E-paper applications are experiencing rapid expansion across industries, with major developments in consumer electronics, retail, and signage sectors. Amazon introduced four new Kindle models, including its first color e-reader, to capture holiday sales. Walmart is deploying ESL systems across US stores, driving smart retail adoption. Variable-color e-paper is nearing commercialization, with large-format billboards projected to boom by 2025. E Ink Holdings is pivotal in these developments, providing essential materials for consumer electronics, retail, and signage innovations.
Amazon unveils first color Kindle
In October, Amazon unveiled four new Kindle models, marking the most extensive update to the Kindle lineup in years. The launch includes the 12th-generation Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, second-generation Kindle Scribe, and the all-new Kindle Colorsoft, the brand's first color e-reader.
Color e-readers surged in 2024, and though Kindle Colorsoft isn't the first, its launch is significant. Featuring a 7-inch oxide-backplane display, it delivers higher contrast and faster page turns. Priced at US$280, it aims to capture holiday sales across North America and Europe.
Retail sector drives widespread ESL adoption
Smart retail adoption is accelerating, with major retailers in Taiwan and the US embracing ESL. Walmart launched a nationwide ESL rollout in mid-2024, set to continue through 2026, with projected demand reaching 400–500 million units over three years.
Simple Mart is installing ESL across 800+ stores in Taiwan, with completion expected by mid-2025. The NT$450 million (approx. US$14 million) investment will make Simple Mart the most extensive ESL adopter among Taiwanese retailers.
According to E Ink's data, over the past seven years, over 1 billion ESL units have been installed worldwide. With recent large-scale retail deployments accelerating adoption, the market is entering a period of rapid expansion. Projections estimate that ESL shipments will reach 300 million units in 2025, driven by growing demand for smart retail technologies.
Variable-color e-paper edges closer to market launch
Variable-color e-paper is moving toward commercialization, with applications in cars, smart toilets, robots, laptops, smartphones, and handbags. E Ink's collaboration with Belgian luxury brand Delvaux will introduce a limited-edition handbag by mid-2025, signaling its market availability.
Transsion is adopting E Ink Prism 3 for smartphones, enabling color-shifting rear panels. Presented at CES 2024, this technology offers flexible designs with low power usage, positioning it for upcoming consumer devices.
BMW's i Vision Dee concept integrates Prism 3 panels for real-time color changes. The automaker plans to adopt the technology in production vehicles by 2027, demonstrating Prism 3's versatility across automotive and consumer electronics.
Major manufacturers are adopting full-color e-paper billboards, with key players like Sharp and Philips already implementing the technology. Samsung Electronics has also committed to integrating it, with products expected to launch by 2025.
E Ink expanded into a new facility with its H5 production line, focusing on e-paper billboards. The wider capacity is expected to lower costs, driving broader adoption by 2025.
Billboards to become E Ink's 3rd growth pillar
E Ink plays a pivotal role in the retail sector's adoption of electronic shelf labels (ESL), with its e-paper technology enabling remote updates, reducing labor costs, and improving operational efficiency. Walmart's large-scale ESL rollout, aiming to install millions of units by 2026, highlights E Ink's importance in driving smart retail innovation, according to Good e-Reader.
Through partnerships with integrators like SOLUM and SES-imagotag, E Ink has cemented its market position and emerged as a key enabler of sustainable retail solutions. Its expansion into digital signage with innovations like Spectra 6 offers vibrant, eco-friendly displays, aligning with global trends toward sustainability and supporting continued market growth.
Beyond consumer electronics applications and ESL, e-paper advertising displays are set to become E Ink's third growth pillar. These displays will complement ESL solutions in retail, further boosting growth momentum. E Ink is actively developing these three pillars to establish a solid foundation for future expansion.
E Ink reported NT$3.096 billion in revenue for September, up 0.5% from the previous month and 25.3% year over year, the highest in 21 months. Revenue for the third quarter of 2024 hit NT$9.189 billion, a 20% quarter-over-quarter and 34.7% year-over-year increase, marking the best performance in 12 years.
E Ink's revenue for the first nine months of 2024 reached NT$22.488 billion, up 5.6% year over year, reflecting recovery from inventory adjustments. Growth is forecasted to continue through the fourth quarter and into 2025.
