# Heltec Vision Master E290 > ESP32-S3 development board with 2.9-inch e-ink display and optional SX1262 LoRa radio, featuring Raspberry Pi GPIO header, Meshtastic support, and 18uA deep sleep for battery-powered IoT and mesh networking applications. ## Quick Facts - **Brand:** Heltec Automation - **Price:** ~$19.9 - **CPU:** Xtensa LX7 dual-core @ 240MHz, FPU, vector instructions, AES,SHA hardware crypto - **CPU Architecture:** Xtensa LX7 - **CPU Cores:** 2 - **RAM:** 512KB SRAM,16KB RTC SRAM - **PSRAM:** 8MB PSRAM (OPI) - **Flash:** 16MB (QSPI, W25Q128) - **USB:** USB-C (native USB OTG) - **Power:** 5V via USB-C,3.7V LiPo battery (SH1.25-2) - **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V - **Operating Temp:** -20°C to +70°C - **Dimensions:** 87.96 × 36.63 × 12mm - **Weight:** 35g - **Charging Port:** USB-C - **Antenna:** U.FL/IPEX (WiFi,LoRa) - **SD Card:** No - **Display:** 2.9" E-Paper 128×296 ## Connectivity - **Wifi:** 802.11 b/g/n - **Bluetooth:** BLE 5.0 - **Lora:** SX1262 433/868/915MHz ## Open Source - **Firmware:** No - **Schematics:** No - **PCB Layout:** No ## Use Cases - lora-mesh-networking - off-grid-communication - meshtastic-mesh - electronic-shelf-labels - e-paper-display - e-ink-name-badge - environmental-monitoring - battery-powered-sensor-node - lorawan-node ## Components - **ESP32-S3R8** (mcu): Espressif ESP32-S3R8 with Xtensa LX7 dual-core processor at 240MHz, 512KB SRAM, 8MB OPI PSRAM, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth LE 5.0. Features hardware AES/SHA crypto acceleration, 20 ADC channels, 14 touch inputs, and ULP co-processor for deep sleep operation. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocumentation%2Fesp32-s3_datasheet_en.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - **SX1262** (radio): Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver supporting 433/868/915MHz bands with +22dBm TX power and -136dBm RX sensitivity at SF12/125kHz. Integrated via Heltec HT-RA62 module. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.semtech.com%2Fproducts%2Fwireless-rf%2Flora-connect%2Fsx1262&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - **DEPG0290BNS800F6** (display-driver): Good Display 2.9-inch black and white e-paper module with 128x296 pixel resolution, SPI interface, and partial refresh support. Retains image for 180+ days without power. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fresource.heltec.cn%2Fdownload%2FHT-VME290%2FDEPG0290BNS800F6_V2.1.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - **W25Q128** (flash-memory): Winbond W25Q128 16MB serial NOR flash memory providing firmware and data storage via QSPI interface. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.winbond.com%2Fhq%2Fproduct%2Fcode-storage-flash-memory%2Fserial-nor-flash%2F%3F__locale%3Den%26partNo%3DW25Q128JV&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) ## Protocols - **SPI** (SPI0): SCK: GPIO9, MOSI: GPIO10, MISO: GPIO11, CS: GPIO8 - **SPI (E-Ink)** (SPI1): SDI: GPIO1, CLK: GPIO2, CS: GPIO3, DC: GPIO4, RST: GPIO5, BUSY: GPIO6 - **SPI (LoRa)**: MISO: GPIO11, MOSI: GPIO10, SCK: GPIO9, NSS: GPIO8, RST: GPIO12, BUSY: GPIO13, DIO1: GPIO14 - **I2C**: SDA: GPIO39, SCL: GPIO38 - **UART**: TX: GPIO43, RX: GPIO44 - **UART (LoRa)**: URXD: GPIO44, UTXD: GPIO43 - **PWM** - **ADC** - **Touch** ## GPIO Map | Pin | Name | Type | Functions | |-----|------|------|-----------| | GPIO39 | I2C SDA / QL_SDA | I2C | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO38 | I2C SCL / QL_SCL / FSPIWP | I2C | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO07 | VBAT_READ / ADC1_CH6 / SUBSPIWP | ADC | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO06 | E-Ink BUSY | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO05 | E-Ink RST / ADC1_CH4 | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO04 | E-Ink DC / ADC1_CH3 | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO02 | E-Ink CLK / ADC1_CH1 | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO01 | E-Ink SDI / ADC1_CH0 | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO40 | LoRa NSS | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO45 | General Purpose GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO46 | General Purpose GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO44 | UART RXD / URXD | UART | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO43 | UART TXD / UTXD | UART | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO10 | SPI MOSI / LoRa MOSI | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO11 | SPI MISO / LoRa MISO | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO03 | E-Ink CS / ADC1_CH2 | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO47 | SPICLK_P / SUBSPICLK_P | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO48 | SPICLK_N / SUBSPICLK_N | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO42 | ADC1_CH2 / General Purpose | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO41 | General Purpose GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO13 | LoRa BUSY | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO12 | LoRa RST | — | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO09 | SPI SCK / LoRa SCK | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO08 | SPI SS / LoRa NSS | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | | GPIO18 | Vext Control (E-Ink power) | — | digital-input, digital-output, adc, pwm | | GPIO21 | User Button (PRG) | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO14 | LoRa DIO1 | — | digital-input, digital-output, adc, touch, pwm | ## Description ## Overview The Heltec Vision Master E290 (HT-VME290) is a compact ESP32-S3 development board built around a 2.9-inch black and white e-ink display. It combines WiFi, Bluetooth LE 5.0, and an optional SX1262 LoRa transceiver into a slim 88 x 37 x 12mm form factor with integrated lithium battery management. The board draws just 18 microamps in deep sleep while the e-ink display retains its image for up to 180 days without power, making it ideal for battery-powered deployments. The board exposes a Raspberry Pi-compatible 2x20 pin female header providing access to GPIO, SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, and touch inputs. A QuickLink-compatible SH2.0-4P sensor port simplifies connecting external sensors. Both WiFi and LoRa antennas connect via IPEX/U.FL connectors, allowing external antenna upgrades for improved range. Firmware options span Arduino, PlatformIO, MicroPython, CircuitPython, and ESPHome. The board is officially supported by Meshtastic for off-grid mesh communication, and the Heltec ESP32 Arduino framework provides ready-to-use libraries for LoRaWAN networking. Community projects include Meshtastic mesh nodes, electronic shelf labels, environmental sensor displays, and portable LoRa messengers. ## Where to Buy - [Heltec Official](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fheltec.org%2Fproject%2Fvision-master-e290%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) — 19.90 - [Rokland](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.rokland.com%2Fproducts%2Fheltecvision-master-e290&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) — 29.97 - [Amazon](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDevelopment-ESP32-S3R8-Compatible-PlatformIO-IoT%25EF%25BC%2588902-928MHz%2Fdp%2FB0D9JWT4P1&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) — 45.99 ## Resources - [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fheltec.org%2Fproject%2Fvision-master-e290%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FHeltec-Aaron-Lee%2FWiFi_Kit_series&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - [wiki](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwiki.heltec.org%2Fdocs%2Fdevices%2Fopen-source-hardware%2Fesp32-series%2Fvision-master%2Fvison-master-e290%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - [datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fresource.heltec.cn%2Fdownload%2FHT-VME290%2FHT-VME290-Datasheet.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) - [schematics](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fresource.heltec.cn%2Fdownload%2FHT-VME290%2FHT-VME290_Schematic_Diagram_V0.3.1.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=heltec-vision-master-e290&source=md-export) ## Tags `esp32-s3`, `e-ink`, `lora`, `meshtastic`, `iot`, `low-power`, `e-paper` ## Images ![Heltec Vision Master E290](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/heltec-vision-master-e290/a688801de0ad.png) ![Heltec Vision Master E290](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/heltec-vision-master-e290/25b0539835d6.png) ![Heltec Vision Master E290](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/heltec-vision-master-e290/9a4bd29ec32d.png) ![Heltec Vision Master E290](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/heltec-vision-master-e290/7214a1394beb.png) > **Battery Powered:** true --- [View full device page](https://openhardware.directory/devices/heltec-vision-master-e290)