Adafruit 4383 1.14 inch 240x135 Color TFT Display + MicroSD Card Breakout - ST7789

The Adafruit 4383 is a compact 1.14 inch color TFT display module featuring 240x135 pixel resolution with integrated ST7789 controller, combined with an onboard MicroSD card slot for data logging and multimedia storage. This breakout board is widely used by embedded systems engineers, IoT developers, and hobbyists building portable instruments, wearable devices, and data acquisition systems that require compact visual feedback with persistent storage capabilities. It solves the critical challenge of adding a high-resolution color display with non-volatile memory to space-constrained Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ARM-based microcontroller projects without requiring separate modules.

Product Overview

The Adafruit 4383 integrates two essential components into a single breakout board: a 1.14 inch TFT LCD display with 240x135 pixel resolution driven by the ST7789 controller IC, and a MicroSD card socket for external storage expansion. The ST7789 is a highly efficient display driver that communicates via SPI interface, requiring only four control lines (CS, DC, CLK, MOSI) plus power connections, making it ideal for microcontroller integration with minimal GPIO overhead. The display supports 16-bit color depth (65,536 colors), delivers vibrant visuals with excellent contrast ratios, and operates at 3.3V logic levels, making it compatible with modern development boards. The integrated MicroSD slot operates independently on the same SPI bus, allowing simultaneous display updates and file I/O operations through proper chip select management.

This module excels in applications requiring real-time data visualization combined with data persistence. The compact form factor (approximately 40mm x 50mm) makes it ideal for wearable projects, portable weather stations, environmental monitoring devices, and embedded test equipment. The breakout board includes proper decoupling capacitors and voltage regulation circuitry, ensuring stable operation even in electrically noisy environments. The SPI interface operates at speeds up to 40MHz, enabling smooth animations and rapid screen refreshes. Adafruit provides comprehensive Arduino libraries with full support for both display graphics operations and MicroSD file system access, dramatically reducing development time for complex applications.

Key Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Color TFT Display with MicroSD Card Breakout
Brand	Adafruit
Model Number	4383
Origin	Original/Authentic
Display Size	1.14 inches diagonal
Resolution	240 x 135 pixels
Display Controller	ST7789 SPI Driver
Color Depth	16-bit (65,536 colors)
Operating Voltage	3.3V logic, 5V tolerant with resistor dividers
Interface	SPI (4-wire or 3-wire mode)
SPI Clock Speed	Up to 40 MHz
MicroSD Card Support	FAT16/FAT32 filesystem, up to 32GB cards
Dimensions	Approximately 40mm x 50mm breakout board
Warranty	7 days on manufacturing defects
Shipping	1-5 days from Bengaluru
Delivery	7-8 days across India
Support	24/7 via Email and WhatsApp

Key Features

• 1.14 inch TFT LCD display with 240x135 pixel resolution delivering crisp visuals for compact applications with 65,536 color palette
• ST7789 SPI display controller operating up to 40MHz clock speed enabling smooth animations and rapid screen refreshes for real-time data visualization
• Integrated MicroSD card socket supporting FAT16/FAT32 filesystems for data logging, image storage, and multimedia playback on embedded systems
• 3.3V logic compatible with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ARM microcontrollers with built-in level shifting protection for 5V tolerant operation
• Minimal GPIO footprint requiring only 4-6 control pins (CS, DC, CLK, MOSI, optional MISO and RST) plus power connections
• Comprehensive Adafruit Arduino libraries with full graphics library support including text rendering, shapes, and bitmap display functions
• Onboard decoupling capacitors and voltage regulation ensuring stable operation in electrically noisy embedded environments
• Compact breakout board form factor approximately 40mm x 50mm ideal for space-constrained wearable and portable applications

Applications and Use Cases

• Portable environmental monitoring devices measuring temperature, humidity, and air quality with real-time graphical display and SD card data logging for long-term trend analysis
• Wearable fitness trackers and health monitoring systems displaying heart rate, step count, and activity metrics with persistent storage of historical health data
• DIY weather stations with live weather visualization, barometric pressure trends, and MicroSD card archival of hourly meteorological measurements
• Embedded test equipment and diagnostic instruments requiring compact display panels for oscilloscope interfaces, multimeter displays, and signal analysis visualization
• IoT data acquisition systems collecting sensor readings with timestamped SD card logging for post-analysis while displaying real-time metrics on the TFT screen
• Arduino-based game development and interactive projects utilizing the high-resolution display for sprite-based graphics and the SD card for game asset storage
• Educational robotics platforms enabling visual feedback for autonomous navigation systems, sensor calibration displays, and experimental data logging
• Portable music players and media devices using the display for album artwork and track information with MicroSD card storage for audio file libraries

How to Use

To integrate the Adafruit 4383 into your project, first establish the SPI connections: connect the CLK pin to your microcontroller's SPI clock line, MOSI to the SPI data output, CS to a dedicated GPIO pin, and DC (Data/Command) to another GPIO pin for command sequencing. Power the module with 3.3V and ground, ensuring proper decoupling with a 100nF capacitor near the power pins. If using a 5V microcontroller, implement voltage dividers on the control lines or use a level shifter IC to protect the 3.3V logic inputs. Download and install the Adafruit ST7789 display library and Adafruit GFX library from the Arduino IDE Library Manager, then initialize the display object with your pin assignments and SPI speed (40MHz recommended for optimal performance).

For MicroSD card integration, ensure the CS pin for the SD card is different from the display CS pin, allowing independent chip selection on the shared SPI bus. Initialize the SD card using the standard Arduino SD library, which automatically handles FAT filesystem operations. You can now write sensor data to CSV files on the SD card while simultaneously updating graphics on the TFT display. Start with Adafruit's example sketches to understand basic display operations like drawing pixels, text, and shapes, then progressively add MicroSD logging functionality. Test your SPI clock speed by starting conservatively at 10MHz and gradually increasing to 40MHz while monitoring for display artifacts or SD card read errors, which indicate timing issues requiring slower clock speeds or improved wiring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum SPI clock speed for stable operation of the Adafruit 4383?

The ST7789 controller supports SPI clock speeds up to 40MHz for display operations. However, optimal stability depends on your wiring quality and microcontroller implementation. Start at 10MHz, verify correct display output, then incrementally increase speed in 5MHz steps while monitoring for display artifacts like color shifts or pixel corruption. Most users achieve stable operation at 20-30MHz. For MicroSD cards, use 4-8MHz for reliable file operations, as SD cards are more sensitive to clock speed variations than display controllers. You can use different SPI speeds for display and SD card by reinitializing the SPI bus between operations.

Can I use 5V microcontroller boards like Arduino Uno with the Adafruit 4383?

Yes, the Adafruit 4383 can interface with 5V microcontrollers, but requires proper voltage level conversion. The display logic inputs are 3.3V rated and can be damaged by direct 5V signals. Use either a dedicated level shifter IC (like TXS0108E or similar) for all control lines, or implement simple resistor voltage dividers using 2.2K and 3.3K resistor pairs on each control line (CLK, MOSI, CS, DC). The MISO line from the SD card can be directly connected to 5V microcontroller inputs as it outputs 3.3V logic. Always power the display module with a stable 3.3V supply derived from a voltage regulator connected to your 5V source, not from the microcontroller's 3.3V output which may lack sufficient current capacity.

How do I simultaneously access the display and MicroSD card on the same SPI bus?

Both the ST7789 display and MicroSD card socket share the same SPI bus (CLK, MOSI, MISO) but require independent Chip Select (CS) pins. Configure one GPIO pin as CS for the display and a different GPIO pin as CS for the SD card. When communicating with the display, pull the display CS low and keep the SD card CS high (inactive). Conversely, when accessing the SD card, pull the SD CS low and keep the display CS high. The Adafruit libraries handle this automatically when you specify the correct CS pins during initialization. Ensure proper decoupling capacitors near both the display and SD card power pins to prevent power supply noise from affecting either device during rapid switching between them.

What MicroSD card sizes and types are compatible with the Adafruit 4383?

The integrated MicroSD socket supports standard MicroSD cards up to 32GB capacity using FAT16 or FAT32 filesystem formats. SDHC cards (2GB-32GB) and SDXC cards (64GB and above) are compatible, though cards larger than 32GB may require EXFAT formatting which requires additional library support. Use Class 10 or higher speed-rated cards for optimal performance. Before use, format the MicroSD card on a computer using the FAT32 filesystem to ensure compatibility. Some users report issues with certain brand MicroSD cards; if you experience read/write errors, try a different card manufacturer. Avoid using worn or counterfeit cards, as they may cause intermittent SPI communication failures that are difficult to diagnose.

When will I receive my order?

Orders are dispatched within 1-5 business days from our Bengaluru warehouse. Delivery takes 7-8 days to most locations across India.

Buy Adafruit 4383 1.14 inch 240x135 Color TFT Display + MicroSD Card Breakout - ST7789 Online in India

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