Hardwareby HermannBjorgvin · GitHubESP32-S3 builds
People build desk displays, handlebar navigation screens, video players and AI companions on the ESP32-S3. Examples include a desk meter for Claude Code usage, a round AMOLED that shows iPhone turn arrows on a motorcycle, a microSD-based JPEG video player, and a desk pet with push-to-talk voice chat. Most builds use LVGL for the interface.
Hardwareby HermannBjorgvin · GitHub
Questions
What do people build with the ESP32-S3?
Builds in this collection include a Claude Code usage meter on a desk display, a round AMOLED handlebar navigation screen fed over BLE from an iPhone, a handheld JPEG video player that reads frames from a microSD card, a multi-printer status screen for 3D printers, and a Tamagotchi-style AI desk companion.
Do I need to solder to build one of these?
The Panda Touch project is described as needing no soldering or host computer. Other posts here don't state their soldering requirements, so check each build's parts and steps before you start.
Which display boards do these builds use?
The posts use several Waveshare ESP32-S3 touch boards, including the touch AMOLED 1.75 inch and the touch LCD 1.54 inch, plus the MaTouch Lite ESP32-S3 with a 2.4 inch ST7789 touchscreen. Several builds also use the ESP32-S3 with a 5 inch touchscreen.
Is the ESP32-S3 used for video decoding?
Not in the Mini Retro TV build. It plays a sequence of JPEG frames read from a microSD card instead of decoding video.