Build your own smart home dashboard without starting from scratch. The CrowPanel Advance combines a 7-inch touchscreen with an ESP32-based development board, giving makers, IoT developers, and home automation enthusiasts a compact, self-contained platform for custom interfaces.
Key features and specs
– 7-inch IPS capacitive touch display at 1024 x 600 resolution with 400 nits typical brightness
– ESP32-P4NRW32 microcontroller for low-power, always-on interfaces and control tasks
– Works with ESP-IDF and Arduino IDE for flexible development
– LVGL support for fast, polished GUI design
– Wireless connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 and BLE
– Smart home and RF options: Zigbee, LoRa, nRF2401, Matter, with optional Thread
– Expansion-ready GPIO for sensors, buttons, relays, and other actuators
– Optional 2 MP camera module
– Power via USB or battery for portable or embedded projects
What you can build
– A home dashboard for temperature, humidity, and energy stats
– A touch controller for thermostats, lighting, or irrigation
– A compact control panel for 3D printers, CNC, or lab gear
– An IoT hub that bridges multiple protocols like Zigbee and Matter
– A portable sensor console with battery power and camera support
What to expect during setup
This is a maker-focused device, not a consumer appliance. It won’t match desktop CPU performance, but it has more than enough horsepower for responsive custom UIs and real-time control. If you prefer something plug-and-play, a ready-made smart display like an Echo Show 8 may be a better fit. If you enjoy tinkering, the CrowPanel Advance delivers a familiar workflow with Arduino or ESP-IDF and rapid UI development through LVGL.
Pricing and variants
– Base model starts around $45.90
– With optional 2 MP camera module, about $53.90
– A variant based on the ESP32-S3 is also offered in some regions
Why it stands out
By combining a sharp 7-inch IPS touch panel with extensive wireless options and broad protocol support, the CrowPanel Advance makes it easy to prototype and deploy DIY smart displays, control panels, and IoT hubs. With GPIO for direct sensor hookups and a choice of Arduino or ESP-IDF plus LVGL, it strikes a practical balance between capability and simplicity, ideal for creators who want to move from idea to on-device interface quickly.
