# LILYGO T-Echo

> Carry an e-paper mesh companion with built-in positioning.

- **Category:** Radio & mesh
- **Availability:** Listed by maker
- **Price:** From US$44.61 (at lilygo.cc), checked 2026-09-16
- **Good for:** Carry an e-paper mesh companion with built-in positioning.
- **You'll need:** A matching regional radio band and a phone/client for text entry.
- **Trade-off:** This is the original T-Echo, not the newer T-Echo Plus.
- **Page:** https://gadgets.sh/devices/lilygo-t-echo/

## Where to buy

| Shop | Status | Link |
|---|---|---|
| LILYGO | Orderable | https://lilygo.cc/products/t-echo-lilygo?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lilygo-t-echo&utm_content=api |
| Tindie | Orderable | https://www.tindie.com/products/lilygo/t-echo-nrf52840-lora-meshtastic-handheld-device/?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lilygo-t-echo&utm_content=api |
| Amazon | Orderable | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B659536P?utm_source=gadgets.sh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lilygo-t-echo&utm_content=api |

## Blueprint

**Schematics published.** LILYGO's T-Echo repo publishes a PDF schematic and an STL 3D case model, plus firmware/datasheets; no editable PCB source (no .kicad_pcb/.SchDoc).

### Design files

- schematic: [T-Echo schematic (PDF)](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/schematic/T-Echo_Schematic.pdf) (PDF)
- 3d-model: [T-Echo 3D case model (STL)](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/dimensions/t-echo_3d.stl) (STL)

### Source repositories

- [Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo) — hardware, MIT, ★236

### Key parts

| Part | Role | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|
| nRF52840 | MCU + BLE | https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52840 |
| SX1262 | LoRa radio (433/868/915MHz) | https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-connect/sx1262 |
| SSD1681 | e-paper display controller |  |
| Quectel L76K | GNSS (GPS/BeiDou/GLONASS/QZSS) | https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/datasheet/Quectel_L76K_GNSS_%E6%A8%A1%E5%9D%97%E4%BA%A7%E5%93%81%E8%A7%84%E6%A0%BC%E4%B9%A6_V1.4.pdf |

_Notes:_ MIT-licensed repo but only firmware/examples + PDF schematic + STL are published; no native PCB source found. SX1262 confirmed via multiple retailer/Meshtastic listings, not stated explicitly in the schematic filename.

### Raw source files

Direct links an agent or KiCad can open (the viewer on the page reads the same files).

- 3D model (STL, 0.7 MB): [T-Echo 3D case model (STL)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/main/dimensions/t-echo_3d.stl)

## Specifications

### Compute & display

| | |
|---|---|
| Controller | nRF52840; Cortex-M4F, 64 MHz |
| External flash | MX25R1635F option: 16 Mbit (2 MB). See the supplier variants below. |
| Display | 1.54-inch SPI e-paper; 200 × 200; two gray levels; 2-second full refresh |
| Internal memory | 1 MB flash; 256 KB RAM |
| Flash variants | MX25R1635FZUIL0 or ZD25WQ16B, depending on supply |
| Display controller | SSD1681; GDEH0154D67 panel |

### Radio & positioning

| | |
|---|---|
| LoRa | SX1262; 433, 868, 915 and Japan 920–923 MHz SKU options |
| 2.4 GHz | Bluetooth 5; silicon also supports Thread, ANT and 802.15.4/Zigbee with appropriate firmware |
| GNSS | L76K; GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS |
| GNSS features | LNA, SAW filter, assisted GNSS and 1PPS |
| Sensor option | BME280 temperature/pressure variant |

### Power & software

| | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 850 mAh |
| Enclosure | ABS; several color options |
| Firmware | LILYGO factory firmware, SoftRF and Meshtastic resources |
| Buses | UART, SPI, TWI, PDM, I²S and QSPI listed |
| USB power | 4.8–5.5 V; maker requires a USB-A-to-C cable because C-to-C supplies may refuse power. |
| Charging | Fixed 500 mA; 3.7 V cell with MX 1.25 mm connector |
| Battery reading | ADC readings are unreliable while charging; use the charging indicator. |
| Charge LED | Solid: charging. Blinking: missing/faulty battery. Off: full. |
| Measured current | Maker example at 3.7 V: 42 mA active, 55 mA with backlight, 0.25 mA asleep; firmware affects results. |
| USB recovery | Double-click reset to enter DFU. |
| Firmware caveats | Adafruit nRF52 bootloader/core are supplied. nRF5 SDK programming can replace the bootloader; NFC needs that SDK. |

### Build connections & variants

| | |
|---|---|
| Onboard I²C | SDA P0.26; SCL P0.27; RTC PCF8563 at 0x51; optional BME280 at 0x77 |
| Radio SPI | SCK P0.19; MOSI P0.22; MISO P0.23; CS P0.24 |
| Radio control | Reset P0.25; BUSY P0.17; DIO1 P0.20 |
| Buttons and ADC | User P1.10 active low; touch P0.11 active high; battery ADC P0.4 |
| Plus distinction | Plus adds a 2400 mAh battery, BHI260, haptic feedback and buzzer. |

## Firmware & community

- [Meshtastic for T-Echo](https://github.com/meshtastic/firmware) — Low-power Nordic nRF52840 build featuring e-paper display, GPS tracking, and battery optimization.

## Documentation

- [Maker specifications and documentation](https://lilygo.cc/products/t-echo-lilygo)
- [Meshtastic supported hardware](https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/)
- [LILYGO](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/LilyGO-T-Echo)
- [SoftRF](https://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wiki/SoftRF-Configuration-Tool)
- [Meshtastic](https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-device/releases)
- [Current T-Echo hardware repository](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo)
- [Nordic nRF52840 internal memory and CPU](https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52840)
- [T-Echo schematic](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/schematic/T-Echo_Schematic.pdf)
- [T-Echo enclosure STL](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/dimensions/t-echo_3d.stl)
- [T-Echo factory firmware recovery](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Echo/blob/main/firmware/README.MD)
- [Macronix MX25R1635F external flash capacity](https://www.macronix.com/en-us/products/NOR-Flash/Pages/Ultra-Low-Power-Flash.aspx)

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Source: gadgets.sh · https://gadgets.sh/devices/lilygo-t-echo/ · JSON: https://gadgets.sh/api/v1/devices/lilygo-t-echo.json