3.5" TFT Display Module with Capacitive Touch (ILI9488 & FT6236)

Upgrade your user interfaces with highly sensitive, responsive capacitive touch. Moving past the limitations of traditional resistive screens, this 3.5" module delivers a modern, smartphone-like touch experience for your embedded projects.

Core Specifications (All Models)

• Display: ILI9488 3.5" TFT (480 x 320 pixels)

• Touch Overlay: FT6236-based capacitive touch

• Storage: Onboard Micro SD card socket for storing rich GUI graphics or data logging

• Power: Supports 5V or 3.3V power input (Note: I/O pins are strictly 3.3V logic)

Available Configurations

1. Standard Version (SPI / 8-bit Parallel)

A flexible base board that supports both SPI and Parallel communication.

• Default Mode: Ships in SPI mode (supports full 24-bit color).

• Parallel Mode: Can be converted to 8-bit parallel by moving a surface-mount configuration resistor, reducing the color depth to 16-bit.

2. Standard + Integrated ESP32 (WROOM or LOLIN32)

Integrates a wireless microcontroller directly onto the main display board using SPI communication.

• ESP32 WROOM Option: Requires an external USB-to-Serial adapter to program. Features dedicated on-board Prog and Reset buttons to easily flash firmware.

• LOLIN32 Option: Features a built-in Micro USB port for direct programming without external hardware.

3. Enhanced Version (ESP32-S3 + 16-bit Parallel)

Built for maximum performance. Includes an ESP32-S3 DevKitC module for ultra-fast screen updates and high-speed data transfer.

• Display Interface: Driven via a blazing-fast 16-bit parallel bus (16-bit color depth).

• SD Card Interface: Supports SD Mode for significantly faster card read/write speeds alongside standard SPI.

• Programming: Features an on-board USB-C port for direct plug-and-play programming.

Quick-Reference Pin Mapping

Standard ESP32 WROOM / LOLIN32 Connections

• ILI9488 TFT: Reset (IO27), CS (IO32), D/C (IO33), MOSI (IO26), SCK (IO25), Backlight (IO23)

• SD Card (SPI): CS (IO22), MOSI (IO19), MISO (IO18), SCK (IO17), Card Detect (IO5)

• FT6236 Touch: Reset (IO13), Interrupt (IO14), SCL (IO15), SDA (IO16)

Enhanced ESP32-S3 Connections

• ILI9488 TFT: Data 0–15 (IO0 to IO15), D/C (IO16), Read (IO17), Write (IO18), Backlight (IO21)

• SD Card (SD Mode): CMD (IO45), CLK (IO46), DAT0 (IO35), DAT1 (IO36), DAT2 (IO37), DAT3 (IO38), Card Detect (IO42)

• FT6236 Touch: Interrupt (IO39), SCL (IO47), SDA (IO48)

Software & Resources

All versions are fully compatible with the Arduino IDE and the free version of Flowcode 11.

• Documentation & Examples: Find complete code libraries and examples on GitHub.