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VIEWE’s ESP32-S31 Touch Display Board: Zigbee and Thread Radio, but Still Preview

VIEWE's ESP32-S31 Touch Display Board: Zigbee and Thread Radio, but Still Preview. AutoMatter

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What was announced

VIEWE has introduced a 4.3-inch smart display development board built around Espressif’s new ESP32-S31 chip. According to CNX Software, it appears to be the first third-party board to use that chip. The part number is PLCM-UES31S043H800V480C-U, and it sells for $38.99 on VIEWE’s own store. CNX was told an AliExpress listing should follow within days.

The board pairs an 800 x 480 capacitive touch IPS screen with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 (LE and Classic) and an IEEE 802.15.4 radio listed for Zigbee, Thread and Matter. It has 16 MB of flash, 16 MB of PSRAM, a microSD slot, USB-C, a USB-A host port, an audio codec with two speaker amplifiers and two microphones, and a terminal block with RS485 and CAN. A 2 x 10 pin header brings out UART and I2C. It runs from 5 V and is rated for -20 to 70 C, limited by the LCD. VIEWE lists smart home control panels among its target uses.

The catch: the chip is a preview

This is the part that matters. VIEWE’s own GitHub page says the ESP32-S31 is a preview device. Builds need the ESP-IDF master branch and the –preview option, and the repository’s example guides say stable ESP-IDF releases such as 5.4 and 5.5 do not include this chip. The module ratings follow a pre-release Espressif datasheet.

The ESP-IDF repository is the official framework, and its master branch is where development happens. Nothing on these pages says that ready-made Zigbee, Thread or Matter firmware for this board exists. CNX says only ESP-IDF works for now, and VIEWE supplies examples for the LCD, touch, audio playback, SD card, RS485/CAN and an LVGL demo UI. Having a radio on the spec sheet is not the same as having a working Thread or Zigbee stack running on it.

What it means for an installed system

  • Nothing to update. This is a developer board, not a product that plugs into your Home Assistant, Matter fabric or Zigbee network today.
  • Do not plan a wall panel around it yet. If you want a touch panel for a control room or hallway, buy something with supported firmware. This board is for people who write their own code.
  • Watch for ESPHome and Home Assistant support. The pages do not mention either. We would wait for a stable ESP-IDF release that includes the chip, and for community firmware that is actually shown running a Thread or Zigbee role, before spending money for a real job.
  • Check the power budget. VIEWE recommends a 5 V 1 A supply. Draw is 320 mA typical and 500 mA at maximum backlight, so a weak USB charger or long thin cable is a poor choice.
  • Mind the USB-A port. VIEWE warns that it defaults to supplying 5 V as a host, and that you should avoid back-feeding VBUS from both ends when using it as a device.

One early complaint

A commenter on the CNX article pointed out that the chip supports CAN-FD, but the board fits a standard CAN transceiver. The VIEWE page lists a SIT1050T for CAN. If you need CAN-FD, check that before you buy.

Our take

It is interesting to see an 802.15.4 radio, Wi-Fi 6 and a decent screen on one cheap board, and it hints at where DIY wall panels may go. For now it is a hobbyist and developer item. If you already have a working Zigbee or Thread network, leave it alone and revisit once the chip leaves preview.

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