This tiny 3D-printed Apple IIe is powered by a $2 microcontroller

The venerable ESP8266 from Espressif, often overshadowed by more powerful microcontrollers like the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and ESP32, is being put to creative use by Adventures in Retro Computing. They’ve managed to integrate the ESP8266 into a miniature 3D-printed Apple IIe setup, which even emulates the classic machine. Despite its tiny size, the setup captures the essence of the Apple IIe, complete with dual 5.25-inch floppy drives and an Apple monitor, though the keyboard and drives are non-functional.

This miniature Apple IIe is incredibly compact, smaller than an Apple mouse, and the design is based on option8’s Apple IIe case, scaled down to fit a screen from an Apple Watch. The microcontroller, though inexpensive, powers the emulation using MFA2’s Apple II+ emulator, which runs on a custom PCB. This PCB includes ports for HDMI, USB, and micro SD cards, which can be used to emulate disk images. The setup also features a speaker, LiPo battery, and a micro USB charge port.

Despite the minimal hardware, the system is highly functional, with external keyboards and a micro SD card reader available for attaching peripherals. The micro SD card reader is used to load disk images, which can be selected on the tiny screen. It’s a modern twist on retro computing, blending nostalgia with current technology at a fraction of the original cost.

For those interested, Adventures in Retro Computing is planning to produce and sell some of these tiny Apple IIe units. This could be a perfect collectible for retro computing enthusiasts looking for a small but functional piece of history.

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