AI Agent Hardware Parts Explained for Beginners

AI agent hardware parts come down to a short list: a board that connects to Wi-Fi, usually a screen, a mic and speaker, sometimes a camera or battery, a USB-C cable that carries data, a power supply and something to hold it all. This guide explains each part in plain language, with the specs and prices that matter for a Muse gadget. For the boards covered here, everything plugs together, with no soldering.

Microcontroller or single-board computer?

A microcontroller, like Espressif's ESP32 family, is a single chip with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. It runs one program, the firmware you flash onto it, and needs little power: Espressif puts it at "up to 70mA continuous, 200-300mA peak." In a Muse gadget it handles the screen, buttons, mic and speaker while Muse does the thinking.

A single-board computer, like a Raspberry Pi, runs a full Linux system, usually from a microSD card. Muse's Linux SDK gives the agent a shell, file reads and writes, and a health check. The Pi 5 needs a 5 V, 5 A USB-C supply. Choose a Pi when you want Muse to do sysadmin chores or manage Home Assistant, and remember Meta's warning: "If it can use sudo, so can Muse."

Rule of thumb: for a screen, a talk button and a speaker, pick an ESP32. For a computer the agent can work on, pick a Pi.

AI agent hardware parts compared: the boards

Chip or board	Processor	Wireless	Role in a Muse gadget	Example price
ESP32-S3	Dual-core Xtensa LX7, 240 MHz	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5 (LE)	Most full-UI gadgets: avatar, push-to-talk, images	StickS3 $21.50; Waveshare 1.75C $39.99 to $41.99
ESP32-C6	Single-core RISC-V, up to 160 MHz	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 (LE), 802.15.4	Cheaper touch screens, but no PSRAM on the Waveshare 1.8	Waveshare C6 1.8 $28.99 to $29.99
ESP32-C5	Single-core RISC-V, up to 240 MHz	Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5 (LE), 802.15.4	Meta's suggested first board: a status light and a button	DevKitC-1 launched at $15 in 2025
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W	Quad-core Cortex-A53, 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2/BLE	Light Linux helper: shell and files	$15
Raspberry Pi 5	Quad-core Cortex-A76, 2.4 GHz	Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0/BLE	Full Linux helper	$45 (1GB) to $305 (16GB)

Two specs decide what an ESP32 gadget can do. PSRAM is extra working memory. Boards without it, such as the classic ESP32 and the ESP32-C6, can't run Muse's home-network tunnel, though Muse can still reach and control them. Flash stores the firmware: most full-UI builds need 16 MB or more, while the StickS3 and StickC Plus2 use an 8 MB layout. Compare every board's features on the Muse board comparison, or check one you already own with does my board run Muse.

Screens: LCD, AMOLED and e-paper

LCD lights its pixels with a backlight. It's cheap and common. Examples: the StickS3's 1.14-inch 135 x 240 screen, the AIPI Lite's 128 x 128, and the SenseCAP Watcher's 1.45-inch 412 x 412 round touch screen.
AMOLED pixels make their own light, so black areas are simply off. That gives deep contrast, which suits an avatar face. The Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.75C has a 1.75-inch 466 x 466 round panel; the Waveshare C6 board has a 1.8-inch 368 x 448 panel.
E-paper holds its image between updates. In E Ink's words, "only the regions of the screen that are changing require updating." The Seeed reTerminal E1001 ($69 on sale) has a 7.5-inch 800 x 480 black-and-white panel that refreshes in "a second or two." The color E1002 ($99 on sale) takes about 30 seconds and flashes. Seeed claims "3-month battery life" for both.

Touch matters if you want to tap through settings. The Waveshare boards and the Watcher have touch screens; the StickS3 and AIPI Lite use buttons.

Mics, speakers and cameras

Voice on a Muse gadget is push-to-talk: hold a button, speak, and the board sends a voice note. The Waveshare 1.75C has a dual-mic array. The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition ($69) pairs its dual mics with a dedicated XMOS XU316 audio processor, and Meta's notes say never to reflash that XMOS chip.

For sound out, the StickS3 has a 1 W speaker and an ES8311 codec. On battery alone, M5Stack recommends keeping its volume below 75% "to avoid unexpected device reboot." The older StickC Plus2 has only a buzzer. Keep in mind that Muse replies in text by default; spoken replies need a text-to-speech service you connect yourself.

For a camera, the Seeed SenseCAP Watcher ($60.99) is the supported pick. Seeed pairs its camera with a "Himax WiseEye2 HX6538 AI chip," and Muse can ask it for a JPEG. Treat it as a privacy decision as much as a parts decision.

Batteries, USB-C data cables and power adapters

Batteries. The StickS3 has a 250 mAh cell built in, and the AIPI Lite comes with a 450 mAh battery module. The Waveshare boards take an optional 3.7 V lithium cell.

Data cables. This is the part that trips up first builds. Meta's SDK requires "A USB cable that carries data, not just power," and Arduino's help center puts it plainly: "Connect your board with a data USB cable, not a charging-only cable." If a board never appears on your computer, try a different cable before anything else. The ESP32 port finder helps once it shows up.

Power adapters. Match the board's rating. The Home Assistant Voice PE takes 5 V at 2 A over USB-C, and the Raspberry Pi 5 wants 5 V at 5 A. The AIPI Lite ships without a USB-C cable or power adapter, so budget for both. Don't run an ESP32 from the 3.3 V output of an FTDI adapter or Arduino board; Espressif says those do "not supply sufficient current." Every part is listed on the store page.

Enclosures and 3D-printed stands

Many supported boards arrive finished. The Waveshare 1.75C comes in a CNC aluminum case, and the AIPI Lite, SenseCAP Watcher, reTerminal panels and Voice PE are complete devices. A stick or bare board needs something to stand in.

Hackshop publishes printable desk stands, as STL and STEP files, for the StickS3, the StickC Plus2 and both Waveshare AMOLED boards. They're small: the StickS3 stand takes about 16 grams of PLA and the round Waveshare stand about 25 grams. At Bambu Lab's $15.99 refill price per kilogram, that's roughly 26 to 39 cents of plastic. PLA is also the easy choice indoors; UL's research says it "generally emits fewer contaminants" than ABS or nylon.

No printer? Some public libraries print for 10 to 20 cents per gram, and online services quote from an uploaded file. Estimate yours with the 3D print cost calculator.

Want to see these parts in place? Take any supported board apart in 3D and tap each part to read what it does.

Questions people ask

Do I need PSRAM for a Muse gadget?

For the full feature set, yes. Boards without PSRAM, such as the classic ESP32 and the ESP32-C6, can't run Muse's home-network tunnel, though Muse can still reach and control them.

Can I use any ESP32 board I already own?

Only if Meta's firmware supports it. The SDK's board table lists 24 ESP32 boards. Others need porting work, so check yours before you buy anything else.

How do I know if a USB cable carries data?

Test it with another device, as Arduino suggests. If the device shows up on your computer, the cable carries data. If it only charges, use a different cable.

Which screen is best for a wall display?

E-paper. It holds its image between updates and suits status or a calendar. The black-and-white reTerminal E1001 refreshes in a second or two; the color E1002 takes about 30 seconds and flashes.

Is a Raspberry Pi better than an ESP32 for an AI agent?

It does a different job. A Pi gives Muse a Linux computer to run commands on, with no screen or speaker. An ESP32 board gives Muse a face, a button and a speaker on far less power.

Sources

Prices and details checked October 5, 2026.