LoRa Mesh Atlas

Meshtastic devices with a keyboard

Want to send messages without pulling out your phone? These 4 devices let you type on the device itself: three with physical keys, one with a touchscreen keyboard. They're listed from lowest to highest list price, with specs from the makers and the official docs.

Most Meshtastic radios have no keyboard at all: you write messages in the phone app, and the radio sends them over Bluetooth. A standalone device is handy when your phone is dead, left behind, or you just want to keep it off.

  1. LILYGO T-Deck

    LILYGO · $46.52

    Phone-free messaging with a physical keyboard and touchscreen.

    Compared with the T-Deck Plus, there is no battery included and no GPS.

    Screen
    TFT IPS LCD 2.8 in (320x240) touchscreen
    GPS
    No
    Battery
    None included (lilygo.cc box contents list no battery; connector type not specified)
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  2. LILYGO T-Deck Plus

    LILYGO · $77.16

    Self-contained keyboard handheld with GPS and built-in battery; no phone required.

    Adds a built-in 2,000 mAh battery and GPS compared with the T-Deck.

    Screen
    TFT IPS LCD 2.8 in (320x240) touchscreen
    GPS
    Yes
    Battery
    Built-in 2000 mAh
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  3. LILYGO T-Lora Pager

    LILYGO · $87.35

    Keyboard pager-style standalone messenger with GPS.

    Built-in 1,500 mAh battery per LILYGO hardware docs. On MeshCore it runs the standalone Ripple GUI firmware; the flasher lists no Companion build for it.

    Screen
    IPS LCD 2.33 in (480x222)
    GPS
    Yes
    Battery
    Built-in 1500 mAh (5.55 Wh), per LILYGO hardware docs
    Water resistance
    Not listed
    MeshCore
    Supported

  4. RAK WisMesh TAP V2 (RAK10710)

    RAKwireless · $109.00

    Phone-free touchscreen handheld with offline maps (MUI), GPS and IP65 case.

    No physical keys: you type on the touchscreen.

    Screen
    TFT touchscreen 320x240 (diagonal not stated)
    GPS
    Yes
    Battery
    Built-in 3200 mAh
    Water resistance
    IP65
    MeshCore
    Not in flasher

What to check before you buy

  • Battery. A keyboard device with a color screen uses more power than a screenless tracker. Check whether a battery is included.
  • GPS. Needed if you want to share your position without a phone.
  • Firmware. All of these run Meshtastic. Check the MeshCore line if your local group uses MeshCore.

Want something else? Use the device finder or compare these side by side.