Waveshare ESL Dot Matrix e-Paper Displays with BLE 5.x, NFC & Wi-Fi Featuring Ultra-Low Power Design

Waveshare has introduced a series of dot matrix ESL e-paper displays with 4-color options, which are ideal for IoT, retail, and industrial applications. These Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) support Bluetooth and NFC connectivity and can be updated wirelessly via a base station, enabling device management through Waveshare’s cloud platform.

A key advantage of ESL displays is their lightweight, cloud-based management, eliminating the need for in-store servers. By integrating the ESL communication protocol, Wi-Fi, and cloud computing, they provide a flexible, enterprise-class solution. Additionally, intelligent algorithm roaming and balancing technology ensure seamless online and offline integration.

Waveshare ESL 4-color e-Paper displays Specifications:

• Display technology: E-Paper (Electrophoretic) Display with no backlight
• Display Color: Red, Yellow, Black, White
• Display Size: 2.13″, 2.66″, 2.9″, 3.5″ (Dot Matrix)
• Resolution / Pixel Density [DPI] / Active Display Area:
  • 2.13″: 250 × 122 pixels / 130 DPI / 48.55 × 23.7mm
  • 2.66″: 296 × 152 pixels / 125 DPI / 60.09 × 30.7mm
  • 2.9″: 296 × 128 pixels / 112 DPI / 66.9 × 29.06mm
  • 3.5″: 384 × 184 pixels / 122 DPI / 79.68 × 38.18mm
• Wireless Connectivity
  • BLE 5.1 [2.13″, 2.66″, 3.5″] and BLE 5.0 [2.9″]
  • NFC near-field communication technology to achieve online and offline integration
  • NFC Open range can be up to 25-30m (radius)
  • Wi-Fi dual-band, supporting 2.4G and 5G
• Power:
  • Ultra-low power, only required for content refreshing
  • Extremely low power consumption, with a lifespan of ≥ 10 years
  • Built-in replaceable 1200mAh battery
  • Up to 5 years of battery life
• Outline Dimensions:
  • 2.13″: 71 mm x 34.7 mm
  • 2.66″: 85 mm x 41 mm
  • 2.9″: 92 mm x 41.5 mm
  • 3.5″: 101.5 mm x 50 mm
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C

The ESL series offers four e-paper display sizes: 2.13-inch, 2.66-inch, 2.9-inch, and 3.5-inch, all supporting Red, Yellow, Black, and White colors. Housed in a durable ABS plastic case, these displays feature a user-replaceable 1200 mAh coin cell battery, lasting up to five years. With a wide 178-degree viewing angle, they are ideal for price tags, shelf labels, asset tracking, and conference name tags.

The wireless BLE Base Station enables seamless image refreshing for the ESL e-Paper series. The ESL-Gateway-AP Base Station is required for updating the displays. The AP Management system monitors the base station’s status in the store and provides detailed parameter information.

We’ve previously covered several e-paper displays, including the Pine64 PineNote, Waveshare 4-inch E-Ink Spectra 6, LILYGO T3S3, INKPLATE 6 MOTION, LILYGO Mini E-Paper, Inkplate 5, and LILYGO T5 4.7-inch E-Paper. Feel free to check them out if you’re interested.

The ESL dot matrix e-Paper displays are available from Amazon and priced at $467.99 as part of a full kit with the gateway, four displays, a power supply, and mounting brackets. AliExpress is offering the same for a slightly lower $459.99. Users can also buy standalone displays from Amazon and the official Waveshare store. More information about the product setup process and other documentation can be found on Waveshare’s wiki page.

Please follow and like us: