E-Ink displays are finally having a moment, here’s why
When it comes to display technology, the two biggest and most prolific technologies are LCD and OLED. E-Ink is a completely different approach to creating images on a screen, but no one thinks of it the same way as LCD or OLED.
However, E-Ink technology has constantly improved and there are now E-Ink displays that come close to something you might consider an alternative to that of your phone or laptop.
A twenty-year success story
The development of E-Ink technology has been quite slow compared to most modern technologies. The idea of e-ink has been around since the early 2000s, and it started as a slow gray-on-gray screen that struggled to find a market.
Ultimately, it was the e-reader that allowed E-Ink to survive and invest money in further development. Products like the Amazon Kindle or the Rakuten Kobo have found a solid niche. Excellent sunlight readability, battery life of weeks or even months, and lack of eye fatigue have made E-Ink a modern substitute for paper books.
Since then, modern E-Ink displays have continued to promote higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and now even color. There are now E-Ink displays fast enough to display real-time animations and even videos.
Color and speed changed what is possible
There are now E-Ink platforms, like the Gallery 3, that can update the display in just 350 milliseconds for grayscale images and color transitions that occur in less than a second. This is still much slower than an LCD screen, but it’s fast enough to significantly improve interactivity.
7/10
- Brand
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Boox
- Storage
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128 GB
- Processor
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Octa-core 2.8 GHz + BSR
- Operating system
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Android 13
There are also experimental projects, like Modos, which have shown LCD-like performance with a 75Hz E-Ink display fast enough to play a video game.
Samsung Color E-Paper and E Ink Spectra 6 Signage allow for large, vibrantly colored signage. So one day we might see widespread use of large E-Ink displays for advertising or for things like construction signs.
E-Ink grows and diversifies
Although large E-Ink display panels are a great and futuristic path forward for this technology, advancements in E-Ink technology are helping it branch out in many different directions.
For example, Dasung has started offering color computer monitors that you can buy for your desktop computer. It “only” offers a 33Hz refresh rate, but that’s fast enough for live text editing with all the visual contrast benefits of E-Ink.
There are even E-Paper smartphones, although the technology is far from ready to take center stage in mobile phones.
The rise of sustainable, distraction-free technology
Writers, students, and coders are rediscovering the importance of slower, quieter tools. E-Ink fits perfectly into this mindset: no blue light, no notifications, no endless scrolling: just the task at hand. I don’t see E-Ink displays replacing LCDs or OLEDs tomorrow, but I can definitely see myself using one of these monitors as a secondary display.
People are also becoming more aware of their energy consumption, and appliance manufacturers are taking note. Even video game consoles like the PlayStation 5 have optional power saving modes to cater to these types of customers.
E-Ink monitors can both significantly increase battery life and reduce power consumption of plugged-in systems. It could also prove to be the ideal display technology for smartwatches, which don’t strictly require the capabilities of OLEDs or LCDs.
From niche curiosity to mainstream competitor
E-Ink displays will not replace LCD or OLED technology, but there are many applications where they would be better or even complementary. Remember the MacBook’s Touch Bar? It’s an OLED strip, but it could very well be a high-refresh E-Ink display if Apple or another company wanted to give the concept another chance.
When Valve introduced its new Steam Machine, complete with a customizable front panel, one of the potential mods (which isn’t for sale) was an E-Ink screen that showed live stats from the machine.
These types of E-Ink mods are becoming increasingly popular with modders and those who enjoy playing with single board computers and microcontrollers like those in the ESP32 family. There are many wonderful E-Ink projects out there, even ones that are great for beginners.
I also expect that investments in large format E-Ink displays will continue to flow in, and this technology could literally change the look of our world. From exterior and interior signage of public spaces to the interiors of our homes. Thanks to E-Ink technology, the future may look more like Harry Potter with his moving photos and paintings, which Blade Runnerwith its bright neon signs.
Now I just need the price of these E-Ink displays to come down so I can create my own smart home screens. Maybe I’ll even get the chance to do some in color one day.
