Project update 10 of 11
Introducing the newest member of the Inkplate family: Inkplate 6COLOR
by David ZExciting news, the Inkplate family is getting a new member! The youngest of the four siblings is also the smallest, but brings to the table something its family members do not. Namely, color, seven of them, to be exact.
Inkplate 6COLOR is currently crowdfunding on Crowd Supply. It is the same easy-to-use e-paper board you’ve come to know and love with the Inkplate series. The 600x448 screen has seven colors in total, but with the built-in dithering, it renders even more realistic colors.
We observed the display’s refresh rate at around 11 seconds, as opposed to the 25 seconds specified in the manufacturer’s datasheet. It can run for months on just one battery, thanks to a low-power mode of just 18 μA (that’s lower than every other Inkplate!). Using it as simple as it gets, with the classic Arduino IDE, MicroPython, and ESP-IDF available for programming. Check more details on the active campaign page and compare it to the previous Inkplates:
| Inkplate 6COLOR | Inkplate 10 | Inkplate 6 | Inkplate 6PLUS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.85" | 9.7" | 6" | 6" |
| Resolution | 600 x 448 | 1200 x 825 | 800 x 600 | 1024 x 758 |
| Total number of pixels | 268,800 | 990,000 | 480,000 | 776,192 |
| Colors | Yes, seven colors total | No | No | No |
| Touch pads | 3 | 3 | 3 | No, touchscreen |
| All-in-one board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Low-Power mode | 18 μA | 22 μA | 25 μA | 22 μA |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery charger | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MicroSD slot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Greyscale | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partial update | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Refresh time in seconds | 25 s / 11 s | 1.61 s | 1.26 s | 1.27 s |
| Refresh time per pixel | 93 μs / 41 μs | 1.62 μs | 2.63 μs | 1.63 μs |
Like its predecessors, Inkplate 6COLOR is available without an enclosure for $99 or with a custom 3D printed enclosure for $119. We have most of the parts ready for assembly, and more are on their way.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for your support!