The E Ink Frame That Doesn’t Know When to Quit

Since we all carry high-quality cameras around with us in our pockets everywhere we go these days, we tend to have lots of photos in our digital albums. But most of these thousands of images end up staying locked away in our phones, never to be seen again. They get buried in piles of digital clutter, lost in a sea of screenshots, duplicates, and forgotten moments that now simply take up storage space.

Digital photo frames were supposed to be the solution to this problem, but that has not panned out in reality. The most likely place you will come across a digital frame these days is in the bargain bin at a second-hand shop. The digital frame concept may be a good one, but in practice, no one wants to have to keep their photo frames plugged in or have them cast the harsh, bright light of an LED display.

A new kind of digital frame called PICPAK has recently emerged on Kickstarter. This super-thin gadget uses a color E Ink display to be easy on the eyes and replicate the look of a good, old-fashioned photo print. It was also designed to be incredibly energy efficient. It comes equipped with an onboard battery that can go for more than a year between charges, so you won’t need to worry about cords or electrical outlets with PICPAK.

The frame comes standard with a fold-out stand and a magnetic backing, which allows it to be placed just about anywhere without a hassle. It is small enough to slip in a pocket, so PICPAK can even come along with you if you want to share some pictures with family or friends.

PICPAK has a 4.2-inch color E Ink display that requires no energy to maintain its state after an image has been drawn to it. The 550mAh rechargeable battery lasts up to 400 days, and the device only weighs in at 69 grams. The internal storage can hold about 500 to 600 images.

Using the onboard Wi-Fi radio, the PICPAK can do more than just display pictures. It can also display stock updates, recipes, news, or even memes downloaded from the internet. On the productivity front, PICPAK can also be used to take voice memos or display a to-do list.

Shipments to backers of this campaign are expected to be delivered in January of 2026. Rewards start at just $49, which seems pretty reasonable given all of the device’s features. Check out the Kickstarter page for the full details.