LILYGO T-Dongle-S3 ESP32-S3 USB Stick Development Board with 0.96" IPS LCD

Specifications

• Microcontroller: ESP32-S3 (Dual-core, up to 240 MHz)

• Flash Memory: 16MB

• Wireless: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) & Bluetooth 5 (LE)

• Display Size: 0.96 inches diagonal

• Display Driver: ST7735

• Resolution: 80 x 160 pixels

• Host Interface: Male USB Type-A

• Storage: Integrated TF/MicroSD Card Slot

• Expansion Port: STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST-SH 1.0mm 4-PIN (Mapped to UART TX/RX)

• Enclosure: Transparent protective casing with removable USB cap

• Dimensions: 58.6mm (L) x 17.9mm (W) x 8.7mm (H)

Key Applications and Projects

• Portable Crypto/Stock Tickers: Plug it into the side of your monitor or a USB wall charger to constantly display live financial charts pulled via Wi-Fi APIs.

• Hardware Security Keys: Programming the ESP32-S3 to act as a custom two-factor authentication (2FA) device or password vault.

• Miniature Web Servers: Hosting a captive portal or a localized intranet site directly from your pocket for field-testing or presentations.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Stealth Wi-Fi Network Analyzer: Turn this innocent-looking USB stick into a powerful cybersecurity and network diagnostic tool! Because the ESP32-S3 can easily be put into "promiscuous mode," you can program the T-Dongle-S3 to act as a localized packet sniffer or Wi-Fi scanner. Write a script that scans for surrounding Wi-Fi networks, measures their signal strength (RSSI), and identifies channel crowding. Display the network statistics visually on the 0.96-inch LCD, and log the detailed packet data directly to the onboard MicroSD card. Just plug it into a standard USB power bank, and you have a highly portable, completely self-contained network auditing device!

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x LILYGO T-Dongle-S3 Board (with 0.96" LCD)

• 1 x Transparent Protective Casing (Pre-installed)

• 1 x Removable USB Cap

Downloads & Links

• LILYGO T-Dongle-S3 Github Link

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What microcontroller drives this board? It is powered by the Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core microprocessor.

2. How much Flash memory does it have? It features a massive 16MB of onboard Flash memory.

3. What are the specifications of the onboard screen? The screen is a 0.96-inch diagonal IPS LCD. It has a resolution of 80x160 pixels and is driven by the ST7735 display controller.

4. Does the screen have touch capabilities? No, the 0.96-inch LCD is a standard non-touch display.

5. How do I power the T-Dongle-S3? You simply plug it into any standard USB Type-A port, such as a laptop, desktop PC, USB wall charger, or portable power bank.

6. Does it have a battery inside? No. Because of its compact USB stick form factor, there is no internal battery. It relies entirely on external USB power.

7. How do I program this board? You plug it directly into your computer's USB port. It utilizes the ESP32-S3's native USB capabilities (USB_DN IO19, USB_DP IO20) and can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, or MicroPython.

8. What settings should I use in the Arduino IDE? Select the "ESP32S3 Dev Module". Ensure you set "USB CDC On Boot" to Enabled, and Flash Size to 16MB.

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

10. What are the internal pins used for the MicroSD card slot? The SD card uses SDMMC standard pins: D0 (IO14), D1 (IO17), D2 (IO21), D3 (IO18), CLK (IO12), and CMD (IO16).

11. Is there an expansion port for sensors? Yes. It features a STEMMA QT / Qwiic compatible JST-SH 1.0mm 4-PIN connector on the side.

12. Is the expansion port wired for I2C? Note carefully: While it uses a Qwiic-style connector, LILYGO has mapped this specific port to UART (Serial) pins: RX (IO44) and TX (IO43), along with 3.3V and GND.

13. Does it support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? Yes, it features standard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5.0 (LE) for connecting to your local network or smartphone.

14. What type of antenna does it use? It utilizes an onboard ceramic/chip antenna located near the top of the PCB for a compact, snag-free wireless profile.

15. What is the physical button on the back for? The tactile button located on the rear of the PCB is the "Boot" button, mapped to IO00. It can be used to manually enter flashing mode or programmed as a user input button in your code.

16. What material is the casing made from? The board is enclosed in a durable, transparent acrylic/plastic casing that protects the electronics while allowing you to view the PCB and screen.

17. What are the exact dimensions of the dongle? With the cap on, the dongle measures 58.6mm in length, 17.9mm in width, and 8.7mm in height.

18. Which pins are used internally for the LCD? The ST7735 LCD uses several internal pins: CS (IO04), SDA (IO03), SCL (IO05), DC (IO02), RES (IO01), and the LED backlight is controlled by IO38.

19. What do the LED_DI_PIN (IO40) and LED_CI_PIN (IO39) refer to? These pins are internally routed to support onboard programmable RGB LEDs (like APA102 or WS2812 type LEDs) if present on your specific board revision.

20. What logic voltage does the ESP32-S3 use? Like all ESP32 chips, the internal GPIO pins operate strictly on 3.3V logic. The board regulates the 5V from the USB port down to 3.3V safely.