The Pixoo-64 and TRMNL sit on opposite ends of the small-desk-display spectrum. One is a full-color 64x64 LED panel built for pixel art, animations, and visual personality. The other is a monochrome e-ink screen designed to show information quietly and sip battery for weeks. They are not really competitors — they serve fundamentally different ideas of what a desk display should do.
This comparison breaks down exactly where each display wins, where it falls short, and which type of setup each one fits best — so you can spend your money on the technology that matches how you actually use your desk.
A full walkthrough of the Pixoo-64's features, pros, cons, and how it compares to other desk displays.
Quick Overview: Two Display Technologies, Two Different Goals
Before getting into the details, here is the core difference in one sentence: the Pixoo-64 is a canvas for visual expression, while TRMNL is a dashboard for information. The table below maps out where each one stands across the dimensions that matter most.
| Feature |
Pixoo-64 Full-color pixel art LED display 
|
TRMNL E-ink dashboard display |
|---|---|---|
| Display technology | 64x64 full-color LED panel | Monochrome e-ink screen |
| Refresh rate | Fast — smooth animations | Slow — refreshes every few minutes |
| Animation capability | ✓ GIFs, pixel animations, scrolling text | x Not supported (e-ink flash prevents motion) |
| Color | Full RGB color | Black and white only |
| Information density | Pixel-level — great for art, basic for text | High — crisp small text, charts, calendars |
| App ecosystem | Divoom App — 1M+ community designs | Plugin platform with community API |
| DIY creation | Custom pixel art via app, image-to-pixel converter | Custom plugins via API for data panels |
| Power | USB-C always plugged in | Battery — lasts weeks per charge |
| Price | $129.99 | ~$215 (device + 1 year service) |
| Best for | Pixel art, animation, desk personality, social counters | Information dashboard, low-power display, offline data |
The comparison makes the fundamental split clear: if your desk needs color and motion, the Pixoo-64 is the obvious choice. If you want a screen that shows useful information and then gets out of the way for weeks at a time, TRMNL does that better. Let's look at what each technology actually feels like in daily use.
Full-Color LED vs E-Ink: What the Technology Actually Feels Like
The Pixoo-64 uses a 64x64 grid of individually addressable RGB LEDs. Each of the 4,096 pixels can display any color in the RGB spectrum, and the panel refreshes fast enough to show smooth animations. In practice, this means you can display a looping GIF of a retro game character, a scrolling text banner, or an animated weather widget — and the motion looks fluid, not choppy. The trade-off is that the LEDs need constant power, so the Pixoo-64 stays plugged into a USB-C port at all times.
TRMNL uses electronic ink — the same display technology found in e-readers like the Kindle. E-ink works by physically rearranging tiny black and white capsules on the screen surface. The result is a display that looks like printed paper: no backlight, no glare, and excellent readability in bright ambient light. But the refresh process takes a full second or more and produces a visible flash across the entire screen. TRMNL compensates by refreshing only every few minutes, which is fine for a weather panel or calendar but makes animation impossible.
Who benefits from LED: Anyone who wants their desk to feel alive. If you enjoy pixel art, retro gaming aesthetics, or just having a small screen that shows something visually interesting, the Pixoo-64 delivers that experience directly. The color and motion are the point — not a bonus.
Who benefits from e-ink: Anyone who wants information without visual noise. If your goal is to glance at the weather, your calendar, or a stock ticker without a glowing screen competing for attention, TRMNL's paper-like display does that better. The lack of color and animation is a feature, not a limitation, for this use case.
Animation and Visual Impact
This is where the two displays diverge most sharply. The Pixoo-64 can display frame-by-frame pixel animations — the kind of looping art that makes a desk feel personalized and fun. Through the Divoom app, you can browse over one million community-created designs, upload your own GIFs, or draw pixel art directly on your phone and push it to the display. The Pixoo-64 also supports live social media counters for YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram, which update in real time.
TRMNL cannot do any of this. E-ink technology requires a full-screen flash to change what is displayed, which makes smooth animation physically impossible. You can change the layout of a dashboard panel, but each update takes a second or more and involves a visible refresh cycle. This is not a flaw in TRMNL's implementation — it is a fundamental property of how e-ink works.
If animation, color, and visual creativity matter to you, this round goes to the Pixoo-64 without question. If you specifically want a screen that does not draw attention to itself, TRMNL's restraint is exactly what you are looking for.
Information Density and Readability
TRMNL wins this category. E-ink screens can render small, crisp text that is easy to read even at a distance — similar to reading a printed page. A single TRMNL panel can display a full daily calendar, a detailed weather forecast with hourly breakdowns, a multi-line to-do list, or a custom data visualization with fine-grained text labels. The information density is significantly higher than what a 64x64 pixel grid can achieve.
The Pixoo-64 can display information too — weather icons, clock faces, social media counters, and Pomodoro timers are all built into the Divoom app. But at 64x64 pixels, the text is chunky and limited. You can read a clock or see a weather symbol, but you cannot fit a detailed calendar or a multi-line data table on the screen. The Pixoo-64 is designed to be looked at, not read from.
App Ecosystem and DIY
Both displays offer paths to customization, but the ecosystems work very differently. The Pixoo-64 connects to the free Divoom app (available on iOS and Android), which provides access to a community gallery of over one million pixel art designs. You can browse by category, favorite designs, upload custom GIFs, and use the built-in pixel art editor to draw your own creations. The app also manages widgets like clocks, weather, and social media counters. No coding is required — the creative tools are visual and approachable.
TRMNL takes a developer-first approach. Its plugin system lets you build custom data panels using an API. If you want to display data from a specific service — a project management tool, a crypto tracker, a home automation system — you can write a plugin that fetches that data and renders it as an e-ink layout. This is powerful for technically inclined users, but it requires more setup than browsing a community gallery and tapping "apply."
The ecosystems reflect the core philosophy of each product: Pixoo-64 lowers the barrier to visual creativity, while TRMNL lowers the barrier to custom information display. For help with either product, the Divoom product manual covers setup, app configuration, and troubleshooting for all Divoom displays.
Power and Placement
The power difference is significant and affects where you can place each display. The Pixoo-64 requires a constant USB-C power connection — there is no battery. This means it needs to be near a power source, whether that is a USB port on your computer, a wall adapter, or a powered USB hub. The upside is that the display is always on, always showing your art or widgets, with no need to manage battery life.
TRMNL runs on battery and can last weeks between charges because e-ink only consumes power when refreshing. This means you can mount it on a wall, place it on a shelf, or put it anywhere in your home without worrying about a nearby outlet. The trade-off is that the screen does not update continuously — it refreshes on a schedule you configure, typically every 5 to 15 minutes.
For a desk setup where power is readily available, the Pixoo-64's always-on nature is an advantage. For a wall-mounted display or a spot far from any outlet, TRMNL's battery life wins.
Which Display Fits Your Setup
Choose Pixoo-64 if:
- You want color, animation, and pixel art as a visual feature of your desk
- You enjoy browsing community designs or creating your own pixel art
- You want live social media counters, animated clocks, or GIF displays
- You have a USB-C power source available on or near your desk
- You prefer an app-driven experience with no coding required
Choose TRMNL if:
- You want a quiet information dashboard with high text density
- You need battery-powered placement away from outlets
- You prefer a paper-like, glare-free display with no backlight
- You are comfortable with plugin development or pre-built data panels
- You do not need color or animation on your desk display
Both displays solve the "small screen on a desk" problem, but they solve it for different people. If you are still deciding, think about what you want to see when you glance at your desk: is it a piece of moving art, or is it a block of useful information?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Pixoo-64 display the same information as TRMNL?
The Pixoo-64 can show weather, clocks, calendars, and social media counters through the Divoom app. However, its 64x64 pixel grid cannot match the text density of an e-ink display. If you need detailed data panels with small text, TRMNL is better suited. If you want visual widgets with icons and numbers, the Pixoo-64 handles that well.
Can TRMNL display animations or color?
No. E-ink technology requires a full-screen flash to update content, which makes smooth animation impossible. TRMNL is monochrome (black and white) and refreshes on a schedule of every few minutes. If animation or color is important to you, the Pixoo-64 is the better choice.
Which display is better for a wall mount?
TRMNL is easier to wall-mount because it runs on battery and does not need a nearby power outlet. The Pixoo-64 can also be wall-mounted, but it requires a USB-C power source, which means you will need to route a cable to the mounting location.
Do I need to pay a subscription for either display?
The Pixoo-64 has no subscription — the Divoom app and its community gallery are free to use. TRMNL includes one year of service with the initial purchase, but continued cloud service may require a subscription after the first year. Check the Divoom product manual for full setup and support details on Pixoo-64.
Which display is better value for money?
The Pixoo-64 at $129.99 offers strong value if you want a colorful, animated pixel art display with a large community design library. TRMNL at roughly $215 costs more upfront and may require ongoing service fees. If your primary need is visual creativity and desk personality, the Pixoo-64 delivers more for less. If you specifically need a low-power e-ink dashboard, TRMNL's premium reflects its unique display technology.
Ready to Add Pixel Art to Your Desk?
If color, animation, and community-created pixel art sound like the right fit for your setup, the Pixoo-64 delivers all of that at $129.99 — no subscription required.
View Pixoo-64 — $129.9964x64 full-color LED pixel art display with Divoom app, community gallery, and live widgets.
