PocketMage is an open-source hardware, ESP32-S3 personal digital assistant (PDA) with a primary, sun-readable 3.1-inch E Ink display, a secondary 1.8-inch OLED for high-refresh rate feedback, a full tactile QWERTY keyboard, and a capacitive scroll bar.
The device also features a microSD card slot for storage, a buzzer for audio/sound feedback, a USB-C port for charging the 1,200 mAh battery or connecting a USB keyboard, as well as an RTC and an FPC connector for GPIO expansion.
PocketMage specifications:
- SoC – ESP32-S3 microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- Memory – 2 MB QSPI PSRAM
- Storage
- 16 MB QSPI flash
- MicroSD card slot
- Displays
- Primary 3.1-inch E Ink/e-paper display with 320×240 resolution
- Secondary 1.8-inch OLED with 256×32 resolution
- Audio – Piezo buzzer for beeps and boops
- USB – USB Type-C port for charging and peripherals like a keyboard
- User input
- Built-in tactile QWERTY keyboard
- Capacitive scroll bar
- USB keyboard support
- Expansion – FPC expansion port with power, I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIO
- Misc – PCF8563T RTC (real-time clock)
- Power Supply
- 5V charging via USB-C port
- 1,200mAh LiPo battery with integrated charging and battery management; good for about 7 days
- Dimensions – 100 x 73 x 21.7 mm
- Weight – TBD
The PocketMage PDA runs a wizard-inspired OS described as “a character-filled operating system that makes every interaction feel like magic”. Based on FreeRTOS, it features a built-in software suite with a text editor, a dictionary, a terminal, and more. It also supports side-loading 3rd-party applications through the Bazaar app store, including a calculator, a text-based web browser, a Tarot card reader, an e-book reader, and so on.
The project is open-source hardware with the KiCad hardware design files, software, and documentation under the Apache-2.0 Open Source Hardware license. You’ll find all resources on GitHub, and you can easily install the latest firmware for your hardware through a web installer.
The closest alternative is probably the open-source hardware Picocalc based on a Raspberry Pi Pico W or Pico 2 W, which features a 4-inch IPS display with 320×320 resolution, stereo speakers, and a backlit QWERTY keyboard. The overall design is different, and it’s not quite as pocketable since it’s larger at 167 x 97 mm.
The ESP32-S3-based personal digital assistant has just launched on Crowd Supply with a $100,000 funding target. Rewards start at $185 for a DIY kit to be assembled by the user, or you can pledge $235 for a fully assembled unit. In either case, two colors are available: “Royal Purple” and “Parchment”. Shipping is free to the US and adds $12 to the rest of the world. Backers will have to be patient, as deliveries are scheduled to start by the end of March 2027.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress. We also use affiliate links in articles to earn commissions if you make a purchase after clicking on those links.
