P096C002-C08 — 0.96-inch TFT LCD Module, 80×160 px, 4-Wire SPI

The P096C002-C08 is a 0.96-inch TFT LCD module with 80(H)×160(V) pixel resolution, 4-wire SPI interface, and an ST7735S driver IC. The active area measures 10.8×21.7 mm, the module weighs 1.1 g, and it operates from −20 °C to +70 °C without derating. These three characteristics make it suitable for compact embedded displays in wearables, handheld instruments, and IoT sensor nodes.

The display runs in Normally Black mode with a 1500:1 contrast ratio and 400 cd/m² luminance, providing clear readability at ambient light levels typical of indoor and semi-outdoor use. The all-direction viewing angle eliminates orientation constraints during mechanical integration.

Complete electrical and optical specifications

Interface: 4-wire SPI and ST7735S driver IC

The module uses a 4-wire SPI interface (SCLK, SDA, CS, DC) accessible via an 8-pin connector. Clock frequency tolerance and init sequences follow the ST7735S datasheet directly, so existing ST7735S driver libraries for Arduino, STM32, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi apply without modification.

The ST7735S supports 18-bit (262K) color depth over SPI with hardware-accelerated partial-area refresh, which reduces MCU load in applications that update only a sub-region of the screen. The pin count of 8 keeps PCB routing compact for tight board layouts.

Optical performance: 400 nit, 1500:1 contrast, all-direction viewing

Luminance is rated at 400 cd/m² from the LED side-light backlight. At a contrast ratio of 1500:1 and Normally Black mode, off-state pixels transmit minimal light, producing dark backgrounds with clearly saturated foreground colors. This combination performs reliably under typical office and industrial lighting conditions (200–600 lux ambient).

The all-direction viewing angle means image quality does not degrade at oblique angles, which matters when the display is mounted behind a curved lens or in a device that users view from variable positions. No compensation film or additional polarizer treatment is required.

Physical dimensions: 13.5×27.95 mm outline, 1.1 g

The module outline is 13.5(H) × 27.95(V) × 1.5 mm maximum depth. The active pixel area (10.8×21.7 mm) represents roughly 60% of the total front face, leaving a 1.35 mm border on each side for bezel or adhesive bonding. At 1.1 g, the module adds negligible mass to weight-sensitive designs such as wristbands or clip-on sensors.

Pixel pitch is 0.135×0.135 mm (uniform in both axes), which produces a pixel density of approximately 188 PPI. Text rendering at 8 pt and above is legible at normal reading distance without anti-aliasing on the host MCU.

Operating temperature: −20 °C to +70 °C, storage to −30 °C / +80 °C

The operating temperature range of −20 °C to +70 °C covers standard industrial environments including unheated enclosures in temperate climates, automotive cabin accessories, and outdoor equipment with passive thermal management. The storage temperature extends to −30 °C / +80 °C, which accommodates shipping and warehousing conditions without special climate control.

The Normally Black display mode maintains stable contrast across this range because liquid crystal alignment in NB panels is less sensitive to temperature-induced viscosity changes than Normally White configurations. No external heater is required for operation down to −20 °C.

Typical applications for 0.96-inch SPI TFT LCD modules

The P096C002-C08 fits applications where board space is constrained and a color display is needed without a parallel bus. Representative use cases include:

• Wearable fitness trackers and smartwatch prototypes requiring sub-1 g display weight

• Handheld digital multimeters and data loggers with ST7735S firmware already in production

• IoT sensor nodes with ESP32 or STM32 where SPI pins are available but GPIO count is limited

• Industrial HMI sub-displays showing status indicators, setpoints, or alarms alongside a primary screen

• Medical portable devices requiring −20 °C cold-start capability without heater circuits

Positioning within the 0.96-inch small TFT LCD module range

0.96-inch TFT LCD modules in this size class typically offer either SPI or I2C interfaces. The P096C002-C08 uses 4-wire SPI, which achieves higher refresh rates than I2C (up to ~20 fps at full-frame with 8 MHz SPI clock on ST7735S) at the cost of one additional data line compared to I2C two-wire variants.

At 80×160 pixels and 262K color depth, this module renders simple UI elements — progress bars, numeric readouts, icons up to 32×32 px — without requiring external frame buffer memory. Designs needing resolutions above 240×320 pixels or parallel RGB interfaces fall outside this module's scope and should reference the 1.8-inch or 2.0-inch product lines.

Procurement: part number, MOQ, and evaluation path

The model identifier for purchasing is P096C002-C08. Samples are available for evaluation before volume commitment. When requesting quotation, specify operating temperature requirement (standard −20 to +70 °C is covered by this SKU) and confirm backlight drive current compatibility with the host power rail, as the LED side-light operates within the ST7735S forward voltage specification.

For custom touch overlay, protective glass bonding, or extended temperature variants beyond −20/+70 °C, contact the applications team with the target end-use specification. Custom outline dimensions and connector pitch changes require a tooling review with minimum 8-week lead time.

Integration notes: SPI wiring, initialization, and power sequencing

Connect the 8-pin FPC or ZIF connector per the ST7735S reference schematic: VDD (3.3 V), GND, SDA (MOSI), SCLK, CS (active low), DC (data/command select), RST (active low), and LED (backlight anode). Pull RST low for at least 10 ms at power-up before sending the init sequence. The display does not require a MISO line; SPI can be configured in one-way transmit mode.

Backlight current is set externally via a series resistor on the LED pin. For 400 cd/m² output at 3.3 V supply, calculate the resistor using the forward voltage and target current from the LED characterization curve in the product datasheet. Driving the LED at a lower current reduces luminance proportionally and extends battery runtime in portable applications.

📥 Download Datasheet (PDF)

FAQ

Q1. Is the P096C002-C08 compatible with Arduino Uno, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi?

A. Yes. The ST7735S driver IC is supported by widely available open-source libraries on all three platforms (Adafruit ST7735 for Arduino/ESP32, Pillow + ST7735 for Raspberry Pi). Connect SCLK, SDA, CS, DC, and RST to the corresponding SPI and GPIO pins, then pass 80×160 as the display dimensions during library initialization.

Q2. What is the minimum voltage and current required to operate the module?

A. The logic supply is 3.3 V (VDD). The ST7735S draws approximately 3–5 mA in normal display operation. The LED backlight current depends on the external series resistor; at 400 cd/m² output the LED forward voltage is within the range specified in the product datasheet. Total module consumption at full brightness is typically under 20 mA at 3.3 V.

Q3. Can this module operate at −20 °C without a heater?

A. Yes. The rated operating temperature range is −20 °C to +70 °C. Normally Black liquid crystal panels maintain acceptable contrast and response time down to −20 °C without auxiliary heating. Below this threshold, response time will degrade and the display is not guaranteed to meet contrast specifications, but physical damage will not occur down to the −30 °C storage lower limit.

Q4. What display resolution and color depth does the ST7735S support over SPI?

A. The ST7735S supports up to 18-bit color (262,144 colors) over 4-wire SPI. The P096C002-C08 uses an 80×160 pixel active area. In 16-bit mode (RGB565), each frame requires transferring 25,600 bytes; at 8 MHz SPI clock this takes approximately 25 ms per full-frame update, yielding roughly 40 fps maximum under ideal bus conditions.

Q5. What is the lead time and minimum order quantity for P096C002-C08?

A. Lead time and minimum order quantity (MOQ) vary by inventory status and are confirmed at the time of quotation. Sample units for engineering evaluation are available without volume commitment. For stable production orders, contact sales with the model number P096C002-C08, target monthly volume, and required delivery date to receive a formal quotation with confirmed lead time.