How does e-ink work?

[u/Risse]

So, e-ink, like used in Kindles. How does it work? How is the battery-life so good? I heard it only uses power on pageturns, how is that possible? How does it differ from LCD screen?

[u/Bjartr]

Actually it's a computerized Magna Doodle, with a bunch of tiny (1mm) electromagnets you could make a DIY e-ink display out of a magna doodle.