Waveshare · ESP32-S3 · 1.3" · 240×240
Waveshare ESP32-S3 LCD 1.3" specifications
The Waveshare ESP32-S3-LCD-1.3 is a tiny square display board that punches above its size on memory: the ESP32-S3R8 brings 8 MB of PSRAM, alongside 16 MB of stacked flash — far more than a 240×240 screen strictly needs, which leaves plenty of room for images, fonts and data.
The 1.3-inch panel uses an ST7789VW controller with 262K colours. Waveshare adds a QMI8658 6-axis IMU, an RGB LED, a microSD slot, battery voltage sensing and a PL4054 lithium charger, all on a board you can hold between two fingers. It is available bare, in a plastic case, or in a case with a prism cube.
A 16-pin GPIO header gives easy access to the ESP32-S3's pins — GPIO 1 to 9 are all free, which is unusually generous for a display board this small.
- Screen
- 1.3" · 240×240
- Chip
- ESP32-S3
- Memory
- 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Input
- no touch
Key features
- 1.3-inch 240×240 LCD, ST7789VW, 262K colours
- ESP32-S3R8: 8 MB PSRAM, 16 MB flash
- QMI8658 6-axis IMU and RGB LED
- microSD slot
- LiPo charging (PL4054)
- 16-pin GPIO header, GPIO 1–9 free
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Waveshare |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 1.3" |
| Resolution | 240×240 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | ST7789 (SPI) |
| Display interface | SPI |
| Touch | None |
| 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 |
| Display type | LCD, 262K colours, ST7789VW |
| IMU | QMI8658 6-axis |
| Storage | microSD (TF), under 64 GB recommended |
| Battery | MX1.25 lithium connector, PL4054 charger |
| Other | RGB LED, battery voltage sensing |
| Expansion | 16-pin GPIO header |
| Variants | Bare board, with plastic case, with case and prism cube |
| Development platforms (manufacturer) | Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF (VS Code plugin) |
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 1 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 2 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 3 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 4 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 5 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 6 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 7 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 8 | GPIO, I2C_SDA | Free |
| GPIO 9 | GPIO, I2C_SCL | Free |
| GPIO 43/TX | GPIO, UART_TX | UART0 TX |
| GPIO 44/RX | GPIO, UART_RX | UART0 RX |
Good to know before you start
- No touch: interact through buttons, the IMU or the network.
- GPIO 1–9 are free, which is unusually generous for a board this small.
- LCD Ultra Pro dims this board's screen with a software layer.
- With 8 MB PSRAM you can afford full-colour images and several screens.
What it is good for
- •Tiny dashboards and notification displays
- •Desk gadgets with an RGB status light
- •Data loggers writing to microSD
- •Projects that need many free GPIOs next to a display
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 | Software dimming layer |
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
How much PSRAM does the ESP32-S3-LCD-1.3 have?
8 MB, from the ESP32-S3R8, plus 16 MB of flash.
Which display controller does it use?
An ST7789VW driving a 240×240, 262K-colour panel.
Is there a case for it?
Yes, Waveshare offers it bare, with a plastic case, or with a case and a prism cube.
Which GPIOs are free?
GPIO 1 to 9, plus GPIO 0 (BOOT) and UART0 on GPIO 43/44.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
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