Modos: E Ink display supports impressive 75 Hz refresh rate

Modos Paper Monitor is an E Ink display that comes in two sizes, 6 inches and 13.3 inches. The highlight here is the high refresh rate of 75 Hz, which is unusual for an E Ink monitor and so should be sufficient for the display of moving content. A big drawback, however, is that the monitors cannot display color. On the other hand, its design as an open hardware e-paper monitor allows it to be configured and used in a variety of ways, which should appeal to engineers, product designers, programmers and the like.

The 13.3-inch version has a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200, while the smaller 6-inch version has a resolution of 1,448 x 1,072. The CrowdSupply campaign does not offer finished products, but rather developer kits that contain a motherboard and the actual display. Image content transmitted either via HDMI or USB-C, and an FPGA controller is installed on the motherboard. This is essentially open hardware, allowing users to make extensive customizations themselves, and compatibility with macOS, Windows and Linux is advertised. However, there are certain limitations that potential buyers should consider before purchasing, such as the lack of touchscreen functionality and backlighting.

The 6-inch Modos Paper Dev Kit is priced at $199 and the 13-inch version at $599. Delivery is scheduled for January 2026. Since this is a crowdfunding campaign, there is no guarantee that supporters will receive their orders.