A new, affordable, and relatively compact display could be particularly well-suited for smart home use, as it comes with speakers and a microphone and can also process touch inputs. The new ESP32-S3 display supports wireless connectivity and is available from Elecrow for a surprisingly low price of just $21.
In practice, this isn’t just a display — a development board is integrated as well, allowing the model to be used without an external source device. That’s not really what it’s meant for anyway. Instead, the ESP32-S3 display is designed to function as a smart display, making it a potential alternative to devices like an Echo Show. There are limitations, but also virtually endless possibilities, since the device can and should be programmed by the user. LVGL is supported for easier interface design.
An ESP32-S3 SoC powers the device, with support for Bluetooth and WiFi in the 2.4 GHz band. This makes integration into a smart home setup straightforward. The feature set is surprisingly broad — a microphone is built into the board and external speakers are included, meaning acoustic interaction is possible right out of the box from a hardware perspective. Users can also interact with smart home devices by tapping the screen.
The 3.5-inch panel has a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels and supports touch input. Power can be supplied either via USB-C or with a battery. Programming is also handled through USB-C. I2C ports are available, allowing additional sensors — such as gas detection sensors — to be connected. A microSD card slot is also included.
At just $21, this is an incredibly affordable way to build a custom smart home hub with full programmability and impressive hardware features for the price.
