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The LILYGO T-Deck is a pocket-sized device with a 2.8 inch, 320 x 240 pixel IPS LCD display, a BlackBerry-like thumb keyboard, and an ESP32 dual-core processor. While it’s not exactly a smartphone, it could make an interesting platform for building a handheld messaging device or dumb terminal, among other things.

One thing to keep in mind is that the T-Deck doesn’t support 4G or 5G cellular networks. But there’s optional support for a LoRa module, and all models support WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE. The T-Deck is available from the LILYGO website for $43 and up or from the LILYGO AliExpress store for $53 and up.

Starting prices are for a WiFi & Bluetooth-only model, but customers can also pay extra for a model with a SX1262 LoRa radio for long-range wireless communications. LILYGO offers models that make use of 433 MHz, 868 MHz, or 915 MHz bands.

The T-Deck is more of a development kit than a finished, user-friendly product. It doesn’t come with a case, so the circuit board is exposed to the elements. There’s no battery included, but there is a connector that can be used to add a LiPo battery. And users will have to code their own software to run on the device (at least until/unless this becomes a popular platform and you can start to find third-party software available for download).

All models feature a 240 MHz ESP32-S3FN16R8 dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller, 8MB of PSRAM and 16MB of SPI flash storage plus a microSD card reader for removable storage. In other words, this thing doesn’t have the horsepower to run a modern smartphone operating system like Android or Mobian.

But it can be programmed using Arduino and Micropython, so I can imagine folks using it as a standalone messaging device or coding software that lets you pair it with a smartphone for use on the go.

Other features include a trackball, USB Type-C port (for power and data), a speaker, dual microphones, and a power button. The T-Deck measures 100 x 68 x 11mm (3.9″ x 2.7″ x 0.4″).

LILYGO has posted firmware, schematics, and some other documentation in a GitHub repository.

via CNX Software

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  1. how encrypt device? for example if you have iphone is possible decrypt all communication trought signal , only need is bread iphone (aprox 3h)
    is any real situation to use it? for example ukraine use this or meshtastic or any lora dev? no! meybe 2 person not 100K person in town

    meybe using better cpu, increase working time, put unix system (like fuzix or ulinux)

    Reply

  2. i love the Idea to connect it to a phone and use it to chat, is some kind of vnc/rdp possible with this chip and the keyboard as bluetooth input device

    Reply

  3. I would be interested in this if it was a Compute Module instead of an esp32. Oh well the uconsole will hopefully come out soon.

    Reply