LILYGO T-Dongle ESP32-S2 USB Development Board with 1.14" LCD

Specifications

• Microcontroller: ESP32-S2 (Single-core, up to 240 MHz)

• Flash Memory: 4MB

• PSRAM: 2MB

• Wireless: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) (Note: ESP32-S2 does not support Bluetooth)

• Display Size: 1.14 inches diagonal

• Display Driver: ST7789

• Host Interfaces: 1x Male USB Type-A, 1x Female USB Type-A (OTG)

• Storage: Integrated TF/MicroSD Card Slot

• Expansion Port: Grove / STEMMA JST-SH 4-PIN (VDD, IO43, IO44, GND)

• Dimensions: 72mm (L) x 23mm (W) x 12mm (H)

Key Applications and Projects

• Hardware USB Emulators (BadUSB): Programming the ESP32-S2's native USB capabilities to emulate a keyboard that executes automated keystroke payloads upon insertion.

• Portable Wi-Fi Packet Sniffers: Plugging the dongle into a power bank to continuously scan and log local 2.4GHz network traffic directly to the MicroSD card.

• Custom 2FA Authentication Keys: Utilizing the screen and physical buttons to create a personalized, visual two-factor authentication (2FA) device or password vault.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Ultimate "Man-in-the-Middle" Macro Keypad: Leverage the dual USB ports! Plug the T-Dongle into your PC using the male connector, and plug your standard desktop keyboard into the female OTG port. You can program the ESP32-S2 to act as a middleman. It can intercept your typing, look for custom secret keywords or combinations, and instantly spit out massive pre-programmed text macros, code snippets, or shortcuts back to the PC! Use the 1.14-inch color screen to display which "Macro Profile" you currently have active.

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x LILYGO T-Dongle ESP32-S2 Board (with 1.14" LCD)

• 1 x Translucent Plastic Enclosure (Top and Bottom shell pieces)

Downloads & Links

• LILYGO T-Dongle ESP32-S2 Github Link

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What microcontroller drives this board? It is powered by the Espressif ESP32-S2 single-core microprocessor.

2. Does this board have Bluetooth? No. The ESP32-S2 chip only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. It does not contain Bluetooth or BLE hardware.

3. What makes the ESP32-S2 special compared to the standard ESP32? The ESP32-S2 features native USB OTG (On-The-Go) support built directly into the silicon. This allows it to act as a USB host (reading mice/keyboards) or a USB device (acting like a mouse/keyboard/flash drive to a PC) without needing external bridge chips.

4. What are the two USB ports for? The Male USB-A port plugs into your computer for power and programming. The Female USB-A port allows you to plug external USB devices into the ESP32-S2 so it can act as a host.

5. What are the specifications of the onboard screen? The screen is a 1.14-inch color TFT LCD driven by the ST7789 controller.

6. Does the screen have touch capabilities? No, the 1.14-inch display is a standard non-touch LCD.

7. How do I put the board into bootloader mode manually? Press and hold the "Boot" button. While holding it, plug the Male USB connector into your computer. Alternatively, hold Boot, press Reset, and release Boot.

8. Can I log data locally? Yes! The board features a TF (MicroSD) card slot integrated into the side of the PCB.

9. Which pins are used for the MicroSD card? The TF Card uses standard SPI pins: CS (IO10), SCLK (IO12), MISO (IO13), and MOSI (IO11).

10. What are the internal pins for the LCD? The LCD uses TFT_MISO (IO04), TFT_MOSI (IO35), TFT_SCLK (IO36), TFT_CS (IO34), TFT_DC (IO37), TFT_RST (IO38), and TFT_BL (IO33) for the backlight.

11. Is there an expansion port for external sensors? Yes. It features a Grove / STEMMA compatible JST-SH 4-PIN connector on the side breaking out VDD, IO43, IO44, and GND.

12. Does it have an internal battery? No. Because of its compact USB stick form factor, there is no internal battery. It must be powered by a USB port or power bank.

13. What do the physical buttons do? There are two tactile buttons: a Reset (RST) button to reboot the device, and a Boot (BOT) button which is used for entering flashing mode and can be programmed as a user input button in your code.

14. What are the exact dimensions of the dongle? The dongle measures 72mm in length, 23mm in width, and 12mm in height.

15. How do I program this board? You plug it directly into your computer's USB port. It can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, or MicroPython.

16. What settings should I use in the Arduino IDE? Select the "ESP32S2 Dev Module" from the board manager. Ensure "USB CDC On Boot" is enabled so the serial monitor functions correctly via the native USB port.

17. What logic voltage does the board use? Like all ESP32 chips, the internal GPIO pins operate strictly on 3.3V logic.

18. Can I use the MicroSD card and the Screen at the same time? Yes. They are wired to separate IO pins and separate SPI chip-selects, allowing them to function independently without data collisions.

19. Can I run CircuitPython on this board? Yes! The ESP32-S2's native USB support makes it an excellent candidate for CircuitPython, allowing the board to show up as a literal USB mass storage drive on your computer for easy drag-and-drop programming.

20. Does it require a special USB cable? No! One of the best features of the T-Dongle is that the Male USB-A port plugs directly into your computer, eliminating the need to carry around data cables.