M5Stack CoreInk is a compact ESP32 E-Ink development kit built around the ESP32-PICO-D4 and a 1.54-inch 200 x 200 black-and-white E-Ink display. The M5-K048 kit is designed for electronic label, IoT terminal, portable status display, and low-refresh dashboard projects where the screen should remain readable with very low power consumption.

Unlike an LCD, the E-Ink screen on M5Stack CoreInk can keep displayed content after power is removed. This makes the CoreInk ESP32 controller a strong choice for an electronic label, an asset tag, an instrument status panel, or a battery-powered IoT terminal that updates only when new information is needed.

The M5Stack CoreInk integrates 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, 4MB Flash, a 390mAh lithium battery, BM8563 RTC, programmable button, reset button, power button, green LED, passive buzzer, built-in magnet, HY2.0-4P port, M-BUS female connector, and HAT expansion. As a low power E-Ink controller, the M5-K048 ESP32 E-Ink development kit gives developers a ready hardware base for portable information screens.

Features

ESP32 E-Ink development kit: ESP32-PICO-D4 dual-core processor, 240MHz main frequency, 600 DMIPS, 520KB SRAM, 4MB Flash, and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
Low power E-Ink display: 1.54-inch GDEW0154M09 black-and-white E-Ink screen with 200 x 200 resolution, 184 DPI, and nearly 180-degree viewing angle.
Retained display content: the M5Stack CoreInk screen can keep the last image after power is removed, which is ideal for electronic label and IoT terminal applications.
Portable power design: built-in 390mAh battery, BM8563 RTC, and sleep/wake support help the CoreInk ESP32 controller run low-refresh field tasks.
Local interaction: programmable button, reset button, power button, green LED, passive buzzer, and dial-style control support compact HMI designs.
Expansion ready: HY2.0-4P port, M-BUS female socket, and HAT expansion make the ESP32 E-Ink development kit suitable for sensors and external modules.
Easy mounting: built-in magnet helps the low power E-Ink controller attach to shelves, panels, cabinets, and temporary test fixtures.

Specifications

SKU	M5-K048
Product	M5Stack CoreInk
SoC	ESP32-PICO-D4 dual-core processor, 240MHz
DMIPS	600
SRAM	520KB
Flash	4MB
Wireless	2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Input Voltage	5V @ 500mA
Interfaces	USB Type-C x 1, HY2.0-4P x 1, M-BUS female socket, top HAT expansion interface
E-Ink Display	GDEW0154M09, SPI interface, 1.54 inch, 200 x 200, 184 DPI, 1-bit black and white display, 2 grayscale
Viewing Area	27.6 x 27.6mm
Dot Pitch	0.138 x 0.138mm
Refresh Time	0.82s full refresh, 0.24s partial refresh
Physical Buttons	Programmable button x 1, reset button x 1, power button x 1
LED	Green LED x 1
RTC	BM8563
Buzzer	Passive buzzer x 1
Antenna	2.4G 3D antenna
GPIO Breakout	G25, G26, G36, G23, G34, G18, G21, G22, G14, G13
Battery	390mAh @ 3.7V
Operating Temperature	0~60C
Enclosure Material	Plastic PC
Product Size	56.0 x 40.0 x 16.0mm
Product Weight	31.5g
Package Size	80.0 x 45.0 x 20.0mm
Gross Weight	42.6g

Applications

Electronic label and shelf tag projects where fixed information should stay visible without constant power draw.
IoT terminal dashboards for sensor values, device status, environmental readings, and field maintenance prompts.
Portable ESP32 status displays that need Wi-Fi, battery power, RTC wake-up, and a low power E-Ink controller.
Industrial instrument display panels, equipment tags, inventory labels, and simple on-device operation notes.
E-book, low-refresh message board, and compact data logger display prototypes using the CoreInk ESP32 controller.

Product List

1	M5Stack CoreInk
1	USB Type-C cable, 20cm

Resources

M5Stack CoreInk Documentation
CoreInk Schematics PDF
ESP32 Datasheet
BM8563 Datasheet
SY7088 Datasheet
GDEW0154M09 E-Ink Display Specification
M5Unified Arduino Library
M5GFX Graphics Library
CoreInk Factory Test Example
CoreInk Factory Test EasyLoader

FAQ

What is M5Stack CoreInk best for?

M5Stack CoreInk and M5-K048 are best for electronic label, IoT terminal, portable status display, asset tag, and low-refresh ESP32 projects that benefit from a readable E-Ink screen.

Does the E-Ink display keep content after power loss?

Yes. The low power E-Ink controller can retain the displayed image after power is removed, which is why the M5Stack CoreInk works well as an electronic label or low-refresh IoT terminal.

Can CoreInk be expanded with sensors?

Yes. The CoreInk ESP32 controller provides HY2.0-4P, M-BUS, and top HAT expansion interfaces, so sensors and M5Stack modules can be connected for data display projects.

What should I avoid when using the E-Ink screen?

Avoid long-term high-frequency refresh and extended ultraviolet exposure. For this ESP32 E-Ink development kit, the recommended refresh interval is 15 seconds per refresh.

Why choose CoreInk instead of an LCD controller?

Choose M5Stack CoreInk when the project needs a display that remains readable between updates with lower power consumption than a continuously driven LCD. It is especially useful for electronic label, IoT terminal, and battery-powered information screens.

SKU:US31209553 Category: electronic components

Description