The gist of it: there’s a certain logic to color e-paper gaining traction as an alternative to cardboard or heavy stock paper displays. There’s less of a need for e-readers, even though they are probably better for reading than tablets or smartphones, but users really don’t care about the long-term effects of display fatigue. However, the improvements in performance, color, and general utility of e-paper is beginning to open up new market opportunities.
E Ink is expanding its ecosystem by collaborating with BOE Technology Group and MediaTek. BOE will integrate E Ink’s e-paper display technology into its electronic shelf label systems, while MediaTek has integrated E Ink’s e-paper display driver software into its IoT platform. The partnerships aim to accelerate the adoption of e-paper displays in various IoT devices and meet the evolving needs of the e-paper market, which is expected to reach around $4.51 billion by 2025.
E Ink is showcasing its sustainable e-paper solutions at Touch Taiwan 2023, including the IGZO backplane technology developed by Sharp and E Ink. This technology can improve resolution and increase page-turning speed, resulting in energy and power savings for e-readers. The Sharp e-Note, an 8-inch e-reader that uses E Ink Gallery 3 colour e-paper technology, will also be on display. It can display over 50,000 different colours, which is achieved through a four-particle ink system: cyan, magenta, yellow, and white, allowing a whole colour gamut at each pixel.
E Ink believes that the use of IGZO backplane technology in e-paper displays will broaden the scope of e-paper applications, offer a more comprehensive range of energy-saving e-paper solutions, and position the company well for future growth. High-resolution e-paper displays offer several advantages over traditional displays, such as high readability in sunlight and flexibility, making them ideal for ESLs, digital signage, intelligent labels, and wearables. E Ink actively engages with module partners to offer customers the best colorful e-paper products in different sizes.
