The ESP32 Rainbow is a small computer with a built-in touch keyboard, an integrated display, and a design that’s inspired by the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, with a keyboard layout and rainbow stripe that should look familiar to fans of the classic computer that was released more than four decades ago.
But this is also a modern device that’s powered by an ESP32-S3 dual-core processor and features some modern components including a microSD card reader for storage and a USB Type-C port for power. It’s also an open hardware design – the design files are available at GitHub. Developer Chris Greening announced plans for a crowdfunding campaign earlier this year, and now that the Crowd Supply campaign is live you can reserve a fully assembled ESP32 Rainbow for $99 rather than building your own. Systems should begin shipping to backers in April, 2024.
Some of the ESP32 Rainbow’s key features include a 40-key touch keyboard, a 320 x 280 pixel, 16-bit color TT display, a 2 watt, 8 ohm speakers, a battery connector, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. There’s also a battery connector and charging unit, an expansion port, and two QWIIC connectors.
While the ESP32 Rainbow’s stock firmware includes a ZX Spectrum emulator with support for 48K and 128K ZX Spectrum applications, the system should be able to support any other software that’s compatible with low-power ESP32 chips. The board can be programmed via the USB Type-C port.
You can find out more about the ESP32 Rainbow at the Crowd Supply page or at Greening’s ESP32 ZX Spectrum Substack.
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via Hackster.io and CNX Software
This article was first published September 24, 2024 and most recently updated November 20, 2024 following the launch of the crowdfunding campaign.
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