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To drive this board, I used a library written by Bodmer as many reviewers already pointed out. To make sure the board is running properly, I ran most of the example sketches from the driver library. Overall speaking, I was impressed by the wide angle viewing of the screen. Although half-VGA (480x320) doesn't seem a lot in nowadays HD era standard, the screen is very clear and colors are vivid. Another advantage of this shield is that you can directly plug it in to Arduino Mega2560. That makes the hardware installation a no brainer as no adapter nor wiring is required. This board also features an SD card slot (Just FYI, the SD_CS is at pin 53). With one Arduino Mega2560, this LCD board and an SD card, one can easily turn them into a mini picture frame project. In my case, I do manage to convert a couple of desktop wallpapers and display them on the LCD screen just to show the quality of the screen.
I would highly recommend this board to anyone who wants to work on projects that require an Arduino with a good LCD.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful IPS LCD screen.
Reviewed in the United States on 28 October 2018
This review is for HiLetgo 3.2" IPS TFT LCD.
To drive this board, I used a library written by Bodmer as many reviewers already pointed out. To make sure the board is running properly, I ran most of the example sketches from the driver library. Overall speaking, I was impressed by the wide angle viewing of the screen. Although half-VGA (480x320) doesn't seem a lot in nowadays HD era standard, the screen is very clear and colors are vivid. Another advantage of this shield is that you can directly plug it in to Arduino Mega2560. That makes the hardware installation a no brainer as no adapter nor wiring is required. This board also features an SD card slot (Just FYI, the SD_CS is at pin 53). With one Arduino Mega2560, this LCD board and an SD card, one can easily turn them into a mini picture frame project. In my case, I do manage to convert a couple of desktop wallpapers and display them on the LCD screen just to show the quality of the screen.
I would highly recommend this board to anyone who wants to work on projects that require an Arduino with a good LCD.
It works. Its easy to set up. This is how I set mine up.
1.) Install and open Arduino IDE if not already installed
2.) Download a ILI9846 Library from GitHub. I used one from the user Bodmer
NOTE: There are other libraries you can use as well. Just google ILI9846 Library.
3.) Install Library into Arduino IDE: Sketch Include Library... ADD .ZIP Library... Select downloaded library
4.) Run any sample sketch from library. You can modify the sample codes to do whatever project you want once you verified everything works. I am using an Arduino Mega 2560 Microcontroller.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works Great!
Reviewed in the United States on 21 August 2018
It works. Its easy to set up. This is how I set mine up.
1.) Install and open Arduino IDE if not already installed
2.) Download a ILI9846 Library from GitHub. I used one from the user Bodmer
NOTE: There are other libraries you can use as well. Just google ILI9846 Library.
3.) Install Library into Arduino IDE: Sketch Include Library... ADD .ZIP Library... Select downloaded library
4.) Run any sample sketch from library. You can modify the sample codes to do whatever project you want once you verified everything works. I am using an Arduino Mega 2560 Microcontroller.
Like other HiLetgo products this is an excellent product with absolutely no documentation. Very good value if/when you can figure out how to use it. I edited two MCUFRIEND library files to enable support for a 16 bit Mega2560 display. Follow Step 17 exactly in the mcufriend_how_to.txt file. Edit mcufriend_shield.h: #define USE_SPECIAL Edit mcufriend_special.h: #define USE_MEGA_16BIT_SHIELD
Works perfectly, not quite as bright as the Kumon 3.5" display but this one is MUCH faster. Note that it only works on the Mega (not Uno). Great display, will buy more.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very fast redraw speed, excellent product with absolutely no documentation
Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2019
Like other HiLetgo products this is an excellent product with absolutely no documentation. Very good value if/when you can figure out how to use it. I edited two MCUFRIEND library files to enable support for a 16 bit Mega2560 display. Follow Step 17 exactly in the mcufriend_how_to.txt file. Edit mcufriend_shield.h: #define USE_SPECIAL Edit mcufriend_special.h: #define USE_MEGA_16BIT_SHIELD
Works perfectly, not quite as bright as the Kumon 3.5" display but this one is MUCH faster. Note that it only works on the Mega (not Uno). Great display, will buy more.
I have to give this only 4 stars because it only fits on a Mega 2560 board, unlike most displays that will also fit on an UNO. It took a bit of reading other reviews to find that the TFT_HX8537 library is the correct one to use. As you can see in the photos, for prototyping I mounted the display on some extension headers from a Mega Shield kit to allow room to plug jumpers into the other 2560 headers and when I'm ready to build my project I'll use the Mega Shield between the 2560 and the display to mount the additional components and connectors. Pros: - Super fast graphics! Very sharp and bright. - Easy to connect Cons: - Only for a Mega 2560 - Covers all the other 2560 pins so it has to be mounted externally in some manner - Seems odd that it can get +5V and GND from the end connector (pins 22-53) but it still has two pins for 5V and GND connected to the standard Arduino power connector.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fast but only works on the 2560
Reviewed in the United States on 13 December 2019
I have to give this only 4 stars because it only fits on a Mega 2560 board, unlike most displays that will also fit on an UNO. It took a bit of reading other reviews to find that the TFT_HX8537 library is the correct one to use. As you can see in the photos, for prototyping I mounted the display on some extension headers from a Mega Shield kit to allow room to plug jumpers into the other 2560 headers and when I'm ready to build my project I'll use the Mega Shield between the 2560 and the display to mount the additional components and connectors. Pros: - Super fast graphics! Very sharp and bright. - Easy to connect Cons: - Only for a Mega 2560 - Covers all the other 2560 pins so it has to be mounted externally in some manner - Seems odd that it can get +5V and GND from the end connector (pins 22-53) but it still has two pins for 5V and GND connected to the standard Arduino power connector.
The display has a lot of great potential. Unfortunately HiLetgo doesn't provide any documentation and you'll have to figure how to use the display yourself. The display lost a star because of that.
The UTFT libary from "Rinky-Dink Electronics" works great. In the video I explain how to install and run the examples. Please note that the display does not come with the USB cable as mentioned in the video. The cable came with the HiLetgo Mega2560. Sorry about that error.
As mentioned in the video, I have to explore more what the display is capable of. Especially interesting is the SD card slot that surely allows reading and writing of data to the card.
I was really surprised when starting up the graphic demo. It's so fast! Check out my video.
I typically use screens with SPI or even i2c for small devices. While they work, I feel like the Arduino spends too much time writing to them. Not the case with this screen. I used the TFT_HX8357 library by Bodmer without modifications.
It would be nice if there was backlight control, but that would likely bump the price up.
Last note, the packaging was top notch, so no bent pins! yay!
At 3.2" and with 480x320 pixels, this screen is one of the largest and most pixel rich for the Mega2560. The screen simply plugs into the Arduino, the same as regular Uno shields and that's it, done. The Adafruit library commands work fine, when paired with the Bodmer TFTHX8357 library. Running on the Mega2560, it is crisp, fast and very easy to use. This screen is now in use for a GPS project. I would definitely recommend it for any larger screen project.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Large fast screen with high density pixels
Reviewed in the United States on 26 September 2018
At 3.2" and with 480x320 pixels, this screen is one of the largest and most pixel rich for the Mega2560. The screen simply plugs into the Arduino, the same as regular Uno shields and that's it, done. The Adafruit library commands work fine, when paired with the Bodmer TFTHX8357 library. Running on the Mega2560, it is crisp, fast and very easy to use. This screen is now in use for a GPS project. I would definitely recommend it for any larger screen project.
Terrific display, as others have pointed out. Fantastic update speed; crisp color separation; this thing looks great for the dough. It did take me a while to hunt around for the libraries that would work with this display. Nothing is easy in the Arduino aftermarket world, we all know, but it doesn't have to be this hard if the OEM overcomes some laziness and offers libraries out of the box. How about a sheet of paper with a bar code pointing to one? Lame.
I can't find anything on how to use the pushbutton on the front of the board nor the full size SD card holder on the back side of that board. This is a major setback if you want to expand functionality by using the available builtin resources.
Additionally, the small 2-pin header for 3.3V and reset on my board was crooked out of the box. If I didn't have a soldering iron and the skill to reposition the header the whole module would be useless because it wouldn't line up with the Mega socket. Bad manufacturing QC on that one, boys.
In order to download drive for Arduino Mega 2560 I went to Github and then searched for Bodmer and TFT_HX8357. Downloaded the .zip file and added it to the Arduino software libraries. There are many examples that show the display capability.
The unit plugs directly onto the Mega and so there is no wiring to be done. Raise the Mega with spacers if you need access to other pins. See other reviewers for information on that.
There is a SD card reader on the back. The example library shows you how you can display .bmp and .raw images from there.
Everything worked and quickly too.
The display has decent viewing angles but not on one specific side where it fades from view more quickly as you move your head to the side. I am being somewhat harsh here as the other three sides are good. Position the display with that in mind.
Low cost, bright, quite large view, and tailor made for the Mega. It comes with zero documentation just like everything in the 21st century. Shout out to Bodmer for making so many software examples for this graphic processor.
Half a star lost for lack of documentation and half a star lost for less than desired viewing angle on one side.
This is a good quality color display for the Arduino Mega designed as a "hat" or "shield" which plugs directly on top of the Arduino. No other connections or wiring is required. Like most of these accessories for Arduino or Raspberry Pi, it comes with no documentation. You have to search for information, drivers and libraries. I tried one library and it didn't work. Then I tried the HX_8357 and it works very well. The display has an SD memory card slot on the back which requires that you remove the display from the Mega to get to the card. But it's great to have the added storage. It will display full 24 bit color BMP picture files. But so far it seems the sketches are limited to 16 bit color which is quite good but not as complete as 24. I'm still working on that. Over all it's a great display and very versatile. I recommend it!
