# Handsy: a hardware bridge for an iPhone

Use a small ESP32-S3 board to connect an iPhone's screen and controls to a supervised AI agent.

## Hardware
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3; iPhone

A flashed XIAO ESP32-S3 receives an iPhone's mirrored screen and provides a physical input bridge. The current repository uses USB HID for input and Bluetooth for board-to-app communication.

## Shopping list

Current README uses USB HID, not the older showcase’s Bluetooth-only input route. Follow only the current maintainer install instructions; review automation permissions and supervise actions.

Quantities are for one build. Unless marked source-specified, they are planning quantities; confirm kit contents and the chosen configuration before ordering.

### 1 × Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3, plain 8 MB PSRAM version
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: USB HID and screen-mirroring bridge.
- Notes: Repository explicitly says not Sense and not Plus.
- Destination: https://www.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-ESP32S3-p-5627.html
- Match: Exact product
- Link review: Page checked; stock not assessed
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

### 1 × iPhone with iOS 18 or later
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Phone being automated.
- Notes: Cellular data is needed while Wi-Fi is used by the board hotspot.
- Sourcing: No exact purchase link verified; confirm the model and requirements above before ordering.
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

### 1 × USB-C to USB-C data cable
- Requirement: Conditional
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Connect to the computer for programming or data.
- Notes: For USB-C iPhones; must support USB data. Phone powers the board.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

### 1 × Lightning to USB Camera Adapter and matching USB cable
- Requirement: Conditional
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Connection for Lightning iPhones.
- Notes: Alternative to the USB-C cable, not an extra required adapter for USB-C phones.
- Sourcing: No exact purchase link verified; confirm the model and requirements above before ordering.
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

### 1 × Computer with Chrome or Edge for flashing
- Requirement: Tool
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Build, configure or flash the software.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

Source reviewed, not assembled or hands-on tested. A working product page does not confirm stock, firmware compatibility or a complete build.

## Setup
Device firmware

## Coding tool
Codex

## How the agent helped
Henry Yuan's showcase explicitly credits Codex with ESP32 firmware, input handling and the agent loop. The repository has since moved from the earlier design to a phone-app architecture; check the current release rather than combining instructions from different versions.

## Before you build
Flash the exact supported board and follow the current repository's version-specific instructions. The README specifies the plain Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 with 8 MB PSRAM, not Sense or Plus. Current setup uses USB HID, iOS 18 or later, AssistiveTouch and an iPhone app; the showcase describes an earlier Bluetooth input design. The example photo is from v0.1.0. A compatible vision service, cellular data and an appropriate USB connection or adapter may be needed. Review permissions, supervise actions and automate only devices and accounts you are allowed to use.

## Sources
- Original build: https://youcanjustbuildthings.openai.chatgpt.site/projects/submission-aad932dd2f447aaa8122d47132efca6bf5913f3d5089b2e2f99997adb69f76ea
- Supporting source: https://github.com/onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent

Source reviewed 2026-11-04. Not hands-on tested.