TinyCircuits and the TinyTV 2: A Full-Size Entertainment Experience in a Tiny Package

The TinyTV 2 combines retro television design, modern electronics, rechargeable power, built-in storage, and real video playback in a television small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Some gadgets are designed purely for convenience. Others are created to make technology feel fun again. The TinyTV 2 from TinyCircuits manages to do both.

At first glance, the TinyTV 2 looks like an incredibly detailed miniature television. Turn it on, however, and it becomes clear that this is much more than a display model. It is a real rechargeable video player with a color screen, built-in speaker, physical channel and volume controls, 8GB of storage, USB-C connectivity, and an included miniature remote control.

It can play short video clips, home movies, television episodes, cartoons, music videos, fireplace videos, and even full-length movies. Its small size makes the experience charming, but its working controls and customizable video library are what make it genuinely useful.

Who Is TinyCircuits?

TinyCircuits is an electronics company based in Akron, Ohio. The company designs and manufactures extremely small, open-source electronics intended to encourage creativity, support STEAM learning, and make electronic projects more approachable.

TinyCircuits first gained widespread attention with the TinyDuino, a miniature modular electronics platform with capabilities similar to an Arduino Uno but in a board smaller than a quarter. The TinyDuino launched on Kickstarter in September 2012 and raised more than 1,000% of its original funding goal.

Since then, TinyCircuits has expanded beyond miniature processor boards. Its products have included tiny game consoles, wearable electronics, modular sensors, e-textile components, tiny arcade systems, and several generations of functional miniature televisions.

The company says its products are used by hobbyists, educators, researchers, universities, small businesses, and technology companies in more than 60 countries. Its focus on modular and open-source electronics allows makers to study, customize, and build upon many of its designs.

The Evolution of the TinyTV

TinyCircuits had already experimented with miniature video players before releasing the TinyTV 2. Earlier versions were more closely connected to the maker community and often required some assembly or customization.

The TinyTV 2 took the concept in a more consumer-friendly direction. It arrives fully assembled, includes a finished retro television enclosure, comes preloaded with sample videos, and can be used immediately after charging.

TinyCircuits introduced the TinyTV 2 alongside the even smaller TinyTV Mini through a successful 2022 crowdfunding campaign. The campaign attracted more than 2,400 Kickstarter backers and raised more than $227,000, greatly exceeding its original $15,000 goal.

While the TinyTV Mini focuses on achieving the smallest possible design, the TinyTV 2 offers a more traditional television experience with two rotary knobs, a front-facing speaker, a larger display, removable-style legs, and a classic retro-TV appearance.

An In-Depth Look at the TinyTV 2

Despite its appearance, the TinyTV 2 is not simply a novelty screen that plays one repeating animation. It is a standalone digital video player designed to hold a personal collection of compatible videos.

The television is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 processor and uses a 1-inch IPS TFT color display. The screen has a resolution of 216 by 135 pixels and supports 65,000 colors.

That resolution may sound small compared with a phone or tablet, but it is well suited to a display measuring only about one inch. Videos remain recognizable, colorful, and surprisingly enjoyable when viewed at the appropriate distance.

Retro Controls That Actually Work

The two knobs on the front are not decorative. One controls the volume, while the other lets you move between video channels. A physical power switch provides a satisfying way to turn the television on and off.

These working controls are a large part of the TinyTV 2 experience. Instead of navigating a touchscreen menu, you can turn a physical knob as though you were changing channels on an old television set.

A Tiny Remote Control

The TinyTV 2 includes the Tiny Remote, an infrared remote control designed specifically for TinyCircuits televisions. It can be used to change channels, adjust playback, control the volume, and interact with the television without touching the front knobs.

According to TinyCircuits, the remote works best from approximately 12 to 18 inches away and should be pointed toward the top of the television, where the infrared receiver is located.

The remote is appropriately miniature, making the complete setup look like a scaled-down living-room entertainment system.

Built-In Speaker and Adjustable Audio

A front-facing speaker measuring approximately 16 by 9 millimeters provides audio playback. You can adjust the sound using the front volume knob or the included remote.

The speaker is understandably small, but it allows dialogue, music, sound effects, and other audio to accompany your videos without requiring external equipment.

8GB of Internal Storage

The TinyTV 2 includes 8GB of built-in storage. TinyCircuits estimates that this is enough space for approximately 10 hours of converted video.

Actual capacity will depend on the length and characteristics of the videos being converted, but the internal storage provides enough room for a collection of short videos, several television episodes, or multiple movies.

Because the storage is built into the television, you do not need to purchase or install a separate memory card.

Rechargeable Battery

Inside the TinyTV 2 is a 3.7-volt, 150mAh lithium-polymer battery. TinyCircuits estimates approximately two hours of video playback per charge.

Charging is handled through the USB-C connection. A USB-C cable is not included, so you will need to use a compatible cable that you already own or purchase one separately.

USB-C Connectivity

USB-C is used for both charging and transferring converted videos to the television. The TinyTV 2 can also stream compatible video from a connected computer over USB-C.

This wired connection helps keep the device simple. There is no Wi-Fi setup, Bluetooth pairing, subscription service, or online account required for normal video playback.

Brown and Clear Designs

The TinyTV 2 is available in two distinct styles.

The brown version resembles a vintage wooden television and emphasizes the product's nostalgic personality. The clear version exposes the circuit board and internal components, giving it a more modern maker-inspired appearance.

Both versions have the same general functionality. The choice comes down to whether you prefer vintage décor or visible electronics.

TinyTV 2 Technical Specifications

How Do You Add Videos to the TinyTV 2?

The TinyTV 2 does not play ordinary video files simply by copying them directly from your computer. Videos must first be processed using the free TinyTV Converter.

The converter prepares MP4 video files for the TinyTV 2's screen resolution, processor, storage system, and playback requirements.

1. Install or open the official TinyTV Converter on a compatible computer.
2. Select an MP4 video from your computer.
3. Allow the converter to prepare the video for TinyTV playback.
4. Connect the TinyTV 2 to the computer using a USB-C cable.
5. Transfer the converted video to the television.
6. Disconnect the television and use the channel knob or remote to select the video.

Conversion time will depend on the length of the original video and the speed of your computer. A short clip may convert quickly, while a full-length movie will require more time.

Only upload videos that you created, own, or otherwise have permission to use.

What Can You Watch on It?

The ability to load personal videos gives the TinyTV 2 a wide range of possible uses. Popular choices may include:

• Home movies and family videos
• Vacation highlights
• Classic cartoons
• Favorite television episodes
• Full-length movies
• Music videos
• Holiday animations
• Fireplace and aquarium videos
• Retro commercials
• Stop-motion projects
• Personal video messages
• Custom content for miniature displays

You can organize separate videos as channels, creating a personalized miniature television lineup.

What the TinyTV 2 Does Not Do

It is important to understand that the TinyTV 2 is a stored-video player rather than a conventional television or wireless streaming device.

• It does not receive over-the-air television broadcasts.
• It does not have a built-in television tuner.
• It does not wirelessly stream from Netflix, YouTube, or other services.
• It does not connect directly to Wi-Fi for video playback.
• It is not designed to replace a phone, tablet, or full-size television.

Its purpose is to provide a fun and highly portable way to play videos that have been converted and loaded onto its internal storage.

More Than a Novelty

The TinyTV 2 is undeniably fun, but it can also serve several practical and creative purposes.

A Functional Dollhouse Television

TinyCircuits says the TinyTV 2 is best suited to approximately 1:12 scale, although buyers should review the exact dimensions when planning a miniature scene.

It can add moving video and sound to dollhouses, dioramas, model rooms, miniature shops, museums, and other detailed displays.

A Unique Desk Accessory

Place it beside a keyboard, monitor, record player, game collection, or retro computer setup. It can quietly play an animation, music video, fireplace, or personal highlight reel while you work.

A Memorable Gift

The TinyTV 2 is a strong gift option for retro technology fans, collectors, makers, movie lovers, miniature enthusiasts, and people who already seem to own every ordinary gadget.

Loading it with meaningful videos before giving it as a gift can make the experience even more personal.

A Creative Video Display

Artists and photographers can use it to present small looping video projects. Businesses can display miniature product demonstrations or branded clips. Event planners can incorporate it into themed decorations, place settings, or interactive displays.

Why the TinyTV 2 Stands Out

Many miniature electronics are designed to be displayed but not regularly used. The TinyTV 2 stands out because its most charming features are functional.

• The screen plays real videos.
• The speaker produces real audio.
• The channel knob changes videos.
• The volume knob adjusts the sound.
• The miniature remote controls playback.
• The internal battery makes it portable.
• The storage can hold hours of personal content.
• The USB-C connection makes adding new videos relatively straightforward.

It successfully combines nostalgia with modern digital technology without losing the personality of either.

Who Is the TinyTV 2 Best For?

The TinyTV 2 may be especially appealing to:

• Fans of retro televisions and vintage electronics
• Collectors of unusual technology
• Dollhouse and miniature enthusiasts
• Makers and electronics hobbyists
• Movie and television fans
• People shopping for distinctive tech gifts
• Anyone who enjoys small but fully functional gadgets

It may not be the right choice for someone seeking a wireless streaming screen. For anyone who appreciates retro design, customization, and functional miniatures, however, it offers an experience that few other products can match.

Final Thoughts

TinyCircuits has built its reputation by proving that electronics do not need to be large to be interesting or capable. The TinyTV 2 may be one of the clearest examples of that philosophy.

It recreates the familiar experience of turning on a television, changing channels, adjusting the volume, and settling in to watch something, all at a scale small enough to sit beside a quarter.

The TinyTV 2 is nostalgic without being outdated, miniature without being merely decorative, and entertaining without requiring subscriptions or wireless connections. It is a tiny television with an unexpectedly big personality.

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Product specifications and operating details were obtained from information published by TinyCircuits. Specifications, software, product availability, and included accessories may change. TinyTV and TinyCircuits are trademarks of their respective owner.

Sources: About TinyCircuits, TinyTV 2 Product Information, TinyTV Converter Documentation, and TinyTV 2 Kickstarter Campaign.