Designed by Innoelement in Guangzhou, China, the HALO TOUCH V2 is a multifunctional desktop USB hub with a round touchscreen and a rotary encoder designed as an interactive desk companion. It integrates system monitoring, media playback, and productivity features for workstations, home offices, and desktop setups.
The device features a USB 2.0 hub with two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, two microSD card readers, and a 100Mbps Ethernet port with per-port power monitoring. Its 360 × 360 IPS touchscreen supports a Pomodoro timer, photo and animation viewer, MP3 player, audio spectrum visualizer, and an AIDA64 system monitoring dashboard. A rotary encoder provides Microsoft Surface Dial-compatible controls on Windows, while 2.4GHz Wi-Fi enables clock synchronization and OTA firmware updates. It also supports USB PD power input and customization for themes, media, and animations using files on a microSD card.
MAHOGANY HALO TOUCH V2 specifications:
- MCU – Unspecified (potentially ESP32-S3)
- Storage
- 1x microSD card slot for fonts, startup animations, default music, alarm sounds
- 1x microSD card slot acts as a USB card reader for Wi-Fi configuration (wifi.txt method) and storing music and images
- Display – 360 × 360 pixel circular IPS color display (supports touch gestures)
- Audio
- Built-in microphone for real-time ambient audio spectrum visualization
- Integrated speaker for MP3 audio playback and alarms
- Networking
- 100Mbps Fast Ethernet RJ45 port intended for emergency/legacy fallback networking
- 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi 4 required for clock sync, AIDA64 integration, and OTA updates
- USB
- 1x USB 2.0 Type-C upstream port (USB-PC, host connection)
- 2x USB 2.0 Type-A downstream ports (USB1, USB2)
- 1x USB 2.0 Type-C downstream port (USB3, multiplexed with device programming/flash port)
- 1x USB 2.0 Type-C PD power input port (PWR-PD)
- Misc
- Built-in haptic vibration motor (used for Pomodoro timer ticks and alerts)
- 360-degree multi-function tactile rotary encoder/knob
- Supports touch screen gestures (swipe up for menu, swipe left/right for app navigation)
- Power
- Dual power inputs ( via mode switch PC / PD)
- PC mode – Powered directly through the USB-C upstream port
- PD Mode – dedicated USB Type-C PD power supply input port (physically isolated from the PC port via a mechanical toggle switch)
- Integrated per-port voltage (V), current (A), and power (W) monitoring for USB downstream ports
- Software-configurable overcurrent protection threshold (0–1000mA) with digital port isolation switches
- Dual power inputs ( via mode switch PC / PD)
- Dimensions – TBD
The firmware includes several built-in applications, including Microsoft Surface Dial (needed firmware v1.3.0 and above) emulation for Windows 10/11, an AIDA64 hardware monitoring dashboard that displays live PC system information over the local network, a Cyber Music Box with MP3 playback and a knob-controlled winding mechanism, a real-time audio spectrum visualizer using the onboard microphone, and a Pomodoro timer with haptic feedback and customizable alarm sounds. However, the source code for the firmware doesn’t seem to have been released.
The HALO TOUCH stores its operating files on a microSD card, so you can customize photos, MJPEG animations, MP3 music, AIDA64 backgrounds, boot animations, and system sounds by simply replacing files in dedicated folders (/mjpeg, /pic, /music, and /aida64). Network settings can also be configured through a wifi.txt file on the microSD card. The developer describes the device as a DIY project without formal product certifications and recommends following the documented user manual (only available in Chinese), particularly when using USB PD power. If you connect a Type-C-to-Type-C cable from a high-voltage wall charger directly into the USB-PC port (instead of the PWR-PD port), it could bypass protocol negotiation, inject 12V-20V, and fry the board.
We’ve come across several devices with a rotary knob and a round touchscreen display in the past, including the M5Stack M5Dial, the Elecrow ESP32-S3-powered rotary displays, Waveshare ESP32-S3-Knob-Touch-LCD-1.8, and others. However, it must be the time we see it integrated into a USB hub.
The HALO TOUCH USB Hub Dock V2 is available on Tindie for $69.99, with international shipping from China starting at $18 via tracked shipping services. There’s also a HALO TOUCH sold on AliExpress for about $84. There’s no mention of V2 there, but it looks the same and also supports Surface Dial simulation with firmware v1.3.0+.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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