Imagine holding the nostalgia of a classic TV in the palm of your hand—or even on your keychain. Sounds impossible, right? But it’s not. Meet the Tinytron, a pint-sized marvel crafted by [t0mg] that brings the charm of vintage televisions into the modern era. This isn’t just a cute gadget; it’s a fully functional miniature TV powered by the ESP32-S3-LCD-1.69 module from Waveshare. And here’s where it gets even more intriguing: building it is surprisingly simple, even for beginners.
The Tinytron’s design is all about convenience. At its heart is the ESP32-S3-LCD-1.69, an all-in-one development module that combines a microcontroller with a tiny screen—no complicated assembly required. All you need to do is solder a single six-pin header to connect an SD card reader and a battery, and the electronics are done. But here’s where it gets controversial: while this TV is a masterpiece of simplicity, it’s missing one thing—a speaker. That’s right, it’s video-only. Is this a dealbreaker, or does it add to its quirky charm? Let’s discuss in the comments.
The case is just as straightforward, with four 3D-printed components that can be ready in under 30 minutes using a Prusa MK4S. Programming? It’s as easy as using a web browser. To watch content, simply transcode your videos using [t0mg]’s handy web tool (https://t0mg.github.io/tinytron/transcode.html) or do it locally with ffmpeg, then drop them onto an SD card.
This project is perfect for anyone looking to gift something unique to a TV enthusiast or just wanting to dive into a fun, quick build. It reminds us of another iconic mini-TV project—the tiny Simpsons replica TV (https://hackaday.com/2021/08/26/a-simpsons-tv-for-a-golden-age/) that loops the greatest cartoon ever made.
And this is the part most people miss: the Tinytron isn’t just a gadget; it’s a conversation starter, a blend of retro charm and modern tech. Could this be the start of a new wave of miniature smart devices? Or is it just a fun novelty? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear your take!
