the Hisense Q5. Both are also RLCD tablets, and also have stylus support, but they come with the added benefit of also being able to display color as well. They are also both half the price of the Daylight DC1.

[@amaljoe367]

I lost it when you said it isn't e-ink

[@jh221177]

For an early product it's pretty cool the idea is genius with the right backing it would do great hope your little floof ball gets well soon I have 2 cats and our eldest is 16 we always worry but he's been doing fine

[@tyronepalma3854]

As somene who lives in a sunny country but likes working outdoors, i do like this idea quite a lot. It doesnt match my personal use case, but i can easily see how it'll could be very useful to some

[@red-clad-vlad]

I'd love one for sketching. Regular sketchbooks are inconvenient for my current workflow, but, something slim and simple I can always pull out to draw, that can send instantly to my desktop is amazing Really need to try the pen myself though

[@alwaysasn]

Thank you Michael, I was hoping for a way to run away from AOL chimes.

[@TangoAndToys]

Thank you for the mention of Onyx Boox tablets. Yes it's e-paper, so you don't get the smooth scrolling. But at least there's a history with Onyx as a company to know you'll get software support. I'd be shocked if Daylight lasts a full year. Assuming they actually ship.

[@louisthecat4332]

Very interesting review, thanks

[@meric12131415]

Ahhhh I love that typewriter keyboard 😁 it pairs wonderfully with the dc1

[@boywoofie]

I’m sensing this device will walk so others can run.

[@GabrielRocha-po9fz]

I want this display on a low cost android tablet. Period. 60Hz in a 10" screen without eye strain is exactly what I need for reading PDFs and this technology delivers it.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

The TCL mix paper does seem to be a solution given that it's relatively low cost and you can get it on phone

[@STKSOUND]

love the vibe of the bright orange full screen, need more tech like this (make it 3 times cheaper tho)

[@Lord_Reset]

Yea the amber is beautiful, and on the price, definitely. It's fully custom display hardware and that is not even close to cheap so it's perfectly understandable.

[@ricardo.chaverra]

That display looks lovely, I wish there was a phone with good specs and a display like that

[@TJKoopa3018]

Honestly this product does look quite appealing and that lightphone also looks fascinating. But I do agree that sometimes, unplugging from the endless online feeds is way harder to do than it is to say. While I don’t think I need a device like the DC-1 to help me achieve that, it’s a helpful reminder that we can control what we take in. Also I hope that beginning isn’t a foreshadowing to the future of the channel. Think I need to do another Mr. Mobile binge session🤔 in all seriousness, best to you, your kitties, and everything going on around you. I’d be sad to see you have to give up all of this.

[@MrMiddleWick]

Nothing better to combat the over reliance on gadgets of all sorts than to acquire a new expensive gadget, eh?

[@TamaraGirodie]

Huh. This turned out to be far deeper than a tablet review, and I agree with, well, everything you said. Keep taking care of yourself and your family Michael, best wishes to you all!

[@marenjones6665]

ooh. this sounds awesome. I love my Samsung Note tablets, especially for drawing, but this sounds great. I'd love to see this screen tech on a phone or smartwatch, too!

[@AlteranKing]

That screen is incredible and is exactly what I would want on a tablet device. Here's to hoping they can iron out the bugs and drop the price a bit.