Inky Frame 7.3″ is a Raspberry Pi 7-Color ePaper display with wireless connectivity, and RTC for IoT Projects

Pimoroni has recently launched Inky Frame 7.3-inch, a Raspberry Pi 7-color ePaper display built around the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W MCU. This 7.3-inch e-ink screen features an 800 x 480 resolution and advanced color ePaper (ACeP) technology that supports black, white, red, green, blue, yellow, and orange.

Key features include dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 and RISC-V processors, 520 KB SRAM, 8 MB PSRAM, 4 MB flash storage, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.2, Micro USB connectivity, a microSD card slot, two Qwiic/STEMMA QT connectors, a battery connector, five LED-equipped buttons, and an RTC chip for power-saving modes. Measuring 176.20 x 139.20 mm, it offers flexible mounting options with included metal legs and an optional accessory kit. Preloaded with MicroPython, it supports Wi-Fi connectivity and comes with examples for easy setup, making it ideal for energy-efficient, battery-powered applications.

We have previously written about various e-paper displays, including Inkplate 6PLUS, the TTGO T5, the M5 PaperS3, and many others. Feel free to check those out if you are looking for e-paper or e-ink displays.

Inky Frame 7.3-inch Display Specifications

• Main MCU: Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz and Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz
• Display: 7.3-inch E Ink display
• Resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
• Color Support: 7-color ACeP (black, white, red, green, blue, yellow, orange)
• Memory: 520 KB on-chip SRAM, 16 KB on-chip cache, 8 MB PSRAM
• Storage: 4 MB QSPI flash with XiP support, microSD card slot
• Wireless: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.2
• USB: Micro USB 1.1 (host/device) for power and programming
• Buttons: 5 tactile buttons with LED indicators, 1 reset button
• Real-Time Clock: PCF85063A RTC chip for deep sleep/wake functionality
• Power Supply: 1.8V to 5.5V DC-in via Micro USB, 2-pin battery connector
• Expansion: 2x Qwiic/STEMMA QT I2C connectors
• Indicators: Power LED, Wireless indicator
• Dimensions: 176.2 x 139.2 mm (overall), 170.2 x 111.2 mm (display), 160 x 96 mm (usable area)
• Operating Temperature: 15°C and 35°C

The Inky Frame 7.3″ comes preloaded with MicroPython, which makes the development process easier. The board also supports Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W’s built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with examples available for quick setup. The company provides various code examples on its GitHub repository, making it usable for developers to get started quickly. More information can be found on its wiki page.

The Inky Frame 7.3″ e-paper display costs $94.50, or $104.90 with an accessory kit that includes a stand, battery pack, and microSD card. While searching for a Raspberry Pi 7-color ePaper display on AliExpress, I found the ACeP 7-Color E-Paper with Solid Wood Photo Frame with stand batteries for just $88. You can also check that out if you are looking for something low-cost.

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