1.28 Inch Round Circular TFT LCD Display Module
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Overview
The DIYables 1.28 Inch Round Circular TFT LCD Display Module features a 240×240 pixel IPS panel with a circular active area (32.4mm diameter) driven by the GC9A01 controller over 4-wire SPI. The IPS technology provides 170° viewing angles and consistent colors at all angles. At 38mm × 38mm, the module fits breadboards and wearable enclosures. Operates at 3.3V–5V, and the DIYables_TFT_Round library is provided with comprehensive tutorials.
Quick Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 1.28 inches diagonal (circular) |
| Resolution | 240 × 240 pixels |
| Active Area | 32.4mm diameter (circular) |
| Display Type | IPS TFT LCD |
| Driver IC | GC9A01 |
| Interface | 4-wire SPI |
| Color Depth | 65K colors (16-bit) |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V – 5V |
| Viewing Angle | 170° (IPS) |
| Backlight | White LED |
| Pin Pitch | 2.54mm |
| PCB Dimensions | 38mm × 38mm |
Key Features
Circular IPS Panel
Unique circular form factor with IPS technology — consistent colors and contrast at extreme viewing angles.
GC9A01 Driver
Supports full 65K-color 16-bit rendering with smooth graphics performance over SPI.
SPI Interface
Standard 4-wire SPI with 2.54mm breadboard-compatible headers.
Wide Voltage Range
Works directly with both 3.3V (ESP32, ESP8266) and 5V (Arduino Uno, Nano) systems without level shifting.
Compact Footprint
38mm × 38mm PCB fits tight enclosures, wristwatch projects, and compact panels.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 1.28 inch |
| Resolution | 240 × 240 pixels |
| Active Area | 32.4mm diameter |
| Display Type | IPS TFT LCD (circular) |
| Driver IC | GC9A01 |
| Interface | 4-wire SPI |
| Color Depth | 65K colors (RGB565) |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V – 5V |
| Viewing Angle | 170° |
| Backlight | White LED |
| Pin Pitch | 2.54mm |
| PCB Dimensions | 38mm × 38mm |
Pinout
| Pin | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VCC | Power supply (3.3V or 5V) |
| 2 | GND | Ground |
| 3 | SCL | SPI clock |
| 4 | SDA | SPI data (MOSI) |
| 5 | RES | Hardware reset (active LOW) |
| 6 | DC | Data / Command select |
| 7 | CS | Chip select (active LOW) |
| 8 | BLK | Backlight control (connect to VCC or PWM) |
Power
Accepts 3.3V–5V on VCC. GC9A01 operates at 3.3V logic — if using a 5V board, a level shifter on SCL, SDA, RES, DC, and CS is recommended for full reliability, though the module often works at 5V directly due to internal protection. BLK pin controls backlight; connect to VCC or a PWM output for dimming.
Getting Started
Compatible Boards
Arduino UNO R3, Uno R4 WiFi/Minima, Mega, Giga, DIYables STEM boards, ESP32, ESP8266.
Wiring (Arduino Uno)
| Display Pin | Arduino Pin |
|---|---|
| VCC | 5V |
| GND | GND |
| SCL | D13 (SCK) |
| SDA | D11 (MOSI) |
| RES | D8 |
| DC | D9 |
| CS | D10 |
| BLK | 5V (or D6 for PWM dimming) |
Libraries
Applications
- Smartwatch and wristwatch displays
- Wearable electronics
- Dashboard gauges and dials
- Circular IoT device screens
- Gaming displays
- Round instrument panels
- Battery-powered compact monitors
Equivalent Boards
| Module | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| 2.4" TFT ST7789 | Rectangular, larger, SPI, no touch |
| 3.5" TFT Touch Shield | Much larger rectangular display with touch |
| OLED 128x64 | Monochrome, rectangular, self-luminous, I2C |
| 2.4" OLED SSD1309 | Rectangular monochrome OLED, I2C |
Beginner Tutorials
Notes
- The circular active area means pixels at the corners of the 240×240 square buffer fall outside the visible circle — account for this in UI layout.
- Use IPS mode (true) in the Arduino_GFX constructor for correct color output.
- BLK pin must be HIGH (or connected to VCC) for the backlight to be on.
- SPI speed up to 80 MHz is supported by GC9A01; start at 40 MHz and increase if performance is needed.
Community
Revision History
| Version | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| v1.0 | 2026-06 | Initial entry |