Summary

  • Build an adorable tiny desktop pet using a Xiao ESP32-S3 and a 0.9-inch OLED.
  • It blinks, shows emotions on the OLED, and reacts to touches for a playful desk buddy.
  • DIY project: 3D-printed shell plus soldering and hot-glue; step-by-step build others can replicate.

You know, working remotely comes with its fair share of advantages, but it can get pretty lonely at times. Fortunately, if you're seeking a little companion to have by your side while you work, but you're not so keen on investing in a fluffy friend, you can instead opt to build your own. Especially if you're a tinkering fan like us here at XDA.

Fortunately, there are plenty of projects out there that can step you through making your very own digital pal, but they rarely come this small or this cute. Such is the case with the Tiny Desktop Pet​​​​​​, a Xiao ESP32 project that makes a cute, expressive friend you can place wherever you want.

The Tiny Desktop Pet uses a Xiao ESP32 to come to life

Look how cute he is!

Over on Hackster.io, inventor Pradeep had a simple mission: to make a desktop pet you can sit on your desk, and to make it as cute as possible. It wasn't just any pet, though; this one would come with a high-quality screen to show its emotions, and would react to when you prodded it.

Here's how Pradeep describes it:

A maker set out to design a playful desktop companion—a miniature “pet” that could sit on a desk, blink, react to touch, and display emotions on a tiny OLED screen. Using the Xiao ESP32‑S3 microcontroller, a 0.9‑inch OLED display and a custom enclosure printed through JUSTWAY’s 3D printing service, the project came to life as a step‑by‑step build that others can replicate.

The project uses both a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense and an ElectroPeak 0.96" OLED 64x128 Display Module to get the job done, with the main body using a 3D printed shell. Once you've gotten all the components put together, soldered, and hot-glued, you'll have an adorable little desk pet that reacts when you touch it. Just be sure to give it a fitting name.

If this got you in the mood for some ESP32 projects, but you're not sure if you have the heart to create this little guy, there are plenty of other things you can do with the microcontroller. For instance, we've covered some cheap ESP32-based display projects anyone can build, and despite them not costing a ton, they still look amazing. Or, if you really want to try something fun, why not slap your table to turn on your PC, thanks to a simple vibration sensor?