M5Stack has launched a revised version of its pocket-friendly Espressif ESP32-S3-powered Cardputer portable, sensibly dubbed the Cardputer v1.1 — and featuring an improved keyboard and better battery life.
“Cardputer v1.1 is a high-performance card computer designed for engineers, comprehensively upgraded from the original Cardputer,” the company claims of its latest launch. “The new version features an all-new StampS3A microcontroller and optimized core module antenna and keys, significantly enhancing system stability and user experience.”
M5Stack launched the Cardputer back in October 2023, adding a keyboard, compact color display, microphone, and speaker to the M5StampS3 — a breadboard-friendly microcontroller module based on the Espressif ESP32-S3. The new model moves to the revised M5StampS3A — but the new features go deeper than that.
According to M5Stack, the new Cardputer boasts optimizations to improve power consumption and run the device longer per charge of its 120mAh internal battery and larger 1,400mAh batter in the base — including “optimized control logic” for the RGB LED and screen backlight, which are no longer powered up immediately when the system is connected to a power source. The wireless antenna has been revised for better signal strength, too.
The new model includes all the same features as the original Cardputer — just better, M5Stack says. (📷: M5Stack)
The biggest change — and one that is likely to be most welcomed — comes in the device’s space-constrained 56-key keyboard. The tiny 2.6×1.6×0.55mm keys of the original have been boosted to 4×3×2mm in size; still small, especially compared to a traditional keyboard, but big enough to provide an improved finger-feel and better tactile confirmation of each press.
The M5Stack Cardputer v1.1 is now available to buy on the M5Stack store at $29.90, including M5StampS3A module; anyone hoping for a larger screen, though, will find the same 1.14″ color TFT as previous models.
