An electrophoretic display device includes a display layer of a multiplicity of individual microcapsules containing a display medium therein and conductive substrates, at least one of the conductive substrates being transparent, wherein the display layer is located in between the conductive substrates, and wherein the display medium includes one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid and has an electric conductivity of about 10.sup.-11 to about 10.sup.-15 S/m. The microcapsules may be made by encapsulating the display medium in the wall forming material of the microcapsules, and for example a complex coacervation process may be used.