{
  "id": 18445598,
  "title": "This ESP32 music player can swivel to become a GBA gaming handheld",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/this-esp32-music-player-can-swivel-to-become-a-gba-gaming-handheld",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-06T04:57:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "XDA Developers",
    "slug": "xda-developers",
    "url": "https://www.xda-developers.com/this-esp32-music-player-can-swivel-to-become-a-gba-gaming-handheld/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A creative electronics enthusiast has combined an ESP32 music player with a Game Boy-style handheld console into a single device. This ingenious contraption, shared on the ESP32 subreddit by user leetcodedemon, features a modern look reminiscent of an iPod, with a top screen displaying music and a touch dial at the bottom for song selection. The device's secret lies in its bottom panel, which can swivel to reveal a Game Boy-style controller instead of the touch dial, transforming the music player into a GBA emulator. The PCB, a 4-layer design measuring 50 x 70 mm, was assembled by JLCPCB. The device's touch input is read by six copper pads on the PCB, which are read by the S3's touch pins. A DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) manages the headphone output, while hall sensors determine the device's orientation. The specifications include an ESP32-S3 processor with 16 MB flash memory and 8 MB PSRAM, a 240x320 screen, a PCM5102A DAC, microSD card slot for MP3 and FLAC files up to 96 kHz / 24 bit, and Wi-Fi connectivity for song transfers. A 2000 mAh battery provides power, which will be charged via USB-C. As this is still a prototype, the creator hopes to launch a crowdfunding campaign to make the device available to others. The Reddit thread linked to this story is the place to provide feedback or suggestions for improvements.",
  "summary": "It's two devices in one.",
  "key_points": [
    "ESP32 music player combines with Game Boy-style handheld",
    "Device features swiveling panel to reveal GBA controller",
    "PCB measures 50 x 70 mm, powered by ESP32-S3 processor"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}