 |
| The new Waveshare board comes equipped with an integrated display |
The new compact development board starts at just $12 and promises seamless smart home integration with multi-protocol wireless connectivity.
In a move that's set to delight hobbyists and professional developers alike, well-known electronics manufacturer Waveshare has introduced its latest development board: the Waveshare ESP32-C5 1.47-inch LCD Display. This compact system-on-module combines a RISC-V-powered microcontroller with a built-in display, offering an accessible entry point for creating smart home control panels and IoT interfaces.
The board, priced at approximately $12 (excluding potential shipping costs), is available in two configurations—with or without pre-soldered pin headers. At its heart lies the ESP32-C5 SoC, a RISC-V architecture chip that delivers modest but capable processing power, making it particularly well-suited for simple interface applications like environmental monitoring stations and home automation dashboards.
Built for Seamless Smart Home Integration
What sets this development board apart is its comprehensive wireless connectivity suite. The device supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, Thread, and Zigbee protocols, all powered by an onboard antenna. This multi-protocol support ensures the board can integrate smoothly with existing smart home ecosystems without requiring additional modules or shields.
The integrated 1.47-inch TFT display offers a resolution of 172 × 320 pixels, providing adequate sharpness for text and basic graphical interfaces. While the screen delivers satisfactory performance for most applications, users should note that contrast and brightness are somewhat limited, and touch input is not supported—a consideration that may affect usability in certain interactive scenarios.
For those looking to explore the full capabilities of this board, Waveshare provides comprehensive documentation and resources directly on the product page. You can find detailed specifications, pinout diagrams, and sample code at the official product listing: Waveshare ESP32-C5 1.47-inch LCD Display.
Expandability and Sensor Integration
Beyond its display capabilities, the board offers significant expansion potential. Developers can connect additional sensors and actuators to monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and gas concentrations. This makes the device particularly well-suited for creating smart climate control systems, air quality monitors, and automated greenhouse controllers.
The development board features a USB Type-C port that serves dual duty for both power delivery and programming, simplifying the development workflow. A microSD card slot addresses the limited onboard memory typical of such hardware, allowing external storage for interface assets, graphical elements, or extended sensor data logging.
An integrated RGB LED provides a simple but effective visual indicator system. Developers can program the LED to change colors based on environmental readings—for instance, shifting from green to red to signal ambient comfort levels based on measured temperature and humidity data.
Target Applications and Development Potential
The Waveshare ESP32-C5 is ideally positioned for developers creating:
- Smart home control panels with real-time status displays
- Environmental monitoring stations with data logging capabilities
- Wireless sensor nodes with local visual feedback
- IoT prototyping for industrial and consumer applications
- Educational projects exploring RISC-V architecture and wireless protocols
With its affordable price point and multi-protocol wireless support, the board presents an attractive alternative to more expensive development platforms, particularly for projects requiring a built-in display without the complexity of touch interfaces.
Availability
The Waveshare ESP32-C5 1.47-inch LCD Display is now available directly from Waveshare's online store. Both header-equipped and header-free versions are in stock, with the base model priced at approximately $12. As with most specialty electronics, buyers should account for potential shipping costs that may vary by region.
For developers seeking a cost-effective solution for display-based IoT projects, this new offering from Waveshare represents a compelling combination of features, connectivity, and value.
Source : Waveshare
 |
| The board supports the connection of additional sensors and actuators |