Electronic paper, the low power screen technology used in many e-readers, shows images by moving tiny particles rather than lighting up pixels, so it uses almost no energy to hold a still image and is easy on the eyes. Color versions long lagged behind black and white, but in 2026 they have improved enough for signs, shelf labels and a new wave of readers.
These displays refresh slowly and cannot match the brightness of a normal screen, so they suit reading and static information rather than video. Their strength is battery life measured in weeks and comfortable reading in sunlight, which keeps them useful for a specific and growing set of jobs.