Espressif’s EchoEar ESP32-S3 voice assistant looks like a candidate for ESPHome ready-made projects

[Hedda]

Describe your idea

Espressif’s EchoEar ESP32-S3 voice assistant dev kot hardware looks like a candidate for ESPHome ready-made projects?

• https://www.cnx-software.com/2025/09/26/espressif-echoear-esp32-s3-voice-controlled-ai-chatbot-with-circular-touchscreen-and-mic-array/

  • https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-dev-kits/en/latest/esp32s3/echoear/index.html

  • https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-dev-kits/en/latest/esp32s3/echoear/user_guide_v1.0.html

Looks like it could be a very nice candidate for the ESPHome Ready-Made Projects as both voice assistant and media player reference hardware:

• https://esphome.io/projects/

Espressif Systems EchoEar ESP32-S3 have a rechargable battery and a dock as well as a round display are unique features among those existing ready-made ESPHome projects on that page:

It is missing an dedicated MCU for advanced DSP so would not make a perfect Home Assistant Voice Satellite hardware but good enough as a development kit and for use in kids rooms. Might the era of open-source voice assistants (as in plural) finally be here?

• https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2024/12/19/voice-preview-edition-the-era-of-open-voice

Based on its specification it looks to basically be a development kit built around Espressif’s ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5 module, however the enclosure design make it seem ready for retail?

https://youtu.be/th9ypRw3xBU

Espressif’s EchoEar key features are:

• ESP32-S3.
• 2 microphones in an array (Dual LMA3729T381-OY3S microphone array).
• Built-in 3W mini speaker.
  • NS4150B 3W Class-D amplifier
  • ES7210 audio ADC (4-ch)
  • ES8311 audio codec (ADC + DAC)
• 1.85-inch circular touch display (ST77916 driver).
• Bosch BMI270 6-axis IMU Sensor
• microSD card slot for data storage
• USB Type-C port for programming, power, and log printing
• 3.7 V Li-ion battery (connector)
  • BQ27220 battery management chip
  • TP4057 Li-ion charging IC (250 mA charging current)
  • TlV62569 / SY8088AAC buck converters (5 V → 3.3 V)
  • SAM8108 power control chip (power on/off management)
• magnetic connector for popopins (serial + 5 V) to use UART pass-through docking
  • Internal I2C header

The Espressif EchoEar AI chatbot can be purchased from AliExpress for $40 and on Amazon for $55.00.

Why is this exciting?

I think it would ve great if there was more products on the ESPHome ready-made projects page as that would promote more people to make ESPHome based products. https://esphome.io/projects/

Potential use cases

Voice assistent and media player reference hardware with touch screen display.

Anything else?

No response

[nagyrobi]

Only wish it had an IR transmitter on top to double as an IR blaster in the room.
I guess could be worked around with a SD card shaped PCB inserted in the slot at the back, discretely sticking out.

[Hedda]

Only wish it had an IR transmitter on top to double as an IR blaster in the room.

Maybe you could just try desoldering the Green status LED (located at the top) and replace it with a simple InfraRed transmitter (IR LED emitter) diod? Might only need to drill a slightly larger hole through the enclosure. Check out for example these IR LEDs from Adafruit:

https://www.adafruit.com/product/387

https://www.adafruit.com/product/388

For high powered use, suggest matching those up with a power MOSFET:

http://www.adafruit.com/products/355