eInkCal Mark II Review: A Calendar You Read, Not Just Scroll Through? Or Just a Blank Page in Waiting?

Remember this one? The einkCal Mark II crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo platform. It promised something bold: a paperless, distraction-free smart calendar built on dual 13.3 color e-ink panels. Not another glowing rectangle. Not another app. But a living wall calendar that updates quietly with your Google calendar, weather widgets and custom layouts. So the big question remains: Is einkCal a hidden gem waiting to be discovered or a concept destined to stay on the drawing board? Let’s get to the reviews and find out.

Overview of the Project

The einkCal crowdfunding campaign told backers it would be open-sourced to the core, firmware, schematics and even 3D files were released to the community. But despite it’s futuristic pitch, the crowdfunding reality has been stark: only 2 backers, $260 AUD pledged, and 0.7% of it’s $35,000 AUD funding goal raised. With 38 days left. traction is nearly invisible. The campaign positioned itself as the world’s first smart color e-ink calendar. Unlike tablets or wall-mounted screens, it aimed to be:

Glanceable: No tapping, no apps, no alerts
Low-power: Months of battery life like a wristwatch
Open-source: For hackers, makers and tinkers
Purpose-built: Designed for walls, not pocket

This wasn’t pitched as a gadget, it was pitched as a lifestyle shift, a quiet replacement for the paper wall calendar that hasn’t evolved in decades.

A Smart Calendar with Soul, or Just Clever Marketing?

The pitch wasn’t about flashy tech. It was about creating a calm, distraction-free scheduling hub that blended into your space. But without visible traction, can such a niche idea actually survive the crowdfunding gauntlet?

Display: A Double E-Ink Promise

Dual 13.3 full-color panels, large, clean and readable.
No blue light, no glare, no eye stain
Perfect for calendar layouts and widgets
Reality Check: Color e-ink is still slow and expensive. Refresh rates and vibrancy remains questionable.

Battery Life: Months, Not Days

One of the strongest promises:

Measured in months battery life, thanks to e-ink’s low power draw
Plausible but only W-fi syncing and widgets dont drain it

For wall use, this is crucial. If it needs weekly charging, the dream breaks.

Sync & Widgets: Useful or Laggy?

Google Calendar sync which is a strong selling point.
Live weather widgets, layouts and themes add utility
Customization: Open source firmware and themes for tinkers

But here’s the catch:

Will it be smooth and intuitive for everyday users, or is this product only coders will love?

Build & Longevity: Adelaide-Made Minimalism

Designed in Adelaide with open hardware principles
Goal: long-term reliability, community driven upgrades
Unknowns: durability, mounting options, weather resistance

If it gets built, it could be a minimalist showpiece. But so far, it’s still in the protrotype stage.

Campaign Traction: Hype vs. Silence

Despite it’s unique pitch, backers response is nearly non-existent.

2 backers, $260AUD pledged, 0.7% funded
Nearly zero Marketing reach
Ambitious goals including a custom e-ink driver chip, but little proof of scalability

This feels less like a failed product and more like a project that hasn’t found it’s audience.

Backers, Your Turn

If you’ve discovered einkCal Mark II, we want your take:

Would you hang a dual color e-ink calendar on your wall?
Do you believe in the open-source approach?
Is this worth backing now, or better left to mature later?
Would you trade apps and screens for a calm, always-there smart calendar?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. Because sometimes, the quietest campaigns need the loudest voices.

Final Thoughts: Blank Slate or Hidden Gem?

The einkCal Mark II is one of the most unusual crowdfunding pitches in years. It’s not loud, it’s not trendy, but it’s thoughtful, purposeful and genuinely original.

If it works: