Waveshare · ESP32-S3 · 3.5" · 320×480
Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch LCD 3.5" specifications
The ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-3.5 is one of the most feature-dense boards in Waveshare's ESP32-S3 range. Around a 3.5-inch 320×480 IPS panel (ST7796, SPI) with FT6336 capacitive touch, it adds a camera socket for OV5640 or OV2640 modules, an ES8311 audio codec with an on-board microphone and a speaker connector, and an AXP2101 power-management chip.
An ESP32-S3R8 provides 8 MB of PSRAM and 16 MB of flash. A QMI8658 6-axis IMU and a PCF85063 RTC with backup battery are on board, along with a microSD slot and a lithium battery connector managed by the AXP2101.
With camera, microphone, speaker and touch together, it is a natural fit for voice assistants, intercoms or camera-based gadgets with a proper user interface. LCD Ultra Pro supports it in portrait and landscape, with a display and touch driver matched to Waveshare's example code.
- Screen
- 3.5" · 320×480
- Chip
- ESP32-S3
- Memory
- 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM
- Input
- capacitive touch
Key features
- 3.5-inch IPS, 320×480, ST7796 over SPI
- Capacitive touch (FT6336)
- Camera socket for OV5640 / OV2640
- ES8311 audio codec, microphone and speaker connector
- AXP2101 PMU with lithium battery support
- 8 MB PSRAM, 16 MB flash, RTC, IMU, microSD
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Waveshare |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 3.5" |
| Resolution | 320×480 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | ST7796 (SPI) |
| Display interface | SPI |
| Touch | FT6336 (capacitive, I2C) |
| 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 | IPS, 262K colours |
| Touch | Capacitive, FT6336 (I2C) |
| Camera | 24-pin socket, OV5640 / OV2640 |
| Audio | ES8311 codec, on-board microphone, MX1.25 speaker connector |
| Power management | AXP2101 PMU, 3.7 V lithium via MX1.25 |
| RTC | PCF85063 with backup battery |
| IMU | QMI8658 6-axis |
| Buttons | PWR, BOOT, RESET |
| Development platforms (manufacturer) | Arduino IDE (esp32 core 3.2.0+), ESP-IDF 5.4+ |
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 4 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| GPIO 9 | 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 are limited to GPIO 4 and 9 (plus BOOT and UART0); the camera and audio take most pins.
- Power is managed by the AXP2101, which must be initialised for some rails — the LCD Ultra Pro driver handles the display side.
- Waveshare notes the board is not water-resistant.
- Landscape (90°) is supported for a 480×320 layout.
What it is good for
- •Voice assistants and intercoms
- •Camera viewers and doorbell prototypes
- •Portable media and audio devices
- •Feature-rich handheld controllers
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°, 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
Does the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-3.5 have a microphone?
Yes, an on-board microphone connected to the ES8311 audio codec, plus a speaker connector.
Which camera modules are supported?
Waveshare lists OV5640 and OV2640 on the 24-pin camera socket.
What manages the battery?
An AXP2101 power-management IC with a 3.7 V lithium battery connector.
Which touch controller is used?
An FT6336 capacitive touch controller on I2C.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
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