Bill of Materials (BOM) with AliExpress Links
All components selected for the prototype, with direct purchase links.
MCU — ESP32-S3
| Option | Flash | PSRAM | USB | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1 N16R8 (clone) | 16 MB | 8 MB Octal | Dual USB-C | $5.50-$7.00 | AliExpress |
| WeAct ESP32-S3-A N16R8 | 16 MB | 8 MB Octal | Dual USB-C | $5.50-$7.50 | AliExpress (WeAct Store) |
| Waveshare ESP32-S3-DEV-KIT N16R8 | 16 MB | 8 MB Octal | USB-C | $10.99-$12.99 | Waveshare |
Recommended: ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1 N16R8 generic (~$6.00)
Display
Chosen: ILI9488 3.95" Bare LCD Panel (for custom PCB)
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.95" |
| Resolution | 320(RGB) × 480 |
| Controller | ILI9488 |
| Touch | Resistive (SPI) — not connected, touch not used |
| Connector | 40-pin FPC, 0.5mm pitch |
| Interface | MCU 8/16-bit parallel + SPI |
| Backlight | White LED, 3.3V |
| Display colors | 262K |
| Price | ~$3.95 |
| Link | AliExpress |
The bare LCD panel connects directly to the PCB via a 40-pin FPC ribbon — no breakout PCB, no pin headers. This is how commercial handheld consoles are built: compact, thin, and plug-in. The FPC ribbon slides into the J4 connector on our PCB and locks with the latch. Zero soldering required.
Both controllers are equivalent for 8-bit 8080 parallel with RGB565 (~20 MB/s). Key differences:
- ESP-IDF: use community component
esp_lcd_ili9488(ST7796S has official Espressif component) - LovyanGFX / TFT_eSPI: both controllers fully supported
- SPI limitation: ILI9488 does NOT support RGB565 over SPI (only RGB666/888). This does not affect us since we use parallel 8080.
- Init sequence: slightly different command set, but handled by the driver library
Display Orientation (landscape for gaming)
Portrait (native) Landscape (gaming mode)
┌──────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐
│ │ │ │
│ 320px │ rotate │ 480px │
│ × │ --------> │ × │
│ 480px │ 90° CW │ 320px │
│ │ │ │
│ FPC ══ │ │ FPC ══ │
└──────────┘ └─────────────────────┘
FPC 40-Pin Pinout (ILI9488 panel datasheet)
| Pin | Symbol | Direction | Description | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XL | — | Touch panel logical foot | NC |
| 2 | YU | — | Touch panel logical foot | NC |
| 3 | XR | — | Touch panel logical foot | NC |
| 4 | YD | — | Touch panel logical foot | NC |
| 5 | GND | — | Ground | GND |
| 6 | VDDI | — | I/O power supply (1.8–3.3V) | +3V3 |
| 7 | VDDA | — | Analog/digital power (2.8–3.3V) | +3V3 |
| 8 | TE | Output | Tearing effect (vsync) | NC |
| 9 | CS | Input | Chip select (active low) | GPIO12 |
| 10 | DC/RS | Input | Data/Command select | GPIO14 |
| 11 | WR | Input | Write strobe (8080 mode) | GPIO46 |
| 12 | RD | Input | Read strobe (8080 mode) | GPIO3 |
| 13 | SPI SDI | Input | SPI data in | NC (parallel mode) |
| 14 | SPI SDO | Output | SPI data out | NC (parallel mode) |
| 15 | RESET | Input | Reset (active low) | GPIO13 |
| 16 | GND | — | Ground | GND |
| 17-24 | DB0-DB7 | I/O | 8-bit parallel data bus | GPIO4-11 |
| 25-32 | DB8-DB15 | I/O | 16-bit extension | NC (8-bit mode) |
| 33 | LED-A | — | Backlight anode (2.9–3.3V typ 3.1V) | GPIO45 (PWM) |
| 34-36 | LED-K | — | Backlight cathode (8 chip white LED) | GND |
| 37 | GND | — | Ground | GND |
| 38 | IM0 | Input | Interface mode select | +3V3 (HIGH) |
| 39 | IM1 | Input | Interface mode select | +3V3 (HIGH) |
| 40 | IM2 | Input | Interface mode select | GND (LOW) |
| IM2 | IM1 | IM0 | Mode | Data Pins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 8080 16-bit parallel | DB15-DB0 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 8080 8-bit parallel | DB7-DB0 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 3-line 9-bit SPI | SDA in/out |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 4-line 8-bit SPI | SDA in/out |
Our design uses 8080 8-bit parallel (IM2=0, IM1=1, IM0=1): IM0 and IM1 pulled HIGH to +3V3, IM2 pulled LOW to GND.
This pinout is from the actual ILI9488 4.0" panel datasheet (see images above). It differs significantly from generic/typical pinouts found online. Do NOT use generic ILI9488 pinout tables — always refer to this datasheet.
When the display is mounted in landscape (CCW rotation), Pin 1 is at the south end of the FPC tail. The ribbon passes straight through the PCB slot to J4 on the bottom side without twisting, so display Pin N contacts connector Pad (41−N). The PCB traces are routed accordingly — e.g., display Pin 17 (DB0/GPIO4) connects to J4 Pad 24. See PCB FPC Slot for details.
Alternative Display Options
| Option | Size | Resolution | Controller | Interface | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST7796 4.0" bare panel + GT911 touch | 4.0" | 320x480 | ST7796S | 8/16-bit parallel | ~$8-12 | AliExpress — larger screen, official ESP-IDF driver |
| ST7796S 4.0" module + PCB | 4.0" | 320x480 | ST7796S | 8/16-bit parallel | ~$12-19 | Prototyping only (pin headers, no FPC) |
| ST7796S 3.5" IPS SPI | 3.5" | 320x480 | ST7796S | SPI | $8-$12 | Prototyping only |
Power Supply
LiPo Battery
| Option | Capacity | Dimensions | Weight | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LiPo 105080 5000mAh | 5000mAh | 50x80x10mm | ~80g | ~$5-8 | AliExpress |
| LiPo 104060 3000mAh | 3000mAh | 40x60x10mm | ~50g | $6.70 | AliExpress |
| LiPo 103450 2000mAh | 2000mAh | 34x50x10mm | ~35g | $3.50 | AliExpress |
USB-C Charging Module
| Option | Features | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP5306 USB-C | Charge+boost 5V/2.4A, charge-and-play | $1.59 | AliExpress |
| TP4056 USB-C | Charge only 1A, no boost (needs external regulator) | $0.25 | AliExpress |
Voltage Regulator
| Option | Specification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMS1117-3.3V | LDO 5V->3.3V, 800mA | $0.24 | AliExpress |
Recommended: LiPo 5000mAh + IP5306 + AMS1117 (~$7-10)
At an average draw of ~300mA (ESP32-S3 + display + audio), the 5000mAh battery provides approximately 14-16 hours of continuous gameplay.
USB-C -> [IP5306] -> 5V -> [AMS1117] -> 3.3V -> ESP32-S3
|
[LiPo Battery]
The IP5306 manages battery charge/discharge and provides stable 5V output. The AMS1117 steps it down to 3.3V for the ESP32.
Controls / Input
| Component | Specification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tact switch 6x6mm (20pcs) | Momentary push button, for D-pad/A/B/X/Y/Start/Select/L/R (12 buttons) | $1.04 | AliExpress |
| Rubber pads GBA-style | Conductive silicone, better feel | $0.27 | AliExpress |
| Rubber pads GBA full set | D-pad + A/B + Start/Select + L/R | $1.05 | AliExpress |
| Removed in v2 — GPIOs reassigned to USB data and BTN_R |
Audio
| Component | Specification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker 28mm 8ohm 0.5W | Mini speaker (5pc pack $4.05) | $0.81/pc | AliExpress |
| PAM8403 amplifier | 2ch 3W, with volume pot | $0.44 | AliExpress |
Storage
| Component | Specification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD Card module SPI | Micro SD reader, built-in level shifter | $0.45 | AliExpress |
| Micro SD 32GB | Class 10 / UHS-I (Kingston or Samsung) | $3.50 | AliExpress |
Prototyping Supplies
| Component | Specification | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breadboard 830 points | For phase 2 prototype | ~$2.00 | AliExpress |
| Jumper wires set | M-M, M-F, F-F | ~$2.00 | AliExpress |
| Resistor/capacitor kit | Assorted values | ~$2.00 | AliExpress |
Budget Summary
Recommended Configuration (SNES Primary)
| Category | Component | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MCU | ESP32-S3 N16R8 DevKitC-1 | $6.00 |
| Display | ILI9488 3.95" 8-bit parallel (bare panel) | $3.95 |
| Battery | LiPo 105080 5000mAh | $6.50 |
| Charging | IP5306 USB-C | $1.59 |
| Regulator | AMS1117-3.3V | $0.24 |
| Controls | Tact switch 20pcs (12 buttons: D-pad, A, B, X, Y, Start, Select, L, R) | $1.04 |
| Extra controls | Rubber pads | $1.05 |
| Audio | Speaker + PAM8403 | $1.25 |
| Storage | SD module + 32GB card | $3.95 |
| Misc | Breadboard, jumpers, resistors | $6.00 |
| TOTAL | $32.90 |
Button Layout
[L] [R]
[X]
[D-pad] [Y] [A]
up/down/ [B]
left/right
[Select] [Start]
12 buttons total: D-pad (4), A, B, X, Y, Start, Select, L, R
Plan for ~$55 to have margin for spares and unexpected needs.
Most AliExpress sellers offer free shipping. Delivery time: 2-4 weeks (standard).
JLCPCB PCB Assembly — LCSC Part Numbers
For the custom PCB version (see PCB Design), all SMT components are sourced from LCSC for JLCPCB assembly.
| Ref | Component | Package | LCSC | Class | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U1 | ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 | Module | C2913202 | Extended | |
| U2 | IP5306 charger+boost IC | eSOP-8 | C181692 | Extended | |
| U3 | AMS1117-3.3 LDO | SOT-223 | C6186 | Basic | |
| U5 | PAM8403 audio amplifier | SOP-16 | C5122557 | Extended | |
| J1 | USB-C 16-pin connector | SMT | C2765186 | Extended | |
| U6 | Micro SD slot (TF-01A) | SMT | C91145 | Extended | |
| J4 | FPC 40-pin 0.5mm (display) | SMT | C2856812 | Extended | |
| J3 | JST PH 2-pin (battery) | THT | C173752 | Extended | |
| L1 | 1µH inductor 4.5A | SMD 4×4 | C280579 | Extended | |
| SW1–SW13,SW_RST,SW_BOOT | SMT tact switch 5.1×5.1mm | SMT | C318884 | Extended | |
| SW_PWR | Slide switch SS-12D00G3 | SMT | C431540 | Extended | |
| LED1 | Red LED 0805 | 0805 | C84256 | Basic | |
| LED2 | Green LED 0805 | 0805 | C19171391 | Basic | |
| R1–R2 | 5.1kΩ 0805 | 0805 | C27834 | Basic | |
| R3–R15,R19 | 10kΩ 0805 | 0805 | C17414 | Basic | |
| R16 | 100kΩ 0805 | 0805 | C149504 | Basic | |
| R17,R18 | 1kΩ 0805 | 0805 | C17513 | Basic | |
| R20,R21 | 20kΩ bias (PAM8403 INL/INR) | 0805 | C4184 | Basic | — |
| C3–C16,C20,C21 | 100nF 0805 | 0805 | C49678 | Basic | |
| C1,C17,C18 | 10µF 0805 | 0805 | C15850 | Basic | |
| C2,C19 | 22µF 1206 | 1206 | C12891 | Basic | |
| C22 | 0.47µF DC-blocking (PAM8403 input) | 0805 | C1525 | Basic | — |
| C23,C24,C25 | 1µF decoupling (PAM8403 VDD/PVDD) | 0805 | C15849 | Basic | — |
Estimated PCB cost: $90 for 5 boards ($18/board) including fabrication, components, and assembly.
v2 Additional Components (Audio Coprocessor)
The v2 PCB adds an ESP32-S3-MINI-1-N8 as a dedicated audio coprocessor (see Phase 5 — Software Architecture):
| Ref | Component | Package | LCSC | Class | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U7 | ESP32-S3-MINI-1-N8 | Module (15.4×20.5mm) | C2913206 | Extended | $3.25 |
| C26,C27 | 100nF 0805 (decoupling) | 0805 | C49678 | Basic | $0.01 |
v2 BOM delta: +$3.27 per unit. No external crystal, flash, or extra passives needed — the module integrates everything.
v2 estimated PCB cost: $106 for 5 boards ($21/board).
PCB Version — What to Buy Separately
When ordering the custom PCB from JLCPCB, the following components are NOT included in the assembly and must be purchased from AliExpress:
| Component | Ref | Price | Connection to PCB | Solder? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILI9488 3.95" bare LCD panel (40P FPC 0.5mm, resistive touch NC) | U4 | ~$3.95 | FPC ribbon → J4 connector (slide + latch) | No |
| LiPo 105080 5000mAh battery | BT1 | ~$6-8 | JST PH plug → J3 connector | No |
| Speaker 28mm 8Ω | SPK1 | ~$0.80 | 2 wires → solder pads | Yes (easy) |
| — | Removed in v2 — GPIOs reassigned to USB data and BTN_R | — | ||
| ~$17-23 |
The display and battery are plug-in — no soldering skills required. Only the speaker (2 wires) needs soldering.
Buy the bare LCD panel (no PCB breakout board), specifically:
- ILI9488 controller, 3.95", 320×480, 40-pin FPC 0.5mm pitch
- Resistive touch (not connected — touch pins left NC on PCB)
- AliExpress link
Do NOT buy display modules with PCB breakout + pin headers — those are for breadboard prototyping and won't fit the FPC connector on the PCB.