Adafruit
Adafruit 2.13" Tri-Color eInk / ePaper Display with SRAM - SSD1680Z Chipset
Best low-power display for DIY microcontroller projects.
This Adafruit 2.13" tri-color eInk display breakout makes it easy to add static, high-contrast, daylight-readable displays to your microcontroller projects. Featuring 250x122 red, black, and white pixels, it offers a paper-like appearance with zero power consumption to maintain an image. The integrated SRAM chip eliminates the need for large frame buffers on your microcontroller, simplifying development. It also includes a MicroSD socket for storing additional data and is logic safe for both 3V and 5V systems, making it versatile for various development boards.
$19.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
1
/ 30
Best E-Book Reader Screens & Screen Digitizers
Price vs Category Average
-66%
Below average
Display Size
2.13
/ inches
Who it's for
- Engineers building long-lasting, battery-powered portable devices
- Designers needing high-contrast alerts and color-coded information
- Developers using microcontrollers with limited onboard memory
Who should skip it
- Users requiring real-time data or fluid video playback
- People sensitive to visual flickering during screen updates
- Budget-conscious hobbyists seeking simple plug-and-play display solutions
Performance breakdown
Power Efficiency
Retains images indefinitely without drawing any additional electrical current.
Visual Clarity
High-contrast output remains perfectly legible even under direct sunlight.
Integration Ease
Onboard SRAM removes the burden of managing complex frame buffers.
System Compatibility
Logic-safe design works seamlessly with both 3V and 5V microcontrollers.
Data Storage
Integrated MicroSD socket provides ample room for external asset storage.
Build Quality
Comes fully assembled and tested for immediate, reliable project deployment.
Key Specs
Display Size
2.13 inches
Resolution
250x122 pixels
Colors
Tri-Color (Red, Black, White)
Chipset
SSD1680Z
Onboard Memory
SRAM
Storage
MicroSD card socket
Logic Level
3V or 5V safe
Interface
SPI
Features
- Zero power consumption to maintain image
- Daylight readable display
- Integrated SRAM for simplified frame buffering
- MicroSD card slot for data storage
- Logic level safe for 3V and 5V microcontrollers
- Onboard 3.3V regulator with enable pin for power saving
- Comes assembled and tested
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise this tri-color eInk display for its exceptional reliability and superior software support. The integrated SRAM is a key feature, significantly improving buffering and partial updates, which enhances the user experience despite ePaper's inherent refresh limitations. Reviewers value the black, white, and red palette for creating high-contrast, striking interfaces ideal for low-power applications. Adafruit's excellent documentation and robust CircuitPython and Arduino libraries simplify integration considerably. While priced higher than generic options, the consensus is that the premium build quality, integrated components, and unparalleled software ecosystem fully justify the investment for projects demanding dependable, readable performance.
Know before you buy
No. One of the primary benefits of eInk technology is that it requires zero power to maintain a static image. You only need to supply power when you are updating or refreshing the display content.
Yes. The breakout board is logic-level safe, meaning it can interface directly with both 3V and 5V systems without needing external level shifters.
The onboard SRAM acts as a buffer for the display data. This is particularly helpful if your microcontroller has limited RAM, as it prevents you from needing to store the entire frame buffer in the microcontroller's own memory.
The MicroSD slot allows you to store images, fonts, or other data files locally on the display module. This is useful for projects that need to cycle through many different images without taking up space on your microcontroller's flash memory.
eInk displays are designed for static information rather than video. Updating the screen typically takes a few seconds, as the physical particles must shift to form the new image.
Yes. Unlike traditional LCD or OLED screens that can wash out in bright light, this ePaper display is highly reflective and performs exceptionally well in daylight, offering a paper-like reading experience.
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