Makerfabs · ESP32-S3 · 1.28" · 240×240
Makerfabs MaTouch ESP32-S3 Round SPI TFT with Touch 1.28" specifications
Makerfabs' ESP32-S3 Round SPI TFT with Touch 1.28-inch (SKU E32S3128GC) is the plain, touch-only member of the MaTouch round family: a 240×240 round display with a GC9A01 controller on SPI and a CST816S capacitive touch controller, without the rotary knob of the Rotary versions.
It runs on an ESP32-S3 with 16 MB of flash and 8 MB of PSRAM, with native USB over USB-C and a 3.7 V LiPo battery input. Two Mabee (Grove-compatible) connectors bring out GPIO and the I2C bus, and a microSD slot comes with a card included.
Because it has no knob, it is the most compact and the simplest of the MaTouch round boards — and with GPIO 3–10, 17 and 18 all free, it leaves the most room for your own sensors and actuators.
- Screen
- 1.28" · 240×240
- Chip
- ESP32-S3
- Memory
- 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Input
- capacitive touch
Key features
- Round 1.28-inch, 240×240, GC9A01 over SPI
- Capacitive touch (CST816S)
- ESP32-S3: 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Two Mabee/Grove connectors (GPIO, I2C)
- microSD slot, card included
- LiPo input, −40 to +85 °C
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Makerfabs |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.28" |
| Resolution | 240×240 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | GC9A01 (SPI) |
| Display interface | SPI |
| Touch | CST816S (capacitive, I2C) |
| Microcontroller | ESP32-S3 |
| Module | ESP32-S3 |
| CPU clock | 240 MHz |
| Internal SRAM | 512 KB |
| PSRAM | 8 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Hardware variant | Touch-only version without the rotary encoder (the encoder version is the “MaTouch Rotary IPS 1.28”). |
| SKU | E32S3128GC |
| Touch | Capacitive, CST816S |
| Power | USB-C 5 V (4.0–5.25 V), 3.7 V LiPo input |
| USB | Native USB |
| Expansion | 2 × Mabee (Grove-compatible): GPIO and I2C |
| Storage | microSD (16 GB card included) |
| Buttons | Flash, Reset |
| Operating temperature | −40 °C to +85 °C |
| Development platforms (manufacturer) | Arduino |
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 0 | GPIO, BOOT | Boot button |
| GPIO 3 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 4 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 5 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 6 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 7 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 8 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 9 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 10 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 17 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 18 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 43/TX | GPIO, UART_TX | UART0 TX |
| GPIO 44/RX | GPIO, UART_RX | UART0 RX |
Good to know before you start
- Free GPIOs: 3–10, 17 and 18, plus BOOT and UART0 — generous for a round board.
- Makerfabs notes that touch problems are usually a loose touch connector; reseat it first.
- The upgraded version with a rotary knob is the MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary IPS Display 1.28-inch.
- Keep content inside the circle.
What it is good for
- •Round touch buttons and scene switches
- •Small sensor displays with Grove sensors
- •Wearable-style prototypes
- •Round clocks and gauges
LVGL support in LCD Ultra Pro
| Driver status | Matched to the manufacturer’s official demo, compile-tested |
|---|---|
| Arduino export | Complete LVGL 8.4 project with the display driver |
| USB Live preview | No |
| Orientations | 0° |
| 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 is the difference to the MaTouch Rotary 1.28-inch?
This board has touch only; the Rotary version adds a rotary encoder with a press function.
Which touch controller does it use?
A CST816S capacitive touch controller.
Can it run on a battery?
Yes, it has a 3.7 V LiPo battery input in addition to USB-C.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
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