Waveshare · ESP32-S3 · 3.16" · 320×820
Waveshare ESP32-S3 LCD 3.16" (Bar Display) specifications
The ESP32-S3-LCD-3.16 is a bar-shaped display: 320×820 pixels on a 3.16-inch panel, driven over a 16-bit RGB interface by an ST7701-family controller. The stretched format is ideal for things a normal screen handles awkwardly — horizontal tickers, multi-channel level meters, side panels for a 3D printer or a status strip under a monitor.
An ESP32-S3R8 with 8 MB of PSRAM and 16 MB of flash drives it, and Waveshare adds a QMI8658 6-axis IMU, a PCF85063 RTC with backup battery slot, a microSD slot and a 3.7 V lithium battery connector with a toggle power switch.
Small PH1.0 connectors bring out I2C and UART, there is an extra MX1.25 USB port next to the USB-C, and SMD M2 nuts make mounting simple. There is no touch: it is built to show information.
- 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, RGB565
- ESP32-S3R8: 8 MB PSRAM, 16 MB flash
- PCF85063 RTC, QMI8658 IMU
- microSD slot
- LiPo connector with toggle power switch
- PH1.0 I2C and UART connectors, M2 mounting nuts
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Waveshare |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 3.16" |
| Resolution | 320×820 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | ST7701-like (RGB Parallel + 3-wire SPI init) |
| Display interface | RGB565 Parallel (DPI) + SPI init sequence |
| Touch | None — 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 |
| Display type | LCD, 64K colours, RGB565 interface |
| IMU | QMI8658 6-axis |
| RTC | PCF85063 with SH1.0 backup battery slot |
| Battery | 3.7 V lithium via MX1.25, toggle power switch |
| Connectors | USB-C, MX1.25 USB, PH1.0 I2C, PH1.0 UART |
| Storage | microSD (FAT32) |
| Mounting | SMD M2 copper nuts |
| Antenna | On-board, IPEX option |
| Development platforms (manufacturer) | Arduino IDE (LVGL 8.3/9.3 examples), ESP-IDF |
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 4 | GPIO, ADC | Free |
| 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 buttons, the network or an encoder on the I2C bus for input.
- Free GPIO: GPIO 4, plus USB D-/D+ (19/20) if you do not need native USB, and UART0.
- In LCD Ultra Pro the canvas is 320×820 in portrait; lay widgets out along the long side.
- Waveshare's examples need esp32 board package 3.1.0 or newer.
What it is good for
- •Tickers and stock or crypto price strips
- •Multi-channel VU and level meters
- •3D printer or PC status side panels
- •Shelf and shop signage
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 resolution is the Waveshare 3.16-inch bar display?
320×820 pixels, driven over a 16-bit RGB interface.
Does the ESP32-S3-LCD-3.16 have touch?
No, it is a display-only board.
What extras are on the board?
A PCF85063 RTC, a QMI8658 IMU, a microSD slot, a lithium battery connector and a toggle power switch.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
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