LilyGO · ESP32-S3 · 0.96" · 80×160
LilyGO T-Dongle-S3 0.96" specifications
The LilyGO T-Dongle-S3 looks like a USB flash drive but is a full ESP32-S3 with a tiny screen: a 0.96-inch IPS display with 80×160 pixels and 65K colours, driven by an ST7735 over 4-wire SPI. Plug it straight into a computer's USB port and it gets power and a serial connection at the same time.
LilyGO gives it 16 MB of flash, a TF card slot and a single boot button. The narrow screen works well rotated to 160×80 as a mini status bar — for network stats, a clock, notifications or the output of a USB tool.
Because it lives in a USB port, the T-Dongle-S3 is a popular base for USB-powered helpers: Wi-Fi scanners, BLE tools, macro keys or small monitors that sit on a laptop.
- Screen
- 0.96" · 80×160
- Chip
- ESP32-S3
- Memory
- 16 MB flash, no PSRAM
- Input
- no touch
Key features
- 0.96-inch IPS, 80×160, ST7735, 65K colours
- USB-stick form factor
- ESP32-S3 with 16 MB flash
- TF card slot
- Boot button
- Landscape mode for a 160×80 status bar
Specifications
| Manufacturer | LilyGO |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 0.96" |
| Resolution | 80×160 px |
| Colour depth | 16-bit |
| Display controller | ST7735S (SPI) |
| Display interface | SPI |
| Touch | None — USB-dongle-shaped device, 1 button |
| Microcontroller | ESP32-S3 |
| Module | ESP32-S3 |
| CPU clock | 240 MHz |
| Internal SRAM | 512 KB |
| PSRAM | None |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Display type | IPS, 65K colours, 4-wire SPI |
| Form factor | USB dongle |
| Storage | TF card slot |
| Buttons | BOOT button |
| Variants (manufacturer) | T-Dongle-S3, T-Dongle-S3-Dual, T-Dongle-S3-Plus |
| Development platforms (manufacturer) | Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, MicroPython |
Free GPIOs and connectors
These GPIOs are not used by the display, touch or on-board peripherals, so you can wire your own sensors, buttons or relays to them.
| Pin | Capabilities | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO 0 | GPIO, BOOT | Boot button / physical push button |
| GPIO 6 | GPIO, PWM | Free — often the WS2812 RGB LED data pin, needs verification |
| GPIO 7 | GPIO, PWM | Free |
| GPIO 8 | GPIO, PWM | Free — often SD_MISO, needs verification |
| GPIO 9 | GPIO, PWM | Free — often SD_SCK, needs verification |
| GPIO 10 | GPIO, PWM | Free — often SD_MOSI, needs verification |
| GPIO 11 | GPIO, PWM | Free — often SD_CS, needs verification |
| GPIO 43/TX | GPIO, UART_TX | UART0 TX |
| GPIO 44/RX | GPIO, UART_RX | UART0 RX |
Good to know before you start
- There is no PSRAM in this profile — at 80×160 that is not a problem, but avoid large images.
- Rotation to 90° gives a 160×80 horizontal strip, which suits the dongle shape.
- The single button doubles as the BOOT button, so read it as an input only after start-up.
- LilyGO also sells Dual and Plus variants; check which one you have.
What it is good for
- •USB-powered status monitors
- •Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanner tools
- •Notification and clock sticks
- •Macro and shortcut helpers
LVGL support in LCD Ultra Pro
| Driver status | Matched to the manufacturer’s official demo, compile-tested |
|---|---|
| Arduino export | Complete LVGL 8.4 project with the display driver |
| USB Live preview | No |
| Orientations | 0°, 90° |
| Brightness control | Hardware backlight dimming |
Pick this board in the editor and the canvas matches its exact resolution and shape. Build the interface with widgets, add events without code, try it in Live Preview, then export it as a ready-to-compile Arduino project. See the documentation for the workflow.
Frequently asked questions
What display does the T-Dongle-S3 have?
A 0.96-inch IPS display with 80×160 pixels and an ST7735 controller.
Can I use the T-Dongle-S3 in landscape?
Yes, LCD Ultra Pro supports 0° and 90°, giving 80×160 or 160×80.
Does it have storage?
Yes, 16 MB of flash and a TF card slot.
Sources
Specifications cross-checked against the manufacturer’s documentation (last checked 2026-10-04):
Last updated: