Ringo: An Educational DIY Mobile Phone

C1310

Elmwood Electronics has stopped accepting orders. This product might be available at PiShop.ca. Please check this blog post about our recent team merger.

This neat little device is an open source mobile phone that you can build yourself.

Besides that, MAKERphone is also an educational device shaped like a mobile phone compatible with all mobile networks.

Its purpose: to motivate people to explore, learn and create something new in a fun and interesting way.

PLEASE NOTE: We sell this kit in Elegant Black only! The other colors shown are not presently available!

Who is this kit for?

Based on our experience, an 11-year-old kid should be able to assemble a Ringo kit with a tiny bit of help from an adult. Estimated build time: 5 hours.

Building the Ringo kit is just the beginning.
After that, you'll spend numerous hours creating your own games and apps and experimenting with hardware.

What you'll learn with Ringo

how to solder properly
what are the basic electronic components and what are their functions
what are microcontrollers and some basics of digital electronics
how to program a microcontroller in C++, Python and other
how a basic mobile phone works

Ringo needs tools

You'll need some basic tools and equipment for assembling your Ringo:

regular soldering iron (nothing super expensive is required) and some solder
diagonal cutter pliers
regular screwdriver
some solder
a piece of insulating tape or some super-glue

Ringo is hackable

Ringo is based on Arduino-compatible ESP32 microcontroller. Therefore, it's compatible with lots of hardware expansion modules.

Ringo was meant to be hacked.

Ringo is fully customizable.

CircuitBlocks

A dedicated graphical code editor similar to Scratch or Code.org.

Getting started with coding was never easier!

Learn more!

CircuitOS

Circuit OS is our custom-made operating system built on top of FreeRTOS. Currently it only works on our CircuitMess Ringo DIY mobile phone, but we plan to adapt it for all of our current and future products.

Learn more!

Ringo has a build guide

CircuitMess World is a place for Ringo users to share their creations, exchange knowledge, and download programs made by others as well as a collection of tutorials, guides etc.

Check it out

Ringo ♥ Arduino

YES, we love Arduino.
Ringo is based on Arduino-compatible ESP32 microcontroller.

Therefore, it can be programmed in Arduino IDE (based on C/C++) – the most popular programming environment for makers.

Check out the Specs

Microcontroller

ESP32 with Xtensa dual-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor, operating at 160MHz and performing at up to 600 DMIPS.
4MB of built-in flash memory + 520kB of SRAM.

Display

1.8", 160*128px full color (RGB 16bit).
25FPS refresh rate by default, up to 50FPS.
Digitally controllable backlight level.

Sound

10bit dedicated DAC (TFA9882).
Multi-channel WAV playback.
2W class-D audio amp, audio jack 3.5mm, 1W speaker, software volume control.

Input

4-way analog joystick, 12-button numeric keypad, A (confirm), B (back), 4 multi-purpose addressable buttons.

Micro SD card socket

FAT and FAT32 compatible.
Every console comes with a 4GB Micro SD card with MAKERphone-compatible games and apps preloaded!

Network

Built in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE.
SIM800L or SIM7600 dedicated cellular network co-processor (the thing that calls other people).
Micro SIM card slot.

Battery

LiPo 3.7V 1300mAh, charged through micro USB B port.
Sufficient for approximately 3 days of normal use.

RTC (real time clock)

DS1307 Accurate I²C-Integrated RTC - this thing keeps time and takes care of alarms.

Extras

8 individually-controllable RGB LEDs mounted on the back of the phone - for signalisation and cosmetic purposes (IT GLOWS!)

Collections: CircuitMess

Type: Educational kit