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The latest product releases, company updates, and practical tutorials for building with M5Stack.
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Feb. 6, 2026M5Stack, a global leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, today announced the release of AI Pyramid series, comprising two models: AI Pyramid and AI Pyramid-Pro.

 

 

AI Pyramid is a pyramid-shaped, high-performance AI PC for local AI inference and edge computing. Powered by the Axera AX8850 SoC with an 8-core Cortex-A55 CPU and 24 TOPS INT8 NPU, it efficiently handles workloads such as real-time computer vision, multimodal interaction, and on-device large model inference, while providing robust video processing and flexible connectivity.

 

Targeting AIPC, edge intelligent terminals, and smart interactive devices, AI Pyramid delivers stable and reliable performance for fully localized AI applications while getting rid of reliance on cloud services.

 

Key Features

 

Built for Local AI and Edge Computing
AI Pyramid runs AI inference entirely on-device, ensuring low latency, data privacy, and reliable offline operation. Its flexible architecture supports deployment in smart terminals, interactive devices, and edge environments where consistent performance is essential.

On-Device AI Performance & Multimodal Parallelism
Equipped with a 24 TOPS INT8 NPU, AI Pyramid delivers powerful on-device AI compute for vision, speech, and language tasks in parallel. Its heterogeneous architecture enables developers to deploy and scale mainstream AI models—including Transformers and LLMs—efficiently from prototype to production. 

Hardware-Accelerated AI Video Processing

AI Pyramid’s hardware-accelerated video engine, combined with 4GB LPDDR4x memory (8GB for AI Pyramid-Pro), supports multi-stream video processing. It can decode up to 16 channels of 1080p video in parallel while running object detection, face recognition, or multimodal analytics on each stream, ensuring low latency, reliable local processing, and on-device AI acceleration.


Flexible Connectivity and Expansion

For connectivity and expansion, AI Pyramid features HD multimedia interfaces (1× input + 1× output for AI Pyramid-Pro), dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, and provides both USB 3.0 and USB Type-C interfaces, offering excellent flexibility for display output, networking, and peripheral expansion.

 

Detailed Specs

 

 

Endless Possibility

 

With its strong on-device AI computing capability and open, developer-friendly ecosystem, AI Pyramid is well suited for AIPC and edge intelligent terminals. It can be deployed as a smart interactive device, enabling applications such as smart home control (Home Assistant integration), on-device AIGC, voice cloning, and meeting transcription, as well as serving as an AI visual gateway, a local AI photo management platform (Immich), or an AI smart security system (Frigate).

 

By combining flexible hardware design with reliable on-device AI performance, AI Pyramid provides a solid foundation for developers and makers to build scalable, privacy-preserving AI applications across both desktop and edge environments. Its official launch marks the beginning of new community-driven innovations and the dawn of a new edge AI era.

2026-02-06

Jan. 23, 2026M5Stack, a global leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, today announced the launch of StickS3, the latest addition to its signature Stick series.

 

 

Built for developers and makers, StickS3 is a compact, high-performance programmable controller designed for remote control and IoT applications. Powered by the ESP32-S3-PICO-1-N8R8, it delivers enhanced performance and optimized interaction capabilities, making it well suited for smart devices and a wide range of IoT development scenarios.

 

To enable these capabilities, StickS3 introduces a series of meaningful hardware and capability upgrades:

 

Key Features 

Upgraded Core

Powered by ESP32-S3-PICO-1-N8R8, StickS3 ensures higher processing performance, USB-OTG support, Bluetooth LE 5, and improved suitability for AI and edge computing applications, compared with the ESP32-PICO-V3-02 used in StickC-Plus2. 

Enhanced Audio

StickS3 upgrades its audio system with an ES8311 mono audio codec, a MEMS microphone, and an onboard speaker, enabling true audio input and output for voice interaction and audio playback. 

Extended Battery Life

StickS3 is equipped with a 250 mAh internal battery, providing stable power support for extended interactive use cases. 

Expanded Memory

StickS3 comes with 8 MB Flash and 8 MB PSRAM, providing significantly expanded program storage and runtime memory. 

Enhanced Expansion Options

StickS3 features the newly added Hat2-Bus (2.54-16P), giving access to more GPIO and communication resources, along with an integrated IR receiver for infrared control.

  

Detailed Specification

 

 

Development Potential

Beyond the hardware upgrades, the real strength of the Stick series lies in its development ecosystem and community creativity. With its compact form factor and ease of use, the Stick Series has become a signature product line within the M5Stack family, offering rich development potential and a wide range of use cases—especially for beginners.

 

Taking StickC-Plus2 as an example, the community has built a diverse collection of projects and custom firmware around it. Thanks to its portable design, it has been widely adopted for wearable and handheld applications, enabling creators to turn it into anything from a smartwatch to a security-testing tool.

 

Now, with the release of StickS3, a more powerful and highly integrated evolution of the series, it’s time to unlock even greater possibilities—driven by both the enhanced hardware and the passionate community behind Stick.

2026-01-23

Jan.2026, M5Stack officially announced its collaboration with SquareLine Vision, a next-generation UI design platform built to simplify and accelerate graphical interface development for embedded systems. As part of this partnership, SquareLine Vision has completed device adaptation for selected M5Stack products, enabling developers to design, preview, and deploy UIs more efficiently. 

With this integration, M5Stack Core2 and Tab5 are now fully supported in SquareLine Vision v1.2.1, allowing users to directly select these devices when designing interfaces. This marks an important step toward lowering the barrier to embedded UI development and streamlining the workflow from design to deployment.

 

Experience Effortless UI Development with SquareLine Vision

SquareLine Vision provides a visual, drag-and-drop environment for creating user interfaces quickly and easily. Developers can focus on layout, interaction, and user experience while SquareLine Vision generates production-ready code behind the scenes. This approach helps shorten development cycles and makes UI iteration faster and more intuitive. 

Seamless Hardware Integration for Further Development

The completed integration ensures that UI designs created in SquareLine Vision can be deployed seamlessly on M5Stack devices, with display resolution, touch input, and hardware characteristics already accounted for. This reduces the burden of hardware–software integration and allows developers to focus on further development. 

Supported devices include:

Core2 — a second-generation M5Stack Core controller featuring an ESP32-D0WDQ6-V3 dual-core LX6 CPU (up to 240 MHz), 16 MB Flash, 8 MB PSRAM, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 2.0-inch capacitive touch screen, with programming supported via USB Type-C. 

Tab5 — a highly expandable, portable smart IoT terminal designed for developers, integrating a dual-core architecture and rich hardware resources. It is built around the ESP32-P4 SoC based on the RISC-V architecture, featuring 16MB Flash and 32MB PSRAM for high-performance application development. 

By combining M5Stack’s modular hardware ecosystem with SquareLine Vision’s effortless UI design workflow, developers can now move from concept to functional interface with greater speed, clarity, and confidence. 

About M5Stack

M5Stack is a leading provider of modular, open-source IoT development solutions. Our stackable hardware and intuitive programming platform empower developers and businesses to accelerate innovation and rapidly prototype solutions for IIoT, home automation, smart retail, and STEM education. 

About SquareLine Vision

SquareLine is a next generation UI editor for individuals and professionals to design and develop beautiful UIs for your embedded devices quickly and easily. Offering a unique cross-platform software, which enables design and implementation in one tool.

2026-01-20

Jan. 13, 2026 — M5Stack, a global leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, today launched StackChan, the first community-co-created open-source AI desktop robot, built on a proven ESP32 platform and designed to be endlessly hackable by makers worldwide.

 

Unlike closed, concept-driven AI robots, StackChan exposes its hardware, firmware, and interaction logic from day one — turning a playful desktop companion into a real development platform.

 

StackChan is now live on Kickstarter with a $65 Super Early Bird offer available for the first 72 hours.

 

 

From Community to the Globe: How StackChan Was Born

 

Before its official launch by M5Stack, StackChan had already existed as a community-driven project since 2021. Built on M5Stack standard controller, Core series, it began as a personal open-source project by maker Shinya Ishikawa, sustained and shaped through ongoing community contributions. 

 

As more enthusiasts joined the project, contributors like Takao, who helped popularize the DIY kits, and Robo8080, who introduced AI capabilities, played key roles in expanding StackChan beyond its original form. 

 

Inspired by StackChan’s expandability and creative potential, M5Stack officially brought the project to life as its first ready-to-play yet endlessly hackable desktop robot—while keeping its community-driven spirit at the core.

 

What Remains: Core Computing & Interaction Capabilities

 

As with the original version, StackChan continues to use the M5Stack flagship Core Series (CoreS3)as its main controller. CoreS3 is powered by an ESP32-S3 SoC with a 240 MHz dual-core processor, 16 MB Flash, and 8 MB PSRAM, and supports both Wi-Fi and BLE connectivity. 

To enable richer interactions, the main unit integrates a 2.0-inch capacitive touch display, a 0.3 MP camera, a proximity sensor, a 9-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope + magnetometer). It also includes a microSD card slot, a 1W speaker, dual microphones, and power/reset buttons. Together, these hardware components form a solid foundation for StackChan’s audio-visual interactive experiences. 

For more technical details, please refer to the StackChan documentation: https://docs.m5stack.com/en/StackChan

 

What’s New: Ready-to-Play Functions Powered by Advanced Hardware

 

For the robot body, several advancements have been made to make it easier to get hands-on and improve the out-of-box experience. It features: 

Power & connectivity: A USB-C interface for both power and data, paired with a built-in 700 mAh battery.

Movement system: 2 feedback servos supporting 360° continuous rotation on the horizontal axis and 90° vertical tilt—enabling expressive movements with real-time position feedback.

Visual feedback: 2 rows totaling 12 RGB LEDs for expressive system and interaction feedback.

Sensors & interaction: Infrared transmission and reception, a three-zone touch panel, and a full-featured NFC module enabling touch- and identity-based interactions. 

On the software side, StackChan is ready-to-play for starters with no coding required. The pre-installed factory firmware delivers:

Expressive faces and motions: Preloaded with vivid facial expressions and coordinated movements that bring personality and liveliness to StackChan.

Built-in AI agent: Integrates an AI agent for natural voice-based interaction and conversational experiences.


 

App-based remote interaction: Supports official iOS app for video calls, remote avatar control, and real-time interaction with StackChan.

 

Chan-to-Chan Friends Map: Enables discovery of nearby StackChan devices, unlocking playful multi-device and social interaction scenarios.

 

Open for customization: While beginner-friendly by default, the firmware supports further development via Arduino and UiFlow2, making it easy to create custom applications.

 

100% Open-Source: Built to Be Customized and Extended

 

In an era filled with closed, concept-driven “AI robot” products, StackChan stands out with its open-source core. From firmware and hardware interfaces to development tools, every layer is designed to be explored, modified, and extended by users. 

Beyond code, StackChan also encourages physical customization. With 3D printing and creative accessories, users can personalize their StackChan’s appearance and turn it into a unique desktop companion. 

Open-source repository: https://github.com/m5stack/StackChan

Fun with Global Community: Share, Extend, and Evolve Together

 

Since its birth, StackChan has grown into a vibrant global community of makers, developers, and enthusiasts. From sharing projects and source code online to hosting meetups and anniversary events offline, the community continues to expand what StackChan can be. 

Owning a StackChan is not just about building a robot—it’s about being part of an open ecosystem where ideas and creativity evolve together. 

StackChan is not built to its end at launch. It is built to grow—through open technology, creative experimentation, and a global community that continues to redefine what a desktop robot can be. 

Discover your StackChan on Kickstarter now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/m5stack/stackchan-the-first-co-created-open-source-ai-desktop-robot?ref=d5iznw&utm_source=PR

2026-01-14

On November 17, 2025, M5Stack once again hosted its annual Open Day, welcoming global users and enthusiasts. This year’s event reached a new milestone, bringing together more than 80 participants from 11 countries to explore the world of M5Stack innovation—where people build, share, and connect.

Over the course of the afternoon, guests explored our all-in-one facility, exchanged ideas face-to-face, and discovered what’s next in the M5Stack ecosystem.

Factory & Office Tour: From idea to device

M5Stack operates an all-in-one facility where product design, production, packaging, quality control and shipping are all managed under one roof. Open Day offered visitors a rare opportunity to see this entire workflow in action.

Guests were divided into three language groups—Chinese, English, and Japanese. Guided by our team, participants followed the full journey of M5Stack products, from design and production to testing and warehousing, gaining a deeper understanding of how each idea becomes a finished piece of hardware.

Highlights Session: New products, new tools, new recognition

After the tour, the meetup session brought everyone together.

Jimmy opened with a brief look back at M5Stack’s story—how a small modular hardware idea grew into a global developer platform—and shared key milestones achieved over the years.

The session then moved into a series of exciting highlights:

  • The debut introduction of the new Arduino Nesso N1 by Julian Caro Linares from Arduino
  • The latest updates on UiFlow2 and its expanding ecosystem
  • Recaps from Maker Faire Tokyo and Maker Faire Rome
  • M5Stack being honored with the 2025 Good Design Award

User Lightning Talks: Global creators on stage

This year’s Open Day also featured a strong lineup of international speakers. Contributors from China, Japan, Indonesia, and other regions presented projects spanning education, AI, robotics, digital tools, and more. 

The session showcased both award-winning professional works and small yet inspiring experiments from individual creators. Each presentation ignited new ideas, and every round of applause reflected the community’s appreciation for creativity and innovation.

Thank You for Being Part of Open Day

Every attendee played an essential role in making the event a success. Your passion, projects, and ideas are what give the M5Stack community its vibrancy. Thank you for traveling from around the world to join us in Shenzhen—to build, share, and connect together. 

Looking ahead, M5Stack will continue to:

  • Make IoT development more accessible and beginner-friendly
  • Provide powerful, modular hardware and intuitive software tools
  • Support an open, global community of developers, makers, and partners

We look forward to welcoming you again at the next M5Stack Open Day—see you in 2026!

 

2025-11-19

Nov. 12, 2025–M5Stack, a global leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, today announced ArduinoNessoN1, a compact and powerful development kit co‑engineered with Arduino, the world’s leading open‑source hardware and software company. 

Powered by the ESP32‑C6, the NessoN1 delivers multi‑protocol connectivity including Wi‑Fi®6, Bluetooth®5.3, Thread1.4, Zigbee®3.0, Matter, and LoRa®(850960MHz), all packed into a sleek, pre‑assembled enclosure. With its 1.14‑inch touch display, programmable buttons, IMU, IR transmitter, RGBLED, buzzer, and rechargeable battery, it offers an intuitive and interactive platform for rapid IoT development. 

Highlights of Nesso N1

  • Powered by the ESP32-C6, a single-core 32-bit RISC-V CPU running up to 160 MHz for efficient, reliable performance
  • Equipped with 16 MB Nor Flash and 512 kB SRAM, providing ample memory for IoT applications
  • A 1.14″ touchscreen and programmable buttons for easy interaction
  • Built-in IMU, IR transmitter, RGB LED, and buzzer
  • Powered via rechargeable battery
  • Multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth® 5.3, Zigbee 3.0, Matter, LoRa® (850-960MHz)
  • Support for Arduino Cloud for remote control and data visualization
  • USB-C, Grove, and Qwiic connectors for easy expansion with Arduino Modulino nodes or third-party modules

A Developer-Friendly, Extensible Ecosystem

NessoN1 delivers robust hardware expandability, allowing developers to easily extend its capabilities through Grove and Qwiic connectors—compatible with ArduinoModulino nodes, third‑party modules, and the full M5Stack sensor‑hat ecosystem. It also integrates seamlessly with ArduinoCloud for remote monitoring and data visualization. 

Complementing this is an open and flexible development environment. Developers can start coding with NessoN1 in their preferred workflowwhether using ArduinoIDE, MicroPython, or UiFlow—making it a perfect fit for everything from hobby projects to professional applications. 

From plug-and-play compatibility to seamless connectivity and powerful programmability, it’s everything you need in a pocket-sized powerhouse. Check out Nesso N1 on the Arduino Store or explore Arduino Docs for documentation, examples, and specs. 

Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration

ArduinoNessoN1 marks a major step forward in the collaborative innovation between M5Stack and Arduino. Designed with the open‑source community in mind, this joint effort expands the ecosystem with a more integrated, flexible, and developer‑centric product experience. The launch of NessoN1 is expected to inspire new ideas, accelerate project development, and support the diverse needs of developers worldwide.

2025-11-12

With the outstanding modular design, excellent user experience, and innovative integration of hardware and software ecosystems, the M5Stack Series was honored with the 2025 Good Design Award!

The Good Design Award, founded in Japan in 1957, celebrates products that combine aesthetic design with social impact. This year, the M5Stack Series stood out among thousands of entries for its modular system, open ecosystem, and design that empowers creativity across all levels.

Designed for Innovation

M5Stack is a modular prototyping tool for turning ideas into real products fast. It combines a durable enclosure, standardized expansion modules, and support for multiple programming languages. Its GUI environment, UIFlow, lowers the barrier for beginners while serving professionals, making hardware development simpler and more efficient.

Since its launch in 2017, M5Stack has built a vibrant global community of developers and educators. The series has become a common sight not only in schools, research institutions, and maker activities but also across industrial and IoT innovation projects. In Japan alone, dozens of introductory books have been published on IoT and robotics development using M5Stack.

Today, the M5Stack Series encompasses more than 400 products, widely used in education, industry, and embedded systems, significantly enhancing rapid development and fostering innovation.

Evaluation Comments from Jury members

The Good Design Award 2025 judges commended M5Stack :

M5Stack is a development platform featuring a modular design that allows users to freely combine a diverse lineup of modules. With its highly refined enclosure and attention to detail, it offers a level of aesthetic appeal and usability unmatched by conventional microcontroller boards—reminding users of the joy of creating tools born from their own imagination.

Supported by an active global community, M5Stack has found widespread use across various fields—from education and hobbyist projects to industrial and embedded product applications. Its standardized expansion system and GUI-based tools make it accessible for both beginners and advanced developers alike, offering a broad entry point into creative technology development.

As programming becomes more approachable in the age of AI, M5Stack is expected to play a key role in unlocking creativity across diverse groups of people, opening up new possibilities for innovation and making.

The official announcement: Good Design Award 2025 — M5Stack Seires

About GOOD DESIGN AWARD

GOOD DESIGN AWARD is a social movement to make people's lives, industries, and society more well-off through design. Since its start in 1957, it has gained widespread support along with its logo G Mark. GOOD DESIGN AWARD is for products, architecture, software, systems, and services that are relevant to people. Whether visible or invisible, anything that is constructed for some ideal or purpose is considered as design, and its quality is evaluated and honored. 

The GOOD DESIGN AWARD helps people to discover the possibilities of design and expand the fields where design can be used through screening and a wide range of promotion, and is dedicated to a well-off society where everyone can enjoy creative life.

The M5Stack Series has been officially included in the GOOD DESIGN AWARD Gallery, which archives and showcases all award-winning works by year since its establishment in 1957.

About M5Stack

Founded in 2017, M5Stack creates modular, open-source hardware development tools designed to streamline prototyping and productization. Based in Shenzhen, China, M5Stack has become a globally recognized developer platform for IoT, AIoT, and robotics solutions.

Learn more about M5Stack and explore our products: https://shop.m5stack.com/

2025-10-17

Amsterdam, Netherlands – September 25, 2025 — M5Stack showcased its latest breakthroughs in modular IoT, edge computing, and smart automation at The Things Conference 2025, held at De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam — the world’s leading LoRaWAN and IoT innovation event.

 

 

Highlights from the M5Stack Booth

At the exhibition, M5Stack showcased its signature 5x5cm ESP32-based stackable controllers alongside a versatile lineup of expansion units and modules for plug-and-play development. Live demos revealed how our solutions power rapid, scalable IoT applications across smart homes, classrooms, and industrial environments.

 

 

Alongside best-selling devices, visitors enjoyed a first look at new and upcoming innovations:

·        Cardputer-Adv — The next-generation upgrade to our signature Cardputer, this powerful, credit card-sized computer is built for rapid prototyping, industrial control, and home automation.

·        Tab5 — A sleek, intuitive hub for IoT data visualization and management, demonstrated with its forthcoming keyboard accessory.

·        StamPLC — A compact, IoT-enabled programmable logic controller for industrial automation and remote monitoring.

·        Switch C6 — A single-live-wire smart switch controller featuring an ESP32-C6-MINI-1 wireless SoC and latching relay for IoT-enabled appliances.

·        PowerHub — A programmable multi-channel power management controller with ESP32-S3 and precision monitoring, designed for efficient power control in industrial and smart home applications.

 

Innovative LoRa Solutions

M5Stack also debuted its new LoRa product family, ranging from enterprise-ready LoRaWAN gateways to off-grid Meshtastic devices built for makers, outdoor enthusiasts, and developers. Engineered for low-power, long-range communication, these solutions target applications such as environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and industrial IoT.

Showcased products included:

·        SolarMesh — A waterproof, solar-powered Meshtastic gateway integrating Wi-Fi (ESP32-S3), LoRa (SX1262), and GPS for versatile, off-grid connectivity.

·        UnitC6L — An edge-computing LoRa module combining ESP32-C6 MCU with SX1262, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5 (LE) for flexible deployments.

·        Atom DTU Terminal — A compact, reliable terminal unit for robust data transmission in distributed networks.

 

 

Building the Future Together

Inspiring conversations and hands-on workshops with developers and industry experts highlighted M5Stack’s role in shaping the next wave of IoT solutions. By expanding our modular ecosystem, we aim to empower innovators worldwide to transform ideas into impactful, real-world applications.

 

About M5Stack

M5Stack is a leading provider of modular, open-source IoT development solutions. Our stackable hardware and intuitive programming platform empower developers and businesses to accelerate innovation and rapidly prototype solutions for IIoT, home automation, smart retail, and STEM education.

 

2025-09-25

September 5, 2025 – M5Stack, a global leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, today announced the launch of Cardputer‑Adv, the upgraded model of its popular card‑sized computer series.

Designed for engineers, developers, and tech enthusiasts, Cardputer‑Adv delivers enhanced performance, richer interfaces, and extended battery life — all while keeping the portable elegance of the original Cardputer.

Whether you’re prototyping IoT gadgets, building portable dashboards, testing sensor networks, or creating unique interactive experiences, CardputerAdv is the ultimate pocketsized development companion.

Highlights of CardputerAdv

  • Upgraded Core – Stamp‑S3A module, offering robust computing power with integrated Wi‑Fi + BLE connectivity.
  • Enhanced Audio – ES8311 audio codec, high‑SNR MEMS microphone, NS4150B amplifier, 1W speaker, plus 3.5mm headphone jack for external audio devices.
  • Rich Interaction –56key compact keyboard with improved tactile feel (key actuation force reduced from 260gf to 160gf) and 1.14 TFT LCD for clear display and comfortable input.
  • Smart Sensing – Built‑in BMI270 6‑axis IMU and IR transmitter enable motion tracking and remote control functions.
  • Connectivity & Expansion – Grove‑compatible HY2.0‑4P port, EXT 2.54mm 14‑pin header, microSD card slot, plus compatibility with the optional Cap LoRa868 accessory for Meshtastic communication.
  • Power & Portability – 1750mAh rechargeable lithium‑ion battery, magnetic base for metal surfaces, LEGO‑hole‑compatible mounting design.
  • Multi‑Platform Ready – Supports UIFlow2, Arduino IDE, ESP‑IDF, and PlatformIO for flexible development workflows.

Comparison with Previous Models

 

A Growing Developer Ecosystem

Cardputer isn’t just hardware — it’s a platform. Alongside the built‑in mini‑programs, users can explore a growing library of community‑developed firmware via M5Burner, enabling instant prototyping for applications like retro gaming, remote control, UI dashboards, cybersecurity tools, and more.

Popular projects such as M5Launcher, Bruce, NEMO, Evil‑Cardputer, Marauder, and Ultimate Remote have each surpassed 10,000+ downloads, inspiring creativity across the Cardputer community.

Beyond M5Stack’s official channels, an active userdriven community has formed around Cardputer, where enthusiasts share projects, tips, and firmware.

 Join the discussions and see what’s possible:

Availability

Cardputer‑Adv is now available via the M5Stack Official Store and authorized global distributors. Order today and start building your next project.
For full details, technical documentation, and project ideas, visit
www.m5stack.com.

    2025-09-05

    May 9, 2025 – M5Stack, a leader in modular IoT and embedded development platforms, unveils Tab5, a next-generation 5-inch smart touch terminal powered by the advanced 400MHz ESP32-P4 dual-core RISC-V processor. Designed for industrial control, smart home hubs, edge intelligence, and IoT applications, Tab5 offers high performance, versatile interfaces, and seamless connectivity through Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 in one compact tablet. Combining multimedia capabilities with modular expandability, Tab5 empowers developers to create flexible, scalable solutions for a wide range of industries.

    High-Performance Core for Embedded Intelligence

    At the heart of Tab5 is the ESP32-P4 dual-core RISC-V processor, running at 400MHz and backed by 32MB of PSRAM and 16MB Flash, delivering robust performance for embedded applications and edge computing. While the ESP32-P4 handles processing tasks, wireless connectivity is provided by the onboard ESP32-C6-MINI-1U module, which supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Equipped with 3D internal antennas, this module ensures high-throughput, low-latency communication across a wide range of IoT scenarios.

    Immersive Display and Interactive Design

    Tab5 features a 5-inch IPS touchscreen with a 1280×720 resolution and a GT911 capacitive multi-touch panel, providing responsive touch interaction and high-resolution visuals for an intuitive user experience. Built-in 2MP camera (1600×1200 resolution) and dual microphones with a speaker enable intelligent interactions such as facial recognition, image processing, and voice commands. The camera interface uses MIPI-CSI to enable HD video capture and edge AI tasks such as object tracking.

    Additional onboard features including RESET/BOOT buttons, a BMI270 six-axis IMU for motion sensing, and a Micro SD card slot provide enhanced control, motion tracking, and local data storage—empowering developers to create multi-modal edge applications.

    Rich Interfaces and Modular Expandability

    Tab5 is designed for flexibility and scalability with a comprehensive suite of I/O interfaces:

    • RS485, Grove, M5Bus, GPIO.EXT
    • USB-A (Host) and USB-C (USB 2.0 OTG)
    • 3.5mm audio jack
    • Support for UART, I2C, and ADC protocols
    • STAMP solder pads for easy integration of communication modules like Cat.M, NB-IoT, or LoRaWAN

    These interfaces ensure seamless integration with the M5Stack hardware ecosystem, enabling plug-and-play expansion through a wide range of functional modules.

    Battery Support & Deployment Options

    Tab5 is available in two variants:

    • Tab5 Kit – Includes a removable 2S NP-F550 7.4V 2000mAh lithium-ion battery
    • Tab5 – Battery not included

    Both models support external NP-F550 lithium batteries, offering flexible deployment options for fixed installations or mobile applications.

    Versatile Applications Across Industries

    Tab5 is engineered to address diverse application scenarios across industries. In industrial settings, it functions as an effective HMI for control panels and data visualization. Its multi-protocol wireless support makes it ideal for smart home hubs and gateways. In education and maker spaces, it supports UIFlow 2.0, Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF and PlatformIO, enabling flexibility for both beginners and advanced developers. With a built-in camera and dual microphones, it also enables AI vision and voice interaction for use cases like smart kiosks and voice-controlled terminals.

    “Designed for seamless development, the Tab5 delivers innovation and usability, empowering creators to turn ideas into reality,” said Jimmy Lai, Founder and CEO of M5Stack.

    Built to Expand

    To further enhance Tab5’s utility, a dedicated keyboard accessory is in development — stay tuned for the full reveal. Designed for seamless integration with the M5Stack ecosystem, Tab5 supports a broad range of functional modules, offering developers the flexibility to tailor solutions across diverse application needs.

    Tab5 is now available through M5Stack’s official store and global distributors. For more details, please visit www.m5stack.com.

    2025-05-09

    On November 18, 2024, M5Stack opened its doors to individual visitors for the first time. More than 70 visitors from all around the world attended the event, with some showcasing their projects built with M5 products or sharing their stories with M5Stack.

    M5Stack Open Day 2024

    The event began at 3:00 PM, with many visitors checking in and receiving their gifts—custom T-shirts featuring the M5Stack logo. After a group photo, the first agenda kicked off: The Factory and Office Tour.

    M5Stack Factory and Office Tour

    The visitors were divided into three groups, with introductions provided in Chinese, English, and Japanese. M5Stack operates an all-in-one facility where product design, production, packaging, quality control, marketing, and shipping are seamlessly managed under one place. Visitors could take a close look at the whole flow.

    Factory of M5Stack

    In the show board area, we display all the products we've created so far, including the classic 5x5 stack series—such as M5Basic Core, M5Core2, M5Core3, and Stick series—like the M5StickC, along with the Stamp Series (M5Cardputer, M5StampFly), and the Atom series (M5Atom Echo), among others. M5Stack’s CEO, Jimmy Lai, also explains "What is M5Stack?"

    M5Stack product show board

    M5Stack is an open-source hardware IoT solution provider, primarily focused on products built around the ESP32. We also offer a range of accessories and our own visual programming platform, UIFlow. The "M" in M5Stack stands for Module, "5" represents the 5x5 cm size, and "Stack" refers to their stackable design. 

    M5Stack is committed to delivering convenient, stackable and easy-to-use development components and tools, with at least one new product every Friday, we launch over 50 new products every year. We provide not only standard products, also customized products. Our partner includes Amazon, Microsoft, Arduino, SONY, etc.

    Projects or Stories with M5Stack

    After the tour, it’s time for the Meetup. This year, we have 9 speakers. Jimmy began by sharing the company’s history, followed by presentations from the speakers. TAKASU Masakazu shared the success stories of M5Stack in Japan, where the Japanese market accounts for 35% of M5Stack’s global sales. Many companies and schools in Japan use M5Stack products, and you can even find books on how to use M5Stack products on Amazon. 

    TAKASU Masakazu share the M5Stack's successful story in Japan

    Other speakers introduced their innovative projects, including the Creative Dot Matrix Clock, the M5Unified Library, M5Cuffbox, and the Blue Tears Incubator, how to make stack-chan bigger, etc.

    speaker shows his 3 projects using M5stack's product

    It was a truly enjoyable experience to come together with M5Stack fans from all over. We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and participation, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming you again next year. See you then!

    M5Stack Open Day 2024

    2025-03-31

    Time flies, and 2023 has come to an end. M5Stack's products and services have accompanied users worldwide throughout the year. 2023 was a year of continuous innovation for M5Stack, with 76 new products released at a rate of one per week. As we set sail for 2024, let's look back at the brilliance of the past year and unveil the top 10 best-selling products of 2023!

     1. ATOM LITE

    Once again, Atom Lite tops this year's list of best-selling products, following on from last year's success. Launched in 2020, Atom Lite's outstanding features and enduring vitality have won over a wide range of users worldwide.

    Atom Lite user case @Peter Neufeld

    Atom Lite is a compact development board, measuring only 24 * 24mm, which provides more GPIO pins for users to customize freely. It is particularly suitable for embedded smart hardware development.

    This development board uses the ESP32-PICO-D4 solution as the main controller, integrating Wi-Fi module and built-in 3D antenna. It has 4MB of SPI flash memory, as well as Infra-Red (IR) infrared, RGB LED, buttons, and GROVE/HY2.0 interfaces. Additionally, the onboard Type-C interface enables fast program uploading and downloading, and there is an M2 screw hole on the back for fixation.

    2. ATOM ECHO

    Also released in 2020, Atom Echo has undoubtedly become a dark horse product this year. In 2023, with the power of Home Assistant and ChatGPT, the Atom Echo has sold out again and again. The ability to connect to ChatGPT, act as a personal voice assistant with customisable wake words, and do it all for just $13 makes it a must-have smart home device.

    Atom Echo voice assistant use case @Home Assistant

    Atom Echo is a programmable smart speaker. Despite its small size of only 24 * 24 * 17mm, it boasts impressive functionality. With the built-in wireless capabilities of the ESP32, it can easily connect to devices such as smartphones and tablets for seamless music playback. It can also stream specified media music via Wi-Fi.

    To facilitate voice functionality, Atom Echo integrates an STT (Speech-to-Text) service internally. Users only need to burn specified firmware to enable this feature and perform various operations through voice commands. Users can also write code to integrate Atom Echo with cloud platforms like AWS and Google, utilizing the built-in microphone and speaker for voice interaction, enabling certain AI capabilities, such as voice control, intelligent conversations, and IoT functionalities.

    The speaker has a built-in RGB LED (SK6812) that visually displays the connection status. In addition to being used as a smart speaker, it still retains the control capabilities of the ATOM series and can be connected to external devices via the GROVE interface. The M2 screw hole on the back facilitates secure installation.

    3. M5STICKC PLUS

    M5StickC Plus is a powerful, portable and expandable development board. Since its release in 2020, it has consistently been at the top of various best-seller lists. At the end of 2022, we welcomed M5StickC Plus2 and officially said goodbye to M5StickC Plus.

    M5StickC Plus is a powerful microcontroller module that is compact and easy to carry. Despite its small size, M5StickC Plus integrates rich hardware resources, including infrared, RTC, microphone, LED, IMU, buttons, buzzers, and PMU.

    M5StickC Plus is equipped with the ESP32-PICO-D4 processor, providing powerful computing and communication capabilities. It features a 1.14-inch color TFT display that can show images, text, and user interfaces, offering a good interactive experience. Additionally, M5StickC Plus has a built-in battery for standalone use, eliminating the need for an external power source.

    The module is equipped with various sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, enabling it to sense and measure object motion and environmental conditions. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing data transmission and remote control with other devices. The interface supports HAT and Unit series products. This compact and exquisite development tool inspires endless creative possibilities.

    4. M5CORE2

    M5Core2 is the second-generation host of the M5Stack Core series, featuring an ESP32 chip and a touchscreen. It is known for its easy stacking, expandability, and rapid development capabilities. Since its release in 2020, Core2 has consistently been a hot seller in both domestic and international markets, loved by a large number of users. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and M5Stack have collaborated to launch Core2 for AWS. Now, we have the Core2 V1.1 version.

    M5Core2 is a versatile development kit with a 2-inch IPS touchscreen display. It is built around the ESP32 microcontroller, which provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The Core2 module offers a variety of built-in features, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, speaker, microphone, and more.

    The development kit supports UIFlow, a graphical programming interface, as well as Arduino and MicroPython. This allows users to choose their preferred programming language and easily develop applications. The modular design of M5Core2 enables stacking of additional modules, called Units, on top of the base module, expanding its capabilities and creating custom projects.

    M5Core2 also includes a built-in 390mAh battery, enabling portable and standalone use. It has a USB Type-C interface for charging and programming, as well as an SD card slot for extended storage.

    5. ULTRASONIC I2C Unit

    Ultrasonic I2C Unit is an ultrasonic ranging sensor with an I2C communication interface. The hardware features the RCWL-9620 ultrasonic ranging chip paired with a 16mm probe, enabling precise ranging within a range of 2cm to 450cm (with an accuracy of ±2%). As an I2C slave device, the sensor can share the bus resources with other I2C devices, allowing for efficient use of IO pins. It is ideal for applications such as obstacle avoidance in robots and liquid-level detection.

     

    6. ENVIII Unit

    ENV III is an environmental sensor that integrates the SHT30 and QMP6988 sensors, used for detecting temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure data. The SHT30 is a high-precision, low-power digital temperature and humidity sensor that supports the I2C interface (SHT30: 0x44, QMP6988: 0x70). The QMP6988 is an absolute pressure sensor designed for mobile applications, known for its high accuracy and stability, making it suitable for environmental data collection and monitoring projects.

     

    7. AtomS3

    AtomS3 is a highly integrated programmable controller based on the ESP32-S3 main controller. It features an ESP32-S3 main controller with built-in Wi-Fi capability and an 8M onboard flash memory. The controller also includes a 0.85-inch IPS screen with programmable buttons below it. Additionally, it is equipped with a 5V to 3.3V circuit, a 6-axis gyroscope sensor (MPU6886), an onboard Type-C interface (for power and firmware download), an HY2.0-4P expansion port, and six GPIO pins and power pins reserved at the bottom for easy expansion of various applications.

    With a product size of only 24x24x13mm, the AtomS3 is perfect for various embedded smart device applications. It provides powerful functionality and flexible expandability, making it suitable for developing a wide range of embedded systems and smart devices.

    8. PIR Motion Unit

    PIR Motion Unit is a human infrared sensor unit. It belongs to the "passive infrared detector" category and works by detecting the infrared radiation emitted or reflected by humans or objects. When infrared radiation is detected, it outputs a high-level signal and maintains a delay for a certain period (keeping the signal high and allowing for repeated triggering) until the trigger signal disappears (returns to a low level). The PIR Motion Unit is suitable for various applications that require detecting human activity and motion, including security, automation, energy management, and people counting.

    9. BASIC V2.7

    Basic is the first-generation host of M5Stack, offering high cost-effectiveness and a rich collection of case resources. Through continuous optimization and development, it has now iterated to the V2.7 version.

    Basic V2.7 features a 2.0-inch color TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 320x240, which can display graphical interfaces and text information. It is also equipped with three programmable buttons, a programmable touchscreen, a speaker, and a set of expansion pins to support the connection and expansion of various peripheral devices.

    This development board uses the ESP32 Internet of Things chip, integrates Wi-Fi capability, and has 16MB of SPI flash memory. As a low-power dual-core processor, it performs exceptionally well in various application scenarios.

    10. ATOM U

    ATOM U is a compact and flexible Internet of Things voice recognition development board. It uses the Espressif ESP32 main control chip with two low-power Xtensa® 32-bit LX6 microprocessors, operating at a high frequency of up to 240MHz. ATOM U integrates USB-A interface, IR emitter, and programmable LED lights, allowing for plug-and-play convenience for program uploading, downloading, and debugging. It also includes a Wi-Fi module and a built-in digital microphone (SPM1423 PDM) for clear audio recording, making it suitable for various IoT human-machine interaction and speech-to-text (STT) input recognition scenarios.

    ATOM U supports low-code development and provides features such as UIFlow graphical programming platform, script programming, no-compilation execution, and cloud pushing. It is fully compatible with mainstream development platforms such as Arduino and ESP32-IDF.

    ATOM U has a high level of integration, including USB-A programming/power interface, IR emitter, programmable RGB light, and buttons. The professionally tuned RF circuit ensures stable and reliable wireless communication quality.

    M5Stack's success is inextricably linked to our community's support, and we thank you for it. We wish you a Happy New Year! We will continue to provide more and better services to meet your needs in the coming year.

    2024-01-03