3 Unexpected Uses for E Ink Display Technology

E Ink ePaper displays are best known for eReaders and digital signage, but their true potential extends far beyond traditional use cases. As industries prioritize low-power displays and eye-friendly screens, E Ink is enabling new product categories that rethink how and where displays belong.

Here are three unexpected uses for E Ink technology that demonstrate how ePaper is shaping the future of design, hardware, and user experience.

Source: TRMNL

1. TRMNL: A Distraction-Free Information Display

TRMNL is a modern example of how E Ink displays can function as ambient information systems rather than attention-grabbing screens. Built around an E Ink display, TRMNL provides glanceable access to essential information such as calendars, weather, tasks, and custom data feeds without notifications, animations, or blue light.

Why E Ink Works Here:

• Ultra-low power consumption
• Paper-like readability works in bright or indirect lighting
• No backlight reduces eye strain and cognitive load

Instead of replacing smartphones or tablets, TRMNL redefines the role of displays, using E Ink to create calm, intentional interfaces designed for focus and presence.

Source: Gamers Nexus

2. Valve and the Rise of Customizable Gaming Hardware

High-performance gaming is often associated with fast refresh rates and vibrant color, but secondary display surfaces tell a different story. As companies like Valve explore modular and customizable Steam hardware, E Ink becomes a compelling option for use cases like persistent system information and customizable device surfaces or rear panels.

Why E Ink Is a Strategic Fit:

• Displays remain visible when powered off
• Power is only consumed when content changes
• Enables personalization without impacting performance

E Ink doesn’t compete with high-refresh gaming displays, it complements them, adding usability and customization while preserving battery life.

Source: Reetle

3. Reetle SmartInk: A Secondary E Ink Display Built into a Phone Case

The Reetle SmartInk iPhone case demonstrates how E Ink can transform everyday accessories into functional display surfaces. This innovative phone case integrates an ePaper touchscreen on the back of an iPhone, creating a secondary display for reading, productivity, and glanceable information.

What Makes It Unique:

• Displays notes, calendars, QR codes, and boarding passes without waking the phone
• Supports reading and reference content with reduced eye strain
• Uses its own battery, preserving smartphone power

Instead of adding more screen time, Reetle SmartInk adds more surface utility, turning the back of a smartphone into an always-visible, low-power information display. E Ink enables multi-display experiences without increasing distraction, power consumption, or visual fatigue.

Why These Use Cases Matter for the Future of Displays

Across productivity tools, gaming hardware, and mobile accessories, these examples show that E Ink is most powerful when information matters more than motion, enabling displays that are calm, intentional, and always available without demanding attention.

With strengths like ultra-low power consumption, and high readability in any lighting, electronic paper displays support more sustainable, human-centered design, unlocking new possibilities in some of the most unexpected places.