diff --git a/docs/library/machine.I2S.rst b/docs/library/machine.I2S.rst
index 84edb94e78..907f97c50c 100644
--- a/docs/library/machine.I2S.rst
+++ b/docs/library/machine.I2S.rst
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ other things.  For these drivers see:
 Constructor
 -----------
 
-.. class:: I2S(id, *, sck, ws, sd, mck=None, mode, bits, format, rate, ibuf)
+.. class:: I2S(id, *, sck, ws=None, sd, mck=None, mode, bits, format, rate, ibuf)
 
    Construct an I2S object of the given id:
 
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ Constructor
    Keyword-only parameters that are supported on all ports:
 
      - ``sck`` is a pin object for the serial clock line
-     - ``ws`` is a pin object for the word select line
+     - ``ws`` is a pin object for the word select line;
+       can be left unset if using ``I2S.PDM_RX`` mode
      - ``sd`` is a pin object for the serial data line
      - ``mck`` is a pin object for the master clock line;
        master clock frequency is sampling rate * 256
@@ -155,6 +156,10 @@ Constants
 
    for initialising the I2S bus ``mode`` to transmit
 
+.. data:: I2S.PDM_RX
+
+   for initialising the I2S bus ``mode`` to receive in PDM mode
+
 .. data:: I2S.STEREO
 
    for initialising the I2S bus ``format`` to stereo
diff --git a/extmod/machine_i2s.c b/extmod/machine_i2s.c
index 9c92eb4c92..22eb5af03d 100644
--- a/extmod/machine_i2s.c
+++ b/extmod/machine_i2s.c
@@ -344,7 +344,11 @@ static void copy_appbuf_to_ringbuf_non_blocking(machine_i2s_obj_t *self) {
 MP_NOINLINE static void machine_i2s_init_helper(machine_i2s_obj_t *self, size_t n_pos_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_args, mp_map_t *kw_args) {
     static const mp_arg_t allowed_args[] = {
         { MP_QSTR_sck,      MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_REQUIRED | MP_ARG_OBJ,   {.u_obj = MP_OBJ_NULL} },
+        #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+        { MP_QSTR_ws,       MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_OBJ,   {.u_obj = mp_const_none} },
+        #else
         { MP_QSTR_ws,       MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_REQUIRED | MP_ARG_OBJ,   {.u_obj = MP_OBJ_NULL} },
+        #endif
         { MP_QSTR_sd,       MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_REQUIRED | MP_ARG_OBJ,   {.u_obj = MP_OBJ_NULL} },
         #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_MCK
         { MP_QSTR_mck,      MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_OBJ,   {.u_obj = mp_const_none} },
@@ -517,6 +521,9 @@ static const mp_rom_map_elem_t machine_i2s_locals_dict_table[] = {
     // Constants
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_RX),              MP_ROM_INT(MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_TX),              MP_ROM_INT(MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) },
+    #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_PDM_RX),          MP_ROM_INT(MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX) },
+    #endif
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_STEREO),          MP_ROM_INT(STEREO) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_MONO),            MP_ROM_INT(MONO) },
 };
@@ -525,10 +532,18 @@ MP_DEFINE_CONST_DICT(machine_i2s_locals_dict, machine_i2s_locals_dict_table);
 static mp_uint_t machine_i2s_stream_read(mp_obj_t self_in, void *buf_in, mp_uint_t size, int *errcode) {
     machine_i2s_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(self_in);
 
+    #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+    if ((self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX) &&
+        (self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX)) {
+        *errcode = MP_EPERM;
+        return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
+    }
+    #else
     if (self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX) {
         *errcode = MP_EPERM;
         return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
     }
+    #endif
 
     uint8_t appbuf_sample_size_in_bytes = (self->bits / 8) * (self->format == STEREO ? 2: 1);
     if (size % appbuf_sample_size_in_bytes != 0) {
@@ -623,10 +638,18 @@ static mp_uint_t machine_i2s_ioctl(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_uint_t request, uintptr_
         ret = 0;
 
         if (flags & MP_STREAM_POLL_RD) {
+            #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+            if ((self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX) &&
+                (self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX)) {
+                *errcode = MP_EPERM;
+                return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
+            }
+            #else
             if (self->mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX) {
                 *errcode = MP_EPERM;
                 return MP_STREAM_ERROR;
             }
+            #endif
 
             #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_RING_BUF
             if (!ringbuf_is_empty(&self->ring_buffer)) {
diff --git a/ports/esp32/machine_i2s.c b/ports/esp32/machine_i2s.c
index 6ba2f54c35..b8a4cbb128 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/machine_i2s.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/machine_i2s.c
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 
 #include "py/mphal.h"
 #include "driver/i2s_std.h"
+#if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+#include "driver/i2s_pdm.h"
+#endif
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/task.h"
 #include "freertos/queue.h"
@@ -125,6 +128,9 @@ static int8_t get_frame_mapping_index(i2s_data_bit_width_t bits, format_t format
 static i2s_data_bit_width_t get_dma_bits(uint8_t mode, i2s_data_bit_width_t bits) {
     if (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) {
         return bits;
+    } else if (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX) { // PDM Rx
+        // fixed to 16-bit per ESP-IDF documentation
+        return I2S_DATA_BIT_WIDTH_16BIT;
     } else { // Master Rx
         // read 32 bit samples for I2S hardware.  e.g. MEMS microphones
         return I2S_DATA_BIT_WIDTH_32BIT;
@@ -132,7 +138,8 @@ static i2s_data_bit_width_t get_dma_bits(uint8_t mode, i2s_data_bit_width_t bits
 }
 
 static i2s_slot_mode_t get_dma_format(uint8_t mode, format_t format) {
-    if (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) {
+    if ((mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) ||
+        (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX)) {
         if (format == MONO) {
             return I2S_SLOT_MODE_MONO;
         } else {  // STEREO
@@ -305,15 +312,20 @@ i2s_event_callbacks_t i2s_callbacks_null = {
 };
 
 static void mp_machine_i2s_init_helper(machine_i2s_obj_t *self, mp_arg_val_t *args) {
+    int8_t mode = args[ARG_mode].u_int;
+    int8_t ws = -1;
+
     // are Pins valid?
     int8_t sck = args[ARG_sck].u_obj == MP_OBJ_NULL ? -1 : machine_pin_get_id(args[ARG_sck].u_obj);
-    int8_t ws = args[ARG_ws].u_obj == MP_OBJ_NULL ? -1 : machine_pin_get_id(args[ARG_ws].u_obj);
+    if (mode != (MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX)) {
+        ws = args[ARG_ws].u_obj == MP_OBJ_NULL ? -1 : machine_pin_get_id(args[ARG_ws].u_obj);
+    }
     int8_t sd = args[ARG_sd].u_obj == MP_OBJ_NULL ? -1 : machine_pin_get_id(args[ARG_sd].u_obj);
 
     // is Mode valid?
-    int8_t mode = args[ARG_mode].u_int;
     if ((mode != (MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX)) &&
-        (mode != (MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX))) {
+        (mode != (MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX)) &&
+        (mode != (MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX))) {
         mp_raise_ValueError(MP_ERROR_TEXT("invalid mode"));
     }
 
@@ -368,33 +380,64 @@ static void mp_machine_i2s_init_helper(machine_i2s_obj_t *self, mp_arg_val_t *ar
         ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_new_channel(&chan_config, NULL, &self->i2s_chan_handle));
     }
 
-    i2s_std_slot_config_t slot_cfg = I2S_STD_PHILIPS_SLOT_DEFAULT_CONFIG(get_dma_bits(mode, bits), get_dma_format(mode, format));
-    slot_cfg.slot_mask = I2S_STD_SLOT_BOTH;
+    if (mode != MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX) {
+        i2s_std_slot_config_t slot_cfg = I2S_STD_PHILIPS_SLOT_DEFAULT_CONFIG(get_dma_bits(mode, bits), get_dma_format(mode, format));
+        slot_cfg.slot_mask = I2S_STD_SLOT_BOTH;
 
-    i2s_std_config_t std_cfg = {
-        .clk_cfg = I2S_STD_CLK_DEFAULT_CONFIG(self->rate),
-        .slot_cfg = slot_cfg,
-        .gpio_cfg = {
-            .mclk = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED,
-            .bclk = self->sck,
-            .ws = self->ws,
-            .invert_flags = {
-                .mclk_inv = false,
-                .bclk_inv = false,
-                .ws_inv = false,
+        i2s_std_config_t std_cfg = {
+            .clk_cfg = I2S_STD_CLK_DEFAULT_CONFIG(self->rate),
+            .slot_cfg = slot_cfg,
+            .gpio_cfg = {
+                .mclk = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED,
+                .bclk = self->sck,
+                .ws = self->ws,
+                .invert_flags = {
+                    .mclk_inv = false,
+                    .bclk_inv = false,
+                    .ws_inv = false,
+                },
             },
-        },
-    };
+        };
 
-    if (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) {
-        std_cfg.gpio_cfg.dout = self->sd;
-        std_cfg.gpio_cfg.din = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED;
-    } else { // rx
-        std_cfg.gpio_cfg.dout = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED;
-        std_cfg.gpio_cfg.din = self->sd;
+        if (mode == MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX) {
+            std_cfg.gpio_cfg.dout = self->sd;
+            std_cfg.gpio_cfg.din = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED;
+        } else { // rx
+            std_cfg.gpio_cfg.dout = I2S_GPIO_UNUSED;
+            std_cfg.gpio_cfg.din = self->sd;
+        }
+
+        ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_channel_init_std_mode(self->i2s_chan_handle, &std_cfg));
+    } else { // PDM mode
+        #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+        // PDM can only be in id 0
+        if (self->i2s_id != 0) {
+            mp_raise_ValueError(MP_ERROR_TEXT("invalid i2s id for PDM mode"));
+        }
+
+        i2s_pdm_rx_slot_config_t slot_cfg = I2S_PDM_RX_SLOT_DEFAULT_CONFIG(get_dma_bits(mode, bits), get_dma_format(mode, format));
+
+        slot_cfg.slot_mask = I2S_PDM_SLOT_BOTH;
+
+        i2s_pdm_rx_config_t pdm_cfg = {
+            .clk_cfg = I2S_PDM_RX_CLK_DEFAULT_CONFIG(self->rate),
+            .slot_cfg = slot_cfg,
+            .gpio_cfg = {
+                .clk = self->sck,
+                .din = self->sd,
+                .invert_flags = {
+                    .clk_inv = false,
+                },
+            },
+        };
+        pdm_cfg.clk_cfg.dn_sample_mode = I2S_PDM_DSR_MAX;
+
+        ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_channel_init_pdm_rx_mode(self->i2s_chan_handle, &pdm_cfg));
+        #else
+        mp_raise_ValueError(MP_ERROR_TEXT("invalid mode"));
+        #endif
     }
 
-    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_channel_init_std_mode(self->i2s_chan_handle, &std_cfg));
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_channel_register_event_callback(self->i2s_chan_handle, &i2s_callbacks, self));
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(i2s_channel_enable(self->i2s_chan_handle));
 }
diff --git a/ports/esp32/mpconfigport.h b/ports/esp32/mpconfigport.h
index 0afb12f85c..81b8c28d56 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/esp32/mpconfigport.h
@@ -149,6 +149,10 @@
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_FINALISER    (1)
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_RX  (I2S_DIR_RX)
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_CONSTANT_TX  (I2S_DIR_TX)
+#ifndef MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM
+#define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_PDM              (SOC_I2S_SUPPORTS_PDM_RX)
+#endif
+#define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_I2S_PDM_RX       ((I2S_DIR_RX) | (BIT(2)))
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_UART             (1)
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_UART_INCLUDEFILE "ports/esp32/machine_uart.c"
 #define MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_UART_SENDBREAK   (1)