Makerfabs · ESP32-S3 · 3.16" · 320×820
Makerfabs MaTouch ESP32-S3 Parallel TFT 3.16" (Bar Display) specifications
The MaTouch ESP32-S3 Parallel TFT 3.16-inch (SKU MAT316701) is Makerfabs' bar-shaped display: 320×820 pixels in a long, narrow format, driven over RGB565 by an ST7701S. It is bright — 600 nits with a 1500:1 contrast ratio — which helps when it is mounted in a well-lit room or under a monitor.
Inside is an ESP32-S3R8 with 8 MB of PSRAM and 16 MB of flash. Makerfabs adds a QMI8658 6-axis IMU, a PCF85063 real-time clock, a microphone and a speaker, a TF card slot and a 3.7 V lithium battery charger.
Expansion comes through a reserved UART header, an SH1.0 I2C header and an MX1.25 USB header next to the USB-C port. There is no touch, so it is built for showing information: tickers, meters, clocks and status strips.
- Screen
- 3.16" · 320×820
- Chip
- ESP32-S3
- Memory
- 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Input
- no touch
Key features
- 3.16-inch bar display, 320×820, ST7701S
- 600 nits, 1500:1 contrast
- ESP32-S3R8: 8 MB PSRAM, 16 MB flash
- QMI8658 IMU, PCF85063 RTC
- Microphone and speaker
- LiPo charger, TF card, UART and I2C headers
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Makerfabs |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 3.16" |
| Resolution | 320×820 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | ST7701S (RGB Parallel + 3-wire SPI init, type 9) |
| Display interface | RGB565 Parallel (DPI) + SPI init sequence |
| Touch | None — this is a bar-shaped display with no touch |
| Microcontroller | ESP32-S3 |
| Module | ESP32-S3R8 |
| CPU clock | 240 MHz |
| Internal SRAM | 512 KB |
| PSRAM | 8 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| SKU | MAT316701 |
| Display type | LCD, 64K colours, RGB565, 600 nits, 1500:1 |
| IMU | QMI8658 6-axis |
| RTC | PCF85063 |
| Audio | Microphone, speaker |
| Battery | 3.7 V lithium header with charger |
| Connectors | USB-C, MX1.25 USB, SH1.0 I2C, UART header |
| Storage | TF card slot |
Free GPIOs and connectors
These GPIOs are not used by the display, touch or on-board peripherals, so you can wire your own sensors, buttons or relays to them.
| Pin | Capabilities | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO 2 | GPIO, ADC | Free / possibly reserved for IMU or RTC I2C, needs verification |
| GPIO 17 | GPIO, PWM | Free / possibly reserved for IMU or RTC I2C, needs verification |
| GPIO 18 | GPIO, PWM | Free / possibly reserved for IMU or RTC I2C, needs verification |
| GPIO 19 | GPIO, USB_DM | USB D- |
| GPIO 20 | GPIO, USB_DP | USB D+ |
| GPIO 43/TX | GPIO, UART_TX | UART0 TX |
| GPIO 44/RX | GPIO, UART_RX | UART0 RX |
Good to know before you start
- No touch: use the network, buttons or an I2C encoder for input.
- The LCD Ultra Pro driver for this board is compile-tested; Waveshare's 3.16-inch bar board is a close, vendor-matched alternative.
- Portrait (320×820) and landscape (820×320) are both supported.
- GPIO 2, 17 and 18 are listed as free in our data but may be used by on-board I2C devices — check before wiring.
What it is good for
- •Tickers and price strips
- •Audio level meters with the microphone
- •Clocks and calendars using the RTC
- •Monitor-side status bars
LVGL support in LCD Ultra Pro
| Driver status | Compile-tested |
|---|---|
| Arduino export | Complete LVGL 8.4 project with the display driver |
| USB Live preview | No |
| Orientations | 0°, 90° |
| Brightness control | Hardware backlight dimming |
Pick this board in the editor and the canvas matches its exact resolution and shape. Build the interface with widgets, add events without code, try it in Live Preview, then export it as a ready-to-compile Arduino project. See the documentation for the workflow.
Frequently asked questions
What resolution is the MaTouch 3.16-inch bar display?
320×820 pixels, driven over RGB565 by an ST7701S.
How bright is it?
Makerfabs specifies 600 nits with a 1500:1 contrast ratio.
Does it have touch?
No, it is a display-only board with an IMU, RTC, microphone and speaker.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
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