Soldered Electronics
E-Paper
ESP32

Inkplate 5

A low-power, easy to program, open hardware and software e-paper display with Wi-Fi support and a 5.2" screen

$12,660 raised

of $10,000 goal

126% Funded! Order Below

In stock. Order now, ships within three business days.

$79 - $99

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Inkplate 5: Fully open-source, user-friendly E-Ink display

Introducing the Inkplate 5, a versatile Arduino- and MicroPython-compatible board that features a recycled 5.2" E-Ink (e-paper) display with rapid refresh times of only 0.19 seconds. This fully open-source, plug-and-play device, powered by an ESP32 microcontroller, is designed to connect effortlessly to the internet via WiFi or to other devices through Bluetooth.

Its energy-efficient design allows for ultra-low power consumption, making it capable of running for months on a single Li-ion battery charge. The Inkplate 5 is not just about power and connectivity; it’s also about convenience. The onboard microSD slot and a Real-Time Clock ensure unlimited data capabilities and precise timekeeping. The device even boasts numerous GPIO pins, allowing for easy expansion of your projects with virtually any peripheral.

There’s an option to include the enclosure and/or 1200 mAh battery. It’s super easy for beginners to use, but it’s also got loads of features and a user-friendly platform that advanced users will love too!

Our device is a fantastic entry point for those wanting to experiment with E-Ink technology, all neatly packed into a compact board.

Why Inkplate 5?

Two things: E-Ink screen and simplicity.

Inkplate 5’s e-paper panel display is a visual delight. It provides beautiful, crisp image under all conditions, including direct sunlight, that’s always-on. Its screen resolution is 960 x 540 pixels, in monochrome, with black, white and 6 shades of grey support. The most interesting bit? The E-Ink screen does not require any power in between screen updates.

Close-up of the Inkplate 5 screen resolution

Inkplate 5 does a full refresh as quick as 1.02s for full refresh and 0.19s for partial refresh. That’s 5fps, if you wish.

The Inkplate 5 is designed to be user-friendly. Usually, the E-Ink screens can be pretty challenging to use, but Inkplate solves that. Its hardware is plug-and-play. Connect it to your computer using the supplied USB cable and it just works. No complex setup or tedious configuration required.

On the software side, programming Inkplate 5 is as straightforward as the hardware. Inkplate 5 supports Arduino and Micropython out of the box. Thanks to our comprehensive Inkplate library, you can change the screen’s contents with just a few lines of code.

There is also the Peripheral mode, in which you can send commands to change the screen contents via UART. We’ll make sure every Inkplate is flashed with the Peripheral mode firmware before we ship it to you.

To answer your questions and provide all necessary information at hand, full Inkplate documentation is available online.

Inkplate 5 is available in three variations: without enclosure, with enclosure, and with enclosure and battery.

Features & Specifications

Display:

Connectivity:

Main electronics:

Power:

Physical:

What Can You Do With Inkplate 5?

With Inkplate 5, your imagination is the only limit. You can use it as a calendar, track your crypto/stocks, create a digital picture frame, report the weather, use it as a sensor dashboard, and much more. Given its programming flexibility, the possibilities are endless.

Inkplate 5 picture frame display

Here are some examples what others have done with their Inkplate boards so far:

Family calendar

Energy usage wall display

Comic streamer

And more: Smart home status display, EPub reader, Typewriter, Home Assistant dashboard, Guitar tabplate, Emails stream, and so much more what our customers had done with the Inkplates. We are excited to see what you will create with your Inkplate 5. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a hobbyist just starting out, there’s room for you in our community.

The Inkplate Legacy

The Inkplate family has been successful in the past, thanks to our incredible community of backers. The Inkplate 5 is the newest addition to this family, following several successful crowdfunding campaigns and deliveries of various Inkplate models.: Inkplate 6, Inkplate 10, Inkplate 6PLUS, Inkplate 6COLOR, and Inkplate 2.

Comparisons

Inkplate 5Inkplate 6Inkplate 10Waveshare EPDAdafruit EPDPimoroni Inky wHAT
Screen Size5.2" 6" 9.7" 9.7" 2.13" 4.2"
Resolution960 x 540 800 x 600 1200 x 825 1200 x 825 250 x 122 400 x 300
Total number of pixel518.400 480.000 990.000 990.000 30.500 120.000
All-in-one BoardYes Yes Yes Requires controller & 2 add-ons Requires controller Requires controller
Low-Power Mode18 μA 25 μA 22 μA No No No
Wi-FiYes Yes Yes No No No
Battery ChargerYes Yes Yes No No No
MicroSD slotYes Yes Yes No Yes No
GreyscaleYes Yes Yes Yes No No
Partial UpdateYes Yes Yes No No No
Refresh Time1.02 s 1.26 s 1.61 s ~6 s ~2 s ~10 s
Refresh Time per Pixel1.97 μs 2.63 μs 1.62 μs ~24 μs ~66 μs ~83 μs
Partial refresh Time0.19 s 0.25 s 0.33 s Not supported Not supported Not supported
Price$79 $109 $169 $175 $22.50 $65

Support & Documentation

Every aspect of the Inkplate 5 is fully open-source, including:

If not currently available, all open source files will be made publicly available before we start shipping to our backers.

In the Press

Electromaker

"Reasonably priced e-ink displays that have ESP32 development kits built into them."

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Produced by Soldered Electronics in Osijek, Croatia.

Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.

Inkplate 5 with enclosure

ESP32 based microcontroller board with 5.2" e-paper display and 3D printed enclosure (no battery included)

$89 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Inkplate 5 with enclosure and battery

ESP32 based microcontroller board with 5.2" e-paper display, 1200 mAh battery, and 3D printed enclosure

$99 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

Inkplate 5

ESP32 based microcontroller board with 5.2" e-paper display (no enclosure or battery included)

$79 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

USB 2.0 Cable: Type-C to Type-A (2 m / ~6.6 ft)

From the Crowd Supply Basics project.

A 200 cm cable with a USB Type-C and a USB Type-A connector.

$8 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

16 GB UHS Class 4 microSD Card WD/SD

From the Crowd Supply Basics project.

16 GB UHS Class 4 MicroSD Card

$12 $8 US Shipping / $18 Worldwide

About the Team

Soldered Electronics

Osijek, Croatia  ·   solderedcom  ·   solderedelectronics  ·   soldered.com

At Soldered Electronics, we craft custom electronic products for everyone from hobbyists to industry pros. Dive into our selection of electronic boards, sensors, and actuators—essential tools in realms like microelectronics, mechatronics, robotics, programming, and IoT. Every piece we sell is a product of our own design, grounded in open-source hardware and software.

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