ESP32-S3 + ILI9488 (SPI) stays white with LovyanGFX, TFT_eSPI crashes inside tft.init()

[meowconf]

Hi,

I'm trying to use a 3.5" SPI TFT LCD with an ILI9488 controller and XPT2046 touch controller with an ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1 (N16R8).

Unfortunately I couldn't get the display working with either TFT_eSPI or LovyanGFX.

Hardware
ESP32
ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1 (N16R8)
Display
3.5" SPI TFT
ILI9488
480x320
XPT2046 Touch
Wiring
TFT
VCC -> 3.3V
GND -> GND
LED -> 3.3V

SCK -> GPIO12
MOSI -> GPIO11
MISO -> GPIO13

CS -> GPIO10
DC -> GPIO9
RST -> GPIO14
Touch
T_CLK -> GPIO12
T_DIN -> GPIO11
T_DO -> GPIO13
T_CS -> GPIO21
T_IRQ -> Not Connected
Software
Arduino IDE 2.3.4
ESP32 Arduino Core 3.3.10
ESP32-S3 Dev Module
TFT_eSPI 2.5.43
Latest LovyanGFX
TFT_eSPI

I configured the library with the correct pins.

The ESP32 boots normally, but calling

tft.init();

causes a Guru Meditation error:

Guru Meditation Error: Core 1 panic'ed (StoreProhibited)

The crash happens exactly inside tft.init().

LovyanGFX

I then switched to LovyanGFX.

Initialization succeeds:

Init
OK

No crashes occur.

However, the display remains completely white.

I tested:

Different SPI frequencies
Different rotations
RGB order true/false
invert true/false
Different panel sizes
Different panel configurations

Nothing changes.

The backlight is ON, but the display never shows any image.

What I verified
Wiring checked multiple times.
ESP32 works normally.
Serial Monitor works correctly.
SPI communication initializes correctly.
LCD backlight is powered.
Question

Is there anything obviously wrong with my wiring or configuration?

Could this module require a different initialization sequence?

Is it possible that this module is actually using another controller instead of ILI9488 even though it is sold as an ILI9488 display?

I attached photos of both the display module and the wiring.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[nopnop2002]

Is it possible that this module is actually using another controller instead of ILI9488 even though it is sold as an ILI9488 display?

You can determine whether it is an ILI9488 by reading the D3 register.