M5Stack PaperMono

M5STACK · C153

The M5Stack PaperMono C153 is a low-power programmable e-paper terminal based on the ESP32-S3R8. It combines a 3.97-inch e-paper touchscreen with WiFi, NFC and LoRa connectivity, an integrated battery and multiple peripherals, making it suitable as an information panel, home automation controller, e-reader, ID terminal, digital signage or portable IoT node. The display uses an SSD1677 controller and offers a 480 x 800 pixel resolution with 4 levels of grayscale. It includes an FT6336G touch controller and an integrated frontlight, which is especially useful because e-paper screens typically rely on ambient lighting. The main controller is an ESP32-S3R8 with a dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor up to 240 MHz, 16 MB Flash and 8 MB Octal PSRAM. It provides 2.4 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy via the ESP32-S3 capabilities and compatible firmware. The full PaperMono version includes NFC and LoRa. NFC is handled by an ST25R3916 and supports ISO14443A, ISO14443B, FeliCa and ISO15693, enabling ID, tag reading and access control applications. For long-range communications it integrates an SX1262 via a Stamp LoRa-1262, with an integrated FPC antenna and a frequency range of 868 to 923 MHz. It also features a BMI270 6-axis IMU, RX8130CE real-time clock, M5IOE1 I/O expander, PDM microphone, buzzer, RGB LED and a microSD slot. Power management is handled by the M5PM1 and it works with a built-in 1150 mAh battery. The device can also be powered and programmed via USB-C. For Home Assistant it isn’t a factory-paired accessory but a programmable platform. It can become a panel or controller for Home Assistant using ESPHome or custom firmware, showing entity states and sending actions via the touchscreen, buttons, NFC or other peripherals. MQTT can also be implemented via custom firmware. Thanks to its low-power e-paper touchscreen, NFC, LoRa, sensors and battery, it’s especially appealing for Home Assistant panels, remote controls, info panels and portable IoT devices.