← Back to context

Comment by Avamander

3 days ago

Yes. E-paper is a specific name/brand used for transreflective LCDs. If I remember correctly, Sharp started calling it so. E-ink and e-paper can be called electronic paper, but e-paper isn't usually e-ink and e-paper usually is LCD.

So, Pebble Time's LCD is indeed e-paper, but is not e-ink.

E-Ink is a specific company’s name which can’t be used to describe the same display technology when used by any other company.

Today e paper is widely understood to mean the display technology which companies like e ink and waveshare use for displays which don’t need power to retain an image.

You’re right that historically it’s been confusing. Historically e ink was the only company making these displays since it was all patented so using their brand name as the technology name worked better back then than it does today.