The next generation ePaper display terminals are the reTerminal E1001 and E1002, which are both powered by the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, allowing them to have built-in WiFi and Bluetooth LE support, as well as sufficient processing power to use in an IoT application, a dashboard, or a home automation system. Both are low-powered, continuously running models where power consumption is important and the display is clear.
The most important distinction between the two is their displays. The reTerminal E1001 includes a 7.5-inch ePaper 4-level grayscale monochrome display at 800×480 resolution, suitable for text and simple graphics, and low-power signage. The reTerminal E1002 also has a display of 7.3-inch full-colour E Ink Spectra 6 (6-colour, 800×480 pixels), which can display richer visual content, like charts, photos, and multi-colour dashboards. The two displays use very little power when idle, drawing energy only during their refresh cycles.
Battery life is another major strength. The two models will last up to three months based on light usage with a 2,000 mAh rechargeable battery and deep sleep modes, as well as because of the efficiency of ePaper itself. This is because they are ideal in the situation where recharging is not always feasible, e.g. smart home displays, digital signage, or remote monitoring dashboards.
Beyond the screen, the devices share a robust set of features. Both feature 32 MB SPI flash, a microSD slot (up to 32 GB), a temperature and humidity sensor, a microphone and an alerting buzzer, user buttons and LEDs and an expansion header with GPIO and I2C. Power input is provided via USB-C (5V/1A), and the compact units measure about 176 x 120 x 53 mm with their stand, slimming down to just 17 mm without it.
On the software side, Seeed offers the SenseCraft HMI platform, a no-code tool for building dashboards and interactive interfaces. For developers, the reTerminal series also supports Arduino, ESP-IDF, and integration with platforms like Home Assistant and TRMNL, offering flexibility for both beginners and advanced makers.
I previously covered the XIAO 7.5-inch ePaper Panel, which Seeed Studio developed. This smart display, powered by the XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller, seamlessly integrates with a smart home system. You can check it out for your reference.
The reTerminal E1001 and E1002 are available from Seeed Studio and distributors worldwide. You can purchase the E1001 (monochrome) for $69, while the E1002 (full-colour) is available for $99. Regional prices vary, such as $143.29 and $193.60 in Australia through Pakronics. Both models are currently in stock at Seeed Studio and partners like OpenELAB and Pakronics, with global shipping options available.