A $48 DIY display kit developed by Seeed Studio in collaboration with TRMNL offers users a customizable, always-on screen that requires no subscription fees.
Building a Passive Home Display
The author previously built a similar device by modifying a liquidated Lenovo ThinkSmart View purchased for about $30 on eBay. Although that device runs a fork of LineageOS, its limited RAM makes it sluggish, leading to the switch to the TRMNL e-paper kit.
Unlike products such as Apple’s $299 HomeView hub, which is designed for family interaction, the TRMNL kit serves as its antithesis. The passive e-paper display remains continuously active on a desk or in a kitchen, cycling through calendars, weather updates, news, and various community-created ideas.
Origins of the TRMNL Platform
TRMNL was established as a platform company in 2023 by indie hardware enthusiast Ryan Kulp, with its initial e-paper device launching through crowdfunding in 2024.
The hardware is supplied by Seeed Studio, an established open hardware company based in Shenzhen that is widely recognized for its XIAO microcontroller boards.
