Written by
Amrut Prabhu
@smarthomecircleFeatured Video
Table of Contents
I’ve been living with a 7.3-inch color ePaper panel from Seeed Studio for a bit, and I want to walk you through what it’s like to set up, customize, and actually use it day-to-day. If you enjoy the idea of a low-power, always-on status board that can show real color, this thing is fun.
Seeed Studio reTerminal E1002 Full-color ePaper Display:
Hardware Impressions
What immediately stood out to me is the build. The panel sits in a rigid metal case with a glass front, and the face is totally clean—no front logo—so it blends into a setup nicely. Despite being a little smaller than the monochrome board I used in a previous project, it feels noticeably more premium in the hand and on the wall.
Under the hood it’s powered by an ESP32-S3 with 8 MB PSRAM and 32 MB of flash, and it includes a built-in 2000 mAh battery. Around the sides you’ll find:
- Right side: microSD card slot, power switch, power & status LEDs, USB-C for power/data, and integrated temperature/humidity sensors.
- Left side: I²S and GPIO breakouts if you want to wire in external sensors.
- Top edge: a set of hardware buttons for quick interaction, plus a microphone input.
What You Can Build On It
There are a bunch of ways to program this display:
- SenseCraft HMI (Seeed’s UI designer)
- TRMNL Cloud API
- Lopaka
- ESPHome
- Arduino IDE
- EZ Studio
I experimented with SenseCraft HMI which proviodes the no-code/low-code option and ESPHome for fully local device.
If you’re the “drag-and-drop and ship it” type, SenseCraft HMI is surprisingly capable. If you want everything to run locally and integrate deeply with your Home Assistant, ESPHome is where I landed for day-to-day use.
SenseCraft HMI: No-Code, Lots of Presets
With SenseCraft HMI, I flashed the firmware, joined the display to Wi-Fi, and started building a UI in the browser—no code needed. I could:
- Create an image gallery for rotating photos
- Drop in custom UI components (cards, icons, text, etc.)
- Show an RSS feed or even render webpage content (what fits in the size)
- Use presets for weather, GitHub profile, a stock market dashboard, and YouTube subscriber count
The Data component is where it gets interesting: you point it at a public URL, select the fields you care about, and bind them to UI elements. There’s even some AI assistance for layout. I asked it to generate eight cards (each with an icon and a value), and it scaffolded the grid instantly. I then asked it to bind those cards to an API, and it handled that too—honestly more polished than I expected.
You can also surface on-device sensors—battery percentage, temperature, and humidity—right in the dashboard.
The Catch: Cloud Dependency
All of the above works great, but it does rely on cloud services. Every time the screen updates, the device fetches data from the cloud, so you’ll want a reliable internet connection. That’s fine for many use cases. Personally, I prefer local control where I can, which is why I also set it up with ESPHome.
ESPHome + LVGL: Local-First and Flexible
ESPHome now has LVGL support, so I built a fully local UI that runs on the device. That means I can:
- Keep data sources inside my network (Home Assistant, local APIs, MQTT, etc.)
- Customize exactly how the dashboard looks and behaves
- Avoid external dependencies once it’s flashed and configured
I am not good at designing UIs but I hope the following YAML config gives you a start.
esphome:
name: seeed-1002
friendly_name: Seeed-1002
on_boot:
priority: 800
then:
- delay: 2s # give LVGL a moment to init
- component.update: epaper_display
esp32:
board: esp32-s3-devkitc-1
framework:
type: esp-idf
psram:
mode: octal # typical for 8/16MB S3 modules
speed: 80MHz
# Enable logging
logger:
# level: INFO
# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
encryption:
key: "pKndtl5o895sx0Yr/eFZd7lYPUAq5KM7a3C21tKdBSk="
ota:
- platform: esphome
password: "029cc3e98743e0cd9ac053bc0e449cf3"
wifi:
ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password
manual_ip:
gateway: 192.168.0.1
subnet: 255.255.255.0
static_ip: 192.168.0.188
# Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
ap:
ssid: "Seeed-1002 Fallback Hotspot"
password: "LopDpNMkK2yC"
captive_portal:
font:
- file: "gfonts://Inter@600"
id: myFont_sm
size: 18
- file: "gfonts://Inter@700"
id: myFont
size: 24
- file: "gfonts://Inter@700"
id: myFont_28
size: 28
# ---- SPI + Display (yours, unchanged) ----
spi:
clk_pin: GPIO7
mosi_pin: GPIO9
display:
- platform: epaper_spi
id: epaper_display
model: 7.3in-spectra-e6
cs_pin: GPIO10
dc_pin: GPIO11
reset_pin:
number: GPIO12
inverted: false
busy_pin:
number: GPIO13
inverted: true
# LVGL + e-paper: don't auto-clear, do refresh periodically
auto_clear_enabled: false # REQUIRED for LVGL on displays
update_interval: 300s # try 30–60s while testing; tune later
# rotation: 0° # uncomment if orientation needs changing
image:
defaults:
type: rgb565
transparency: alpha_channel
resize: 40x40
images:
# pick your Icon from here: https://pictogrammers.com/library/mdi/
- file: mdi:thermometer
id: ic_temp
- file: mdi:power-plug
id: ic_power_plug
- file: mdi:weather-sunny
id: ic_sunny
- file: mdi:water-percent
id: ic_humidity
- file: mdi:molecule-co2
id: ic_co2
- file: mdi:flash
id: ic_power
- file: mdi:lightbulb
id: ic_bulb
- file: mdi:coffee-maker
id: ic_coffee
- file: mdi:door-open
id: ic_door
- file: mdi:light-switch
id: ic_switch
interval:
- interval: 60min
then:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: lbl_date
text:
time_format: "%a %d %b"
time: !lambda |-
auto t = id(ha_time).now();
//if (!t.is_valid()) t = id(sntp_time).now();
return t;
time:
- platform: homeassistant
id: ha_time
#------------------------- ALL Sensors --------------------
sensor:
- platform: homeassistant
id: s_card1
entity_id: sensor.server_plug_summation_delivered
internal: true
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card1_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%.1f", id(s_card1).state);
- component.update: epaper_display
# Use this to debug issues if no values are being populated.
# - lambda: |-
# ESP_LOGI("ha", "s_card1 updated: %.2f", id(s_card1).state);
- platform: homeassistant
id: s_card2
entity_id: sensor.home_climate_panel_cb_temperature
internal: true
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card2_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%.1f", id(s_card2).state);
- component.update: epaper_display
- platform: homeassistant
id: s_card3
entity_id: sensor.home_climate_panel_cb_humidity
internal: true
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card3_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%.1f", id(s_card3).state);
- component.update: epaper_display
binary_sensor:
- platform: homeassistant
id: s_card4
entity_id: binary_sensor.door_sensor_opening_2
trigger_on_initial_state: true
on_state:
then:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card4_value # <-- the door card's value label
text: !lambda |-
return x ? std::string("OPEN") : std::string("Closed");
- component.update: epaper_display
# --------- All TEXT Sensors -------------------------#
text_sensor:
- platform: homeassistant
id: s_card5
entity_id: sensor.meter_pro_co2_monitor_carbon_dioxide
internal: true
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card5_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%s", id(s_card5).state.c_str());
- component.update: epaper_display
- platform: homeassistant
id: ts_card6
entity_id: input_boolean.light
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card6_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%s", id(ts_card6).state.c_str());
- component.update: epaper_display
- platform: homeassistant
id: ts_card7
entity_id: light.light
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card7_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%s", id(ts_card7).state.c_str());
- component.update: epaper_display
- platform: homeassistant
id: ts_card8
entity_id: switch.3d_printer_switch
on_value:
- lvgl.label.update:
id: card8_value
text: !lambda |-
return esphome::str_sprintf("%s", id(ts_card8).state.c_str());
- component.update: epaper_display
# ---- LVGL UI ----
lvgl:
displays: [epaper_display]
buffer_size: 12%
byte_order: little_endian
style_definitions:
- id: st_bg
bg_color: 0x0033CC # background color
bg_opa: 80%
border_width: 0
- id: st_card
bg_opa: 100% # opaque
border_color: 0x000000
border_width: 4
radius: 12
pad_all: 10
bg_color: 0xE6C200
- id: st_topbar
bg_opa: 0% # fully transparent bar
border_width: 0
pad_left: 10
pad_right: 10
pad_top: 8
pad_bottom: 8
- id: st_title_sm
text_font: myFont_sm # your smaller font (e.g., Inter 18)
text_color: 0x000000
- id: st_title_sm_date
text_font: myFont_sm # your smaller font (e.g., Inter 18)
text_color: 0xFFFFFF
- id: st_title_md
text_font: myFont_28
text_color: 0xFFFFFF
- id: st_title # (kept for date/time etc.)
text_font: myFont
- id: st_value
text_font: myFont_28
# ----------- Accent Colors ---------------
- id: st_accent_red
bg_color: 0xCC0000
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
- id: st_accent_yellow
bg_color: 0xE6C200
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
- id: st_accent_blue
bg_color: 0x0033CC
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
- id: st_accent_green
bg_color: 0x008833
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
- id: st_accent_black
bg_color: 0x000000
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
# ----------- Icons Colors ---------------
# --- Dark circular icon background ---
- id: st_icon_wrap_black
bg_color: 0x000000
bg_opa: 100%
border_width: 0
radius: 999 # any value >= half of width/height makes it a circle
pad_all: 0
# --- icon tint styles (use Spectra-6 friendly hues) ---
- id: st_icon_red
image_recolor: 0xCC0000
image_recolor_opa: 100%
- id: st_icon_yellow
image_recolor: 0xE6C200
image_recolor_opa: 100%
- id: st_icon_blue
image_recolor: 0x0033CC
image_recolor_opa: 100%
- id: st_icon_green
image_recolor: 0x008833
image_recolor_opa: 100%
- id: st_icon_white
image_recolor: 0xFFFFFF
image_recolor_opa: 100%
widgets:
# ===== 4 × 2 grid for 800×480 =====
# columns x: 16, 211, 406, 601 | rows y: 56, 266
# each card: 183×198
# Title sits at bottom (full width, wraps). Value is nudged up (y:-30).
- obj:
id: bg
x: 0
y: 0
width: 800
height: 480
styles: st_bg
# ---------- Card 1 ----------
- obj:
id: card1
x: 16
y: 56
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_red
- obj: # icon
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_power
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_yellow
- label: # sensor value
id: card1_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label: # sensor name
text: "Server Power Usage"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163 # 183 card width - 2*10 padding
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 2 ----------
- obj:
id: card2
x: 211
y: 56
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_blue
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_temp
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_yellow
- label:
id: card2_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Temperature"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 3 ----------
- obj:
id: card3
x: 406
y: 56
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_green
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_humidity
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_white
- label:
id: card3_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Humidity"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 4 ----------
- obj:
id: card4
x: 601
y: 56
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_black
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_door
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_white
- label:
id: card4_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Door"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 5 ----------
- obj:
id: card5
x: 16
y: 266
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_red
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_co2
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_white
- label:
id: card5_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Carbon Dioxide"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 6 ----------
- obj:
id: card6
x: 211
y: 266
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_blue
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_bulb
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_yellow
- label:
id: card6_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Attic Light"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 7 (switch) ----------
- obj:
id: card7
x: 406
y: 266
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_green
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_bulb
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_yellow
- label:
id: card7_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "Bedroom Light"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
# ---------- Card 8 (binary sensor) ----------
- obj:
id: card8
x: 601
y: 266
width: 183
height: 198
styles: st_card
widgets:
- obj: # <— accent bar
width: 163
height: 6
align: TOP_MID
y: 4
styles: st_accent_black
- obj:
width: 48
height: 48
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 16
styles: st_icon_wrap_black
widgets:
- image:
src: ic_switch
align: CENTER
styles: st_icon_white
- label:
id: card8_value
align: CENTER
y: -5
styles: st_value
text: "--"
- label:
text: "3D Printer Switch"
align: BOTTOM_LEFT
x: 10
y: -10
width: 163
long_mode: WRAP
styles: st_title_sm
- label:
id: lbl_title
text: "Smart Home Circle" # placeholder text
align: TOP_LEFT
x: 10
y: 8
styles: st_title_md
- label:
id: lbl_date
text: "..." # placeholder text
align: TOP_RIGHT
x: -12
y: 8
styles: st_title_sm_date
Daily Use Notes
- Look & feel: The glass front and metal chassis make it feel like a finished product, not a dev kit.
- Buttons on top: Handy for quick actions—think “next photo,” “refresh,” or toggling a view.
- Sensors: Having temp/humidity onboard saves wiring for simple dashboards.
- Storage: The microSD card is convenient for photo galleries and caching.
- Power: The 2000 mAh battery is nice for short untethered sessions, but I mostly run it on USB-C for a set-and-forget dashboard.
Which Path Should You Choose?
-
SenseCraft HMI if you want:
No-code setup, quick wins, presets (weather, stocks, GitHub, YouTube), and AI-assisted layouts. Just note the cloud dependency. -
ESPHome if you want:
Local-first control, deep integration with Home Assistant/local APIs, and you’re comfortable writing YAML and iterating on a UI with LVGL.
Honestly, I’m happy this device supports both ends of that spectrum—start fast in the cloud if you want, then migrate pieces local as you go.
Price & Availability
The display is about $109, with shipping options from EU, US, and China warehouses.
Seeed Studio reTerminal E1002 Full-color ePaper Display: