Pixlpal
A customizable RGB LED display for information, entertainment, and more
Funding ended on Mar 05, 2026 at 03:59 PM PST.
Funding ended on Mar 05, 2026 at 03:59 PM PST.
Pixlpal is a smart AIoT desktop companion with a vibrant 128x64 RGB LED matrix display that keeps you informed at a glance. It delivers real-time updates—time, weather, calendar events, news, market data, sports updates, and more—so you stay focused without constantly reaching for your phone. Designed for productivity, clarity, and simplicity, Pixlpal helps you stay aware of what matters most at a single glance.
Powered by the ESP32-S3, Pixlpal goes beyond passive information display, it supports smooth audio playback from USB flash drives, high-quality internet radio streaming, and advanced AI functionality—all made possible by the S3’s dual-core architecture and built-in AI acceleration.
Pixlpal is more than a smart device—it’s a modern piece of functional décor that fits effortlessly into any space. Its vibrant LED matrix and compact design bring a warm, dynamic visual presence to homes, offices, studios, classrooms, and workspaces. Whether on a desk, shelf, or wall, Pixlpal blends in while keeping key information visible at a glance. And with full Home Assistant integration, it can show live sensor data, security alerts, automation updates, energy usage, and other smart-home notifications, making it both a stylish and intelligent extension of your smart home ecosystem.
Pixlpal is open-source and built for everyone—educators, students, enthusiasts, developers, and makers. It is fully hackable and highly extensible, giving you the freedom to explore how modern AIoT devices work from the inside out. Through its USB-OTG interface, you can expand the hardware or tinker with the software to customize existing apps or build entirely new experiences. Pixlpal also operates without reliance on remote servers, giving you full control over your data and your development environment.
Being an open-source project, Pixlpal naturally lends itself to educational use. Students and learners can experiment with how text and graphics are rendered on an LED matrix, explore audio processing using I2S, understand USB host/device interactions, and dive into practical implementations of Wi-Fi and BLE communication. With firmware built on ESP-IDF, they can also take advantage of Espressif’s robust component ecosystem and Arduino libraries to build real-world projects—making Pixlpal a valuable platform for learning embedded systems, electronics, and IoT development.
| Pixlpal | Busy Bar | Fintic | Pixoo-64 | Glance-Led Medium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Advantages | Higher display resolution, Hi-Fi audio, extensible | Deep productivity, battery | High display resolution, no subscription | High display resolution, strong pixel-art community | Medium display resolution, no subscription |
| Dimension | 285 × 175 × 52 mm | 200 × 50 × 40 mm | 390 × 110 × 60 mm | 262 × 261 × 18 mm | 279 × 152 × 38 mm |
| Display | 11.25" (128 x 64 RGB LED) | 1.54" mono OLED (72 x 16 RGB) | 15.6" (128 x 32 RGB LED) | 10.3" (64 x 64 RGB LED) | 12.53" (64 x 32 RGB LED) |
| Use Case | Smart home, interior decor, audio, live updates | Focus timer, smart home, status indicator | Market data, asset tracking, news | Social feeds, pixel art, market data | Market data, sports, messages |
| Processor | ESP32-S3 | STM32U5M + SiWG917 | Raspberry Pi 3A+ | ESP32-WROVER-IE | ESP32-WROOM |
| Battery | No | Yes (3250mAh) | No | No | No |
| Smart Home | Yes (MQTT, BLE) | Yes (HTTP API, BLE) | No | No | No |
| Audio | Yes (Hi-Fi jack) | Yes (internal speaker) | No | No | No |
| Extensible | Yes (USB-OTG) | No | No | No | No |
| Communication | Wi-Fi, BLE, USB-OTG | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Manual Controls | Rotary encoder | Encoder + button + switch | No | No | No |
| Open Source | Yes (HW + FW) | No | No | No | No |
| Power | USB Type-C (5V, 2A) | USB Type-C + battery | AC power (110-240V) | USB Type-C (5V, 3A) | DC in (5 V, 4 A) |
| Weight | 850 g | ~450 g | ~1400 g | ~600 g | 907 g |
| Price | $150 | $199 | $269 | $156 | $220 |
Pixlpal is an open-source project, and we welcome contributions from developers, makers, and technology enthusiasts. Community involvement is encouraged, whether through reporting bugs, improving documentation, contributing to the firmware, or developing new applications.
Support, resources, and official documentation for Pixlpal are available through the following channels:
Note: The Flutter source code for the Pixlpal mobile app available on the Play Store and App Store is closed for security reasons. However, we will provide a Flutter SDK/library that gives developers the tools to build and test custom app control interfaces for Pixlpal, which they can share with the community.
PCB fabrication and assembly will be handled by our manufacturing partner, PCBWay, in China. The 3D-printed corner components for Pixlpal will also be produced in China to ensure precision and consistency. Meanwhile, the black plexiglass front panel will be cut and engraved using our industrial laser equipment in Nigeria. Final assembly, firmware flashing, product testing, and quality inspections will be completed at our facility in Nigeria, ensuring each unit meets our performance and reliability standards.
Once production is complete, each Pixlpal unit will be individually packaged in protective carton boxes and delivered to the shipment vendor designated by Crowd Supply. From there, the products will be sent in bulk to Mouser’s fulfillment warehouse, which will handle worldwide distribution to all backers.
Pixlpal has been in development for more than three years, with extensive hardware iterations leading to a robust and reliable design. The RGB LED panel has undergone hundreds of hours of continuous testing with no observed pixel failures. To further enhance quality control and ensure consistent component sourcing, we have partnered with PCBWay, leveraging their manufacturing expertise to mitigate potential production and assembly challenges.
Certification Delays: As a Wi-Fi and BLE-enabled device, Pixlpal requires FCC certification for the United States and CE/UKCA certification for Europe. We plan to pursue these certifications concurrently and will follow established guidelines, as well as insights from other creators, to streamline the process and minimize delays.
Firmware Maturity: As with any complex product, early firmware versions may contain bugs. We are committed to frequent and reliable update releases through multiple built-in OTA options (Remote, USB Flash, and Web-based updates). Because Pixlpal is open-source, community contributions will also play a valuable role in identifying issues early and suggesting improvements.
Produced by Meterbit Cybernetics Inc in Abuja, Nigeria.
Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.
One Pixlpal smart, interactive LED display. Comes with a USB Type-A to Type-C adapter
Want to buy this item? Check the current project page for the latest information.
· meterbitcyb.com · Meterbit · Meterbit
We design and develop technology around AI, IoT, and Robotics to enrich human lives. Founded in 2022, our team is passionate about creating tools that are open, adaptable, and built to inspire innovation.
