M5Stack is a well-known company that offers high-quality, ready-to-use products designed for both educational purposes and rapid prototyping. Their devices stand out for their sleek design, ease of use, and a clear philosophy: making electronics accessible, modular, and practical.
One of the keys to their success lies in this commitment to simplicity. M5Stack products are easy to connect, program, and integrate into a wide variety of projects. They also come with sturdy, well-designed enclosures that not only protect the components but also simplify installation—something that’s not common in traditional development boards.
Personally, I really like M5Stack devices and use them often in my classes. They make it easy to explain complex concepts without the hassle of complicated hardware setups.
Another important advantage is the wide range of programming options, which makes it possible to tackle projects at different skill levels. You can use UIFlow, a powerful and intuitive graphical environment ideal for beginners; Arduino, backed by a massive community; or MicroPython, which offers a great balance between simplicity and versatility.
The M5Stack catalog is extensive. It ranges from small, low-pin-count modules ideal for building IoT nodes to more advanced solutions like a mini-computer, a programmable PLC, or their new control panel powered by the ESP32-P4—designed for more demanding industrial and smart home applications.
In recent months, the company has impressed with a wave of new releases, one of which I’ll review in this article: the PaperS3, which is an evolution of the previous model known as the M5 Paper. Let’s take a closer look at some of its standout features.
DisplayThis new device features a 4.7-inch Electronic Paper Display (EPD) with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. The display is large enough to show a good amount of information and supports 16 levels of grayscale. It also includes a GT911 capacitive touchscreen capable of detecting two simultaneous touch points and recognizing various gestures.
At its core, the PaperS3 uses Espressif’s ESP32-SR8 module running at 240 MHz. It comes with 8 MB of PSRAM, 16 MB of Flash memory, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), and Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity. It also includes a microSD card slot for additional storage.
Built-in SensorsThe device includes a BMI270 IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which enables gesture and activity recognition, and a physical button for power, reset, and flashing.
Battery and Power ManagementPower is provided by a 3.7V 1800 mAh LiPo battery, which offers solid autonomy thanks to the low power consumption of the EPD. Power management is handled by a PMS150G chip, ensuring proper operation and battery health. A BM8563 RTC (Real-Time Clock) is included to keep track of time and enable sleep scheduling to reduce power usage.
Power ConsumptionSpeaking of power, the PaperS3 draws 154 mA when fully active and only 9.28 µA in low-power mode with the IMU turned off.
Additional FeaturesOther noteworthy features include an improved built-in Wi-Fi antenna, now capable of reaching over 100 meters in open spaces, a passive buzzer, and a total weight of just 89.3 grams.
ExpansionTo connect the PaperS3 with other boards or sensors, the back panel includes a HY1.25-4P connector (3V3, GND, and 2 GPIOs). This connector is covered by default, so you’ll need to remove a small section of the rear adhesive to access it. Keep in mind that this connector has a smaller pitch than standard Grove cables (2 mm), so an adapter is required.
M5Stack designed several mounting options for the PaperS3. It includes two strong magnets on the back to attach it to metal surfaces, screw holes for secure mounting, and a hook for easy hanging. All of this makes the device highly portable and easy to install in a variety of settings.
Thanks to its EPD screen—with excellent outdoor readability and ultra-low power consumption—the PaperS3 is ideal for a variety of applications, such as:
- Electronic shelf labels
- Smart signage and displays
- Control panels for smart homes or IoT systems
- Schedule displays, calendars, note-taking devices, and even e-book readers
As mentioned earlier, one of the PaperS3’s most notable features—shared by other M5Stack devices—is its wide range of programming options. You can work with:
- UIFlow 2
- Arduino
- Micropython
- Circuitpython
- ESP-IDF
- PlatformIO
In future articles, I’ll walk you through how to use each of these environments (or at least the most common ones). For now, here’s a classic “Hello World!” example using UIFlow 2:
And here’s how it looks on the screen:
In this article, we explored the key features of the PaperS3, one of M5Stack’s latest devices. We covered its e-paper display, the ESP32-S3 processor with expanded memory, integrated sensors like the IMU, long battery life, low power consumption, mounting and expansion options, practical use cases, and the available programming environments.
The PaperS3 is a perfect example of what M5Stack does best: well-designed, easy-to-use devices that are ready to adapt to a wide range of applications. Its e-paper display, low power usage, built-in sensors, and multiple programming options make it a versatile tool—great for classrooms and more advanced projects alike.
Whether used as a smart label, control panel, planner, or info display, the PaperS3 delivers a solid and practical experience. Its sturdy design and mounting options also make it easy to install in a variety of environments.
Without a doubt, it’s a device that sparks a lot of creative ideas. In upcoming articles, I’ll show you how to program it step by step and unlock its full potential.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
For more information and projects, you can check out my blog and social media.
See you next time! 🚀
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