ESPboy2 Takes the Chunky Original ESP8266-Powered Handheld and Slims It Down Considerably
Tiny handheld slips into your pocket, yet offers an incredibly flexible platform for software and hardware projects.
The ESPboy — a multi-function, microcontroller-powered gadget in the form factor of a compact handheld console — is back and it's been upgraded and relaunched as the ESPboy2.
The ESPboy project was launched two years ago as an add-on for the low-cost WeMos D1 Mini Espressif ESP8266 microcontroller development board, offering four direction buttons and two fire buttons below a small display. Its key feature, though: Add-on modules, which increase its functionality with FM radio reception, GPS navigation, MP3 playback, and even cellular connectivity.
The ESPboy2 changes none of this: There's still a color display, the same button layout, and an ESP8266 microcontroller at its heart. The chunky design of the multi-board original, though, is gone, in favor of a more slimline design with an acrylic case for protection.
All the software and hardware add-ons for the original ESPboy are compatible with the ESPboy2, from the first-person shooter Anarch to retro gaming emulators, Geiger counters, 433MHz radio modules, and more — with a built-in app store accessible right on the device for finding and installing new software.
The gadget is also compatible with a range of development environments and languages, including the Arduino IDE, VS Code, PlatformIO, MicroPython, and LUA, among others. The expansion connector, meanwhile, offers I2C, SPI, I2S, UART, and general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins.
The ESPboy2 is now available from the official Tindie store for $99, a $20 premium over the original ESPboy, with more information and links to the source code and schematics available on the official website.