This 2.3" 128×32 blue OLED is crisp, high-contrast, and needs no backlight. It uses the SSD1305 driver with 8-bit, I2C or SPI, runs at 3.3V (level shifter included), and draws about 50mA. Requires >512B RAM for buffering.
If you’ve been enjoying monochrome OLEDs but want something a little bigger, this 2.3" OLED display is a great upgrade. It’s easy to read thanks to OLED’s naturally high contrast, and it uses 128 × 32 blue pixels, with each pixel individually switched on or off by the onboard controller. Since the display produces its own light, there’s no backlight, which helps keep power use down while giving that crisp, high-contrast look OLEDs are known for.
The display uses the SSD1305 driver chip, which supports 8-bit, I2C, or SPI communication. SPI is often the simplest option, using only 4 or 5 wires and offering fast updates. The OLED runs from a 3.3V power supply and expects 3.3V logic levels, but a breadboard-friendly level shifter is included so it can be used with both 3V and 5V systems, including 5V boards like Arduino.
Power draw depends on how much of the screen is lit, but it typically uses around 50mA from the 3.3V supply. The driver includes a built-in boost converter that steps 3.3V up to the higher voltage needed to run the OLED pixels. This boost circuit can sometimes cause a squeaking or buzzing sound, which you may be able to reduce by adding hot glue or foam tape around the inductor, although it may not be completely removable.
Each order includes one assembled OLED module with a bezel and four mounting holes for easy fitting. Because the display is 3V logic and power, it comes with an HC4050 level shifter, plus a 220µF capacitor — useful because some Arduino setups may need a little extra capacitance on the 3.3V rail for a display this size. The header is not pre-soldered, but a strip of header is included for you to attach. The display may arrive set to 8-bit mode, and you can switch it to SPI or I2C with a small soldering change (the tutorial explains how).
Getting started is straightforward with a detailed guide and Arduino library examples for text and graphics. Since the display must be buffered, you’ll need a microcontroller with more than 512 bytes of RAM. The library supports drawing text, bitmaps, pixels, rectangles, circles, and lines, and uses 512 bytes of RAM to buffer the full display while staying fast and easy to adapt to other microcontrollers.
Please note that OLED displays are made from lots of tiny organic LEDs. If pixels are left on continuously for over 1000 hours, they can start to dim. To keep brightness even over time, it’s best to turn off the display (set pixels off) when it isn’t needed.
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