LilyGO T-Dongle-S3 ESP32-S3 Dev Board w/ 0.96-Inch ST7735 LCD

First, install the ESP32 board support via the Arduino Boards Manager using the Espressif repository URL. Select 'ESP32S3 Dev Module' as your target. Ensure the USB driver is installed, then connect the dongle via USB-C. The board should enumerate as a serial port. You can then write and upload sketches that utilize the SPI-connected ST7735 display using libraries like TFT_eSPI, configuring the correct pins defined in the board's documentation.

The ST7735 LCD on the T-Dongle-S3 is connected via a 4-wire SPI interface. You must configure your display library (e.g., TFT_eSPI) with the specific GPIO pins used for DC (Data/Command), RESET, CS (Chip Select), SCLK, and MOSI. These pin mappings are defined in the board support package or schematic. Typically, they are fixed and not user-remappable due to the integrated design, so refer to the official LilyGO pinout diagram for accurate assignments.

Yes, the onboard microSD (TF) card slot is fully accessible via the SPI bus. You can use the standard SD library in Arduino or the built-in 'os' module in MicroPython to read and write files. To display images, you would read bitmap files from the card, decode them (using a library like BMPDecoder for Arduino), and then write the pixel data to the ST7735 display's framebuffer, making it ideal for dynamic menu systems or data dashboards.

The board is powered via its USB-C port at 5V, with an onboard regulator providing 3.3V to the ESP32-S3 and peripherals. While not designed with a direct battery connector, you can power it from a USB power bank. To minimize consumption, utilize the ESP32-S3's deep sleep modes, disabling the display and SD card when inactive. Typical operating current with Wi-Fi active and display on can range from 100mA to 200mA, while deep sleep can drop to microamps.