| SSD1306 | SH1106 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical module | 0.96" 128×64 (also 0.91" 128×32) | 1.3" 128×64 |
| Controller RAM | 128 × 64 | 132 × 64 — the panel sits 2 columns in |
| Horizontal addressing mode | Yes | No (page mode only) |
| Arduino libraries | Adafruit SSD1306, U8g2 | Adafruit SH110X, U8g2 |
| MicroPython driver | ssd1306.py | sh1106.py (community driver) |
| I2C address | 0x3C (0x3D on some) | 0x3C (0x3D on some) |
| Typical price in India | ₹150–250 | ₹250–400 |
The two controllers are close cousins, which is exactly why they cause trouble: a 1.3” OLED is often listed as “SSD1306” but has an SH1106 inside. Point the wrong library at it and you get a shifted image, a strip of random pixels on one edge, or nothing at all. Details come from the Solomon Systech and Sino Wealth datasheets; prices are indicative.
The technical difference
- The SH1106 has a 132-pixel-wide memory for a 128-pixel panel, so everything must be drawn 2 columns in.
- The SSD1306 can take a whole screen in one continuous stream (horizontal addressing). The SH1106 can’t — it needs one command per 8-pixel-tall “page”.
Libraries handle both — as long as you pick the right one.
How to tell which you have
- Size is the best clue. 0.96” and 0.91” modules are almost always SSD1306. 1.3” modules are usually SH1106.
- Try the SSD1306 sketch. A clean picture = SSD1306. Noise down one side or a shifted image = SH1106.
- Some sellers print the controller on the listing or the back of the board — trust a photo of the board over the title.
Both use the same 4 pins (VCC, GND, SCL, SDA), the same I2C address and the same 3.3–5 V supply, so wiring doesn’t change.
Code changes
Arduino, SSD1306 — the ESP32 guide:
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(128, 64, &Wire, -1);
display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);Arduino, SH1106 — install Adafruit SH110X:
Adafruit_SH1106G display(128, 64, &Wire, -1);
display.begin(0x3C, true);Drawing calls (print, drawLine, display()) are the same Adafruit GFX functions, with SH110X_WHITE instead of SSD1306_WHITE.
U8g2 supports both: pick an SSD1306_128X64 or SH1106_128X64 constructor.
MicroPython: the Pico W guide uses ssd1306.py (Pico W OLED guide); for SH1106 use an sh1106.py driver with a similar API.
Verdict
- 0.96” SSD1306: cheapest, best supported, the one in all our guides. Buy this unless you need bigger text.
- 1.3” SH1106: noticeably easier to read from a distance; worth ₹100 more — just use the SH1106 library.
Seeing “SSD1306 allocation failed” instead? That’s a memory problem, not the controller — see the fix. For other display types, see best displays under ₹300.