Not all ESP32 boards are created equal when it comes to wearables. You need something small enough to strap on, powerful enough to run Wi-Fi and drive a display, and ideally equipped with a touchscreen and PSRAM. Here is our hands-on comparison of the best options available in 2026.
What Makes a Good Wearable Board?
Before diving into specific boards, here is what matters most for wearable projects:
- Size and form factor — Can it physically fit on a wrist or clip to clothing without being bulky?
- Display — AMOLED screens offer deep blacks and very low power at idle. LCD/IPS screens are cheaper but drain more battery.
- PSRAM — Essential for buffering audio, images, and HTTP responses. Without it, you are limited to around 320KB of internal SRAM.
- Battery management — Built-in charging circuit and battery connector versus needing external power boards.
- Touch input — Capacitive touch on the display eliminates the need for physical buttons.
1. Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.06
This is the board we chose for the ProjectOSAI Companion Watch, and for good reason. It features a 2.06 inch AMOLED display at 240x412 resolution with capacitive touch, ESP32-S3 dual-core at 240MHz with 8MB PSRAM, RTC, IMU sensor, microSD slot, two programmable buttons, and battery connector with charging built in.
The 2.06 inch AMOLED is the sweet spot for AI wearables — large enough to display a full AI face with lip-sync animation, small enough to wear comfortably. The built-in microSD slot is crucial for storing custom face images and action video clips without eating into flash memory.
Best for: AI companion watches, voice assistant wearables, any project needing a high-quality display with rich I/O. Our top pick.
2. LILYGO T-Watch S3
LILYGO's T-Watch line has been a staple in the ESP32 wearable community for years. It features a 1.54 inch IPS LCD at 240x240 with capacitive touch, ESP32-S3 with PSRAM, and crucially includes a built-in microphone, speaker, vibration motor, RTC, and accelerometer.
The T-Watch is designed from the ground up as a watch, giving it an advantage in fit and finish. The built-in audio hardware is a huge plus for voice projects since you do not need external I2S modules. However, the 1.54 inch IPS screen is noticeably smaller and less vibrant than AMOLED options, and the square 240x240 resolution limits what you can display.
Best for: Quick prototyping of watch projects, notifications, simple voice interactions where display quality is not the priority.
3. Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.8
The smaller sibling of the 2.06 inch model. It has a 1.8 inch AMOLED at 368x448 with capacitive touch, ESP32-S3 with 8MB PSRAM, IMU, RTC, and battery connector. Higher pixel density than the 2.06 inch model in a more compact package.
If your project needs a more traditional watch size, this is a strong option. The trade-off is less screen real estate for UI elements and face animations. At 1.8 inches, touch targets need to be carefully designed to remain usable.
Best for: Compact wearables where size matters more than display area. Good for clock-focused projects with occasional AI interaction.
4. M5Stack CoreS3
Not a watch form factor, but worth mentioning for portable AI projects. It has a 2.0 inch IPS LCD at 320x240 with touch, ESP32-S3 with 8MB PSRAM, and includes a camera, microphone, speaker, IMU, proximity sensor, microSD, and USB-C. The stackable module design means you can add GPS, LoRa, or other modules.
It is too thick and boxy for wrist wear without a custom enclosure. Think of it as a pocket-sized AI device rather than a watch.
Best for: Portable AI projects that need a camera, prototyping multi-sensor devices, desk-based AI companions.
5. Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3
A modular approach — a tiny 21x17.5mm main board plus separate display expansion boards. You can pair it with round 1.28 inch or 1.69 inch displays. ESP32-S3 with 8MB PSRAM and optional camera module.
The XIAO is the smallest ESP32-S3 board available. Combined with a round display expansion, it is possible to build an extremely compact wearable. The downside is assembly complexity — you are soldering, designing a case, and integrating battery management yourself.
Best for: Experienced makers who want full control over the form factor and do not mind extra engineering work.
Our Recommendation
For AI wearable projects that need a quality display and room to grow, the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.06 is our top pick. It is what we build the ProjectOSAI Companion Watch on, and after months of development, the balance of display quality, I/O options, and wearable form factor has not been matched by anything else in this price range.
If you want a ready-made AI companion instead of building one yourself, check out the watch.