M5Stack CoreS3 Lite is a cost-optimized ESP32-S3-based IoT Vision AI controller providing a cheaper version of the CoreS3 with a magnetic backplate and 200mAh battery instead of a DIN Rail backplate and 500mAh battery.
The CoreS3-Lite still features a 2-inch capacitive IPS touchscreen, a VGA camera, a microSD card for storage, a few sensors like a 6-axis IMU, a 3-axis magnetometer, and a proximity sensor, as well as a dual microphone array and an RTC for time keeping.
M5Stack CoreS3 Lite specifications:
- Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN16R8
- CPU – Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz, RISC-V ULP co-processor
- Memory – 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM
- Storage – 16MB flash
- Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE + Mesh, 16MB flash
- Antenna – Internal 3D antenna
- Storage – MicroSD card slot
- Display – 2-inch display with 320×240 resolution via ILI9342C driver, capacitive touch support via GT6336U
- Camera – 0.3MP VGA camera @ 30 fps using GC0308 CMOS sensor
- Audio
- 1W speaker connected to AW88298 I2S power amplifier chip
- Dual microphone connected to ES7210 audio codec
- USB – 1x USB Type-C port
- Sensors
- LTR-553ALS-WA proximity sensor
- BMI270 6-axis gyroscope and accelerometer
- BMM150 3-axis magnetometer
- Expansion
30-pin female header connected to DIN base with 4-pin GPIO Grove connector, 4-pin UART Grove connector- 4-pin I2C Grove connector
- Misc
- Power and Reboot buttons
- Power switch
- BM8563 RTC
- Power Supply
- 5V via USB Type-C port
9V-24V DC input via DC jack- Built-in 3.7V/200mAh battery
- AXP2101 power management chip
- Dimensions – 54x54x16.5 mm; magnetic backplate design
- Weight – 54.0 grams (against 73.3 grams for the CoreS3)
The removal of the DIN Rail base also means a few Grove expansion ports are gone, and so is the ability to power the device via the 9V-24V DC input jack. The CoreS3 Lite is also quite thinner and lighter than the original design.
M5Stack provides support for UIFlow2 visual programming platform, the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO (See factory firmware binary), and the ESP-IDF Framework. You’ll find more technical details and instructions to get started with each programming platform on the documentation website. Target applications include smart home control panels, AI-powered desktop companions, and embedded vision systems.
The CoreS3 Lite ships with an Allen key to loosen the M3 screws holding the magnetic backplate. It sells for $44.90 on AliExpress or the M5Stack store, and for reference, the original CoreS3 IoT controller goes for $59.90. It’s not the cheapest CoreS3 variant, since the CoreS3 SE, which lacks all sensors, a battery, and a back cover, retails for just $38.90.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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