Key Takeaways
We have seen similar smart home controller boards from Waveshare in the past, such as the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4.3, the ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-4.3C, and even a 7-inch 1080 × 1080 LCD module, each different in their own way. However, these boards don’t offer much processing power, and the 7-inch rounded display is just a “dumb” screen, needing a separate controller board to operate and manage itself.
Introduction of New Board
Now, the new ESP32-P4-WIFI6-Touch-LCD-4.3-C comes into play. It is built around the ESP32-P4, which is more powerful compared to the usual ESP32-S3 models. Additionally, it has an ESP32-C6 for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity. As an extra feature, the ESP32-C6 can function as a co-processor, providing more processing power for your projects if needed.
Impressive Display and Features
This board isn’t just powerful; it offers a fantastic display as well. The 4.3-inch screen supports 5-point touch, optical bonding, and boasts a brightness of 500 nits, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage. Furthermore, it features a MIPI-CSI interface with ISP support, which allows for an optional OV5647 camera module to be added.
Connectivity Options
In terms of connectivity, the board comes with numerous ports. These include a speaker header for AI voice interaction, a USB OTG 2.0 host, and USB-to-UART Type-C ports for data transfer. There’s also a microSD card slot (SDIO 3.0) for additional storage. The board has a 40-pin GPIO header that is compatible with certain Raspberry Pi HATs and supports a rechargeable Li-ion battery. It features an RTC for keeping time and multiple expansion interfaces for connecting various sensors and actuators. Additionally, it integrates an ES8311 audio codec, along with an ES7210 chip for echo cancellation, making it ideal for smart home panels, edge AI terminals, multimedia controllers, and interactive IoT gadgets.
Software Support
Any DIY hardware platform needs robust software backing, and Waveshare typically offers documentation and example code for their development boards. However, as of now, the Wiki page for this model is still not developed. Thankfully, the product page indicates that you can program the board using the ESP-IDF for the ESP32-P4. Nevertheless, accessing peripherals such as MIPI-DSI displays, MIPI-CSI cameras, audio codecs, SDIO, and USB may be challenging without the right drivers and example projects.
The 4.3-inch ESP32-P4-based development board from Waveshare can be found in Waveshare’s official store for $33.99. You have the option to buy it with or without a camera.
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