TRMNL • OG
Purchase the OG TRMNL → and use code SSP10 for $10 off your order.
Sometimes the best tech isn’t flashy—it’s invisible. It gets out of your way and just quietly makes your life better. That’s exactly what TRMNL is trying to do.
TRMNL is a 7.5-inch E Ink dashboard built to reduce screen time and deliver useful info at a glance. No apps. No notifications. No blue light. Just quiet, ambient clarity.
Let’s get into what it is, why it matters, and how well it actually works.
What Is TRMNL?
At its core, TRMNL is a minimal digital dashboard that lives on your desk, shelf, or wall. It’s powered by an E Ink display—so the same low-power, easy-on-the-eyes tech you find in Kindle screens—and shows bite-sized updates like the time, weather, calendar, to-dos, or even your YouTube stats.
You control what it displays, when it refreshes, and how it’s styled. It’s kind of like your phone’s home screen… without the distractions of the phone.
TRMNL was designed as an antidote to doomscrolling. Instead of unlocking your phone 100 times a day for simple info, this device gives you “clarity at a glance.” And it does it in a calm, battery-efficient, no-fuss kind of way.
Thoughtful Design, Lightweight Build
TRMNL uses a 7.5” 800x480 E Ink display. It’s not ultra-HD, but it’s meant for simple, glanceable info—not watching Netflix. The E Ink panel gives it a papery, printed feel with very little glare or power draw.
Physically, the whole thing is lightweight and minimal. There’s a USB-C port for charging, a small multi-function button on the back, and a power switch. You can stand it up using the included kickstand or mount it on the wall with the built-in hook.
There are a few color options—black, white, sage gray, and a limited-edition wood finish. I grabbed the sage one, which looks more gray in person than on screen. But overall, it blends into your space really nicely.
How It Works
The setup is surprisingly simple. TRMNL connects to WiFi, and you manage everything through a web-based dashboard accessible from your phone or computer (as long as it’s on the same network).
The way it works is you create a “playlist” of screens—weather, time, calendar, Bible verse, you name it—and the device cycles through them at intervals you choose. I have mine refreshing every 5 minutes, but you could do every 15, 30, hourly, or even just display a single screen all day.
All data is pushed to the display from your dashboard, not pulled from the cloud in real time. That means no background snooping or data collection. Privacy-wise, it’s locked down.
You can skip to the next screen using the button on the back, or even put it in guest mode for shared environments like a meeting room.
Battery Life That Lasts for Months
The base model comes with an 1800mAh battery, good for around four months of usage depending on how often it refreshes. There’s also a $10 upgrade option for a 2500mAh battery, which bumps that up to six months. That’s wild.
And again, since this is E Ink, it only uses power when it changes the screen—so once something’s displayed, it just sits there with zero battery drain.
Infinite Customization Through Plugins
What makes TRMNL special isn’t just the hardware—it’s the ecosystem. You can plug into an ever-growing library of community-made widgets (they call them “plugins”) to display whatever matters most to you.
Weather? Done. Google Calendar? Yep. Bitcoin wallet, stock tickers, Apple Photos, ChatGPT, Todoist, and more. There’s even a verse-of-the-day plugin, which is what I use daily.
And if you know how to code, you can make your own via REST APIs, Liquid templates, HTML/CSS/JS. For the rest of us, there’s plenty to pick from already.
Dashboards Built Your Way
Within the dashboard, you can combine multiple widgets into a single screen layout. For instance, my “mashup” dashboard has the time, how many days are left in the year, and my calendar—cleanly laid out in one view.
You can create multiple dashboards, group them into playlists, and even change how often individual widgets update. I updated my weather plugin to refresh every 15 minutes so it’s always current when I glance over.
It’s nerdy, but in a good way.
Who Is TRMNL For?
Honestly? Anyone who wants to spend less time on their phone. TRMNL is great for creators, office workers, teachers, or anyone who wants a passive way to stay up to date without being pulled into the vortex of apps.
You could easily mount one outside a conference room to display meeting info. Or put one on your kitchen counter with the day’s schedule. Or keep it on your desk to cycle through weather, to-dos, or inspirational quotes.
The device is quiet, slow in the best way, and kind of a joy to use. And the fact that you can build and customize dashboards to your exact needs makes it feel like a digital tool with a soul.
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The base TRMNL runs $139, and the limited editions are $154. Is it cheap? Not really. But for a purposeful, community-driven tool that saves you time and reduces distractions, I think it’s worth it.
And honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if prices go up as the company grows. They’re clearly invested, the product is solid, and the community around it is growing fast.
I’d love to see more screen sizes in the future, maybe even one with touch controls. But even as it stands, TRMNL is one of the most unique and genuinely helpful devices I’ve tested this year.
