M5Stack PaperDIY Is a 4.7-Inch ESP32-S3 E-Paper Development Board

PaperDIY Assembly Kit e-paper development board

M5Stack has introduced the PaperDIY Assembly Kit, an e-paper development board that combines an ESP32-S3 controller, a 4.7-inch e-paper display, and a 140mAh lithium battery. The kit requires users to assemble the hardware themselves, making it suitable for electronics enthusiasts, makers, and developers who want to experiment with low-power display projects. The display offers a 960 × 540 resolution and supports 16-level grayscale, while the ESP32-S3 provides 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.

The main control board uses the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module, which integrates a dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 processor running at up to 240MHz, 16MB of Flash, and 8MB of octal PSRAM. The board also includes a microSD card slot, a USB Type-C interface, two user buttons, and expansion connectors for additional hardware. Its open structure allows developers to design custom enclosures and peripheral arrangements for desktop information displays, electronic labels, and other embedded applications. The e-paper display does not support touch input.

We have previously covered several e-paper development boards, including the LILYGO T-Deck Pro, LILYGO T-Halow P4, and T5 E-Paper S3 Pro Lite, which are based on the ESP32-S3. We also covered the paperd.ink development board, which uses the ESP32-WROOM-32 module. Feel free to check out these products if you are interested in exploring more e-paper development boards.

PaperDIY Assembly Kit specifications

M5Stack PaperDIY Assembly Kit Specifications:

• ESP32-S3 controller:
  • Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 processor running at 240MHz
  • 16MB Flash and 8MB octal PSRAM
  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity
• 4.7-inch e-paper display:
  • ET047TC1 display panel with 960 × 540 resolution
  • 16-level grayscale support
  • No touch functionality
• Storage expansion: Onboard microSD card slot for project data and display content
• Expansion interfaces:
  • Two 12-pin FPC connectors with 0.5mm pitch
  • I2S and SPI interfaces for external peripherals
• Buttons and connectivity:
  • One multifunction power button for power, reset, and boot operations
  • Two user buttons
  • USB Type-C interface for firmware programming
• Battery and power supply:
  • 140mAh, 3.7V lithium battery with SH1.0-2P connector
  • USB Type-C (5V) and dedicated 5V pad power inputs
• Power management:
  • M5PM1 power management chip
  • Battery voltage monitoring and charging functions
• Power consumption:
  • Operating current of 40.95mA at 4.2V
  • Peak current of up to 161mA
• Dimensions: 115.3 × 62.5 × 5.5mm
• Weight: 26.4g
• Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C

Pinmap

The PaperDIY Assembly Kit supports the UiFlow2 graphical programming platform, which lets users develop applications without writing all the code manually. Developers can also use the Arduino framework and ESP-IDF to build custom firmware and control the display, buttons, storage, and power management. M5Stack provides Arduino libraries, quick-start guides, schematics, pin maps, and factory firmware to help users get started. To flash firmware, connect the board to a computer through a USB Type-C data cable and hold the power button for about two seconds until the red LED blinks. More details available on the documentation page.

Schematic diagram

The PaperDIY Assembly Kit (SKU K159) is available from the M5Stack official store for $25.00. The package includes the e-paper display, main control board, 140mAh battery, and acrylic screen pressure plate. Shipping charges apply separately. Visit the official product page for current availability and ordering details.