Seeed Studio and TRMNL Sell $48 DIY E-Paper Kit as $299 Apple HomeView Looms
Updated
Updated · Ars Technica · Oct 30
Seeed Studio and TRMNL Sell $48 DIY E-Paper Kit as $299 Apple HomeView Looms
2 articles · Updated · Ars Technica · Oct 30
Summary
$48 buys a Seeed Studio kit built with TRMNL that gives users an always-on e-paper display for calendars, weather, news and other passive information.
The appeal is speed and simplicity: the screen updates automatically, avoids a sluggish touch interface and does not require a subscription.
That pitch contrasts with a modified Lenovo ThinkSmart View the reviewer had used before — a roughly $30 workaround whose limited RAM made it slow.
TRMNL, founded in 2023 by Ryan Kulp, launched its first e-paper device through crowdfunding in 2024, while Seeed Studio supplies the hardware and is known for its XIAO boards.
The setup positions itself as the opposite of Apple's newly announced $299 HomeView home hub, favoring a passive display over a family interaction device.