Update M5Stack Tab5 support?

[nicholaelaw]

The original Tab5 uses ILI9881C display driver and GT911 touch driver, and has been update to integrated display-touch driver ST7123, and then ST7121. Official demos has been updated. Old builds will not work on Tab5 with ST712x IC. Can we see an update?

[bmorcelli]

Tab5 is using M5Stack/M5Unified version 0.2.14, in this last build (from 12 days ago), to handle the devices Display, power and inputs..

This lib is now on 0.2.17, but the changelog doesn't mention any Tab5 change, so I assume this chage were made way before 0.2.14

M5Unified does the display/touch model detection and sets all things up, so it must work with older and newer versions

[bmorcelli]

It will work ..

[nicholaelaw]

Hmm. I opened this because when I flashed Launcher 2.5.2 on my Tab5(ST7121) it failed to boot. If it's not the display driver, then something else isn't working...

I flashed 2.5.2 via M5Burner again. Upon rebooting the screen lights up, but displays nothing. Serial output says:

[FROM M5Burner] COM14 opened.
E (1036) esp_core_dump_flash: Incorrect size of core dump image: 1075419063
ESP-ROM:esp32p4-eco2-20240710
Build:Jul 10 2024
rst:0xc (SW_CPU_RESET),boot:0x20c (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Core0 Saved PC:0x4fc05b6c
Core1 Saved PC:0x4ff0ac54
SPI mode:DIO, clock div:1
load:0x4ff33ce0,len:0x11dc
load:0x4ff29ed0,len:0xcc0
load:0x4ff2cbd0,len:0x3348
entry 0x4ff29ed0
E (989) esp_core_dump_flash: Incorrect size of core dump image: 1075419063
SDCARD mounted successfully
Settings stored in NVS successfullyPress the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!

In the "How to Use" section of README, I'm supposed to "Press M5/Sel (Enter) on the Launcher start screen to get into Launcher", but Tab5 doesn't have any button other than the power button...

I notice if I tap around blindly, I could trigger some activity such as

Partitions found: 5, flash size: 0x01000000
* label=app0 type=APP subtype=factory offset=0x10000 size=0x180000 (1536KB)
* label=coredump type=DATA subtype=coredump offset=0x190000 size=0x10000 (64KB)

but the screen stays blank. What should I do?

[bmorcelli]

You mean Version 2.7.2, right? Em seg., 8 de jun. de 2026, 17:11, nicholaelaw ***@***.***> escreveu:

…

*nicholaelaw* left a comment (bmorcelli/Launcher#333) <#333 (comment)> Hmm. I opened this because when I flashed Launcher 2.5.2 on my Tab5(ST7121) it failed to boot. If it's not the display driver, then something else isn't working... I flashed 2.5.2 via M5Burner again. Upon rebooting the screen lights up, but displays nothing. Serial output says: [FROM M5Burner] COM14 opened. E (1036) esp_core_dump_flash: Incorrect size of core dump image: 1075419063 ESP-ROM:esp32p4-eco2-20240710 Build:Jul 10 2024 rst:0xc (SW_CPU_RESET),boot:0x20c (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT) Core0 Saved PC:0x4fc05b6c Core1 Saved PC:0x4ff0ac54 SPI mode:DIO, clock div:1 load:0x4ff33ce0,len:0x11dc load:0x4ff29ed0,len:0xcc0 load:0x4ff2cbd0,len:0x3348 entry 0x4ff29ed0 E (989) esp_core_dump_flash: Incorrect size of core dump image: 1075419063 SDCARD mounted successfully Settings stored in NVS successfullyPress the button to enter the Launcher! Press the button to enter the Launcher! Press the button to enter the Launcher! Press the button to enter the Launcher! Press the button to enter the Launcher! In the "How to Use" section of README, I'm supposed to "Press M5/Sel (Enter) on the Launcher start screen to get into Launcher", but Tab5 doesn't have any button other than the power button... I notice if I tap around blindly, I could trigger some activity such as Partitions found: 5, flash size: 0x01000000 * label=app0 type=APP subtype=factory offset=0x10000 size=0x180000 (1536KB) * label=coredump type=DATA subtype=coredump offset=0x190000 size=0x10000 (64KB) but the screen stays blank. What should I do? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#333?email_source=notifications&email_token=AY34ZUOFMMQRBZGDEXE6VLT463JTRA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRVGAZTIOBXGI4KM4TFMFZW63VHMNXW23LFNZ2KKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM#issuecomment-4650348728>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AY34ZUPF65JVQEHBNIB7MKL463JTRAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ43UOR6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNJQGM2DQNZSHA> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[nicholaelaw]

You mean Version 2.7.2, right?

Yes I mean 2.7.2. I don't know why I typed 5 instead of 7...

[bmorcelli]

I updated the m5Unified version for this device, can you test the Beta Release version?

[nicholaelaw]

I updated the m5Unified version for this device, can you test the Beta Release version?

I flashed the beta release via web flasher. Looks like the screen is partially working...Upon booting it'll light up, and then dim a bit. After a few seconds it blacks out but will light up again if I touch it, so I suspect it's just entering sleep mode.

But still the screen stays blank. Touch seems to be working but I can't see what I'm doing...

Serial log:

[FROM M5Burner] COM14 opened.
[  3603][W][Wire.cpp:300] begin(): Bus already started in Master Mode.
[  3760][W][Wire.cpp:300] begin(): Bus already started in Master Mode.
SDCARD mounted successfully
Settings stored in NVS successfullyPress the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
Press the button to enter the Launcher!
E BOD: Brownout detector was triggered

[drewdus42]

I am having the same results. flashed the launcher, backlight turns on for a a few seconds, then dims then if i touch again, the backlight comes back on.

tried both stable and beta.

for what it's worth, I same thing happens with the UIFlow2 firmware. Only a black screen.

I have flashed a few firmwares, and some work fine.
The Stock Demo works of course.
The new Keyboard Demo works.
this one works too: https://github.com/zhaoker/M5stack_Tab5_AIO_box

I have the ST7123 model

[drewdus42]

i ended up compiling the Keyboard demo from m5stack's repo and it still works, so whatever they are doing in there for the driver is working.

[nicholaelaw]

@drewdus42 Yes, my experience is exactly the same. The newer ST7123/7121 models are a mess. M5 made a pretty good device with a pretty good keyboard and pretty good demo apps but can't get it right almost anywhere else. What's more, ST712x driver support is entirely absent in ESPHome.

On my unit, UIFlow2 2.4.6rc worked, and then 2.4.6 doesn't.

Also on my unit, WiFi is wonky too. Usually it works on first boot after flashing, and then it just won't connect unless I flash a couple of different firmwares. I've tried various firmware for the C6 slave board but it doesn't change anything. I feel stupid.

[drewdus42]

Man, glad it's not just me. 60% of firmwares I try don't work.
I haven't found any of the example drivers in Arduino work for it either ...

Like I said, I compiled the keyboard demo and it worked. I noticed it has a display driver that has configurations for all 3 variants. So I think it might be as simple as updating the driver potentially...

I'll try compiling this launcher with the new display drivers from the keyboard demo later...

M5stack really fucked us new owners over on this, what a crappy release. I get it's technically a HW change for the better... But to break compatibility so bad... I guess there isn't much out for the tab5. But they didn't do a good job documenting the change.

[bmorcelli]

M5GFX was updated 2 days ago with ST7171 driver, https://github.com/m5stack/M5GFX/releases/tag/0.2.23

My cache was hitting and using the older library, so I removed the cache and rebuilt tab5 environment.

Need you to test Beta now

[drewdus42]

Copy that, standby.

[drewdus42]

Working on my ST7123