DIYer Turns ESP32 Into a 1980s Brick Phone Bluetooth Handset
Kevin Noki has published a video and begun selling files for a DIY handset that pairs with an existing phone over Bluetooth, with no cellular modem inside.
Kevin Noki has published a video and put a do-it-yourself design up for sale for a handheld Bluetooth handset styled after a 1980s brick phone, according to Hackaday. The device contains no cellular modem and works only as a handset paired with an existing phone.
The build began with an ESP32 board, but Noki switched to a dedicated Hands Free Profile (HFP) Bluetooth module to get better audio quality. The HFP module handles the call audio link to the paired phone, while the rest of the hardware is limited to the handset itself.
The case was first prototyped in XPS foam, shaped with a manually operated hot wire cutter, before being finalised as a 3D print. Noki is selling the design on his website, including the STL file for the 3D-printed case.
What buyers get
Buyers receive the design files needed to reproduce the handset, with the STL for the case included. Because the handset carries no radio of its own beyond Bluetooth, anyone building it still needs a separate phone to place or receive calls.
Quick answers
Does the DIY brick phone work as a standalone phone?
No. It has no cellular modem and functions only as a Bluetooth handset for an existing phone.
What is included with the design Noki sells?
The design is sold on his website and includes the STL file for the 3D-printed case.
What electronics does the build use?
It started with an ESP32 board and was changed to a dedicated Hands Free Profile (HFP) Bluetooth module for better audio quality.