The Inkplate line of devices are programmable, WiFi-ready E Ink displays that can be used for a variety of applications. With prices starting at $99, open hardware designs, and screens that are recycled from older Kindle eReaders, the project ticks a lot of boxes for hardware hackers looking for a low-power, high-contrast display.
Now the folks at e-radionica are getting ready to release a new model that’ll be the first with a display that’s front-lit and it’s also the first to support touch input. The Inkplate 6Plus is available for pre-order from Crowd Supply for $159 and up, and it should begin shipping to backers in November, 2021.
Like the original Inkplate 6 (which was introduced in 2019) and last year’s larger model, the InkPlate 10, the new model features a recycled Kindle screen attached to an all-in-one board with an integrated ESP32 microcontroller, WiFi, and Bluetooth as well as a microSD card reader for storage.
The new model consumes as little as 22 μA of power while sleeping, but thanks to the E Ink display, it can show a static image indefinitely and only wake when it’s time to change the contents of the screen.
While the Inkplate 6PLUS does not have a built-in battery, you should be able to plug in a USB power bank for weeks or even months of battery life on a charge. Or you can just plug it into the wall using a USB power adapter.
The USB port can also be used for programming – the Inkplate 6PLUS supports Arduino libraries, allowing you to turn the screen into a digital art frame, an info panel, or anything else.
Compared with the original Inkplate 6, the new 6PLUS has a higher-resolution display, support for 2-point multitouch input, and a front-light. It also consumes slightly less power while sleeping, and while the per-pixel screen refresh rate is higher, it does take a fraction of a second longer to fully refresh the display since there are more pixels.
Here’s a comparison of all Inkplate models to date:
Inkplate 6PLUS | Inkplate 6 | Inkplate 10 | |
---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | 6″ | 6″ | 9.7″ |
Resolution | 1024 x 758 | 800 x 600 | 1200 x 825 |
Total number of pixel | 776,192 | 480,000 | 990,000 |
Touchscreen | Yes | No | No |
Front-light | Yes, controllable | No | No |
All-in-one Board | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Low-Power Mode | 22 μA | 25 μA | 22 μA |
Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Battery Charger | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MicroSD slot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Greyscale | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Partial Update | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Refresh Time | ~1.35 s | 1.26 s | 1.61 s |
Refresh Time per Pixel | ~1.74 μ | 2.63 μs | 1.62 μs |
The $159 price tag gets you an InkPlate 6Plus electronic paper display, board, touch panel, and backlight. You can also pay an extra $20 for a version that will ship with a 3D printed enclosure.
Or if you don’t need the new features, you can pick up one of the older models – the original Inkplate 6 sells for $99 and up, while the Inkplate 10 starts at $139.
This article was originally published April 30, 2021 and last updated June 2, 2021.Â