Displays

GC9A01

Round color TFT controller popular in watch-style circular display modules.

China-madeGalaxyCoreActiveModerate

Best For

Projects needing Round display and TFT with a commonly available displays part.

Avoid If

You need production-grade certainty without checking the exact module vendor, pinout, and library maintenance status.

Quick Decision Notes

GC9A01 is indexed as a displays part from GalaxyCore. ChipScout tracks it by practical maker-facing dimensions: interfaces, library readiness, estimated price, field-level sources, and whether the page is strong enough for selection rather than only lookup.

Technical Specifications

DisplayRound color TFTSource: GalaxyCore
InterfaceSPISource: GalaxyCore
Resolution240x240 commonSource: GalaxyCore
Working Voltage3.3V moduleSource: GalaxyCore

Common Use Cases

  • Maker prototypes
  • Low-cost modules
  • Educational hardware

Known Issues

  • Breakout boards may use different pin labels or regulator choices
  • Clone modules can differ from the original datasheet part

Interfaces and Library Support

Interfaces
SPI
Wireless
None
Voltage
3.3V
Libraries
Arduino verifiedMicroPython pending
Data Integrity72% confidence
Sourcehttps://www.gcoreinc.com/
Last verified2026-05-20
Core specsVerified
PinoutAvailable
Library supportChecked
Price rangePresent
Found a wrong spec?

Every field is meant to be source-backed. Corrections should include a datasheet URL, vendor page, module photo, or reproducible library test.

Submit correction

Source Resources

Pinout Table

VCC3.3VPower the module from a rail that matches the breakout board, not just the bare IC.
GNDCommon groundConnect ground between the controller, sensor/module, and external power supply.
SCKMCU SPI clockShare with other SPI devices when chip select lines are separate.
MOSIMCU SPI data outRequired for most displays, radios, and writable devices.
MISOMCU SPI data inMay be optional for write-only displays.
CSAny free GPIOUse one chip-select pin per SPI peripheral.

Pinout is not yet source-verified. Use the table as an integration checklist, then confirm exact pins against the module vendor page before wiring hardware.

Common Wiring

VCC

Power the module from a rail that matches the breakout board, not just the bare IC.

GND

Connect ground between the controller, sensor/module, and external power supply.

SCK

Share with other SPI devices when chip select lines are separate.

MOSI

Required for most displays, radios, and writable devices.

Arduino Example

#include <SPI.h>

const int chipSelect = 10;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(chipSelect, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(chipSelect, HIGH);
  SPI.begin();
  Serial.println("GC9A01 SPI wiring smoke test");
}

void loop() {
  // Replace this transaction with the maintained GC9A01 driver call.
  digitalWrite(chipSelect, LOW);
  SPI.transfer(0x00);
  digitalWrite(chipSelect, HIGH);
  delay(1000);
}

MicroPython Example

MicroPython support is pending. Treat community scripts as prototypes until a maintained driver is linked and tested on a known development board.

Recommended Development Boards

ESP32-S3 display dev board

Good match for SPI/I2C displays and enough memory for UI experiments.

Arduino Uno R4 / compatible

Simple 5V classroom baseline when the display module includes level shifting.

Raspberry Pi Pico W

Useful MicroPython test target for SPI and I2C display drivers.

Alternative Model Reasons

FT6236DisplaysCompare this option when price or module availability is the deciding constraint.
HT16K33DisplaysThis alternative currently has stronger source coverage and confidence in ChipScout.
ILI9341DisplaysChoose this when MicroPython support is required for fast prototyping.
MAX7219DisplaysChoose this when MicroPython support is required for fast prototyping.

Common Questions

What is GC9A01 best used for?

Projects needing Round display and TFT with a commonly available displays part.

Does GC9A01 support Arduino or MicroPython?

GC9A01 has verified Arduino support and MicroPython support pending verification.

What interfaces does GC9A01 use?

GC9A01 lists SPI; wireless support is no wireless protocol.

Compare GC9A01 vs FT6236

Alternatives and Related Parts