3.5-inch display with microphone: This cheap screen can be a smart home hub

Elecrow is now offering a new display for a relatively low price of $21. In practice, it is not just a display, as a development board is integrated as well. This allows the model to be used without an external source device, and it is ultimately not intended for that purpose anyway. Instead, the ESP32-S3 display can be used as a smart display, making it a potential alternative to devices such as an Echo Show. There are limitations, but also almost endless possibilities, since the system can and must be programmed by the user. LVGL is supported for easier interface design. An ESP32-S3 SoC is used, with support for Bluetooth and WiFi in the 2.4GHz band. This makes integration into a smart home possible.

The feature set is fairly extensive, as a microphone is installed on the board and external speakers are included. This means acoustic interaction is possible from a hardware perspective and right out of the box. Users can also interact with smart home devices by tapping the screen, for example. The 3.5-inch panel, which has a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, can process touch inputs. Power can be supplied either via USB-C or with a battery. Programming is also handled via USB-C. I2C ports are available, allowing additional sensors, such as gas detection sensors, to be connected. A microSD card slot is included.