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Display Engineer
DE-350-SPI-RTPIn production

3.5" 320×480 IPS TFT LCD, SPI, ST7796S, Resistive Touch

SPI-friendly 3.5″ display: ST7796S accepts RGB565 over SPI for faster refresh than ILI9488.

DEDisplay Engineer Applications Team · Display application engineersUpdated Oct 14, 2026
Size
3.5"
Resolution
320×480
Interface
SPI / MCU (8080 parallel)
Brightness
350 nits
Samples from 1 pc
Lead time on request
FPC / backlight / CTP custom

Specifications

DE-350-SPI-RTP · key specifications
Diagonal size3.5"
Resolution320×480
Panel typeIPS
InterfaceSPI / MCU (8080 parallel)
TouchResistive (RTP)
Brightness350 cd/m² (nits)
Colors65K
Operating temp.-20 to +70 °C
FPC / connector40-pin
Supply voltage3.3V

Engineering notes

Why ST7796S instead of ILI9488

ST7796S

ILI9488

SPI pixel format

16-bit

18-bit only

Bytes per full frame

307,200

460,800

Theoretical fps @40 MHz SPI

~16

~11

For SPI designs this is the module we recommend. See the ILI9488 notes for background.

Resistive touch

Resistive touch works with gloves, styluses and wet fingers, and it costs less than capacitive. It needs a one-time calibration (store the coefficients in flash) and supports a single touch point.

Typical uses

3D printer and CNC controllers, handheld test equipment, industrial keypads and battery-powered instruments.

Related: 3.5 inch displays.

Integration calculations

Figures below are calculated from the DE-350-SPI-RTP’s 320×480 resolution and SPI / MCU (8080 parallel), so you can size the host before requesting samples. Refresh rates are theoretical bus limits; real throughput is lower once command overhead and rendering time are included.

DE-350-SPI-RTP · integration calculations
Pixel density165 PPI
Native orientationPortrait (320×480); rotate in the driver for landscape UIs
Full frame buffer300 KB at RGB565 · 450 KB at RGB888
SPI full-frame refresh (RGB565, theoretical)16 fps at 40 MHz · 33 fps at 80 MHz
8080 parallel refresh (theoretical, 10 MHz WR)65 fps on a 16-bit bus · 33 fps on an 8-bit bus

At 350 cd/m² it is sized for indoor use; the backlight can be upgraded for brighter environments.

Hosts with a native SPI / MCU (8080 parallel) peripheral

  • SPI up to 80 MHz; the 300 KB RGB565 frame fits in internal SRAM.

  • STM32, RP2040, nRF52

    Any MCU with an SPI peripheral and DMA; partial-buffer rendering keeps RAM use low.

  • LCD_CAM peripheral drives 8/16-bit 8080 (i80) panels with DMA.

  • STM32 with FSMC/FMC

    The external memory controller maps the panel as memory for fast writes.

Interface support is based on each processor’s published display peripherals, not a bench test of this module. Ask us for tested init code.

Alternatives in the catalog

Frequently asked questions

Is ST7796S code compatible with ILI9488?

The command sets are similar but the init sequences and SPI pixel formats differ. Use an ST7796S-specific driver; TFT_eSPI, LovyanGFX and LVGL all include one.

Can I get a capacitive touch version?

Yes, capacitive touch versions are available as an option. Ask an engineer for the current part number.

How do I calibrate resistive touch?

Run a three- or five-point calibration once, store the coefficients in non-volatile memory, and apply them in your touch driver.

What is the brightness of the DE-350-SPI-RTP?

350 cd/m² typical with the standard backlight. At 350 cd/m² it is sized for indoor use; the backlight can be upgraded for brighter environments.

What interface does the DE-350-SPI-RTP use?

SPI / MCU through a 40-pin FPC. Pin definition and timing are in the datasheet, which you can request on this page.

Which processors can drive the DE-350-SPI-RTP?

ESP32 / ESP32-S3: SPI up to 80 MHz; the 300 KB RGB565 frame fits in internal SRAM. STM32, RP2040, nRF52: Any MCU with an SPI peripheral and DMA; partial-buffer rendering keeps RAM use low. ESP32-S3: LCD_CAM peripheral drives 8/16-bit 8080 (i80) panels with DMA. STM32 with FSMC/FMC: The external memory controller maps the panel as memory for fast writes.

Does the DE-350-SPI-RTP have a touch panel?

Yes, a resistive (RTP) touch panel. The non-touch version and other cover-glass options can be built.

What is the MOQ and lead time for the DE-350-SPI-RTP?

Samples start from 1 pc. Production MOQ and lead time depend on quantity and any customization (FPC length, backlight, touch), and are agreed per project with our sales team. Send your annual volume and target date for a quote.